Best passing team in the uk

AND YES, IT'S SWANSEA CITY, FACT!

Official end of season statistics show that no side on these shores - not even Arsene Wenger’s side - comes close to controlling the ball like Rodgers’ Swans. Their passing figures are bettered only by a Barca side deemed to be one of the greatest in the history of the game. No wonder some have begun to dub the Liberty outfit ‘Swanselona’ as they look to cap a dream season with promotion at Wembley when they meet Reading in five days’ time. Over the 46-game regular season, Swansea could boast an incredible average of 526 passes per match - more than 100 clear of their nearest Championship rivals. Yet Swansea, in the more rough and tumble surroundings of the second-tier equalled the Gunners’ 61% possession figures for the campaign - and made it through the regular season without one opponent enjoying the ball more than them in any single match.

Swansea’s achievements are some feat in a division where people claim you can’t play your way to success and need a more direct approach “It takes courage, it takes trust,” said Rodgers of Swansea’s unique way of doing things on the pitch. “It is much more difficult to coach a team to play the way we do rather than just kick balls up the pitch. “So you have to trust them, trust them that they will show patience and come out when it’s not on. The average pass completion rate for Swansea in the Championship is 83% compared to the general average of 71%, and 76% for the Premiership. One of the trademarks of Swansea’s play is that every individual is comfortable in receiving and distributing the ball, including goalkeeper Dorus de Vries. Defenders like Ashley Williams regularly rack up more than 100 passes per game with some pass-completion rates reaching 95%. But you cannot argue with the facts that Swansea have been bold enough to stick with what they - and Barca - regard as the winning formula - whatever the occasion. In those nerve-wracking opening legs of the semi-finals, Swansea still managed a combined passing accuracy of 80% with Nottingham Forest. They outplayed Forest at the City Ground despite being down to 10 men.

In contrast, Reading and Cardiff’s average for passing accuracy was 61%. Still, these numbers are not completely new to those who have watched Swansea develop since Roberto Martinez first helped introduce a continental playing approach to South Wales. Yet where as Martinez’s men were accused of having a soft-underbelly and Paulo Sousa’s side undone by a lack of goal scoring ambition, Rodgers’ claim to being his own man is backed up by two interesting stats in those departments. Those who have been quick to point to Arsenal’s fall-away from the title race highlight their struggle at set-peices, Premier League stats showing they conceded the highest proportion of the goals from set-piece situations this season. But Swansea - with 22 clean sheets - cannot be tarred with that brush, finishing in the top-half of the table when it comes to defending set plays. And at the other end of the pitch, the penetration Rodgers has been determined to ensure accompanies possession has come with only four teams enjoying more shots on target this term. It certainly looks good for Swansea heading into a match that will be dominated by the £90m figure placed upon it. One thing is certain, the Swans are guaranteed to thrill a watching nation with the manner in which they play. - Chris Wathan icWalesOnline

 

We had way more of the ball than you did at LR. Ha

 

Some interesting stats there Phil but unless you beat Reading at Wembley, thats all they will be. Not sure about Swanselona either. Sounds a bit too isolated to me...I prefer Barcalonsea

 

Just saw the possession stats in your game at LR, we had 53%. So 1 team did enjoy more of the ball than you in 1 match.

 

53% you say, what was the score in that match?

 

Oh I remember it like it was yesterday, Taarabt's best game that was.

 

What against the best passing side in the UK,
Adel ripped Swanselona a new one?

 

You came third.

Barcelona are a great side who win leagues.

There endeth the comparison.

 

I dislike this emphasis on possession and pass completion, at the end of the day the better side is the one who scores more goals than the other team. I remember Swansea coming to CCS and passing the ball along their back four for much of the game. Looked good in the possession stats afterwards but we won 2-1 on that occasion!

 

It was the same at Carrow Road this season past. Swans passed us off the pitch that day but Norwich scored 2 late goals and won 2-0.

 

Exactly my point and if they had won that game they would have gone up automatically instead of you!