Fiesta de Futbols!
The Swansea Way's new European Chief Head of Visionary Excellence Hazelton Wang makes his debut in fine form!
Vayaaaa! Que tal amigos! Is the Wang finally got his column in cyberspace!
Now is the Wang share especial futbols knowledge, share how the Swans return to make beautiful things on pitch. Is great privilege for you to listen to me. When I grow up in the favella, my amigos all want play for the Barca, Real, maybe Boca or River. No me amigos. I dream of North Bank shouting at me. I dream of penetrating the defences for you pleasures. Is why I still Jack Army soldier. Still stand in trenches.
Now today is the sun shining on Liberty City. Is time to take back the streets against El Mou amigos. We can defeat the Chelsea. This is how and why. Is need return to first principles, the principles that define who we is.
Diamonds aren’t forever
Is been difficult but historic season. Jack Army is travel Europe in fantastico foreign adventures. We test ourselves against the best and prove worthy. But is had massive impact on team form and performance this season. Now we have one focus – survive dogfight. We see much inconsistency recently. Many sleepy defensive performances and lack of concentration against teams we should destroy with beauty. Is no room complacency today against one of best teams in Europe, and they have dirty MegaMind as coach. You no like him, he no care, he just want win and upset you family.
To address Swansea problems the Monk has been brave. He depart from established 4-2-3-1 formation, and give birth to Gary Monk’s midfield diamond. Is pretty baby and has positives. We been leaving the back door open too much all season, and diamond allow Swans play more strong players in midfield for recover the ball. DeGuz is prime example. In principle he should offer more protection on right side to Rangel and keep team solid.
I also like when DeGuz drift in from right to more natural central position. It allow him influence game, and in theory should allow Michu push further forward to attacking positions and link with the beast Bony. When Swans play diamond we see DeGuz score several goles, including from central positions. No forget he was steaming through against Arsenal ready to score winner, when Pig-Dog referee blow up to protect Wenger and deny Swans glamour victory. Where was DeGuz when he steam through? In centre amigos – no right midflied, even though start on right of diamond. Same with Norwich golazo.
Although diamond have advantages, I no think it long term solution. It have inherent dangers with current personnel, especially against Chelsea steamroller. DeGuzman no is true winger. He no like stick to touchline. He is no built to take on full back and deliver centre. Is his natural instinct drift inside to influence game. Less centres for the beast Bony to smash into net.
More than these things, when DeGuz drift inside he open a corridor of pain on Swansea right. Is big open spaces like the savannah for Chelsea to explore. It make more space for the Will.I.An and Azpulicueta to go on rampage. Scary sight amigos. It leave Rangel very exposed at a time when he vulnerable (actually I think system change contribute to Rangel past performance – remember Arsenal score two goles in a minute by exploiting Swans right side).
Diamond make imbalance in the team. Is no natural have Routledge or Hernandez play narrow on left of diamond. They push wide. So Swans is look more expansive on left, but narrow on right. Team no function to best of ability when imbalanced. The engine needs be tuned. No school like the old school.
When inconsistency is problem, I say is best address this by returning to formation we know and love. Is the 4-2-3-1 which serve us so well over years. Play with the guapo style that see us lift Copa and outwit Chelsea en route over two legs. It was no fluke amigos, performance and tactics was bang on the money. Michu play striker that day, with Routledge and Hernandez attacking down las bandas. It worked.
We can play with panache that see us humble Valencia in the Mestalla, with 65% possession and 19 shots. We played with width. Same against stinking pickpockets Napoli - is was estupendo performance by the Swans where we use width to our advantage. No more square pegs in round holes. It no help us perform
When consistency is problem, change system create doubt with individual position play and how the machine operate. Is even bigger problems when ask players play out of position. Now is important Swans seleccion play in best positions for success. Routledge has had consistent season and displayed quality. The Dyer has had great moments but no featured lately, but still have speed and guile. For me, although he no play much lately,
Pablo is look on fire. When he come on to replace the Michu in tedious Hull game, he brought game to life. Had invention and artistry around opponent area. We must play then with chalk on boots. It give more passing options from central midfield, and allow better combination play with our own attacking full backs. Chelsea have strength in their own full back and pin them back is vital. It also help create space in the centre
when attacking for us to show quality.
Despite Chelsea defensive record I see Swans being dangerous if ball is crossed to Bony, and diamond no help that. If Routledge and Dyer can deliver centres, I back the beast Bony against anyone. He have already smashed Terry apart this season, and can do again today. Is an even bigger long term issue for Swans. I explain. Resolve this equation: Michu + The Bony + X = goles. Sort equation out is vital for long term Swans success, but what the hell is “X”?
Is become clear this equation is more difficult than appears. Is maybe need the Brian Cox with this one, and he not at Liberty today. Michu now being asked to play CAM role, but he is no playmaker looking to deliver killer pass for striker. He is want make runs in to box to be the scorer. He seek the right areas, but so do the Bony. They fighting to finish the same opportunities, occupy the same space. Easy for opponent to marshal this. Is hard be critical of the players, they no really had time to work on adapting their games due to injury this season, but now is not the time start difficult experiments. We have dogfight to win.
Another of Swans values is we no care about the big names. We care about the big heart, big performances, and being more than the sum of our parts. I understand Swans is been so eager for see Michu come back, is natural after contribution he make last term. But I warned at the time that rush back the Michu cause problems for him, the team and results. Is normal want big talent on pitch, but is more important have players in form who understand they roles. Is why I say no start Michu this game. Maybe he make impact in second half, but is my opinion Swans will perform better if he no start in CAM.
Is tight call about who start in engine room. Britts must start (as well as go to World Cup - #BrittonAlMundial) for his ability retain ball, but who else? I tempted by the Jonjo because of work rate, different passing range and ability crack one off from distance. But overall I prefer start the DeGuz in midfield with Britts. He is in form, scoring, and is valuable commodity especially in more natural position for him. He could do job behind Bony if Jonjo start, but for me Pablo should play the number 10 role. When he has had cameos lately he has looked sharp. It also allow for more natural interchange between No.10 and wingers for make the confusions for any Chelsea markers.
Most importantly, Pablo have the vision to construct beautiful futbols and pick out the Bony, instead of running into his attack zone. It allow more natural positioning among team. He also have samba feet for dance around lumbering Terry and Cahill. Pablo combining with Bony should produce game of intelligence and power. This is what is #DoNotGoGentleSwans. Style and steel.
Whoever play, this is no day out. Is no such things as free points in relegation dogfight. Is no such things as “probably safe”. When we believe in and apply our principles we have tested the best. We can do so again today. Today Monk has opportunity to make one of his biggest decisions yet – no start the Michu – which could help transition from stopper to gaffer. We also have chance to make more history. El Mou has never lost three consecutive EPL games. He come to Liberty City having lost to Villa and Palace away. We no need extra motivation, but is nice add a little more paprika to the paella.
Is no impossible. Lampard is no mobile. Maybe they play Sideshow Bob in centre midfield, and he struggle pass ball. Terry has injury struggles. There will be strong replacements but they still no have proper striker. Jack Army like those odds!
We can win, and with Jack Army make especial fiesta we have secret No.12 player in the stands. Play with style and leave blood up the walls amigos!
No Te Rindas!
Nunca!
Jack Army!