Not my money so happy enough to have him but for hot much more we could have tried harder to get cabaye or Austin (back in the summer). I'd like to think we did though.
Hopefully the end of Colback. If we get Townsend I'd not care about a striker. Something like: Shelvey Tiote/Saivet Sissoko Wijnaldum Townsend Mitrovic Perez needs a rest
take the tosser with our blessings, see how long it takes before he ruins the dressing room with his dummy spits
Pretty sure our line ups gonna be Shelvey Tiote Saivet across midfield, Gini and Sissoko ahead of them, neither of them particularly wide and Mitro up top, or another striker if we get one. Both Saivet and Shelvey will probably go right into the team, at least Shelvey, and Saivet as soon as he shows in training how much better he is than Colback, cause I assure you, he is stonger, faster, better.
Swans fan in peace. I was really happy when we signed shelvey even though some of my Liverpool friends warned me what he is like. Sadly what they said is true. 1 he is a disruptive character in the dressing room 2 he is lazy and generally unfit 3 makes wreck less tackles and gets probably a yellow every match 4 gives away free kicks in silly places 5 for every Hollywood pass there are about 10 misplaces passes 6 scores occasional screamer but his goal record is not good. 1 penalty this year To be honest every swans fan can't believe somebody gave us 12 million for him. He is not what you need for a relegation battle. Occasionally when he is in the mood he will have a great game. Sorry to ruin your mood but I am still gutted that the player we signed never lived up to his potential
So the papers say, but was there any indication from him last night that that was his last game? I didnt see anything on telly. Our team has no real width at least not the starters. Both Gini and Sissoko always pull towards the goal as soon as they get close to the area. Unless we're playing Aarons and Obertan (which we won't because they permanently reside in the physios room), I think it would be better if we just played Sissoko and Gini closer to Mitro. Especially Sissoko is just no good defensively, he's lazy tracking back and you can't have the already offensive Janmaat dealing with two players from the opposition team and Sissoko goes awol. So I'm hoping we don't sell Tiote or even if we do, simlpy play 3 in the middle and let the fullbacks to get forward with whoevers right in the middle drop back into a back 3. Bit like Spurs were playing in the FA cup at the weekend. Even if we get Townsend...would you put him right in the team? After hardly playing for a year? I wouldn't. Our team as it is right now isn't exactly ever going to run in behind someone, Sissoko is quite fast but he doesn't run in behind...he runs at people with the ball. Gini is best playing short passes off the strikers and getting into position. None of our midfielders are fast, so we're going to have to play through teams, as we have been trying to do all season.
Watch the end. McClaren goes over and has a chat to Tiote and the body language to me seemed to suggest a "what a way to go, eh?!" but maybe I'm mis-reading it! Perez is getting to grips with being the sacrificial lamb, but he has to be left-side to allow Gini in the hole. I think we'll see Aarons given a run out and with him left, SIssoko right, Gini in the hole and (hopefully) a more dynamic midfield combination behind them of Saivet, Shelvey, even Tiote if he does stay, I think we'll pick up points. We then have options. Perez, SDJ, Cisse OR the mystery striker when he arrives (leaving Toney to go back on loan), with Arma to come back in. At last we're taking some shape and becoming something new - a team that can take the game to the opposition or play on the counter; we showed both last night. I also think you do Sissoko a huge disservice; he has tracked back more than enough this season, you can't overlook how tough it is at that level to keep running back chasing Lingaard or Depay, fast, fit young men. And I think you're wrong about the pace - Gini showed some unbelievable speed last night, Sissoko is hard to outrun and Aarons/Perez are both nippy. Finally, finally things may be looking up.
I swear I saw Steve McClaren smiling and rubbing Tiote's head after the match saying "Not a bad game to end on eh".
And to be fair to him, he did look good, he's been something of a thorn in our side a few times since he joined you lot. He must up his game for us!
Not sure we ought to be selling Tiote right now, in the summer sure, but maybe 8 mio is too good not to take. However, I'd say over the last 10 games or so Tiotes been our best cm. Anitas injured, Colbacks ****, are we just gonna drop both new guys in and say a couple of hail marys?
I think this is what the naysayers are missing. We are beggars not choosers. We're a poor side. We need better than what we have, and regardless of his issues he is better than what we have. Swans fans were happy enough last season when he was helping them up the table. As with any player, the tide turns when things are not going so well. He has been part of the problems they've had so its natural for them to say good riddance. Just because it hasn't worked out in the end, doesn't mean he won't be a success here. If over the next three years we end up in mid table, then it will be a resounding success. Time will tell but for now we are better in midfield with his arrival.
Maybe but think back to how he was for your team when he first arrived. He played well and got the recognition with an England call up. What if he has a similar start at Newcastle? Doesn't that hinder Swansea in terms of the relegation fight? Swansea may not have wanted him but I think it was a bit silly to sell him to a rival relegation threatened team. Good money in return so I guess it depends what you do with that cash.
