Swansea City - Third-Best Defence in the League

Conceded 10 goals in 9 games with Chelsea and Southampton the only teams conceding less.

http://www.theswanseaway.co.uk/2014/10/when-leon-is-back-possession-will-be.html?

I couldn't believe that when I read it because, to me anyway, it feels like we're flimsy at the back. We will improve but right now I don't feel safe at the back at all.

So, my view on who and what we've got.

Rangel, bless him, has played his best but is now a step off the pace. Rarely forges forward these days and needs cover from the likes of Ki or a CB to help him defensively. He can be targeted by the opposition who know that he is vulnerable and prone to a foul or two to stop attacks. Imo, more than any other position this is where we need to buy in the Jan window. I'm not being mean, Rangel is family and will be looked after by the club, but we need to cover that position right now.

Taylor, early on was a liability but to be fair to him now looks to be finding his feet. Still slow on the turn but his timing and confidence is improving, he's got a decent cross too. I'm starting to have confidence in him.

Fernandez, OK start, getting better, starting to look solid in defence, can't really say any more.

Williams still our defensive rock but has looked tired. Maybe its because he's covering for and pulling together a defence not used to playing together. The fact he's looked knackered so soon in the season does worry me. Any one else noticed this or am I being paranoid, the later I hope.

Amat: Good looking defender but his tender years make him prone to a dodgy tackle or two. Still, he's young and a fantastic prospect, imo a future captain.

Bartley: Can't make my mind up, other than last years Liverpool cup disaster, he's looked decent but with conditions. I think his problem is his concentration. Imo he can be pulled out of position chasing the ball to flanks or halfway and he likes to run into midfield with the ball not as blatantly but similar to Davide Louise. He's got to remember he a CB first a CB second and a CB third. I do think he is a decent prospect for us though where as Amat can step in and play withough us worrying, I don't think Bartley is there yet.

Fabianski: Best we've had in years, maybe ever, and I remember watching Tony Millington and Dai Davies too. He has definitely hellped minimise the goals against column.

So peeps, what y'all think of the 3rd best defence in the Premier league?

 

Strangely enough, of Rangel, Ash, Neil and Fernandez, Rangel is more reliable for me atm.

I'd have never had said that ours was the third best in terms of goals conceded though. A welcoming suprise.

 

4 clean sheets.

 

I'm not hugely surprised by this. We started the season beautifully, but in reality have kept clean sheets against two of the promoted sides at home and Sunderland away, while we've also wiped the floor with West Brom at home which, to be honest, is usually what happens (except for last season).

There will be many tougher tests to come.

 

we defend better when rangel is playing...

 

there again 4 conceded in one match so 6 in the other 8 games plus wiping Everton

 

"Rangel is more reliable for me atm."

Don't agree. He thinks he can play a bit and loses the ball in dangerous positions - he then tracks back as if he's hauling a bag of cement. This is a regular occurrence and happened twice again tonight. That said, he links up with Dyer better than anyone.

The Williams / Fernandez partnership is looking better each game though.

 

Well Taylor must be doing something right amongst the defensive chores....

 

Can't fault how Rangel has served us since coming from Spanish third tier!! Never thought he'd cope in the Premier, but you got to hand it to him...

 

Taylor's a good player. Just taken some time to get back where he was...

 

'Rangel, bless him, has played his best but is now a step off the pace. Rarely forges forward these days and needs cover from the likes of Ki or a CB to help him defensively. He can be targeted by the opposition who know that he is vulnerable and prone to a foul or two to stop attacks. Imo, more than any other position this is where we need to buy in the Jan window. I'm not being mean, Rangel is family and will be looked after by the club, but we need to cover that position right now.'
Harsh on Rangel I thought.
Any full back who has to attack needs cover, last season he had Chico but Fernandez keeps his position more. tbf most fans thought we needed to buy in a successor for him and Leon in the summer. We still do & we should try to loan Ben Davies back from Spurs.

 

http://www.theswanseaway.co.uk/2014/10/when-leon-is-back-possession-will-be.html?#.VFCPfjSUflk

Yes.When Leon comes back we will be even better defensively !!

 

Aren't we more worried about the quality of the goals we've conceded. They always seem to be down to lack of communication and concentration

 

Yes, criticism of Rangel may be 'harsh' as he's done so well for us - his story is amazing. But what's more harsh is the holes he's leaving when he loses the ball upfield and is unable to get back. He's never been blessed with massive pace but now he's getting older he's leaving us exposed.

'Harsh' but true.

 

"Rangel is family".

The most pleasing three words I have read on 606. Well said,Bob.

 

Does that also mean we're not allowed to criticise when necessary? Tate syndrome MkII.

He's been a great servant for us and you could make a film just about him, never mind the Swans. But he needs serious competition for his place as he's noticeably slower these past two seasons.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ben-mcaleer/lukasz-fabianaski-player-focuse_b_6073818.html?


Good read ! 5 clean sheets now !

 

Said it as soon as we signed him we had a very good player on our hands.

 

I am more than happy to put my hand up here and thought he was going to be a poor signing but, in all fairness he has been more than excellent for us and long may that continue.

 

An improvement on Vorm? Probably, and certainly on commanding the 6 yard area, but a comparison is difficult as our defence is packed before he's called up.

One stat of note relating to clean sheets is, although we top the chart on EPL for zero scores against, we are only 11th when points are taken from those clean sheets - in other words 10 other teams keeping clean sheets are more likely to win whereas we are more likely to draw.