Swansea post-Duff

He did a good job with us. But there was room for improvement definitely and ultimately he did fail to get us promoted. With the higher league and wages at Swansea comes more pressure and the arrogant way he behaved without the results to back him up meant his sacking came as no big surprise. Live and learn.

 

I think you're forgetting the absolute shambles that he walked into after we were relegated, plenty of people would have been happy with just a top half finish.

 

We're given enough time..

 

Come on, whatever people think of Duff as a person for leaving us you’ve got to separate that from the job he did.

It’s easy to talk about best defence in the league but surely he deserves credit for that? Cadden & Thomas were signed under him. Kitching looked terrible the season before. Connell was pretty much a novice when signed. He’d barely played any men’s football. Kane had been shipped out on loan the previous season & was deemed below the likes of Romal Palmer in our ranks. Phillips wasn’t exactly a superstar signing from Accrington. Norwood had arguably the best season of his career under Duff & he revitalised Cole when most fans would’ve happily drove him to another club the previous summer.

It was a freak season in that two exceptional sides got 100+ points & Wednesday weren’t far behind them. If it wasn’t for terrible use of VAR we would most likely be playing championship football right now.

How anyone can class last season as a failure is beyond me. He did a brilliant job.

 

People forget what a mess the club and team were in when Duff joined. He did a superb job.

 

They were nearly all terrible in the championship the season before but there is more time to think and more wasted chances in league 1 so usually you'd expect players like Kitching to do better. It's a shame he didn't stay and see the job through this season, and back himself for automatic promotion. I still think he made tactical mistakes in the play off final that cost us but a good manager will learn from that. Be interesting to see how he fares in his next job!

 

The biggest thing for me was how he managed the fan base (and I imagine a novice board). He challenged people, set high standards and generated a feeling of togetherness when it was needed. Regardless of industry or sector, it was brilliant management.

 

In papers today, he’s having talks with hudders. My hudders mates don’t seem too happy about it.

I did state I don’t know whether he’s upto champ management but his man management, and mentality management were top draw for us. Changed the feeling in camp, and I’m glad he did.

Wouldn’t wish bad luck on him tbh.

 

I try not to set my expectations too high when it comes to pre season predictions.
So after going for about 14th/mid table, I was really surprised and delighted with the season Duff gave us.
I think I also went for similar this season, mid table/top half. So because of that, I think Collins is doing just as well (at the moment).

 

I found it distasteful. When at vale in the efl trophy last season he had Cole running up and down the touchline giving us fans hope of trying to get back into the game after we came back to 2-1 down.
When questioned by my mate at the next fan meeting. He said. He'd basically taken him for the ride. And had no intention of bringing him on.
Ffs Cole is not an U18 looking to experience 1st team Outings.
Some may say. well it's a game for fringe players. Fine I get that, But If that's the case Don't put Cole on the bench. And 100% dont have him run up and down the touchline. Giving the impression he may be sent on.

 

Oops duplicate.

 

Sounds to me like good management. Again.

 

You're missing the point. Poor judgement to do what he did. Giving false hope. To those who were there. No one would have gave a toss if he'd left him at home. To say what he did/said was very unprofessional even if true. To a paying fan who made the Journey. EVERYONE in the Barnsley section were fecked off with the situation. One he could have avoided. As I say poor judgement. Not so much poor management. You had to be there to understand.

 

Just so I'm clear, people were frustrated that a player who was named on the bench was sent to warm up & not put on? I feel like I'm missing something - genuinely.

 

He had no intention of putting him on. He said it openly when asked outright at the meeting. That is the point. If the case leave him at home. Or sat in the stand if he wanted Cole to just watch the game.
We were 2-0 down he used 2 subs Edward's and Kane. Then we got back to 2-1. (Edwards) Cole was the only striker on the bench. Of 7 subs.