Post by QPR Report on Sept 25, 2009 8:23:55 GMT
The Dogs Bark and The Caravan Moves on 
South Yorkshire Star- The golden generation: Midfielder Paulo Sousa was one of the best players of his era but he has yet to taste the same success in his role as a manager
By James Shield
HE was member of Portugal's 'Golden Generation'.
One of the finest midfielder's of his era whose potent mix of power and precision captured the imagination at Benfica, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus as well as satisfying a voracious appetite for silverware.
Now behind the manager's desk at Swansea City, Paulo Sousa's brief is to sprinkle the same stardust across the black and white corner of South Wales.
A run of two wins, four draws and four defeats might not represent the magical start he was hoping for after succeeding Roberto Martinez at the helm.
But - according to Nathan Dyer, the former Sheffield United loanee who faces his old club at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow, behind the scenes the Portuguese's methods and principles have already impressed.
"When Paulo came in he told us he loves the way Swansea play and that he wasn't going to change too much," Dyer told The Star.
"I spoke to a couple of lads who worked with him at Queens Park Rangers and they reckoned he was really good to work for.
"The chairman here wouldn't have brought someone in who wanted to take a completely different approach so that was good to know.
"Basically he's kept things the same, although he's obviously added his own little bits an pieces."
Dyer refused to elaborate on what those tactical nuances are - "They're trade secrets," he laughed - but injecting some more steel without sacrificing invention appears to be one of the policies Sousa is pursuing.
"The Championship is a tough league," Dyer, who joined Swansea in January, said. "It's full of tough players and it can be fast and furious.
"Believe me, we've had people come here and try to kick seven bells out of us.
"United play to a high tempo and that's great. Getting the ball down and playing to a tempo is what really suits me.
"There's no doubt you need grit and determination because without that you're nothing.
You've got to win your personal duels and be strong in them.
"We've got lads here who can go both ways and, because of how a lot of teams try to play against us, that's a good thing."
A lack of goals has been Swansea's most pressing concern this season with only three scored in their last eight league outings.
Dyer is one of those players inherited from Martinez who Sousa believes can rectify arguably the biggest problem standing between his team and a repeat of last season's top-six challenge.
"I love it here because they trust me on the ball wherever I am on the pitch," he said.
"One of the things Roberto really impressed upon us, and which Paulo has also stressed is, the importance of being smart.
"Football isn't just about smashing into people.
"But, at the same time, you've got to know when to be strong and when not to get drawn into those types of battles.
"Everyone here loves to play and I'm no different.
"It's about trying to be a little bit intelligent."
Swansea's continental flavour extends far beyond the touchline, though, and Dyer, whose quiet demeanour masks a rabid hunger to learn, is revelling in the opportunity to broaden his own horizon's with new ideas and techniques.
Citing Jordi Gomez, who followed Martinez to Wigan during the summer recess, the winger said: "When I was younger, I always wanted to rush things.
"Obviously speed is one of my biggest strengths but I kept trying to do everything at 100 miles per hour.
"People kept telling me to slow down and when I came here there were five or six Spanish boys.
"One of them I used to watch a lot was Jordi.
"He showed me how to take your time, not to showboat, but to ease up a bit and try to be cleverer.
"No player has everything - well, apart from someone like Ronadinho - but I'm trying to put a little bit more vision into my game now."
www.thestar.co.uk/sportheadlines/The-golden-boy-needs-to.5679384.jp
South Yorkshire Star- The golden generation: Midfielder Paulo Sousa was one of the best players of his era but he has yet to taste the same success in his role as a manager
By James Shield
HE was member of Portugal's 'Golden Generation'.
One of the finest midfielder's of his era whose potent mix of power and precision captured the imagination at Benfica, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus as well as satisfying a voracious appetite for silverware.
Now behind the manager's desk at Swansea City, Paulo Sousa's brief is to sprinkle the same stardust across the black and white corner of South Wales.
A run of two wins, four draws and four defeats might not represent the magical start he was hoping for after succeeding Roberto Martinez at the helm.
But - according to Nathan Dyer, the former Sheffield United loanee who faces his old club at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow, behind the scenes the Portuguese's methods and principles have already impressed.
"When Paulo came in he told us he loves the way Swansea play and that he wasn't going to change too much," Dyer told The Star.
"I spoke to a couple of lads who worked with him at Queens Park Rangers and they reckoned he was really good to work for.
"The chairman here wouldn't have brought someone in who wanted to take a completely different approach so that was good to know.
"Basically he's kept things the same, although he's obviously added his own little bits an pieces."
Dyer refused to elaborate on what those tactical nuances are - "They're trade secrets," he laughed - but injecting some more steel without sacrificing invention appears to be one of the policies Sousa is pursuing.
"The Championship is a tough league," Dyer, who joined Swansea in January, said. "It's full of tough players and it can be fast and furious.
"Believe me, we've had people come here and try to kick seven bells out of us.
"United play to a high tempo and that's great. Getting the ball down and playing to a tempo is what really suits me.
"There's no doubt you need grit and determination because without that you're nothing.
You've got to win your personal duels and be strong in them.
"We've got lads here who can go both ways and, because of how a lot of teams try to play against us, that's a good thing."
A lack of goals has been Swansea's most pressing concern this season with only three scored in their last eight league outings.
Dyer is one of those players inherited from Martinez who Sousa believes can rectify arguably the biggest problem standing between his team and a repeat of last season's top-six challenge.
"I love it here because they trust me on the ball wherever I am on the pitch," he said.
"One of the things Roberto really impressed upon us, and which Paulo has also stressed is, the importance of being smart.
"Football isn't just about smashing into people.
"But, at the same time, you've got to know when to be strong and when not to get drawn into those types of battles.
"Everyone here loves to play and I'm no different.
"It's about trying to be a little bit intelligent."
Swansea's continental flavour extends far beyond the touchline, though, and Dyer, whose quiet demeanour masks a rabid hunger to learn, is revelling in the opportunity to broaden his own horizon's with new ideas and techniques.
Citing Jordi Gomez, who followed Martinez to Wigan during the summer recess, the winger said: "When I was younger, I always wanted to rush things.
"Obviously speed is one of my biggest strengths but I kept trying to do everything at 100 miles per hour.
"People kept telling me to slow down and when I came here there were five or six Spanish boys.
"One of them I used to watch a lot was Jordi.
"He showed me how to take your time, not to showboat, but to ease up a bit and try to be cleverer.
"No player has everything - well, apart from someone like Ronadinho - but I'm trying to put a little bit more vision into my game now."
www.thestar.co.uk/sportheadlines/The-golden-boy-needs-to.5679384.jp