By Paul Jones
Andy Fisher insists the possession-based football played at Swansea City was a major draw in convincing him to move from MK Dons.
The goalkeeper – who has stepped up from League One to follow his former head coach Russell Martin for a fee that could rise to £500,000 – has said the passing style adopted by his new club was a big attraction.
It’s an approach that is not yielding results for the Swans at present, with the club having lost their last four games on the bounce – a sequence in danger of being extended to five if they lose at Huddersfield on Saturday, where Fisher is in line to make his debut.
We’re getting a great goalkeeper in Andy Fisher. pic.twitter.com/t4Qd1YVzaw
— thomas 🦢 (@scfcthomas) January 10, 2022
The 23-year-old, who began at Blackburn Rovers before being given a free transfer to MK Dons 18 months ago, said: “I am delighted the move is done.
“It’s an opportunity to play Championship football, but also I worked with the gaffer at MK Dons and the style of football he wants to play is just fantastic.
“I wanted to get back to that because it is something I really enjoyed doing.
“I went on loan there first, and once you are in the position and you work on it, is an unbelievable way of playing even if people may look at it and think it’s a bit scary.
“I just really enjoyed it, I feel comfortable with the ball at my feet, and with the level of detail Russell and Luke put in it just makes it so much easier for me.
Martin is not the only Swansea coach Fisher has worked under before and he told the club’s website, “I loved working with (goalkeeping coach) Dean Thornton as well, who was great for me at MK Dons.
“They wanted nothing but the best from me as a group of coaches.
“I feel they will get the most out of me, and knowing that meant this was a great opportunity for me.
“I am really hungry to make the most of this opportunity.”
“There was a time where the goalkeeper’s job was only to keep the ball out of the net, and obviously that is still a vital part of the job,” he added.
“But that is not the case now, you have to be comfortable with the ball at your feet, that is what sides want to see and have at their disposal.
A few clips of Goalkeeper Andy Fisher playing out from the back ⚽️🧤#football #mkdons #swanseacity #efl #footballleague #gkunion #DTGA #deanthorntongoalkeeperacademy #keeper pic.twitter.com/dpVFQchQDQ
— Dean Thornton (@DMTkeepers) January 11, 2022
“You look at the top teams like Manchester City and Liverpool, and a lot of other good teams, and they are committed to playing out from the back.
“You have to be able to play your part in that side of it too as a goalkeeper, in that respect I think the game is changing very much for the better.”
Ben Hamer has been Swansea’s first choice keeper this season, but Fisher is likely to get an immediate opportunity to prove himself this weekend.
The club’s other goalkeeper, Steven Benda, has completed a loan move to Peterborough for the rest of the season.