Swans united behind boss who’s learning on the job
SWANSEA City boss Russell Martin insists he remains confident in his work at Swansea City, despite their recent rotten run.
The Swans have lost four of their last five games, and were booed off following a particularly desperate defeat at the hands of Stoke City in midweek.
Martin is clearly coming under pressure to turn things round, with his team often paying the price for individual errors.
However, he believes the continued hard work on the training ground can provide the platform on which to steer their season back on course.
“We are 12th in the table, we play some brilliant football at times, at others we make too many mistakes and give away too many goals,” said Martin.
“It’s a young squad, and I am also a young head coach. So I make mistakes and get things wrong, and try to learn from it.
“I think we have shown we can do that this season, particularly the good run we had before the World Cup where we showed real flexibility.
“We have certainly learned a lot recently, and in my three years as a manager. There’s probably been more to deal with in the last four months than in the rest of those three years with everything, there has been a lot to deal with.
“But I am really comfortable with the project we are trying to build.”
And Joe Allen says the Swansea squad are “united” behind the manager and 100% supportive of his methods.
Following a disastrous January transfer window where no new signings arrived, the mood at the club has taken a downturn and Allen says tomorrow night’s clash against Rotherham has to see an improvement.
“We are absolutely united and behind the manager. I can’t speak highly enough of him,” said Allen.
“The same goes for the work we do on the training ground and on a matchday.
“I’ve been fortunate and lucky to work with brilliant managers, and I hold him in the same regard as those top guys.
“I am convinced that in his career he is going to show exactly why.
“The players are 100% behind what he does and the responsibility is on us as players to perform more consistently, and that will be the aim going into Monday.”
Allen has also opened up on the “incredibly tough decision” to retire from international football.
The 32-year has retired from Wales duty, having won 74 caps and helped his side to three major finals, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The midfielder says injury issues, as well as the relentless footballing schedule, were key factors in his decision.
“It was an incredibly tough decision to make, one I didn’t think I probably would years ago,” Allen said.
“A big factor is looking at the next 12 to 18 months and looking at the football schedule and unfortunately if I try and take it all on, inevitably I will either end up missing large chunks through injury, or it will end up affecting my performance for club and country.
“So a tough decision, but the timing was right to make the decision.”
Allen’s move comes on the back of Gareth Bale’s shock decision to retire from all football following the recent World Cup in Qatar, but the midfielder says the five-time Champions League winner’s announcement had little influence on his own decision.
“The Achilles injury has been a big factor [in the decision to retire] and the injuries that have followed, it does take its toll and have an effect,” he said.
“I think it’s a decision you have to arrive at yourself, as I’m sure Gareth did.
“It’s very personal, everyone’s situation is very different, I though long and hard about it and spoke to many people, my family and friends, the people really close to me.”
Ahead of tomorrow’s match, Rotherham United have been rocked by an injury to influential defender Grant Hall before the trip to the Swansea.com Stadium.
The Middlesbrough loanee came off just after half-time with a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Sunderland and initial scan results point to a significant period on the sidelines.
Boss Matt Taylor said: “He will be out for a significant period of time. He is due to see the specialist at the start of next week. The initial scan results aren’t great and we can’t hide away from that fact.
“We will get more clarity of that time-line from the specialist. It will be a significant period and is a real shame for Grant and all of us as his form, since his return, has been excellent.
“He is a player we will miss.”