Swansea’s academy stars ready to spread their wings
THERE is a sense at Swansea City of the need to press the reset rather than the panic button this summer.
Regardless of the discussions that could lead to a new direction off the pitch, it has been said several times this season that the club needs to rediscover its way on the pitch.
It was embarrassingly evident at Leicester on Sunday as the spirit and style that have been stamped through Swansea during the majority of their time in the Premier League went missing in a major way.
There were some players seemingly going through the motions and never likely to recover after an early setback.
Perhaps it is understandable, given they may well either be off this summer or, at least, are presuming their manager will be. Perhaps it is also understandable that several key men looked so weary on Sunday. Gylfi Sigurdsson at one point appeared to be simply tired of trying when others were not matching efforts. It has been a draining few months, especially for those who have rolled sleeves up during a season of seemingly perennial problems and near crisis.
If, theoretically, Swansea still need points for safety, the hope will be more that pride drags the side back up to acceptable levels for their final three games and eases the club into its summer of change where a rebuild is vital or face another year of the same next term.
It is not a case of ripping up and starting completely afresh. New faces are needed, but it is an old hunger is required. Press reset.
Yet there doesn’t have to be a wait for it to happen. There have not been many times fans have felt let down by their side over the past decade, not even in the occasional heavy defeat or worrying period in the Premier League, but it was there on Sunday. Throw in the continuing uncertainty and potential new ownership dynamic and there is some sense of a disconnect between supporter and side.
It may not be Francesco Guidolin’s priority to try and stop that and it doesn’t appear that he will have to concern himself with what comes after these last fixtures as Swansea continue their targeting of Brendan Rodgers.
But perhaps the Italian could – should even – go some way to finding answers to two such issues by looking within.
Swansea’s Under-21s were unfortunate to see their season and promotion hopes end on Monday night with defeat to Aston Villa, yet the club’s strides in their youth set-up were underlined by the performance of the team led by Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack in reaching the play-offs in their first year at Category One level.
The money invested in the academy infrastructure and – in some cases – players has been a correct call of the board during the seasons of Premier League windfalls and should provide a lasting legacy whatever the future might hold.
But what point is it if it is not utilised, especially during such times as these? If Swansea are looking for hunger then who more so than those fighting to make their breakthrough?
And what good is preparing players to play in the Premier League if the pathway is blocked?
It is not difficult to see the rewards reaped by both Tottenham and Southampton by Mauricio Pochettino looking towards the younger player, ones fans will always back because – as the song goes – they are one of their own.
There is every chance that some from the youth ranks will not be good enough, but it is not as if enough have been given an opening to disprove it, this year certainly. While there had been excited mutterings of Ben Davies’ potential in 2013, would he have had a chance if not for Neil Taylor’s injury?
There have been positive whispers of several in the set-up below senior level. There are the obvious candidates who could step-in in the final few games, such as Stephen Kingsley who let no-one down in his spell in the side last month while Euro-2016 bound Taylor would benefit from resting more than most.
Jay Fulton and Kenji Gorre have both tasted senior action before while Oliver McBurnie’s loan spell at Bristol Rovers prevents him being looked at as an alternative to misfiring strikers.
But what of Adam King? Wouldn’t the 20-year-old – not without senior experience after 26 games and five goals at Crewe – be a more welcomed addition than Leroy Fer who, we can assume, will be sent back from loan in just a few weeks. An energetic player with a penchant for arriving into the box, wouldn’t that dynamism be at least worth giving a chance?
Likewise, Daniel James has impressed all who have watched him this year with his intelligent wing play and ability to drift in from an area Swansea need to seriously look at this summer.
And then there is Joe Rodon at centre-back who would surely benefit from a taste against the top.
Both the latter are 18-year-olds, perhaps not ready for a prolonged spell, but have already trained with the fullteam and who will be itching for a chance to take the next step rather than simply waiting for the season to end.
Though Rodon is said to be able to handle the physical side of things, what they will lack in know-how and maturity of body and mind will be made up for that hunger that all want to see returned.
The idea of the Swans academy is that there is a holistic approach, that each age-grade side plays with the same system and philosophy, so why not take advantage?
They will make mistakes, but supporters will accept if they can see it is an attempt to move forward and be better for it.
After all, the club have long thrived off having players who are prepared to prove themselves when many predict they will fail. It will do no harm returning to that, no harm to see if some of the answers they are looking for, now and for the future, lay within.