Bob Bradley has been sacked as Swansea boss after just 11 games in charge
Swansea have sacked boss Bob Bradley after the American head coach oversaw just 11 Premier League games.
Of those games he picked up just two wins and two draws and the Swans are currently 19th in the Premier League table.
The former USA national team boss was sacked on Tuesday after the team had suffered a 4-1 home defeat against West Ham on Boxing Day.
The defeat meant the Swans had conceded 29 goals in Bradley’s short stay as boss.
To say his appointment was a gamble would be a major understatement. It was a gamble that could result in major penalties for the Welsh club and its new American investors.
Out of his depth
All the bluster about Bradley getting the job just because he was American has really come back to bit the club on the backside. Bradley nationality had nothing to do with his managerial ability and in the end, he was simply out of his depth.
When he was appointed I questioned if his CV was one of a boss that should be managing in the English top-flight. It turns out it was not. Managing in the MLS, Norwegian top-flight and French second tier are not exactly great preparation for the harsh world of the Premier League.
At 58-years-old nobody has offered him the chance to manage in England before and it turns out there was a reason why. Quite simply he did not have the managerial acumen to thrive in the Premier League.
Bradley had moaned in the past about the same old faces getting Premier League jobs and failing, yet still getting jobs in the top-flight. He even stated that new bosses should be given their chance in the Premier League to impress.
Well, he well and truly blew his chance in the Premier League and is unlikely to ever get another opportunity to coach in a top European league.
Bradley not to blame for the Swans demise
Swansea are in a dogfight, but to completely blame Bradley for the Swans position would be unfair. It seems the Swans hierarchy, including former owner Huw Jenkins, have decided to cash-in to the detriment of the team.
Previously Swansea looked like a very well-run Premier League club. They sold the occasional player to make ends meet, but their recruitment was spot on. That has all changed in the last 12 months.
Prior to the beginning of the campaign, I expressed my worry for the Swans. They had sold centre-back Ashley Williams and star attacker Andre Ayew. Basically, they had sold two of their best players. Williams’s leadership has been badly missed at the back.
It seems the club’s hierarchy has now put profit before the team’s success. That is something that will never be appreciated by any set of Premier League fans.
Jenkins, who is still the club’s chairman, has gone from a highly respected figure to somebody who is seen as a betrayer of the club. The clubs current position says it all about the clubs hierarchy.
Who next for Swansea?
For me, Francesco Guidolin’s sacking in October was slightly harsh. However, the club had previously been very good at picking bosses in recent history. Let’s hope for the Swans sake their next choice is better than their last.
The three current favourites for the job are Alan Pardew, Chris Coleman and Ryan Giggs. Pardew is currently the favourite for the job at odds of 5/2. If anybody read my article about Pardew after his sacking from Palace you will know my feelings on the former Newcastle boss.
Coleman is a former Swansea player. He has thrived as the Wales boss, with the highlight being guiding the Dragons to the semi-final of Euro 2016. His managerial record in club football is not great, though.
Ryan Giggs was actually one of the favourites to be given the job prior to Bradley’s arrival. However, he was overlooked in favour of the American. Giggs has no experience as a manager but has lots of coaching experience at Manchester United.
Whoever takes the Swansea job will have a major task on their hands to keep the Swans in the Premier League. One of the deciding factors may be backing in the January transfer window. If the club backs the new boss in the winter transfer window they may just survive the drop.
If not, then the Swans could be in for a very long and difficult campaign. However, surely at least the next manager will have Premier League experience. Who knows they may just be able to keep the Swans in the English top-flight because it seemed unlikely that Bradley would have.
Who should be the next Swan boss?
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