Duff delivers his transfer desire – at least two or three more please
Michael Duff is clear in his desire for the remainder of the transfer window as he aims to deliver two or three new players for the Swans and that is on the assumption that nobody moves on.
Given the still strong chance that Joel Piroe will be a leaver in this window that number could increase in the next two weeks with Duff ready for departures given his experience over many years in the game.
“If no one leaves the building I think we are two short, possibly three,” Duff said as he faced the press yesterday.
“But I am pretty certain there will be movement in and out because I’ve been in the game thirty years.”
It is transfer neutral at the Swans this summer with eight new additions to the squad being balanced by eight who have moved on – or returned to parent clubs – since the end of last season.
There have been strong links with Bashir Humphreys and Sam McCallum in recent weeks whilst Duff added that there are five or six players under consideration at the moment.
Some of our activity in the coming two weeks will also be driven by whether we manage to hold onto Piroe having tentatively opened discussions on an extended contract although a move away still feels the most likely outcome despite what could be a surprising lack of movement so far. “Am I surprised? Probably,” said Duff.
“He’s a good player but the flip side to that, is that you’d be disappointed if none of your players weren’t linked anywhere because you wouldn’t have a very good squad.
“As far as I’m aware I don’t think there’s been a concrete bid.”
Michael Duff : I’m here to coach the players that are here. My job is to improve them
Michael Duff is looking towards Saturday and for a complete improvement in certain areas of his sides display when they take on Coventry City at the Swansea.Com Stadium. With no injuries, and seemingly a clear bill of health the Swans face the Sky Blues with numerous things to out right after their 3-2 defeat last week d to West Bromwich Albion.
Talking on this weekends game Duff was upbeat but recognises the issues in front of him, and with what he has witnessed over the first two league games. “In every stat we win, XG, corners, so there are positives within it, can we be better ? Absolutely. We’ve gone away from home they’ve had three shots on target, we’ve conceded all three, if you look at the two games we’ve had we haven’t been opened up once. We’ve been working hard, we just need to be better with the ball”
It was a ‘curt’ response but a realistic one to the question on how far Duff is away from turning a draw and defeat in to victories. “ I’ve no idea, it’s every day habits, it’s going to take time, no one is trying to kid anyone on, but we know with the ball we’ve been a little bit too slow, and a little bit too passive. We need to play with a little bit more zip through the thirds”
On squad work this week Duff explained, “The reaction from the players has been positive, we have worked on things we feel we need to improve on. A lot has been on the in-possession side of things but, of course, there has to be a balance because you can’t just work on one part of the game. It’s just about getting that clarity in what we want. I am not one for having 70 per cent of the ball in your own half, but I’m also not one for just booting it upfield. I want us to play through teams, that is what we have worked on, whether it comes off we will see but it is something we are trying to adapt.
It was an interesting comment on the lack of ‘zip’ – much of what the Swans do goes through captain Matt Grimes who can be accused at times of slowing down the game. So how will that change ? It seems Duff isn’t too happy with the fitness of some players, especially recent acquisitions. “A few of the ones we’ve been bringing in, we are getting people in but they are not fit. My remit is to make the players better. There has been a revolving door, there have been new faces, it’s going to take a little bit of time to knit it all together “
Swansea City v Coventry City goes ahead on Saturday at 3pm.
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