Thread by @StuartJamesGNM

Need to get a few things off my chest. Brilliant that Daniel James stayed, obviously, but what on earth does it say about how bad things are at Swansea that a transfer window that ends with not a single signing & “only” three players leaving is viewed as some sort of triumph 1/11

The Americans said when they took over “we will be relentless in our determination to continually improve the club – and we have the financial resources to do so”. That’s been exposed as nonsense. Pearlman, the CEO, has confirmed Kaplan & Levien won’t put their own money in 2/11

That approach, allied to some dreadful decisions in the transfer market – resigning Wilfried Bony & Andre Ayew on deadline day takes some beating (always deadline day with this regime) – means Potter has been asked to work a miracle. Remarkably, he’s doing exactly that 3/11

Here’s Swansea’s activity since last summer:
Sold: Amat, Bartley, Clucas, Fabianski, Fernandez, Mawson, Mesa
Loans out: A Ayew, J Ayew, Borja, Bony, Carroll, Montero
Free/released: Ki, Rangel
Retired: Britton
Signed: Asoro, Celina, John, McKay
Loaned: Carter-Vickers
4/11

So 16 first-team players have departed (excludes Abraham/King/Sanches returning to parent clubs]. Swansea have made only four permanent first-team signings & one loan. The disparity between ins and outs, & the failure to reinvest even small sums, is appalling & unacceptable 5/11

Potter’s management, plus youth, has saved the day. Five from the Under-23 team have made their Swansea league debut this season, racking up 54 appearances. Add the games played by Connor Roberts and Oli McBurnie and it’s 110 Championship appearances from that under-23 setup 6/11

One is Dan James and I’m going to take a lot of persuading and convincing that someone other than Huw Jenkins (&, yes, I know – and stand by – my criticism of the chairman for poor transfer dealings) was responsible for ensuring DJ wasn’t pictured in a Leeds shirt last night 7/11

It’s small comfort nobody else can leave for three months. But actions speak louder than words & it would be naive to think anything other than another firesale is around the corner. That is the reputation Swansea have now in the game – a soft touch on deadline day 8/11

For context, I don’t know a Swansea fan who expected the owners to mount a promotion push by spending (like Stoke) or trying to retain high-earning Premier League players (like WBA). A rebuild was needed, and welcomed. But what we’re seeing is the life sucked out of the club 9/11

Potter is hindered by the past, too – & will continue to be. This summer, Dyer, Carroll, Montero, Borja, & Jordan Ayew will still have 12mths to run on big wages. Andre Ayew will have 2yrs. The club couldn’t get a fee for any of them this season. What chance next season? 10/11

More to the point, what chance of keeping Potter? He’s a bloody good manager and a dignified man working for a dysfunctional club that’s run by absentee owners who don’t have any genuine interest in Swansea City or any money. He deserves better than that. And so do the fans 11/11