Aside from the Brisbane Roar’s local brand of pass-and-move and a brief Liverpool renaissance under Kenny Dalglish, one of this correspondent’s most enjoyable periods of the most recent club season was watching Swansea City’s eye-catching run through the English Championship play-offs in May.
The fact their flowing brand of 4-3-3 helped them romp through the play-offs, even if it was at the expense of Adam Federici’s Reading, was a glowing endorsement to their manager Brendan Rodgers.
His template is simple one in theory, built around controlling games through passing and keeping possession, and combining it with tactical discipline.
In a league full of managers struggling to move forward from the 4-4-2, stuck playing the percentages of physicality, second-balls and safety first football, Rodgers last season stood out as an individual, a man prepared to do things his own way.
The fact he was doing it from Wales perhaps made it more difficult for some in England to swallow, and certainly, to these eyes and ears, there appeared to be a degree of bias towards the English sides during Sky Sports’ coverage of the play-offs.
Now comes the Swans’ greatest challenge, trying to transfer the brand of football dished up last season into the Premiership, starting away to the competition’s latest money-bags, Manchester City, next Tuesday morning (5am EST).
The contrast could not be more stark.
It’s a massive challenge for Rodgers, especially considering one of the key planks in last season’s run, Italian striker Fabio Borini, signed with Serie A outfit Parma.
The 20-year-old, on loan from Chelsea in the back half of last season, was a revelation, not only a constant provider of open play and set piece goals, but as a real focal point of the Swans attack.
Whether he was dropping off to take a touch and set up the play from deep or making diagonal runs, his dynamic movement and touch graced the field.
Borini’s combination with the two wide players, Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer, was another feature, with his movement often opening up space for these flyers to make diagonal runs.
In looking to fill the hole up front, Rodgers has gone for Danny Graham, the Championship’s leading scorer last season (24 goals), signed for a club record 3.5 million pounds from Watford.
Graham is a player Rodgers knows well and, by all reports and the snippets I’ve seen of him, has the game, both inside and outside the box, to fill Borini’s boots.
While there was interest from Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion, Graham decided on Swansea as much for their style of play and the impression Rodgers made on him.
With good finishing and movement, Graham appears a natural fit, and with Sinclair and Dyer flying down the flanks, and Steven Dobbie, Wayne Routledge and Leroy Lita lending support, Swansea should pose a real goal threat.
Prompting them all from the holding midfield role is tiny 21 year old Joey Allen, the real barometer of the side.
Always looking to play and tactically mature, Allen is an impressive combination of ball-winner and user, and Socceroos fans should get a chance to see him when he fronts up for Wales at Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow morning (4.45am EST).
Allen’s role for Swansea will also be to bring in the forward minded fullbacks, the delightfully named Spaniard Angel Rangel on the right, and fellow Welsh international Neil Taylor down the left.
While building enough depth remains an ongoing battle for Rodgers, if he has a bit of luck with injuries, his football might just be enough to not only survive the season, but win over England and the world.
While much of the world will be fixated on the Premier League’s pointy end, I, for one, will also spare an eye for the Swans, hoping they can maintain their way.
Here’s Rodgers summing it up well; “I think the Premier League will be a better place this season having Swansea City in it.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
A win for Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham against Manchester City this week could hand the Premier League title to Spurs' arch rivals Arsenal. So be…
There were many disgusted by the overall spectacle at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon when the Phoenix and Victory played out a cagey 0-0…
Leandro Trossard scored the only goal after 20 minutes, to keep the pressure on Manchester City.
It's going down to the wire. Arsenal have earned a critical 1-0 win at Manchester United, a victory that ensures the Premier League title…
Two more wins. That's all that separates Manchester City from becoming English champions for an unprecedented fourth straight year. The game is up, though,…
The Sky Blues took the lead at home but couldn't hold on as the Mariners came back to claim a 2-1 win in the first leg of the semifinal.
