By David Williams
Russell Martin has threatened to end his ‘Mr Nice Guy’ routine as he tries to find a way to halt Swansea City’s longest run without a win since they dropped out of the Premier League in 2018.
The 2-1 defeat at Reading in midweek meant the Swans slipped to 16th and have now gone eight games without a win.
They last tasted victory in the 2-0 south Wales derby win over Cardiff City on 23 October.
Now, they face back-to-back home games against Watford on Friday night and Championship leaders Burnley on Monday, with Martin trying to find the formula that saw his side rise as high as fourth earlier in the campaign.
Oh what I’d give to have this JB back in a swans shirt or someone of similar quality down the right hand side!
It’s what we are crying out for and if we don’t invest in this area in January then it shows we have no ambition whatsoever.
Over to you Swansea city 🤍🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/WrOOYet1eO
— Garry Leech (@garryleechswans) December 17, 2022
“Maybe they’re too nice because we’re too nice to them, I don’t know. We’ll have to have a chat about that,” said Martin of his players in the wake of the defeat at Reading.
“We treat them how we feel we would want to be treated as a player. Maybe they reflect how they get treated.
“We treat them as human beings first and maybe that doesn’t breed a real ugliness or aggressive approach in the box.
“We have to try and manufacture a way to find that if it’s not natural to them.”
Beaten four times in 11 home games to date this season, Martin was angry at the way his side once again conceded from a set-piece, giving them the second worst record behind Bristol City in that aspect for the season.
They may dominate the ball in most matches with their particular style, but they have failed for much of the season to command their box.
Andy Carroll’s goal was the 10th they have conceded in their own box this season and Martin wants it to stop.
“We function so well between the boxes, but we have a real problem with the mentality in our box.
It’s a shame that what Russell Martin is trying to build at Swansea is constantly undermined by sagas like this. Every other week there seems to be an issue with this group of players. There are far too many average players with huge egos thinking they’re bigger than the club. https://t.co/FswdZhWBjN
— Adam Cleary (@AdamCleary7) December 24, 2022
“We don’t give up a massive amount of chances but we are conceding from those situations too often,” said Martin.
“The goals we concede are hurtful and poor. Reading showed a mentality in both boxes that we don’t have at the minute.”
With speculation surrounding Martin about a possible move back to his former club Norwich City in the wake of Dean Smith’s sacking, the Swansea players need to find a way to convince their boss they can get back into the play-off mix to get him to sign a new contract.
They are only three points off the top six but having only picked up five out of a possible 24 points in their recent run they are fading fast.
Having made the play offs twice in the past three seasons, they are now a place below last season’s finishing position of 15th.
