Bradley’s last chance: Ultimatum by Swansea fans

Less than two months after we welcomed (and I use that term loosely) Bob Bradley to the club, he faces his ultimatum - issued by the fans.

Because Swansea’s home clash against fellow relegation scrappers Sunderland on Saturday will probably be the game that decides the American manager’s fate.

His fellow American owners may plan to keep him at the club indefinitely - until relegation is secured - however, in the eyes of the fans, this is the one he has to win convincingly to have any chance of staying.

Some fans argue he should have gone by now. While I see where they are coming from, I feel he deserves this game against Sunderland.

In fairness to Bradley, while his tactics and selections have been bizarre, he inherited a very poor squad during a turbulent time and during a tough run of games.

During his stint, he’s lost four, drawn two and won one. From seven games, five points is not too awful for a new manager finding his feet with a club, but it’s the gutless way the side have gone about losing that we have problems with. And the table position.

If - and it’s a big if - he can muster a convincing win against Sunderland, things may get better. The rest of December is our first ‘easy run’ - West Brom, Middlesbrough, West Ham, Bournemouth, and then Crystal Palace again (and we know we can beat them!).

Win against Sunderland, and perhaps the tiniest hint of confidence returns to the team, management and fans. Get a point at West Brom then grab another win or two in the next month and suddenly things don’t seem that bad. Remember, while we are rock bottom, only six points currently separates us from 13th place in the table.

And if the board decide to spend - and they sure have the cash! - then we could bolster the team a little in January, as well as shifting some of the rotting deadwood in the side (Ki - we’re looking at you).

Because, surely, keeping Bradley is better than changing manager for the second time in a season, especially during this grueling festive period?

Having said that, if Bradley fails to win against Moyes’ men on Saturday at the Liberty Stadium he needs to go. If you aren’t beating Sunderland at home, you aren’t beating anyone.

He needs to set up to win the game - start cool-headed, creative players with some fight, such as Leon Britton and Gylfi Sigurdsson, in the centre. Put a proven goalscorer like Fernando Llorente up front.

At the back it’s anyone’s guess, but we must hammer Sunderland with attack, attack, attack, grab an early goal, then do it again. We can’t defend at the moment, so attack is our only option.

If we sit back and let Defoe pop one or two past poor old Fabianski - which is exactly what will happen if we pay Sunderland any respect - then it’s goodbye Bradley. And although some fans would be happy to see that happen, no-one wants another miserable loss.