The biggest game of Monk’s managerial career

Swansea City take on Bournemouth this Saturday and it’s likely to be one of the most important games of Garry Monk’s managerial career.

After just one Premier League win in eight matches (with five losses so far this season), the Swans are sat in 14th place in the table. Considering the poor quality of football that’s been played and the lack of points picked up, it could actually be worse.

However if Swansea can’t win against fellow strugglers Bournemouth at home, there are likely to be repercussions for Monk.

There are no excuses this weekend. Monk has a fully fit squad to choose from, the Liberty Stadium will be in full voice and Eddie Howe’s Cherries are lacking as much confidence, if not more.

Anything other than a win will be head-scratchingly worrying.

And it is bizarre because, with the quality in Swansea’s side - Ayew, Ki, Montero, Sigurdsson, Williams and Fabianski to name a few - you’d expect the team to muster up a win or two.

It’s either a confidence issue or an effort issue, which is why the starting eleven needs to be changed - for this game at least. Despite criticism and pleas from fans for change, Monk has stubbornly stuck to the same line-up for the past few games and it’s just not working.

We know why he’s done this - it’s his strongest group of players and, by definition, that should be the team he starts. But some of those players need a kick up the ass and those waiting on the bench now deserve a rare 90 minutes.

I’m not sure how bad Eder is in training, but surely after spending £5m on the striker he deserves a full game? Especially with Bafetimbi Gomis in the form he’s in (which, if you’ve not been paying attention, is pretty damn poor).

Then there’s Franck Tabanou who must warrant at least one Premier League start, or fringe players like Leon Britton, Jordi Amat and even Jack Cork - I want to see things shaken up completely. What have we got to lose?

Whoever Monk selects, the players need to step up and fight for their boss and the club that pays their wages. Not one Swans player can really hold his head up high and say ‘I’ve performed’ at the moment. Some have been worse than others, but no-one should be guaranteed a place based on their form in the summer.

It’ll be an interesting game. A win and the past few weeks won’t seem as bad. A loss - or even a draw - and everyone at Swansea may have to do some serious thinking.