Williams: Rodgers Can Take Us Forward

Swansea City defender Ashley Williams says new manager Brendan Rodgers can take the club forward.

While some fans have questioned the appointment of the 37 year-old, Williams believes he is a 'really good appointment' who can 'take us forward'.

Some supporters have their doubts because of his spell at Reading, while ignoring the much better job he did with Watford previously. Reading sacked Rodgers in December 2009, six months after appointing him, following a run of poor results.

Williams told Wales Online:

"As soon as the new manager comes in, everyone naturally raises their game,"

"You have a new guy to impress. He probably knows us all anyway from his time at other clubs.

"But he is seeing you face-to-face for the first time and you want to make a good impression.

"I`m sure this week`s training will be a lot sharper. We need to start building towards the start of the season and show him we can be in his starting XI."

Huw Jenkins has continued the club's recent trend of appointing young managers who like to play football in the right way. Williams said it was important to appoint a new boss who isn't looking to make big changes to our style:

"I don`t think Swansea could bring in a manager who wants to play in a really different way.

"We have got players that fit this style and it would be difficult to change it. From what the gaffer was saying, he clearly respects us as players and wants to carry on with what we are used to.

"It`s a really good appointment for us because he matches the club when it comes to his views on football. He likes to play attacking football and, from speaking to him on Saturday, you can see that he doesn`t want to change too much."

Rodgers can take us forward

"I definitely think he will take us forward,"

"We made a little improvement last year on the previous season, even with the disappointment at the end, and now we need to push for the play-offs.

"I think, for every manager who comes in, it will maybe be a little bit easier. He can see where the team went wrong last year and hopefully we can go that extra step.

"It doesn`t take a rocket scientist to know that improvement has to come in the goalscoring department. He has said he wants to sort that out, without taking away from our defence as a team, and I think we can get that blend.

"It wasn`t that we didn`t create enough last season, it was having the confidence to put the chances away. If we can get that I am sure we will be all right."

As for whether he will be discussing his future with Rodgers, Williams responded: "If the gaffer wants to have that conversation, then it happens. That`s for him to say, not me.

"I will just take it as a compliment if he does want me to stay. That`s all I need to say about it. I`m looking forward to working with him and that`s it. I`m happy here and looking forward to the new season."