Firstly, I want to make it clear, I have nothing personal against them and it is great that they also look like staying up this season, but.... ...they seem to be the media darlings for the way they play, their ability to have huge possesion stats in games. I have been watching them tonight against coo pee arrrh and having seen them play maybe 5 or 6 times this season I find it boring. Yes they have the ball lots and they pass well, but it is mainly in their own half or the middle third. Most decent sides can do that. it is the final third where it becomes difficult. Am I missing something? I would much rather go and watch a side take a few chances to score goals and maybe concede the odd one in doing so. I would rather see Norwich win 2-1 or 3-2 than win 1-0 because the other team cant get the ball off us and so see 60 or 70 mins of our players passing it between midfield and defence.
Personally I don't really care that they get more media coverage, as its only to be expected as they're the first Welsh club in the Premier League. However, I too find their football boring. Taking 30 passes to get out of their own third of the pitch is not quality football.
Swansea play some nice football but they are a bit one dimensional. we've been successful because we mix it up, we've got pace, strength, skill. Very varied and we take chances that usually pay off. They need more options in the summer, they're safe though
Foggo - see http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/135576-Not-My-Cup-Of-Tea which is to say, I agree with you
I dont care about the media attention, I just dont understand why it is so fashionable to love them just because they can pass in their own half.... Maybe I am missing something, to me though it is so hard to watch.
People were saying it about us, which i though was utter tosh... But Swansea have been found out! Just press press press, let them pass to there hearts content and wait for them to lose the ball then BANG!!!
Exactly. Their plan a consists of pass, pass, pass. Plan b is pass pass pass, plan c is pass pass pass but a bit quicker plan d is panic and get a hiding
Even their own fans are saying they've been found out. Losing to QPR by 3 goals to nil is embarrassing to be fair.
To be fair to them, it has worked. They will have another season in the Prem. If it works for them then good luck to them and their fans. I also find it a bit boring and prefer our high tempo based pressing game and play as you see it, not off a training ground script.
It has worked for them this year, they lasted long enough to gain the necessary points. For their sake I hope they can vary it a bit next season. For both us and them, next season is going to be the toughest challenge yet. maintaining that momentum despite playing in the same league is going to be the challenge.
It's worked for most of this season, but thats four losses on the bounce now only scoring once. If they don't devise a plan B, next season could be bloody hard for them.
I thought they were very poor v QPR last night. Considering they're not yet mathematically secure, I'd have expected to see a bit more spirit and fight about them. The fact that the manager felt forced to make a formal apology to the travelling Swans fans tells me all I need to know. The way we have the ability to 'mix it up' when called for - as mentioned above gives us much more opportunity, as PL can change the players/system before or during a match. Brendan Rodgers is in for a busy summer of transfers in if they wisely choose to adopt NCFC as a role model for versatility
I think PL realised before hostilities began that it would be no good trying to defend our way to safety but if you could score goals you could certainly survive and depending on the form of others, flourish. We have beaten the teams below us or taken points off them and that is all it takes. Score goals and you will get points. Swansea have no support for Graham and if they get pressed they cannot score. They did look two dimensional last night and they need the sanctity of the Liberty for their points.
martin keown said on motd last night that watching swansea is like watching paint dry. hard to argue with that most of the time. sometimes, when they really go for it like against arsenal at home, they are a real pleasure to watch but you can't deny they can be very boring sometimes
football is about attacking and trying to score goals not keeping the ball, watching Swansea is as boring as snooker
As I've said before. It's all well and good being able to put together 800 passes in one game, as they apparently did the game before they played us at Carrow Road last season, but, as the game proved, they go no where. I remember on one occasion the centre back and full back passing between each other three or four times without moving. 800 passes may look good on paper but when you see them play 200 passes would have been just as effective, maybe even better.
Newcastle did a proper job on them last week, just sat back letting them pass the ball around and then as son as they lose it BOOM! Down the othere end and score thank you very much
one staggering stat (can't remember which match it was) was when they'd had 72% possession after about an hour but had only had 2% possession in the opponents final third!!