This is one of my main worries too. They were very unambitious in possession at times when they played us in both games. There was a sense of keeping the ball for the sake of keeping it at times even when they were in the most unthreatening of areas to the opposition. Its one thing passing like that on the half way line, its another thing passing like that in the attacking third like Barca do.
I don't mean offense to Swansea, but they don't have that extra quality player in their forward line. The style is good, providing you have the right players for it. Again though, you always need that plan B, which is Barca's biggest flaw currently, there is no alternative.
I don't understand this. I went to both the home and away fixtures vs. Swansea. My lot (QPR) hammered them at Loftus Road, late in the season, around the time managers were perhaps beginning to work out Swansea's style of play. Yes, they kept the ball a lot. But mainly in their own half. The Rangers had clearly been told out not to freak out too much about the lack of early possession and not to wear themselves out by trying to hard to win the ball back. They just needed to press a little and then hit Swansea on the break. Going a goal down buggered Rodgers's game plan and it seemed like he had no effective plan B. Result: 3-0 to the R's. The away game? Swansea were simply dull. Result: 1-1 and we could have nicked it. We had a dire (if exciting) season. So perhaps it looks a little odd to criticise a promoted side who fared better. But I wasn't all that impressed and formed the opinion that more teams would work out how to beat Swansea in their second top-flight season.
Problem is, by that logic, we lost to Swansea away and should have gotten absolutely waxed by them at home ( they outplayed us something brutal at home, only finishing or lack there of, kept us in the game). They beat Arsenal so must be better than them. Can't go by that.
They have had a few games like that throughout the season and that is your only experience of them so fair enough. There were also many positive results where they outplayed many clubs big and small with some great attacking football. There was at least 2 goals from them that included more than 30 passes so yes they can be patient with good effect. If you watch their goals from last season there are also some direct attacks, which is something I thought was interesting.
