The Brains Behind Swansea's Resurgence
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l SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2015 THE INDEPENDENT THE INDEPENDENT SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2015 l Sport / Football The sight of Roberto Mar- “We analysed every mistake displays in ‘one v ones’ and to exploit space left by Luke tinez at the Liberty Stadium our team had done and how how to support the ‘one v one’.” Shaw’s attacks down United’s this afternoon will stir happy the opposition were – how The end product was Swan- left flank. “We thought if we Fifa secretary memories for Swansea City teams attack and how they sea’s best defensive record in Garry could turn the team into a dia- Newcastle are The brains fans. It was Martinez, after defend, how they establish a top-flight campaign, along wanted to mond with four midfielders all, who as manager laid domination and their percent- with their highest league plac- be more by bringing Ki in, this would wanted a huge down the template – a pos- age of possession,” he tells The ing, eighth, since 1982. give us a few minutes where like a car crash, session game built around a Independent. “We found out Monk also tinkered with aggressive we could try to exploit gaps 4-3-3 formation – that Paolo that teams 80 per cent [of Swansea’s possession game. offensively, there,” he says. behind Sousa, Brendan Rodgers and the time] had the same kind “The vision Garry had for It is not the first time they pay-off before Michael Laudrup all main- of attacks. Some teams differ Swansea [included] keeping to risk a have shown the flexibility to says McClaren tained during Swansea’s rise a little and when they differ, the philosophy of posses- upset United. In their open- up the football ladder. they have more success. sion but at the same time he little more ing-day win at Old Trafford Yet when Martinez returns “We did a very deep analy- wanted to make the team more last season, Monk surprised but the policy of the club is not his suspension Swansea’s to his former club today, he sis so we could prepare for the aggressive offensively,” Clotet Van Gaal by sending out Swan- MARtin HARDY going to change,” he added. can be less sure of what his season and how we should explains. “Sometimes he has sea in a 4-3-3 formation having “We are going to sign young Everton team should expect train so we didn’t fail at the sacrificed a little bit of that pos- previously played 4-4-2. Steve McClaren used the talent whether that is here TOM PECK from their hosts – and this is beginning. It was a lot of hours session and turned it into more Even before becoming term “car crash” yesterday. It or abroad. SPORTS NEWS CORRESPONDENT testament to the work of the [watching videos] – you have final-third entries. We risk a Swansea manager, Monk was provoked an intake of breath, “I think it is a young team, man who captained his old to see the whole game and little bit more now. Swansea working on a software tool whiplash almost, given the one of the lowest average ages. Fifa’s general secretary, resurgence Swansea team, Garry Monk. click every attack and every before had possession in a way allowing young players to usually strategic control from It is a young team and I think J é r ô m e Va l c k e , h a d Martinez spoke this week defensive action, and you do of controlling the game and measure their ability, and all of those in charge at St James’ that showed in the second half requested a pay-off from the of Monk’s credentials as a this for 10 games for every avoiding suffering.” his Swansea players have their Park. Newcastle are bottom of on Monday. What we have to organisation worth millions potential England manager, opposition team to see if there It is telling to note that in the table after spending £50m do is make it grow up.” of pounds before he was but for a fuller insight into his is a pattern.” their last home fixture Swansea Louis van Gaal in the summer. Of similar concern is the suspended on Thursday in the impact on Swansea’s fortunes, Monk, a former centre- enjoyed a 2-1 victory over Man- (left) has twice There was, of course, a con- legacy of what he inherited. wake of yet more corruption it is worth listening to another back, concluded they had chester United with only 35 per been caught text to the unusually evocative He accepted words such allegations at football’s world Spaniard, Pep Clotet. He is to put a defensive structure cent of possession. And nobody unawares by description from McClaren, as “brittle” applied to a governing body. the latest Catalan playing a in place first. This initially could accuse them of lacking a Monk’s ingenious but even that was muddled squad that was losing