It’s been a shaky start to the season for Swansea City, but can manager Francesco Guidolin turn it around?
Swansea City manager Francesco Guidolin before the match
Swansea’s poor start to the season has left them just one point above the relegation zone.
Amid reports that former Welsh international Ryan Giggs will replace Guidolin as manager, here’s three reasons why the South Wales club should give their current boss time to turn things around:
It’s still too early
After just six league games, Swansea shouldn’t rush into dismissing their boss, especially as they have faced some top teams already this season – Chelsea, Leicester City and Manchester City (1 point from a possible 9). The Swans also beat Burnley away, although admittedly suffered disappointing losses against Hull and Southampton.
But it’s not going to get any easier for Swansea, as they face high-flying Liverpool next week, and then Arsenal after the international break.
Swansea’s last manager, Gary Monk, was given until December before the club pulled the trigger last season, and Guidolin will hope that he will at least be given more time.
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their third goal at Swansea
There are signs of improvement
Swansea were unlucky to face resurgent Manchester City twice in one week. Despite, however, playing – and indeed losing to – City twice, Swansea delivered spirited performances on both occasions, and gave their fans hope going into more two more tough games.
Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente celebrates scoring their first goal
A new manager probably wouldn’t be able to change much
Swansea don’t currently have a strong squad. The loss of Ashley Williams was always going to be huge for the club. Fernando Llorente was a decent signing, but despite the Spaniard scoring his first Premier League goal on Saturday, it would be a surprise if he proved to be prolific in front of goal.
The loss of the injured Nathan Dyer to injury is another blow up front, while Leon Britton and Gylfi Sigurdsson appear to be far from their best.
It looks likely that the club will bring in reinforcements in January, but until then there is very little Guidolin can do except to try and motivate the players he has available. And it will be those man-management qualities that will dictate whether he remains in a job at the Liberty Stadium come the end of the season.
Former Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs has been linked with the Swansea post
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