Russell Martin's press conferences are always honest.
He pulled no punches after the draw with Coventry City last month, branding his team's defensive errors at set-pieces "a disgrace" while following the defeat to Reading he called out "pathetic" defending and the "crap" conceding of soft goals.
Following a more pleasing display against Watford, which saw his side run out convincing 4-0 winners in SA1, the head coach was stark in his assessment of his players - three in particular.
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Firstly, Liam Cullen, a player who has had to bide his time for his chance in south Wales having been fighting against the likes of Joel Piroe and Michael Obafemi, both of whom arrived with seven-figure price tags, thus almost guaranteeing them seniority in the striking pecking order.
As Martin pointed out, Cullen is actually older than his two team-mates, but that was not what the manager focused on post-match on Friday night.
He used Cullen as a yardstick, the blueprint of what he expects from a Swansea City player, and with his effusive praise of the 23-year-old he fired a rocket at those he deemed aren't trying hard enough. It wasn't difficult to read between the lines on who he was talking about.
"It's been really difficult for him previously because last season, in the second half, Michael and Joel Piroe were both firing," Martin said of Cullen. "He's the oldest out of the three of them, two big assets for the club.
"But it's his willingness to persevere, knock on my door and say he deserves a chance. He trains like a beast all the time. He's come on and impacted the last two games. He's taken an opportunity when there's other people out of the squad and he's found himself in it because of the hard work he gives. It's all we want, people who really care, run and give us 100%.
“Take Stevie [Steven Benda] out of it, we had 10 players we trusted and give absolutely everything, people on the bench we trusted to run and give us absolutely everything. That’s all we ask for."
Pointed comments, for sure. "It's all we want, people who really care, run and give us 100%" and having "people on the bench we trusted to run and give us absolutely everything" - words which should be a knife through the heart of any professional footballer.
The most basic of stipulations, what modern managers call the "non-negotiables", is to care when pulling on the shirt and to give maximum effort. Head coaches and indeed supporters can forgive poor form and missed chances but hints of players not giving their all stings a bit.
"I'm really grateful for their contribution last season," Martin added of Jamie Paterson and Obafemi. "This season I don't think there's been a huge contribution in terms of stats and goals. The bottom line is there were 18 players in the squad tonight who deserved to be in it more than the others. That's all there is to it really."
On the former Southampton man specifically, Martin responded: “The door’s never closed. We have shown that last year, shown it at my last club – the door is never closed for anyone.
“But the relationship needs to be reciprocal. We give the players everything we possibly can and we still wonder if that’s enough.
“But energy is not limitless, it is not boundless. At some point it needs to be reciprocal and at some point it’s better investing it in people who really want it.”
What will linger in fans' minds is the fact both players have had previous in this department; Obafemi was distracted by Burnley speculation in the summer, dropped against Bournemouth last year and had already been reminded about the standards expected of him on and off the field. Paterson's contract dispute saw him take a break from first-team duties this time last year which he hasn't really recovered from in terms of form.
So what happens now? As our Swansea writer Ian Mitchelmore points out, it's make or break time. It certainly makes the January transfer window more important than ever, should two senior members of the squad move on.
Is the door closed to them? Martin said publicly that it isn't but one wonders whether this could be the conclusion of their time in south Wales. Swansea are keen to add a right wingback and an attacker to the ranks this month, with Rotherham United's Chiedozie Ogbene their number-one target.
Just a point off the play-offs despite a bad run of results prior to the win against the Hornets, this is an opportunity too good to pass on. Martin needs everyone pulling in the same direction. That door may not be considered closed but it could well be open for the pair to leave.
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