I have to say I was actually quite impressed with the defending today (other than Bassong's complete miss for their goal). It was clear we aimed to force them into the middle of the park and then put lots of bodies on the edge of the 18 yard box. Redmond especially kept showing them inside everytime their full back had the ball. This meant that it got really congested and Swansea simply couldn't play their way through like they normally would like to. I can't think of one clear chance Swansea had after the break and I think it owed much the the way we forced them to play.
Sorry to disappoint you Colk but thats the way we play these days. We rarely use the wings - we try to bash down the front door!
Swansea City FC have tweeted that initial x-rays show no obvious break in Dyer's ankle, further tests and scans will take place tomorrow!
Really!? I thought it was the brilliant passing an the good use of your wings that made you so strong last season. seems odd that you wouldn't be playing like that this season!
The worst part of sport is injury and I am glad the Swansea player appears to be ok and can get to playing soon.
No - we've changed our style. It's a shock when we get to the byeline now! This season, most of our play in the final third is through the width of the penalty area.
Please don't go on about this PGF, it could prove too much for some Canary fans to take; i mean discovering that enlightened continental managers like Laudrup place as little emphasis on orthodox wing play as our own Chris Hughton does! (Pochettino at Saints likewise.)
Presumably Rangel has the job of providing width when foraging forward? He has always presented a threat down your right. Indeed this may have been part of the reasoning behind playing Fer wide left yesterday.
Sometimes Rangel is better than our wingers! We have certainly missed him in recent weeks. The tactic of coming inside has meant we have had "an interesting season". Early on in the season Dyer looked as though he didn't have a clue what was going on, while Pozuelo would come inside and abandon the wing! It's been difficult and not all the fans appreciate it (myself included on occasions!) - but who am I to question Michael Laudrup
All very familiar on here -- constant grumbles about inverted "wrong foot" wingers. Yet how many top level teams play with orthodox wingers nowadays? As always, it's whether you do it well or badly!
Still cannot make up my mind about the result from this game. On one level it was perhaps a fair result, on another, GH had a golden opportunity to make it 2-1, all but for a very good save by Vorm. 1st half was pretty awful for us, as too much space was granted for the Swans to play 'their' game, and having got level and taking charge in the 2nd half, I felt there was only going to be one winner. Just feel a bit disappointed we didn't get the second goal. Not a bad result by any stretch of the imagination, but I really thought we would get 3 points as the game progressed.
Not sure I was watching the same game as this journo? I thought Redmond had a poor first half, a couple of times receiving the ball and taking it out wide when Swansea were stretched and more of a threat could have been posed by staying inside. Yes, I know he's young and learning game by game, but he sold Whittaker woefully short at least 3 times with poorly directed passes backwards. Granted he improved the longer the game went on but this guy seems to think he's the finished article already http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2013...sses-england-u-21-star-continues-to-impress/?
He is an easy player for Journos to say he played well, as he always looks a threat running at players. Of course they don't seem to watch the rest of the game closely.
You watch a highlights reel and Redmond looks impressive, unless you're watching the full game you completely miss the kind of impact the likes of Elmander, Howson and Johnson had.
I still think City were unlucky to not win the game. Swansea rode their luck with Dyer's goal, but failed to create much threat after that. Hooper had 3 good chances and scored an exceptional goal and was denied another by Vorm's leaping save. On another day Turner's header would've gone in and but for Williams heading off the line Fer would've scored. I think the team is looking more balanced, with much better service to the strikers. For the goal, Whittaker played an excellent long pass to Elmander, who chested down for Hooper to score a fantastic goal. All three deserve credit for that. Hooper is certainly proving to be the real deal, IMO, and hopefully will get better and better. With RvW and Snods nearly back, City will have even more options available soon. Hopefully, Pilks and Tettey in January will provide others, with possible singings in January as well. Much to look forward to.
On Redmond, he provides the threat of pace which City have been lacking. Swansea were very aware of that and more cautious about bringing FB's forward as a result. That made it easier to defend against them. The silver lining of the current injury situation is that Redmond and Murphy are getting valuable PL experience which should advance their game.
A few misplaced passes (mostly underhit) to start with which caused alarm (and apoplexy from a couple of the guys sitting near me who exploded with expletives) but grew in stature and confidence as the the game went on. Looks slightly mores assured on the ball than Rusty - would like to see him push forward a bit more maybe, but on the whole I thought he had a solid game.
