Extremely frustrating **** - My thoughts on the Swansea game

The header first half should have been buried. To be fair I think Ba will have went home very disappointed yesterday. He had some good chances but didn't take them. I'm still reeling from Sammy's performance yesterday. I can't criticise Pards as I wanted him to play but it was one of the worst displays I've seen from any of our players in a long time. I felt for him in the end. After the 15th time of his crosses going into the stands, I was screaming for Pards to show mercy. Thankfully he did.

 

Thanks lads. The only way is up.

 

Heard that before somewhere.

 

Come on AB It Can only getter better, cant get any worse in the words of Lennon and McCartney.

 

You just can't trust scousers though.

 

!

 

Harsh on Ben Arfa with only 6.5 - I thought he was excellent, really caused them problems and some fantastic skills.

People are praising Taylor but his positioning was really poor for some of the Swansea attacks, especially the one for the second goal- left Graham with an acre of space. He certainly put the effort in though.

I thought Anita was good first half, but seemed to struggle a bit 2nd half. Sammy had a good spell and certainly shows promise, but also showed a lot of inexperience.

 

End product for Benni again was poor. Trying to do it all on his own at present and needs to get back to his early season form when his decision making on when to release was much better. Sammy was shocking for me. How many crosses did he put in the crowd? He's young though and you have to be patient with that kind of player.

 

Yes end product poor for Sammy definitely, but he beat his man most times so that's what is promising.

Disagree with end product comment for Hatem though! Had 3 or 4 shots on target, 1 narrowly wide - plus he assisted the goal with some great play down the left, and created another of our best opportunities for Ba (the deep cross for his header just wide). All of our best stuff came through him and he rarely gave the ball away unless he was shooting.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree here, he lost possession on several occasions. Didn't give it away, but rather was dispossessed. As I say I worry that he is trying far too hard to dig us out of trouble. He was the same last season at first when trying to cement a place in the side. Its not easy for him as there are 2 or 3 on him at times now. The way round that though is going back to his early season form of giving and moving. There'll always be a time for him to run with it, he is very good at it after all. But that is not every time you receive the ball. Even the likes of Messi and Ronaldo understand this. It just adds to us being disjointed. The ball for Ba was excellent and he provided other little moments but he fired any number of shots over the bar by trying to score when it wasn't possible.

I wanted Sammy in on Saturday so can't blame Pardew but he had an absolute shocker and it was good Pards showed mercy.

 

I.M.O people are being well too harsh on Ben Arfa, people seem to be getting on his back for losing the ball or 'poor end product' but he gets 3 men marking him most games because the rest of our team are Useless at the minute, meaning he has a hard job to start with, and then he hasn't really got much to aim for either... he set up our goal and also set up our only chances, i just don't see how people can even rate him down? he's our ONLY player so far this season who's performed consistently

 

Its not that, he started the season on fire and was comfortably our best player along with Santon. He has got it tough with the marking but he is trying to do too much. Its well meant but football has, and always will be, a team game. He has still been our best player but he has to keep to what he was doing at the start of the season. Its understandable, he is a passionate lad who wants his team to do well. He's young and impetuous. I just feel feel the maturity he was showing in decision making early doors was much better for the team.

 

I think he's just getting frustrated at how were playing so tries to do it himself really

 

Undoubtedly, its an easy trap to fall into when you're young. People will say "he's 25" but he was quite immature when he came to us. Some take time to grow up, some show maturity beyond their years (Aaron Hughes would be a good example). Problem is that it exacerbates the situation rather than helps it. One man cannot carry a team at this level. Others need to step up their game and we need some luck with injuries!

 

Anyone else wonder how long Cabaye has been carrying his injury ? Maybe that's why he has never quite reached last year's form