By Rob Cole
Jamie Paterson is urging Swansea City fans to embrace the playing philosophy new manager Russell Martin is introducing at the club and to stay patient.
Martin has been in Wales for less than a month and has already seen his team lose twice and draw once in the Championship. Tonight (Friday) they head across the Severn Bridge to face Paterson’s old club Bristol City.
Paterson scored on his Swansea debut in a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn and then featured in the goalless draw at home to Sheffield United and the 3-1 midweek defeat to Stoke City at the Swansea.com Stadium.
He joined Swansea two days after Martin was unveiled as the new head coach and understands the growing pains his new team is going to go through as everyone tries to get to grips with the new playing style.
He experienced the same thing when David Wagner came into Huddersfield Town when he was on loan there.
“I’ve been in this position a couple of times before in my career. It was a similar situation when I was at Huddersfield and David Wagner came in and totally transformed everything,” he added.
“I will never forget the first game we played against Middlesbrough. They were top of the league, we were rock bottom, yet we had 80% possession and lost 2-0.
“Even so, we got clapped off and progressed from there. We didn’t get the results we wanted in the first few games, but as the performances and fitness got better they were promoted to the Premier League at the end of the next season.
“That’s the plan for every team. When the style changes completely the results will be up and down, so everyone just needs to be patient.
“It is going to be a tough period for us because there is a big change from the way the lads were playing last season. If you are going to play that way you need a good pre-season to get the fitness right and to learn the patterns of play.
“It is going to be up and down for a little bit, but we will get better as the games go on. We aren’t far into the season and it is still very early days.
“We’ve had a couple of lads out with COVID and a few others who aren’t match fit, so it has been a difficult start. We’re all very confident it will turn around and we have played some good stuff at times.
#SwanseaCity are paying the price for having a lack of funds to replace players who scored 15+ goals a season. I love how RM has gone back to the possession playing style, but won’t help if there’s no-one to create and score goals. Need to aim for middle table this season.
— Matthew Thomas 🏴 (@mcthomas2905) August 17, 2021
“I’ve played for different managers who have completely different ideas and styles to those who have gone before them. Russell wants to play the Swansea way, which is what the fans want their team to do.
“Playing that way just takes a bit of work and a bit of time because you have to think about it a bit more to begin with. There will be a few individual errors that will end up in conceding a goal, but once you are confident and fitter it all falls into place.”
The 30-year-old striker notched 26 goals in 157 appearances over the past five years for Bristol City, but will have one aim in mind when he returns to his old stamping ground – notching a first league win of the season for the Swans.
“I played at Ashton Gate for five years and really enjoyed my time there. Bristol became a real home away from home for me and I’m really excited about going back to play there,” said Paterson.
“We had some good cup runs and probably should have got into the play-offs a couple of times. I’ve got friends there for life and I’ve missed some of the back room staff and other friends I made in the city.
“There was a change in manager, chief executive and other staff at the club last season so there was a chance for those players out of contract to do whatever they wanted to do. I chose to go to Swansea and it has turned out well for me.
“It would be nice to go back to Ashton Gate and get my first win with Swansea. Once you cross the white line it doesn’t matter who you are playing against you want to win every game and score as many goals as you can.
“The quicker we get a win under our belt the quicker we will grow in confidence.”
Paterson can’t wait to play in front of a packed house once again at Ashton Gate having had to go through last season without any fans in the ground. He also knows it is going to be a red hot atmosphere.
“Swansea and Cardiff were always the two games that created a great atmosphere at Ashton Gate. I remember it spilling over onto the pitch a little a few years ago, so with the fans back it should be a little bit more lively than it has been,” added Paterson.
“It has been a while since I played there with fans in the ground. Hopefully I won’t get booed and I’ll get a good reception.
“It’s not until you are driving away from somewhere like Ashton Gate for the last time that you realise who and what you are going to miss most. I used to get on very well with Jen in the kitchen, as well as others in the back room staff, and it wasn’t easy moving on.
“I’ve played at three or four clubs in this league and so I’m used to going back to play against a former team. You do look out for fixtures like that and this one has come within a few weeks of me joining Swansea
“I won’t celebrate if I score. I just want to go back there, put on a good performance and get the result we need.
“Everything has been going great for me at Swansea barring the results so far. I’m just glad to be here and everything has worked out well for me.”