We drew against a top German side in tough pre-season friendly. We played much better after half time and most of the players had a good workout. New manager, new players - give the boys a chance.
Well I missed the Blackpool game, so this was the first chance to see our new signings. At half-time I thought I would be writing about not getting too despondent about losing to a very classy Stuttgart side. In fact, I would go as far as to say they are one of the best teams I have ever seen at the Liberty. We never got going first half. DeGuzman gave the ball away countless times, Graham looked isolated up front as he was so often last season. We conceded two poor goals, one from an inswinging free-kick. No change there then. The second half was a vast improvement and... very entertaining. It may have helped that Stuttgart made 5 changes all at the same time, but Kemy was superb and Dyer was a real handful. If he hadn't missed an open goal having rounded the keeper we would have won. Overall, it's clear we're not going to pass the ball endlessly across the back four which is good. I think we're going to score more and concede more. 3-3 draws could become the norm! Ivor, you can be a bit stinging with your criticisms at times. With 20,000 in the stadium for competitive games hopefully the atmosphere and performance levels will go up several notches. I do miss seeing Brendan in the technical area giving the team encouragement. He always used to shake the hand of every player coming off and milk the applause from the crowd at the end. I don't think we'll see that from Laudrup. We always lose at QPR and always lose the first game of the season. Let's not have any doom and gloom threads if it does happen.
Like AD I couldn't make the game but my son went with Bigkidderz (he endorses your comments by the way). We are never going to please everyone as a team. How many times did we have this type of comment last season :"Lots of possession but all in our own half" or "Anyone can do tikki taka in your own half". These were common criticisms and were often justified. How many times last season were you pulling your hair out as the ball was passed across the back four when we needed a goal? How many times did the pundits say "If only they had more of a cutting edge" or "..plenty of the ball but not really hurting the opposition" ? Stats can be so deceptive and I for one am happy to reduce our possession stats if we score more goals. At one point Gower was statistically one of the best players in Europe last season. Come on. Tikki taka for its own sake gets you nowhere except better stats. It needs to be combined with some incisive football and that's probably what Laudrup is trying to achieve. Be patient. It was a pre-season friendly against quality opposition. We won't be abandoning our passing game just yet, and remember we lost to Neath last year and still ended up mid-table.
http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=289681 Just for you Ivor, it would appear a certain Mr Laudrup would agree with you about the first half.
Oops wrong link, here ya go! http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/08/12/91466-31602882/
The key quote that confirms it's all about a learning curve: "It was the perfect game to end pre-season because you saw how much we can learn from the first-half. In fact, I think we can even learn more from the first-half than the second. "It`s about building connections throughout the team. For example, I thought Michu and Danny (Graham) are already connecting well and if Danny can stay fit then I think he can score 15 to 20 goals in the Premier League next season. "I am looking forward to beginning seriously at Loftus Road on Saturday. Friendly games are one thing, but when the league starts it is totally different with points to play for."
God forbid anything really bad should ever happen to us. If it did so many of our, (if they are ours), prophets of doom would be lost forever to deep depression, suicide, cults & monasteries. Get a fekkin grip, take your fear of life somewhere else. I'd just like to point out a few things to you crepe-hangers. We have a brand new midfield, We have a brand new manager, We have a brand new style, We have been cherry picked and plucked and, importantly, it was just a PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY FFS. I was at the game too and what I saw was a competitive, preparatory match designed to gel our team ready for the challenge of our second attempt at the assent of footballs Everest. Stuttgart have the same midfield as last year, (one addition) relatively settled squad, the same manager as last year the same style as last year, They are in fact a pretty settled side, unlike us They have had no summer sagas to contend with as we have. They are not re-building their house, they're just touching it up so they did look more of a team than us because at this stage in our development, they are so we did exceptionally well to come back with a bit of grit in the second half to draw this friendly. Stuttgart finished 6th in the 2012 Bundesliga and have pretensions to qualify for the CL this year. If you want REALISM then this may help you; to retain our place in Europe's elite league, all we need do is accumulate more points than 3 out of 19 and I'm being REALISTIC when I say we can do that.
