Now that emotions seemed to have calmed I thought I would ask what you would consider as an acceptible result/performance in tomorrow's match. I am not here to stir up any arguements, just a sensible and friendly discussion. My opinion is that it is difficult to get any points from away matches in the Premiership. I would say "even at newly promoted clubs" but at this early stage in the season I think that it is especially difficult to go to these places because they still have the feel good factor from being in the Premiership giving them an extra lift. When Newcastle play away I am always of the opinion that a point is good enough and anything else is a bonus. However, due to people's reaction to Bruce and your opening few games, the question I want to ask is, would you be satisfied with a decent performance and a point against Swansea? Does the fact that your following game is a difficult home game against Chelsea put any extra pressure or expectation on this weekend's result or does the fact that it is so early in the season reduce the impact of having a poor run now. Afterall, this is only the 3rd league fixture of the season. Don't get me wrong, I do not automatically assume that you will lose to Chelsea. We all remember your fantastic performance against them at Stamford Bridge last year, but do you see tomorrow as a must win game or would you see a point as a step in the right direction?
For me its, 1. a good performance at swansea, a win great, a draw acceptable but a good performance a must. 2. activity in the transfer market, a goal scorer is needed. 3. two weeks to get our best starting 11 in their best positions to beat chelsea, or al least try to, no defensive ****
To be fair a scrappy/lucky 0-1 to us would be great and a good performance would just be a bonus I think. Hopefully the win will give us some confidence going into the Chelsea game but we need some more points on the board. Some fans need to remember we have only lost 1 game in the league, fair enough against the Mags but there is plenty more to come.
Swansea haven't had the ideal start but they will target this game for 3 points, so will we and it should be an open game. For me 3 points or a draw with a much improved performance is the bottom line. In theory, we should have the manpower to carve open a team like Swansea, in reality we're a new team that's still bedding in. I'd imagine John O'Shea will be keen to get his season started and we have high expectations that his performance and presence will lift the team. I'd also like to see Ji get a 2nd half run-out, from what I've seen of him, briefly at Anfield, he is fast and athletic and could do some damage with Swansea's defensive eyes on Sessegnon and Gyan. I actually think we will win this one - hope I'm right (of course) but in truth, anything can happen from the evidence of this season
Swansea can play nice football but I cannot see them troubling your defence too much. It wouldn't surprise me if you win by a couple of goals.
From what I've seen and read, they're a bit like us, pretty passy p!ssy stuff and just like a bloke with a minuscule todger, no real penetration in the box. ... we need a bigger willy.
Swansea play open attacking footie, so 2 things could happen on saturday. Gyan will find his shooting boots, and give us a 1 goal advantage. This will start a deluge of shots on the swansea goal, hopefully with a few of them going in (not like when we blackpool at home, and peppered their goal with no actual goals scored). 1-3 win to the lads if not 1-4. or Our strikers (Gyan and Sess) will leave their boots at home, Anton will have one of his off days and Swansea will win it 2-0. Can't see this game being a goalless draw, nor a score draw.
0-2 with Gyan & Sess scoring would shut a few mouths for a week at least. We need our strikers to get off the mark
I am giving Bruce the benefit of the doubt although I don’t know why? I expect that he Has learnt his painful lesson. Understands the need for a favourable result. Understands that we are not playing Man Utd (no disrespect to Swansea). Plays players in their natural positions. Has a full squad available to him. Plays his new signing rather than perseveres with the ones that they were brought into replace. Realises that Richardson is not a left back. Plays two or at least one striker up front. All the above considered I am going for a Sunderland win.
What eveyone else said - I still don't think Gyan is fully match fit (he was a much better footballer last season than he has shown in the few games this season) - so either he is not fullly fit or his head has been turned - although I can't see Spurs signing him now they've got Emanuelle (wasn't that the name of some softcore porn in the 80's/90's with Sylvia Saint)!! Hopefully he can rediscover his touch and full fitness I think we'd have a goalscorer (BTW - This is NOT me saying we don't need to sign someone - we really do!!) We must've put about 15 balls across the box in the last 2 games with no-one willing to get on the end of them... If we have the players that will then we'll win games!!
For me - as I've said elsewhere, I'm sorry but only a win will do. Don't care how we get it, but 3 points is a must. If its a draw, the likelyhood is after Chelsea P 4 W 0 D 2 (3?) Pts 2 / 3. Means heading towards the Autumn probably in the bottom quarter of the prem, and it always seems a slog from then. x
Good post! I'm hoping we get the ball on the deck and look positive. These are the sorts of back fours that Wickham was up against last year so I'd give him the nod alongside Gyan. 4-4-2 with Sess and Larsson on each flank and 1 attacking midfielder in the centre. I'm pretty comfortable with the back 4 but if put Brown & O Shea in there along with Anton and Bardo. Bruce needs a win and I'm looking for a reaction. KTF
