The Next Swansea Manager: A Look At The Early Contenders

Life hasn’t been easy for Swans fans in recent months, in fact when it’s come to the board’s choice in managers, it’s been a bit of a disaster.

But, they have a chance once again to make the right appointment, and this time it’ll be vital as the club will likely have to build a campaign that sees them promoted from the Championship.

Already there has been a number of names thrown into the hat, with the bookies are already shortening the odds of a few by the minute.

But whose in the running at this early stage? We take a look at the more likely candidates…

Chris Coleman

Chris Coleman is the standout favourite for the job after recently leaving his post at Sunderland.

The former Swansea player is a Wales legend following his Euro 2016 campaign with the national team and would certainly instil some of the togetherness and fight that the Welsh side had in abundance.

He’s 2/1 to get the job and it does seem as though it could be the perfect fit.

Leon Britton

Leon Britton’s Swansea future is up in the air a little with his contract about to expire. It could be a little more unknown now as the bookies place him as second favourite for a place in the dugout.

The 35-year-old took the role as caretaker manager after Paul Clement left and he’s due to make a decision on his future imminently.

It’ll be his first managerial role of course though and it’ll be one heck of a challenge to bounce straight back to the top flight.

Garry Monk

Despite having just taken charge of Birmingham, Garry Monk is at 8/1 to return to the Liberty Stadium.

He’s never really settled at a club since leaving Swansea back in 2015 and it’s perhaps unlikely the club will offer him a position at this moment in time.

Nathan Jones

Luton boss Nathan Jones is also at 8/1 after leading the Hatters into League One.

He’s been at the club since 2016 and has plenty of ambition. He’s earned his crust at the lower levels, but whether he’s the man to take Swansea on a promotion push is another question entirely.

Roberto Martinez

The man largely credited for Swansea’s rise to the Premier League was offered the job back in December, but the Belgium post was too good of a job to leave.

That will likely still be the case, unless he struggles throughout the World Cup. He’s at 16/1 to get the job, but even if Martínez was to become available over the summer, you’d hope the manager vacancy at the Liberty would have been filled by then.

Carvalhal to Leave at the End of the Season

Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal will leave the club at the end of the season it has been confirmed.

With Swansea almost certain to be relegated from the Premier League this weekend, with only a 10-goal swing able to keep the Jack Army up.

Carvalhal was out of contract at the end of the season anyway and it has been decided by the Swansea board will not renew that.

Despite a positive start to his reign, the club struggled for goals in recent weeks and have gone eight games a week, all but confirming their exit out of the top flight.

The next hire will be crucial for the Swans if they’re to bounce straight back and there will be plenty of questions asked by fans and pundits alike following the recent failure of the former Sheffield Wednesday man.

Iwan Roberts, former Welsh striker said, “There’s some big questions: the owners need to come out and answer some questions as well.

“The club has tried to do things on the cheap, bring players in on the cheap.”

It’s going to be a huge summer for the club as they look to keep hold of players and find a new manager.

Chris Coleman will be hotly tipped after leaving Sunderland and as a man Swansea born and bred, he’d bring a major shake up to the club.

Craig Bellamy is another name being mentioned after missing out on the Wales job a few months ago. Either way, something is going to have to be pulled out of the bag with a run of Francesco Guidolin, Bob Bradley, Paul Clement and Carlos Carvalhal.

We wait in jest now as Swansea will need to come back from a truly dismal season.

With a lack of creativity, goals and the likes of Alfie Mawson likely to be moving on, it’s a major rebuilding job. The Swansea board need to get moving.

How The Next Few Days Could Go For The Swans

If you weren’t nervous before yesterday’s dismal defeat over Bournemouth, you certainly will be now.

The Swans have just two games to rescue their season after dropping into the relegation zone, and face a must win game against Southampton on Tuesday night.

Carlos Carvalhal’s men are level on points with their opponents but have a -7 goal difference on the South Coast side, and it really is make or break.

But what are the permutations in the final week of the season? Four teams can go down still. We take a look at who they face and their chances of survival

Swansea (33 Points)

The Swans perhaps have the best chance of survival. If we beat Southampton on Tuesday evening, only a draw would be required at home to Stoke.

There are two winnable games left for Swansea and with both at the Liberty, you’d expect the Jack Army to help seal Premier League football for another season.

