Since his arrival, Carlos Carvalhal has endeared himself to Swansea City fans with his poetic-like rhetoric and analogies that leave even the journalists with a sense of humour drier than a flip-flop in a sandstorm chuckling.
Whilst the start of his reign as Swansea City manager started with a bang, consecutive wins over both Liverpool and Arsenal eased the critics off his back, the analogies masked what was just another honeymoon period for another Swansea City manager who seems destined to stave off the drop for the Swans.
But, the results have soured and hence so have the analogies from Carvalhal. After an infamous victory over Arsenal, Carvalhal stated how his side were “close to going out of the hospital”. Such signs of positivity resonated with a fanbase devoid of all joy when the former Sheffield Wednesday manager joined the club.
But, surprisingly, when results are less positive on the field – fans care less about analogies of fishing boats and Formula 1 cars and more about three points on the field.
The Swans may have left the hospital – but Carlos you’re most certainly being rushed back in on a stretcher after a relapse.
Despite a purple patch of form under the Portuguese manager, the club have failed to record a single victory in almost a month now, a 4-1 defeat of West Ham United at the Liberty their last taste of three points, and have two massive games against fellow relegation rivals Southampton and Stoke City to secure their survival.
A win in either would almost guarantee their safety, but two losses and relegation would loom large for the South Wales outfit, consigning the team to a place back in the Sky Bet Championship for the first time in seven seasons.
But, it is the off the field issues that have left the club in such a dire situation. It is a constant cycle for the Liberty faithful of watching their assets being stripped each summer, before sacking the manager, appointing a new one in December who brings his own men in, before they avoid relegation and repeat.
Under new ownership, there was cause for optimism, yet little has happened to indicate any change in the foreseeable future. But, it is these decisions that have dragged the Swans away from the shore, as Carlos would say.
With the Welsh outfit languishing one point above the Saints in 17th place, fans will nervously be hoping that magic Carlos can mastermind another quick exit from the A and E department – as one loss and it’s a movement from the A and E department to the morgue, and everyone knows once you’re in the morgue, it’s hard to get back out again.