games The Frenchman announced role in the Swansea story as meant leaving the ball to one plan B now – not least United approach slightly, between the defeat at long before his arrival at St in July that he would leave Fifa Monk’s assistant manager and side and working on Swan- manager Louis van Gaal, who West Ham on Monday which James’ Park . at the emergency congress is therefore the ideal man to sea’s shape. “We realised we admitted he “couldn’t cope” own personal development sent Newcastle to the foot of “I think you have to be next February, when the explain how the rookie boss, had to first prepare the team with the tactical switch which programme. Each week they the Premier League, and the tough in this league, not just president, Sepp Blatter, will still only 36, has succeeded in The Swansea to be defending right because brought Swansea victory have an individualised briefing situation he inherited. physically but mentally tough also stand down. adjusting the Swansea model manager, otherwise it would make no that day when winger Wayne about their upcoming oppo- For McClaren to be given too,” said McClaren. “And According to the Press Garry Monk, the Swans manager, earned to take the club forward. Garry Monk sense how we were going to Routledge was replaced by nents sent to their iPads. time, there has to be a reminder that can be an adaptation Association, Valcke’s contract After replacing Laudrup (right), attack,” says Clotet. midfielder Ki Sung-yeung and “He is very demanding, a of the relegation scraps that for new players, an adaptation has three years to run and he a lot of credit by tactically outsmarting in February last year, Monk alongside his “Garry last season decided Monk altered their shape from perfectionist – on a tactical have blighted two of the previ- for everyone.” had been negotiating a pay- Fifa’s Jérôme Valcke denies decided that Swansea had No 2, Pep to put this defensive organi- 4-2-3-1 to a midfield diamond. level, a performance level, and ous three seasons. There has There is growing concern, off to leave the organisation, corruption allegations Louis van Gaal recently, but his side’s become too predictable. He Clotet. Club sation in place – he was being Within eight minutes Swan- a training level,” adds Clotet of to be a nod towards the run of even five games in, on Tyne- but had not been successful. also felt they needed to go back chairman reactive to something that sea had turned the score from Monk. “This makes him a very one win from 11 games at the side after two draws and three Valcke’s predecessor, Urs turned around in mid-air and flexible style is the product of intensive to basics. Clotet says they spent Huw Jenkins maybe should have been done 0-1 to 2-1. good boss. At the same time end of last season. defeats. Seeing their team lose Linsi, was given a pay-off he returned to Zurich. long days poring over videos of suggested before or was lacking. We got a Clotet wrote one of his he has good knowledge of the There also has to be a tip regularly over the past three worth £3.6m. However, that Blatter, who was also due to work with assistant Pep Clotet, who tells rival Premier League clubs as they work lot of points thanks to that bet- weekly columns for Spanish game and good reading. He of the cap towards the club’s seasons has become increas- was in different times. fly to Moscow, has cancelled the pair sought to tweak the together ter defensive organisation, and football daily Marca about a knows how to approach the recruitment policy, which ingly difficult to stomach. “Is SIMON HART about a strategic revolution Valcke has been in the his travel plans. Blatter sent an Martinez template. GettY especially our better defensive change that allowed Swansea players. And he knew Swan- steadfastly revolves around there more pain to come? No 2 job since 2007, despite email to Fifa staff in which he sea very well.” two key factors, age and being forced to leave the claimed: “Fifa is confident of If Swansea’s efforts have nationality. Newcastle organisation only a year earlier its ability to recover from the put Monk in the spotlight, Newcastle, led by their man- manager Steve after Mastercard walked out on present difficult situation and they are also raising the pro- aging director Lee Charnley, McClaren admits a sponsorship deal, claiming it restore its reputation for the file of Clotet, who originally under the instruction of owner that he has to and Visa had been lied to in good of the game.” arrived at the club as an acad- Mike Ashley, sign players with make his young order to secure the highest You would have to go back a emy consultant in late 2013 potential resale value from team grow up possible price for a deal.