Energy is an aspect of sport which is very difficult to quantify.
Some statisticians have tried to measure it to a certain extent with data on things such as “distance covered” but that doesn’t really do the trick. Players can keep moving perpetually for 90 minutes while adding very little energy to their side’s performance.
It’s quite a subjective attribute and relies not only on work rate or speed, but on attitude and intelligence as well. Energy is about more than chasing every ball, running like a roadrunner and never giving up. Energy also comes from sharpness and instinct. A player can provide bundles of energy without being the fastest player on the pitch if they make decisions on the ball which instantly put the opposition on the back foot.
Energy is also contagious and one player’s attempts to raise the intensity of a game will often spread to team-mates.
Energy has always been a vital component of the beautiful game but recent years have seen this basic but essential attribute become increasingly key. You only have to look at two teams which have dominated the Premier League in recent years for proof of that.
Manchester City and Liverpool have both enjoyed sensational success under their current managers, and not just because of the silkiness of their football. These sides also work harder than just about anybody else.
Liverpool are renowned for their tireless energy and Jurgen Klopp’s insistence on high-intensity football, while Man City dominate games by outmanoeuvring the opposition and working hard to win the ball back instantly on the rare occasions they lose possession.
Energy is also the factor which decides whether a match gets supporters’ pulses racing or leaves them scrolling through their phones for much of the afternoon. It’s fair to say, all too often in the opening weeks of the season, Swansea City struggled to find that energy, at least on a consistent basis.
In many games they were calling out for a spark which would up the tempo and get the opposition sweating. Lacklustre displays against the likes of Blackburn, Luton and Middlesbrough left fans screaming for an injection of energy to get the team clicking again.
Thankfully one player who had been under the manager’s nose all along has since established himself in the first team and provided the Swans with the vitality and vigour they had been craving.
A decade after first joining the club’s under-12 side, Ollie Cooper has been given his big chance in the Championship and he’s taken it with both hands.
His route to the Swansea starting line-up is a well-worn one. Just like so many others promoted from the under-23s in recent years, he has worked his way up through the age groups and gone out on loan to prove himself before getting the nod at senior level for the Swans.
He is just the latest prodigy to emerge from the Swansea academy conveyor belt, and a number of fans who followed Cooper’s progress carefully believe this run of games is overdue.
The midfielder made his debut for the club in the 2021-22 FA Cup and a few league cameos off the bench followed later in the same campaign. Cooper then went on loan to Newport last season in search of regular first-team action and blossomed in League Two.
The fourth tier can be an unforgiving environment for a young footballer but the Welsh under-21 international received rave reviews and looked right at home at Rodney Parade. He coped with the division’s physical demands and his all-action displays made him a firm favourite on the banks of the Usk.
But at 22 years of age, this season felt like a make or break campaign for Cooper at his parent club. He’s been a highly-rated prospect at Swansea for many years but this is a stage in his career where he can’t really afford to waste time on the bench. He just needed a chance to show what he could do.
In a strange twist, Swansea’s misfortune worked to his benefit. The mixed start to the season left fans wanting more from their side.
Away at Stoke, Russell Martin rolled the dice and gave Cooper his first ever league start for the Swans. It paid off as the youngster provided his side with attributes they had sorely lacked in the opening weeks.
The men in white looked more threatening, with Cooper always offering an option for his team-mates. He was ambitious, making intelligent runs into the final third and trying to dribble his way past the Potters’ defence. It was great to see somebody trying to make things happen, even if it didn’t always come off.
Swansea’s entire team performance seemed to benefit as a result of his inclusion and those performances continued to improve as he started each of the following three matches.
He was instrumental in the 1-0 win over QPR, winning possession in the final third before calmly setting up Joel Piroe for the winner.
In the following game against table-toppers Sheffield United he showed that he could compete against the best in the Championship, and made life difficult for the Blades despite the Yorkshiremen snatching a late winner.
Then just before the international break he was once again a total pain for the opposition, hounding the Hull City defence throughout and playing his part in an onslaught which yielded an emphatic 3-0 victory.
Cooper wasn’t perfect in these matches by any means and still needs to work on his end product and decision making. The fluffed chance against Sheffield United with the goal at his mercy probably highlighted the rawness which remains in his game.
But there’s no doubt he brings a lot to the party. He’s confident with the ball at his feet, tenacious enough to test his luck and seems to be building a good understanding with those around him. But more than anything else, the attribute which has made the biggest difference to Swansea’s fortunes is his energy.
The opening weeks of the campaign were characterised by lethargy. The men in white often looked ponderous and hesitant, their passing highly accurate but lacking any vigour. Swansea became too easy to play against as they struggled to break down sides which were comfortable sitting deep in an organised defensive formation.
They needed an injection of vim and they got that with Cooper. His youthful drive and determination gave opponents something else to think about and it helped stretch defences.
That energy alone was enough to cause problems and it spread to others around him who tried to match his liveliness. It’s no coincidence that since Cooper was introduced to the starting line-up, Swansea’s play has become faster and more incisive. He’s upped the tempo, not just with his attacking play but also with his hard work off the ball.
Some fans have even floated the idea of a late push for inclusion in Rob Page’s Wales squad for the World Cup. With just weeks remaining until the tournament kicks off, and plenty of competition for places in his position, that seems highly unlikely but if he can keep building on his current form, a call-up is surely inevitable at some point.
Cooper has been a breath of fresh air and having nailed down a starting spot, it feels like there’s still much more to come from this exciting youngster.
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