Thanks for the Laudrup link, swans-m, I was beginning to think I'd been watching a different game reading some of the responses on here!! Nice to see that the guy who matters agrees with me. ie we were pants in the first half. Mind you, I think his comments might have upset Dai when he reckons that Danny might get 15 goals this season. He might well do imo. Aswan, did you just imply that I am a bee?? A complaint to the mods is in order I think. Mind you, if you thought that my comments were stinging, you wouldn't want to have heard what I was listening to from everybody sat around me during that first half. And I was sat in the more "refined" West stand. Apologies if I upset some of you with my abrasive comments about the team but that's how I am. Footballers are privileged, highly paid individuals and I expect to see a certain level of performance from them. If they are being outplayed by a better team I accept that but, in that case, I want to see other things such as attitude, character and commitment come to the fore (eg. Chico and Leon). It should not take a half time pep talk from the manager to get them to play. It's their job to take responsibility and be professional about what they are doing and I saw little of that during the first 45 minutes. What I did see was players berating each other for not doing their jobs. Now that is good because it shows someone cares but it should never have happened in the first place. The second half was far better but played in the context of wholesale changes by Stuttgart which might have let us back in the game. Whatever, we did look more of a team with Kemy bringing some stability and Routledge proving far more dangerous than Sinclair. However, we do need that scavenging, pressing, presence in midfield which is what Allen gave us. Michu and particularly De Guzman must realise that they have to add good old fashioned graft and hard work to go with their obvious ability. Show ponies we do not want. With that in mind I have to say a big thank you to Leon. He was just immense. What a player. He and Chico were the shining lights in that nightmare first half and they continued the same way for the full 90 minutes. I hope the rest of them took careful note of what is required to justify their place in this team.
Ivor, you must have been sitting next to Dai without realising it A game is about two teams and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and just say you were outplayed as, in my opinion, we were by Stuttgart in the first half.
Stumpy, I refer you to the comments made by our manager. You might have been satisfied but HE wasn't and I know whose opinion I value the most. Do you think that we are unaware of the facts you stated about both teams? No one is saying that we should have gone out and put Stuttgart to the sword but we expected a minimum level of performance, nonetheless, which neither we nor Michael Laudrup got in that first half. This forum is here for us all to voice our opinions and debate them. Because your opinions differ is no excuse to tell others to take a fcuking grip and take our "fear of life" elsewhere. I know a little bit about that, mate, and you have nothing to teach me about it. As for your comment about "crepe-hangers", I would appreciate it if you do not resort to name calling in the future. You made some good/valid points in your post and then lowered the tone of it all by becoming personal. Not needed or wanted on this Board. We are trying to get away from all that sort of s**t.
Chico is a cracking signing, and will shine in the Prem, that I have no doubt, Leon is a Swansea Legend, who sets the standard, let's hope that De Guzman sees the light, though I'm not convinced he's the answer, and I would like to see us bring in a Ferrie Bodde, we have the money, so let's get it sorted, rather than relying on a cheap loan signing from Villarreal, that looks Championship standard at best, I know this will attract some criticism as being too early an observation, but needs must, we are starting the season in 6 days, and if you ask me, I'd prefer Orlandi in there before De Guzman!...............
Well said Ivor, was thinking the same myself on his post, not like stumpy to be fair, but we have got to get away from this political correctness, of fear of discussing the unpalatable, and that's what this forum is all about!....................
Well put it this way, if Sinclair leaves and Danny G takes the pens then I think he will hit 15-20 with ease! He seems very confident taking them and I believe that is now 3 in 3 perhaps? If he had took and scored all the pens last season wouldn't he have finished on like 18-20 league goals for us? Definitely something to think about. Especially when you consider grant holt is the Norwich free kick and penalty taker.. Another point to consider is that siggy loves a shot at goal, any sight and he will hit it. This is not a criticism of him because he was amazing at it but it also left Danny picking up scraps or relying on the wingers for the pass. Michu however has been linking up with him very well and seems just as effective slipping in the through ball as he is taking the shot. Definitely more goal chances for DG next season me thinks.
I was just about to respond in similar vein to ivor's post,but you beat me to it,Dragon. I must be slowing down,better stop taking these Niagara pills. ...
I am astounded by the amount of fans i talked to last night that reckon we will be candidates for relegation and that ML will be sacked......BR is going to be missed that's for sure.....If that is the way we are going to play under ML well we are in trouble thats all i can say....
We had a bad first half and drew against a top German team! FFS people calm down....only a week (and hopefully one signing) away from the start of the season so relax!!. On tuesday we outplayed Blackpool and could have got about 7 or 8 is the players had a bit more match sharpness but friendlies mean nowt Chelsea are 1-0 up against Man City after losing to Brighton 3-1 in the week. 3 points on Saturday, mark my optimistic realistic words
