Just to summarise my thoughts on the evening's game... 1. I'll take a point. Yes, we were at home, and yes, on a half decent run. So 3 points would have been nice. But the Swans are a good team - even better under Laudrup than Rodgers, I think - and are deservedly above us. A point from any game where we had 4 shots (2 on target) to their 18 (8) is a good return. 2. Swansea deserved a penalty. We'd probably all be screaming to the high heavens if we weren't given it (I know I would) so it seems only fair to notice when things go our way. Their striker did get a touch ahead of JOS, and JOS did catch his leg. It wasn't much, but by the letter of the law it's a pen - thankfully the ref didn't give a ****. 3. We were total rubbish in the first 25 mins. That's about it on that one.. 4. We need a properly good CB. JOS lead well and did a lot of good work, but also made mistakes at times. To play opposites, Titus did a lot of rubbish work, but was good at times. We need at least 1 of our CBs to be consistently good, reliable, non-injured, etc etc... 5. Vaughan was invisible... ...For a lot of the game. Did he touch the ball in the first half hour? A very good player on his day (and a cultured ball-player, which is what we're lacking) but doesn't seem consistent enough. Today was not his day. 6. Alfie is a work in progress After a very encouraging debut, I think (personally) that today showed that Big Alf needs time. This is by no means a bad thing - it's to be expected. He did very well at times today, but there were also moments where he was showing a lot of eagerness (something that some of his teammates lacked) but didn't actually do much with the ball. He'll be great - but we should make sure that we're comfortable with him not being great immediately. 7. Sometimes Sess and Fletch just need a bit of help Sess especially. I thought he was good today - one of our better players. Just because he doesn't get a goal or assist it doesn't mean he hasn't played well. A few times tonight he did really well to go past a man/hold the ball up (not too many players do both as well as him) but was let down when the player he passed to (Gardner notably) balloons a cross behind the goal. 7. Let's not write off J-Mac just yet He again showed enough today to suggest that he can be a very effective PL player. Sure, he's not CL quality. Neither are we. He's got his faults - too much of the blood to the head/headless chicken stuff - but he's still only been out of the LoI for 18 months and is a good player. I'm happy to watch him continue to develop. 8. Why is Larsson not taking all free kicks? He took one from an obscenely tight angle - came close. Our two most threatening FKs were given to Gardner and he ****ed them both. Gardner can pull off the insanely spectacular, but Larsson is more consistent. 9. I like Wickham ...Again, that's it on that one. I reckon he can be a top, top player if we give him the time he needs to grow. 10. I don't want Graham Nothing to do with him being a Geordie. Mainly for the reason above - I want to see a return on our £8m for Connor, and he'll only improve with games. I also don't think Graham gives us much that we don't already have. I don't think he improves us. As always when I'm sceptical about a transfer... Thoroughly happy to be proved wrong. Anyway, 29 points from 24 games, 11 points to go and it'll be our longest top-flight run since the 80s. Awesome! We're above NUFC and we kept the distance from the bottom three. Villa ****ed up again, awesome. Keep the faith lads, it's looking alright.
I thought Gardner and Colback both played well today. They are both solid and like a tackle, keep the ball well and link up well with their wingers. With Rose and Bardo to come back full back is a posotion we dont need to worry about. Our midfield was poor again today, sess was brilliant at times today but did not get the support from players around him.
I would rather see proper full backs bought as although Colback and Gardener are decent fill in defenders, neither is the right choice long term for me.
I'd agree that Gardner and Colback have done a good job! Very glad to have them as squad midfielders/full backs, we do need a bigger squad. I reckon Cest hits it on the head though, I'd rather see proper full-backs in for the long term. especially on the right - of the two of them, I'm more inclined to give Jack a chance to make the position his own, mainly because he's young and home-grown.
All good comments. Vaughan's problem is he blows hot and cold. unfortunately he blows hot around 1 in 5 games which is nowhere near good enough. N'Diaye defo a work in progress and not mature enough for the holding role yet, better off as someone who bombs forward which he clearly likes to do. Colback and Gards were great defensively, but very limited going forward (esp if you compare to how much the Swnasea fullbacks would bomb forward, getting into the box). A better C. Midfield pairing will help......linking back to front and the wingers/wingbacks. Gards defo had his biscuit tins on tonight and Larsson should have taken all the frees as he was much more on-song. v bad decision making there which needs sorting. I would hope Catts remedies that when he's back on the pitch
I cant believe in the opening post that you have made all of those comments and singled out Vaughan and N'Diaye and yet you havent mentioned Larsson playing in CM? He was certainly last night and has been all season, one of the week links of our team playing in that position. The one and only thing he has done this year was a wonderful strike against West Ham, other than that, what has he brought? And as for him taking free kicks instead of Gards because he is 'more consistent' - how many free kicks has Larsson scored this season and how many goals in general compared to Gards also?
Re number 2 - there was as much contact on Jimmy when he got booked! I disagree that "Contact = Foul" it's a contact sport - and he went down very theatrically - there again 4 times the number 7 dived outside of the box in a similar way to McClean yet he didn't get booked??
Your team got what they deserved last night - a point - hardly a single serious attempt on target - lovely passing and very good to watch but how do you not get frustrated with that? You came up against a good defence last night and our keeper was only tested once in 90 minutes (and a good challenge at the end which Graham should probably have buried) you had no other clear cut chances so why would you say you deserved the points? Yeah you were slightly better than us - much better on the ball but no more creative
Aren’t the Welsh just the most utterly pointless race of people on Gods earth? Away te **** and shag some sheep you inbred daffodil muncher.
Totally agree, but would add that Colback is not the answer as stand in LB. He's OK against mediocre wingers but put him against anyone with pace and he's lost, constatntly got found wanting last night and forever giving the ball away.
With regards to Whickham/Graham/Stiker situation - i think we definatly need another striker to play up top with Fletcher as Marty clearly doesnt see Whickham being it at the moment. I think at the moment Whickham looks most effective coming on the later stages of the game when players are fatiguing and he can use his youth and physical attributes. Definatly going to come good in the future but at the moment i dont think he is the 90 minute man we need up front with Fletch. I thought Sess had a good game last night but the problem was, he would beat x amount of players and then turn around and no one would be there to support, meaning he had to go backwards allowing Swansea time to regain there positions. As for the free kick situation, i saw an interview with larsson before where he said he is more comfortable around the 18 yard area and allows gardner the ones at distance as he has more power.
Make the most of your good fortune when us big boys come courting you stars you will soon fall like a stone
