In 2011, Tottenham and Wigan were alerted to the possibility of signing a Celta Vigo midfielder called Michu, who was available on a free transfer. Both decided not to take things any further.
Last summer they got another bite at the cherry. The elegant Spaniard, now playing for Rayo Vallecano, had just finished the season as La Liga’s top-scoring midfielder and had a buy-out clause of just £2.2m in his contract.
Again they erred, leaving Swansea City unopposed as they signed the 26-year-old.
The rest is history and few would argue with Swansea boss Michael Laudrup in describing Michu as the bargain of the season.
When he was offered as a freebie he’d scored 15 goals in 103 games in the Spanish 2nd Division.
When he signed for Swansea he’s scored 15 goals in 37 games in La Liga.
We chose to sign Kone who’d scored 15 goals in 34 games in La Liga.
Not a lot in it really and who’s to say Kone wouldn’t be doing the same now had he signed for Swansea?
Are you suggesting that Swansea are better than us Jonny ? I was thinking about this the other day and that Swansea have taken their game to the next level and are getting plenty of plaudits for it despite being no bigger a club than us.They do play a better passing game than us and can move the ball through the midfield a hell of a lot quicker than us. Their squad isn’t any better than ours and I don’t think they have more money than us to spend do they ? What RM initially instilled into them has sort of come to fruition but what happened to our progression ? Where is our fruition ? Is Rogers a better manager ? is Laudrup a better manager ? Rogers went to Liverpool, but was he second choice behind RM ? What I am trying to say is that I don’t see a great deal of difference between our players and Swansea’s yet they play the better football in my opinion and the media love them for the style they play, the style that was instilled by our very own RM ?
When he was offered as a freebie he’d scored 15 goals in 103 games in the Spanish 2nd Division.
When he signed for Swansea he’s scored 15 goals in 37 games in La Liga.
We chose to sign Kone who’d scored 15 goals in 34 games in La Liga.
Not a lot in it really and who’s to say Kone wouldn’t be doing the same now had he signed for Swansea?
Are you suggesting that Swansea are better than us Jonny ? I was thinking about this the other day and that Swansea have taken their game to the next level and are getting plenty of plaudits for it despite being no bigger a club than us.They do play a better passing game than us and can move the ball through the midfield a hell of a lot quicker than us. Their squad isn’t any better than ours and I don’t think they have more money than us to spend do they ? What RM initially instilled into them has sort of come to fruition but what happened to our progression ? Where is our fruition ? Is Rogers a better manager ? is Laudrup a better manager ? Rogers went to Liverpool, but was he second choice behind RM ? What I am trying to say is that I don’t see a great deal of difference between our players and Swansea’s yet they play the better football in my opinion and the media love them for the style they play, the style that was instilled by our very own RM ?[/quote]
I’m saying nothing of the sort.
Horses for courses. Players play well for certain clubs but not for others.
Michu incidentally, was signed as a midfielder my Swansea by was put up front when Graham was misfiring and suddenly he’s a superstar.
He may have been crap if we’d signed him, in the same way N’Zogbia was poor at Newcastle and at Villa but looked a world-beater for us.
Swansea are playing the football we played at the end of last season. If we can get some consistency, there’s not reason why we can’t be in position they’re in.
Lets not forget the influence somebody the stature of Michael Laudrup could have in a transfer especially of a Spanish player.
Someone said to him in a press conference recently ‘You played with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona…’
To which he replied “He would maybe say that he played with me”
Which is probably about right!
But did they not play better football under Brendan Rodgers than they did under RM ? In my opinion Rodgers took them up a level and Laudrup has put the icing on the cake ! I just feel that I have a valid point here ! I am not anti RM but with the Swansea comparison he does seem to have some short comings ! In other words he is not the great manager that some like to think he is !
Lets not forget the influence somebody the stature of Michael Laudrup could have in a transfer especially of a Spanish player.
Someone said to him in a press conference recently ‘You played with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona…’
To which he replied “He would maybe say that he played with me”
Which is probably about right!
But did they not play better football under Brendan Rodgers than they did under RM ? In my opinion Rodgers took them up a level and Laudrup has put the icing on the cake ! I just feel that I have a valid point here ! I am not anti RM but with the Swansea comparison he does seem to have some short comings ! In other words he is not the great manager that some like to think he is ![/quote]
A few Swansea fans on Talkshite this week and, to a man, they credit Roberto with starting the Swansea revolution and the others just carrying it on.
On Michu, I’d be interested to see what wages he is on. He may have been out of our range anyway.