Bob Bradley insists he can change Swansea City’s fortunes, even though he admits it will not be as instant as his transformed dress code.
The man in a black sweatshirt and trousers at Arsenal a week ago – subject to fashion critiques that he resembled a bank robber – chose a sharp grey suit for his home debut, but was unable to provide the full colour of three points after a 0-0 draw with Watford.
But the American insists there were enough signs of progress to suggest his troubled team can soon start to climb out of and away from the Premier League relegation zone.
Asked about his changed attire, Bradley simply responded: “I will just have to see what the reviews are.”
But on the matter of his team, he outlined in detail his optimism, tempered by disappointment that Watford should have become the first team in Premier League history to become a victim of Uncle Sam, rather than Big Sam.
“For me, there were a lot of positives and things to build on, but we have also got to be honest and admit we are disappointed not to win,” he said.
“The work to become a good team is hard and that’s why most teams don’t become good.
“I thought the second half was strong. We have to trust the fact that if we do all the little things to improve, then the results will come.
“On a number of occasions, I thought, ‘here it comes’, but when it doesn’t come you have to be positive. It gives us a solid base.”
Bradley has shown he is not afraid to quickly re-shape a team that has not gained a victory since the opening day of the season and he made five changes from the team lost his opening match at Arsenal.
Two of those were in central defence where Alfie Mawson – a forgotten man under Francesco Guidolin – was given a debut alongside Mike van der Hoorn.
Mawson was calm and generally commanding against the threat of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo and Bradley added: “Alfie Mawson has earned respect from team-mates day-in and day-out.
“He has a real presence, is not afraid to talk and to organize and he’s a solid passer. For a first game, I thought he was very good and I was very pleased.”
The Swans are now two points adrift of the clubs above the drop zone and have difficult matches to come against Stoke, Manchester United, Everton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham.
But Bradley added: “If we continue to go in that direction the points will come. The work to become a good team is always difficult so we need to keep going.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere for my first game at the Liberty. We have a way to go to be where we want to be as a team but with that support we will get there.”
Watford always looked capable of going away with the draw and manager Walter Mazzarri felt they could have claimed all three points if two penalty claims had gone their way.
Mazzarri said: “I am happy with the point and the first half performance, considering it was an away game.
“In the second half, we made some mistakes and allowed Swansea to be dangerous, but there were two penalties that should have been given. We were not very lucky with those.”
“We should be happy in general. We have proved lately that we are a good team and the Burnley defeat was just one episode.
“We are growing in personality as a team, but we have to play for the whole game, not just one half.”