Tate Admits Defence Will Be Busier This Season

Alan Tate admits that the defence will have more work to do this season because of our more attacking style under Brendan Rodgers.

The popular defender says the back four will be more exposed this season because of our different style of play, but ensures it won't be a problem if we can continue to create chances like we did on Saturday in our superb 4-0 home win against Preston North End.

The former Manchester United trainee definitely has a valid point. Our defence did look vulnerable at times against Preston last weekend, but thankfully they lacked any finishing quality and we were able to make key tackles when it mattered. However, much better teams would have punished us for giving the opposition too much time and space in the final third, but the amount of chances we created and our better shooting quality should help us win a lot more games than we lose.

Last season goals were a major problem for us. We found it difficult to create clear cut chances and to convert them into goals, but against Preston there was plenty of them. 4 goals were scored, 3 of which were netted in a superb 20-minute spell in the first half. The Swans could only go on and add one to the scoreline, but it could have been a few more but we didn't quite have the same urgency to get forward in the second half as we did in the first.

Alan Tate said:

"As always, the plan is to score goals and keep clean sheets," said 27-year-old Tate.

"But I think it`s clear we have changed the mentality to be a more attack-minded and, as a result, we will concede more goals, or at least concede more opportunities for other sides.

"It`s about balance and it`s not about being gung-ho but we are pushing forward a bit more and it will leave us exposed at times.

"But the fans weren`t happy with the negative football at times last year and hopefully they can see we are trying to redress that and get behind us.

"We are going to concede more chances so it`s about making sure we get people in the right positions at the other end when we do break to punish teams.

"And we know we have players at the back who have been together for a long time and know each others` games so we can stay strong when the time comes."

Tate added that they must be more open at home, instead of being far too defensive like we were under Sousa last term:

We are going to be more open, especially at home,"

"Away might be a bit different, but at home it`s something we have to do because not many teams come to the Liberty looking to be adventurous.

"They come looking for the point and leave us to break them down, something we`re trying to make sure we do."

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