SWANSEA CITY..........0 Hard to imagine a way back for Monk after the Swans shambles at the Liberty
EVEN in better times, Garry Monk used to speak of the advice he received early on in his managerial career.
They had been a few wise words shared with him about staying grounded during the good days in the dugout, namely that a manager is only ever eight games away from the sack.
It’s now been 11 games for Monk and it could well be that he finds out just how true that statement was.
Monk spoke of Saturday being a bleak day for him as boss and, indeed, it remains tough to see how the 36-year-old survives such an afternoon as Swansea were humbled 3-0 at home to Leicester.
On its own it would have been bad enough, but coming amid a period where Swansea have collected just six points from their last 11 games and have now lost four out of their last five games it felt like a game too far.
It may not be the case. It may be that Swansea’s board - long hopeful that the man they chose to go from captain to chief would show again his ability in the dugout – decide that Monk still needs more time to turn this around.
But there was undeniably a sense at the Liberty this weekend that this was a turning point of the kind noone wanted, but all were fearful of.
Whether it comes to pass or not, it was a performance that gets managers the sack, one where players looked devoid of confidence and cunning and unable to respond to what was coming from the sideline.
On appearances alone, Monk seemed lonely and lost on the touchline, unable to comprehend what he was watching as Riyad Marhez scored three goals that embarrassed attempts at defending in different ways: at the set-piece, against the counter and then being pulled out of
LEICESTER: SCORERS Mahrez 5, 22, 67 position from the half-way line to the six yard box. A former defender who prided himself on never letting teams have it so easy, watching that third go in will have hurt Monk as much as the overall defeat.
It was not easy viewing all around. No-one wanted to see Monk in this position and no-one really saw it coming.
It still seems difficult to put a finger on things. Monk mentioned areas of disappointment and frustration that have somehow crept consistently into Swansea performances – slow tempo, poor passing decisions, sloppy errors – but the way everything crumbled in front of his eyes on Saturday, begged, for the first time, a real question about how he brings it all back.
The performance had some of those horrible hallmarks of the end of Michael Laudrup’s tenure where it just seemed difficult to see a way forward if things carried on. Then, problems had been masked by the focus swapping between domestic and European competition, but there had long been an awareness of problems in the dressing room and on the training ground.
There have been no such deeprooted issues whispered about under an obviously committed Monk. And yet something is evidently wrong and it may have come to the point where the club’s trusted decision makers are swayed to the opinion that only a fresh voice can help arrest a slide that has taken them to within two points of the relegation places. It’s certainly pointing that way.
Monk is not foolish, he is well aware of the harsh life of a manager, one he has seemed so suited to and capable in.
And it is harsh that it is he who has to deal with judgements when some players – a couple particularly woeful against Leicester - will have little accountability.
Perhaps he too is like outside observers wondering how this has happened. Regardless of thoughts on overachieving last year, the initial impact of Wilfried Bony and so on, make no mistake that Monk proved his worth. If there were fundamental flaws in his tactics, his coaching, his man-management, Swansea would have simply not done what they did last year. Talk of next England manager may always have been premature, but talk of being a good manager was easily justified.
So why is it suddenly not working now? Why does a squad so together last year seem devoid of belief in themselves and each other? Is there a case of the negative attitudes of a few players poisoning the rest? All questions many would love to know the answer to and no doubt Monk the same.
Monk knows better than most how the club works, what it’s based on and few would share the same passion and work-ethic as he.
But such attributes were among the many aspects lacking from his side against Leicester who, although impressive as they moved to the top of the table, were given every help they needed to continue their form.
It became embarrassing even before half-time, worse than the 5-0 defeat to Chelsea last year where there was a sense that the champions elect could have done it to anyone that afternoon and that it was just one of those days.
The days have now been months for Swansea this season and the fact they had suggested they had returned to levels expected of them even in defeat at Liverpool only deepened the frustration and feeling of a decisive point.
It is not the results alone but the manner in which they are coming with creativity now almost done in hope rather than a natural part of the Swansea game. When things are so weak at the other end, there is no other option but to worry.
The fans did not call for his head – singing his name in support throughout – but they deserved better than what they got, just as Monk deserved better from his players and his assistant who remained rooted on his seat in the dug-out when the manager stood alone on the touchline.
It was a collective failing with only one man in the firing line.
But he always knew he was only ever eight games away from being in that position. Whether he gets a chance to get out of it appears to be out of his hands.