Swans v Palace

Yes, the much-maligned Lawro is spot on again!!

 

It wasn't a penalty !

 

It doesn't matter!!

 

Disappointing performance and result.

Big disappointment was our failure to develop a plan B after Monterros injury. All saw he was incapable of attacking the by-line due to being cropped but regardless, we persisted with a flawed plan and continued to feed him, anticipating a by-line assault.

Problem was he couldn't do this and cut inside the full back every time, looking for support from an advancing midfield which did not arrive.

Shelvey should have been tearing up field to support Monterros inevitable 'cut in', Routledge too, but unbelievably neither did and exactly there is where we lost the points.

Moneterro was forced to create some magic on his own as no one was 'coming onto him'. He couldn't reach Siggy or Bony as they were marked up by midfield and defenders all free to do this because of the massive hole in our attack around the D. Monterro was left on his own and was either bundled off the ball or was forced to pass back to centre circle where Shelvey slept for all of the game.

I hate to say this but yesterday we played like the 'dumb blonde' of the prem, attractive but lacking the intelligence needed to adapt when things don't go our own way.

The bad
Shelvey, was irritating yet again and, imo, is fading out of the starting 11, off the bench and out of the club. Yesterday the game, and Monk, was screaming at him to push into 'range' and help overload Palace's vulnerable central defence. Doing this would have drawn bodies away from Siggy and Bony freeing them up a bit. Also Shelveys attacking threat, imo, would have forced their midfield back towards their own goal, reducing their possession. This simple change from Shelvey, which Monk was screaming for, would have allowed him to support the ailing Montero, supported our attacks, improve our continuity and free up Bony and Siggy somewhat as Shelvey would attract attention due to his shot.

I think there will be repercussions over Shelveys refusal to react to instructions.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts with us remember and on current form Shelvey's contribution is diminishing the whole, not enhancing it. Time to go?

Major Pluses
Another superb performance from our man in the middle Ki . he mopped up everything between Siggy and our CB's, he had to cover for Shelvey too and did to great effect. Imo, if it wasn't for Ki chopping up the Palace attack we'd have lost yesterday for sure.

Bartley Looking more comfortable and reliable each game. Reads Williams well and knows where he needs to be and, importantly, gets there. I'm very happy with Bartley and Fernandez and Amat have their work cut out to displace him, imo.

Taylor A solid performance and, like Bartley, is improving with every game. Hardly put a foot wrong yesterday but was limited more to a defensive role as Monterro, due to his injury, couldn't get back to cover and support him so Taylor, realising Monterro was cropped, stayed put, was solid and bossed his side of the defence.

Fabianski top class performance from a top class goalie, best we've ever had.

All in all, pretty disappointing with two points lost, but not the end of the world. Its another point in the bag and we still have a decent team, if Shelvey's not in it.

On to QPR

 

Nice post Stumpy. Interesting observation on Monk. Why didn't he pull Shelvey and replace him with Carroll or Leon to let Ki move into the CM role? We only used two subs yesteday.

 

Because Monk can be pretty clueless? And only one game has benefited from his substitutions.

If you were at the game you would have heard very similar opinions to mine and the ones below -

Another game where the wrong choices were made at management level.

Jonjo who hasn't played well all season gets himself sent off for being a tool (nothing new in that). Many, who acknowledge our 'wonderful' start and position in the league also recognise we have played well for only parts of games and have largely been ordinary. Then, without Shelvey, we beat Arsenal quite comprehensively and come very close to drawing with Man City away playing some exceptional football in each game.
Is there something to be learned there?
If you are Garry Monk it's put Jonjo back in the starting line up and return to being outdone (this time by a poor Palace) and keep a player on the pitch who is playing poorly, adding pressure to his team mates and gives away a penalty.
If I was Ash I'd be hammering on Monk's door to ask what is going on.
Many on here have called Chico Flores a liability but compared to Jonjo he was a novice.

 

the game was highly entertaining from start to finish. palace played their part with good defending and were worthy of a point due to our dreadful finishing but apart from that it was a good game of football..we have played a lot worse and won before now so credit to palace for making a game of it...

 

Because Monk can be pretty clueless? And only one game has benefited from his substitutions.


what game did you watch bob??? It certainly was not the swans

 

Personally I've no idea. Man sitting in front of me though came up with an interesting thought,

"Shelvey's played sh*t and he's the one who's got to sit in it" translated, whoever causes the problem has to sort it out, I think Yankee.

It could be that Monk believed we'd go on to win game so maybe thought he'd save both Leon AND Carroll for Tuesday, who knows. Personally, I'd have replaced him with Leon saving Carroll for QPR.

It does look like Monk needs help with subs, its fast becoming a kink in his armour that needs tapping sooner rather than later.

 

10points dropped from winning positions is now head of the table & Points gained from having been behind? 3 winning against Arsenal.

Not stats that suggests great game management or influential substitutions. When Arsenal lead the table points lost from winning positions table 75% polled suggested it was Wenger's fault.

The game I watched was the one I attended and shouted encouragement throughout.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/swansea-city/318/blog/post/2173188/inconsistency-an-issue-as-swansea-are-held-by-crystal-palace? Try this.

 

Well put and it's good to read I'm not the only one on this board with that opinion.

 

Do you work for FIFA?

 

? Not that I know of.

(Lawro got the result correct. The hows and whys are irrelevant!)

 

Unfortunately, everybody else has to smell it, then handle it.

 

Or in our case, dissect it

 

Bob your not related to Terror Balls are you? Maybe we should have had all 3 points, but we didn't, and while that was disappointing at least we didn't lose. Monk Clueless? so how does that work? I can't remember us being out of the top 10, and as for Shelvey he had a bad game so what, get a grip man....................

 

"Monk Clueless ? so how does that work? Quite possibly the same way as when you described Laudrup as being " a loser".

 

Shelvey should be farther up field , till he's plays from the middle of the pitch and while hes constantly picked , he'll struggle to get to his best game imo . Siggy , Ki and Shelvey should rotate with Britton and Carroll doing the same .

 

But one thing Laudrup proved he was a loser