"Fully on board with the idea" - Swansea City offered advice as big Alan Sheehan decision looms | OneFootball

Swansea City are much improved since Sheehan took over from Luke Williams, but a decision still looms

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Swansea City have seen an upturn in results since Alan Sheehan took the reins from Luke Williams.

The latter was relieved of his duties after a run of poor results left the Swans languishing in the bottom half.

But Sheehan’s takeover has seen the Welsh outfit record two wins and a draw in his first three Championship games.

With that in mind, we asked our Swansea Fan Pundit, Will, whether Sheehan or a new, overseas manager may be the pick moving forward.

European gambles tempting despite Sheehan success

Speaking to Football League World, Will said: “To be honest, I'm fully on board with the idea of looking for the next manager overseas.

“Just a word on Sheehan first; I think he's done a really good job since he came in. There’s an air of positivity back at the club, we are playing exciting football, and we have played three very tough opponents. Two teams pushing the play-offs, one team who hasn't lost at home since, I believe, November. To get seven points out of nine, where I think a lot wouldn't have expected us to get any, is pretty good going.

“There's been a lot of talk on social media about the way we're playing these games and the style. I don't think that can be judged as of yet. We haven't had as much possession as fans would want, and we've been a little bit more direct in our approach.

“A lot of supporters have pointed out the long balls and whatnot, but I don't think it's your typical route one. I think they're balls in the channel, cross-field passes, balls over the top to play players in. So, I don't see it as your typical hoofball, as such.

“But I'm more interested to see how we go up against the teams below us, so, you know, we've got Plymouth, Hull, Oxford and Derby still to play at home.

“I’m encouraged because I'm eager to see how we approach those games. And if it's the same, then I can understand why fans might be a bit, ‘Okay, maybe he's not the right option’, but if we dominate those games; balls on the floor, we play really nice football, then you can clearly see he's changing the tactics for different games, which I'm all for.

“We've had loads of managers in the past who have just stuck to plan A, and that is it, regardless of who the opposition is, regardless of who's playing, it's plan A or bust.

“I'd be quite happy to see if we do change it up depending on who we play. I feel like that's how you can maximise the players you've got and maximise your possibilities of getting points, you know?

“And plus, it keeps the opposition guessing. But of course, we'll wait and see what happens between now and the end of the season.

“If we can see that he’s changing depending on the opposition and, you know, he's pulled us up higher towards the top half of the table, then, of course, his name's got to be in the hat. I'm not oblivious to that.

“But I still do think the main option has got to be an overseas manager. That has to be the first option.

“If there are no options out there, and we aren't able to get anyone, and there's no other option back here in the UK, then I would rather us stick with Sheehan than just get someone in on a whim, who's an appointment that no one fancies, and it's just someone we've got on the cheap because they're available.”

There are plenty of recent Championship examples for Swansea to follow

Picking up a foreign coach from a fairly unrecognised team, or with little experience, can look a masterstroke when pulled off correctly, and is working for a few second-tier sides currently.

You only need to look at Regis Le Bris, who had only managed French side Lorient for a couple of years before taking the Sunderland post, to see the best of it.

Few were backing Sunderland for greatness this season, and they have proven to be one of the teams to beat in the division.

There’s also the likes of Danny Rohl, who had never held a senior, permanent management post in football before he arrived at Sheffield Wednesday, managed to help them avoid relegation against the odds last season, and now has the Owls comfortably in mid-table in this campaign, not a million miles away from the play-offs.

But Wednesday also provides a clear example that it’s not always plain sailing.

It was Xisco Munoz’s mess that Rohl had to come in and clear up – the former not managing to register a single league win in his few months at the club, having had brief experiences with Watford plus stints in the likes of the Spanish second tier and Cyprus.

The Owls, in a nutshell, show that it can be a bit of a gamble when shopping in the European market for managers with little English football experience, but the rewards can be huge.