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Naughton’s time with Swansea has not always been rosy. He’s also happy to run with the ball and advance into the opposition half against teams who don’t press intensely.
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We have seen in previous games this season that Naughton isn’t just there to play the easy passes. To put this in context, the entire Barnsley team managed just 153. Naughton completed 162 passes at Oakwell. You can become even more involved with WalesOnline's Swansea City coverage by signing up to leave comments on stories, delivering your verdict, discussing the biggest breaking news and also chatting to our journalists in our dedicated Q&As. Most of his passes didn’t appear too complicated but it makes such a difference to have a player in that position who can be trusted with the ball at his feet. Naughton always offered an option for his team-mates and kept the ball moving at all times. You always need somebody at the heart of defence who is safe in possession, even when the opposition is trying to press, in order to play out from the back. The former Spurs man is at the centre of it all, sitting in a position where he is always available for a pass and always looking for options in front of him.Īcross the entire Championship only Matt Grimes and Fulham’s Tim Ream have made more passes than Naughton this season and of all the players who have made more than 10 starts this campaign, he has the best pass completion rate in the division.Īgainst Barnsley on Wednesday night we saw why a player like Naughton is so important in this system. The manager needed somebody in the heart of defence who could dictate the Swans’ passing game and that’s exactly what he got with Naughton. Swansea could have the world’s best defender on their books but if his feet weren’t up to scratch, it’s unlikely he would make the bench under Martin. Naughton’s composure means his judgement is usually spot on, which may explain why he has only committed four fouls all season.Īnd of course a big advantage of having a former full-back in the middle of the defence is that he’s extremely comfortable playing out from the back, which is essential in this side. His maturity also gives him an edge in his decision-making. Naughton has made more interceptions than any other Swansea player this season, showing how well he reads the game. He’s stood up well against the big boys but his pace means he’s also well-equipped to deal with balls in behind and more intricate play from the opposition. Even during the South Wales derby, playing against one of the most direct sides in the division, he won all of his aerial duels and made more headers than any other player.
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In the ultra-physical world of Championship football, one would expect a centre-back of Naughton’s stature to be bullied by bigger strikers but he has generally done pretty well against the more brutish forwards.
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He has kept his place in the side because against all odds, he has made this position his own. Only four Swansea players have played more minutes than Naughton this season, showing how important he has become. If he gets another one today against Reading, it will be his longest starting streak since the Swans were relegated from the Premier League. He is currently on a run of 14 consecutive league starts. Nevertheless he has excelled in the role and has by now established himself as a key player in Russell Martin’s system. Naughton, who must be one of the division’s shortest centre-backs at exactly six feet tall, doesn’t exactly fit this stereotype. READ MORE: The latest Swansea City news and views can be found right here This position is usually reserved for the biggest, nastiest defender, possibly the one who would struggle most for pace if dragged into wider areas or the one best placed to win headers against an imposing opposition striker. It raised a few eyebrows at the time but Naughton has settled into the role very impressively. He even played several games in central midfield under Graham Potter and did surprisingly well there.īut at the age of 33 he may have finally found the position he was born to play.Įarly in the season, Russell Martin took the bold move of placing Naughton smack bang in the middle of a back three and that’s where he has stayed ever since. He has regularly switched from right-back to left-back throughout his career. Naughton has always been a very versatile player. Many Swansea City fans have complained for years that Kyle Naughton doesn’t get enough credit but with the veteran defender playing an unexpected starring role, that may no longer be true.