Huddersfield (36 Points)

Huddersfield sealed a huge point against Manchester City at the weekend and you’d expect that to be just about enough for them.

They’ve two games left to make them mathematically safe, but they don’t come easy against Chelsea away on Wednesday and Arsenal at home on Sunday.

A win for either the Swans or Southampton would see them needing just a point from their final two games, while if it finishes a draw at the Liberty, Huddersfield will require two.

They’re three points clear of Swansea and Southampton currently and they will be certainly nervous going into their game at Stamford Bridge.

Southampton (33 Points)

A win in South Wales would sadly all but secure a place in next season’s Premier League for the Saints.

Due to the goal difference it could all but seal Swansea’s fate.

A draw puts them in all kinds of trouble though, as Southampton face Manchester City on the final day of the season. Swansea would then only have to better Mark Hughes’ result on the final day.

West Brom (31 Points)

West Brom are all but down and if either Swansea or Southampton win on Tuesday evening.

Only a draw will do and then the Baggies would need to beat Crystal Palace on the final day and require both Swansea and Southampton to lose in their last games, the latter with a five goal swing.

It’s going to be a nervy night on Tuesday, but the Swans have the best chance of survival out of the three. Home advantage will be key, but survival is in their own hands...

Fabianski Named Swans Fans’ Player of the Year

Of a season where only the few have really shone, Lukasz Fabianski has been named Supporters’ Player of the Year.

The Polish keeper has been instrumental in keeping the Swans outside the relegation zone in recent months, although that now stands at just a point clear.

There will be a full focus on finishing the season strongly before jetting off to Russia as part of his nation’s World Cup squad.

This weekend’s fixture is key to survival hopes with Fabianski saying, “This is the big one, we should all focus on that game because winning that game and getting three points is massive for us.”

The former Arsenal man has been an ever present in Swansea’s side this season, playing 32 of the club’s 35 in the top flight and he’s been key in the club’s quest for survival.

He’s ranked among the very best in the league when it comes to stats, a fantasy football players dream, and has saved multiple points for the club.

His consistency has made him a fan favourite and the club will want to keep hold of him regardless of their league status next season.

He beat the likes of Alfie Mawson, Federico Fernandez and Ki Sung-yueng to become the fans favourite, while Jordan Ayew also picked up three awards.

The Ghanaian international, who has bagged 11 goals for the Swans this season, picked up Players’ Player of the Year, Top Scorer and Goal of the Season for his stellar effort against Wolves.

Elsewhere, George Byers, a hot prospect for the future, secured Under-23s Player of the Season and Connor Roberts took the award for Best Newcomer of the Season.

Leon Britton, whose contract is up at the end of the season, also received recognition from the club he’s played for at every step in the Football League. He picked up the Community Champion Award, a week after picking up the Sportsmen’s Club Award.

It’s looking increasingly likely the 35-year-old will be saying goodbye to the club, 16 years after making his debut.

The Swansea Stars Heading To The FIFA World Cup

The World Cup is the last thing the Swansea players should be thinking about with a flurry of huge games between now and the end of the season.

Despite this though, a few members of the Jack Army will be wanting to stay fresh and fit across the next four games in order to board that plane to Russia.

With less than two months before kick off, we take a look at the members of Carlos Carvalhal’s squad that have a summer of football on the cards…

Lukasz Fabianski

There’s no doubt the Swansea stopper will be making his way to Russia following an impressive season with the club.

He’ll be fighting with Juventus’ Wojciech Szczesny for the Poland number one spot and could well get the nod with the former Arsenal man currently operating as a number two behind Gianluigi Buffon.

Ki Sung-yeung

Ki Sung-yeung has had a good season in a Swansea shirt and could use the World Cup as a shop window. He’s out of contract this summer and Carvalhal will be desperate to keep him.

The South Korean has 99 caps for his country and is a key man for his country. It’ll be tough for the Koreans to qualify from a group involving Germany, Mexico and Sweden.

Alfie Mawson

It’s probably around 50/50 as to whether young Alfie Mawson will head to Russia in Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad.

He was selected in the recent England squad to face Netherlands and Italy but failed to make his debut. Whether Southgate will take an uncapped player to Russia is an interesting one, but if he continues to be a reliable force in the heart of the Swans back three, he could be the perfect fit for the Three Lions.

Martin Olsson

Martin Olsson has been an ever-present in the Swansea team since joining from Norwich last year and will also be a starter for the Swedes.

He’ll go head to head with teammate Ki Sung-yeung but will have much higher hopes of qualifying for the Round of 16.

Kristoffer Nordfeldt

Joining Olsson will be Kristoffer Nordfeldt. The 28-year-old has made just two Premier League appearances for the Swans and will likely provide backup for Robin Olsen, who took the gloves for their famous victory against Italy.

Renato Sanches

After struggling with the Swans this season, it’ll be interesting to see if the Euro 2016 winner makes the Portugal squad.

On loan from Bayern, it’s clear Carvalhal won’t wish to make the deal permanent. He failed to make Fernando Santos’ latest squad and his hopes really are fading. It’s going to take a huge effort for the 20-year-old get back in. He has four Premier League games to do it.

Swansea Looking To Sign Dundee Star

Swansea City are in the market for Dundee midfielder Glen Kamara according to recent reports.

The 22-year-old Finnish star has been linked to a number of clubs following an impressive season with the The Dark Blues and City have joined the race alongside Celtic and Rangers north of the border.

He’s been an ever present for Dundee since joining from Arsenal in the summer and has put in some impressive displays in the Scottish Premiership.

So much so l he’s considered one of the best midfielders in the league, so it’s not surprising Brendan Rodgers and Graeme Murty are sniffing around.

A move to the Premier League would surely be favoured however, with Swansea leading the chase.

It’s thought he’d be available for just £1million, an absolute steal, and Carlos Carvalhal looks ready to make his move.

Kamara started his professional career in the Arsenal youth set up but failed to make an appearance, instead taking loan spells at both Southend and Colchester before moving up north.

He’s earned three caps for Finland, making his debut in a 3-0 win against Estonia last year.

His career trajectory is climbing and it could be a wise move for the Swans to get him signed early.

Swansea have been linked to a number of players in recent weeks and are certainly planning for another season in the top flight.

Fixtures against Stoke and Southampton will be key in securing that Premier League status and it’s likely no negotiations will be made until the season is over.

Elsewhere, the Jacks have also been rumoured to be looking at Strasbourg’s Stéphane Bahoken and Benfica winger Franco Cervi, a 23-year-old Argentinian.

Cervi is a hot prospect for a number of clubs and it’s looking like there will be a battle between the Swans, Newcastle, West Ham and Brighton for the £20million man.

Swans Need To Get Back On Track Following City Drubbing

There’s no shame in losing to the Champions, they’ve played some scintillating football this season. But Carlos Carvalhal needs to get his side right back on track if the Swans are going to avoid relegation this season.

Swansea failed to ever get any real grip on the game at the Etihad on Sunday and it wasn’t long before Manchester City turned on the style and took the lead.

From there it was a master class in football. Raheem Sterling added to David Silva’s finish, before Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus added to the tally.

That puts Swansea without a win in five games and with just four games to go Carvalhal’s men are floating dangerously above the drop zone.

They sit just four points above Southampton and Stoke, with their only saving grace being the Potters failed to close that gap, dropping two points from a good position against Burnley.

It’s a tough run in for Swansea now, who face Chelsea, a side who are desperately hoping they can bridge the gap on the top four.

The Blues dispatched of Southampton comfortably in the Semi Final of the FA Cup and are on a run of three straight wins.

Carvalhal is claiming the Manchester City game will have no effect on the Jacks and that they are ready for the the final four games.

Another defeat to Chelsea though could put a real down on the squad mentally though, which could be instrumental in their huge games against Southampton and Stoke.

May is a huge month for the club and you get the feeling Swansea need points from all three games.

Bournemouth are the first of that final run in, who are safe and have very little to play for. That could work in Carvalhal’s favour with the Cherries having perhaps downed tools somewhat.

Then it’s the big ones where Swansea really can’t afford to drop points.

Both Southampton and Stoke will be visiting the Liberty which could see Swansea take the edge, but there will certainly be nerves there.

Carvalhal desperately needs to lift his squad before heading to the Vitality Stadium on May 5, it really could make or break their season.

It’s going to be a nervy few weeks for Swansea fans, but if Carvalhal can’t pick his players back up following the City mauling, you get the feeling we could be down before a ball has even been kicked.