Haven't posted on here since before the game - I thought I'd just let it all sink in and watch for a while. Read a few comments across the other side and can't say I'm surprised at most of them. Some Swans guys have been across here fair play, and have earned a lot of credit for their attitude taking the defeat on the chin unlike the others over there - with one noteable (and suprising to me) exception. WTF has Mabon been on?. He's posted a few comments on here that appear out of character - maybe an "in vino veritas" moment about his true feelings?. Seems the concensus from the visitor posters was that we seemed to want it more than they did. That may be true, but it's only half the story. When we stepped it up second half, they had no answers to the pressure. Their alleged slick passing game that has drawn praise from those who see it a virtue to make 30 passes in their own half between the back 4 and keeper was disrupted by us pressing higher up the pitch. It competely broke down and they had no answer - in other words, they have absolutely no plan B once they're sussed. Other teams will have seen that, not just the top 6 sides who have far superior players anyway, but the others in the lower reaches who have been hoodwinked in the past by all the hype surrounding them. Watching that game will have shown them that this Swansea side that has done very well for themsleves this past couple of seasons might actually be built on sand and can collapse under pressure. We still have an awful lot to learn ourselves, but we're learning very fast. Not saying the Swans have had their day, but most of the Jack posters were adamant they would push on again this year. Instead, and unless they can find an alternative way to play when needed, they will struggle in the bottom half. Will we fare any better? Don't see why not. Still early days, but the success of the summer signings of both sides will be crucial. Medel, Caulker, Theo and Odem have been immense for us so far, and have proved their worth with Corny still to show. Bony, Vasquez, Canas etc look a pale shadow by comparison. That one over, it's on the road to Villa next. That could be another crucial one targeted by Malky for an away point. More of the same will do to get it, and we'll let the pundits analyse the rights and wrongs of our setup and approach to games. Doesn't bother me one bit when it gets us 3 points like that.
Good post Sparkey. I get the feeling we are starting to find our feet a little and we may start to become more attacking and expressive as each week goes by. Of course, we have some tough games ahead, but I am still just looking to stay around that one point per game average for awhile longer yet. It was good you added PO to the list there as I was very impressed with what he did when he had the chance last night. If we can keep the off-field stuff under control, I think we can do alright.
oldsparkey Great post and spot on-i cant really add anything to that except i think whitts has had a really good start to premier life. There were always doubters as to whether he could step up but he's been brilliant for the most part. As for mabon- not surprised at all- iv'e always been suspicious and the fact he was the first jack to post on my article last night says it all- he's just another vetch deep down but at least vetch doesn't hide is dislike for us. Onwards and upwards to very tough away game next wk and MALKY if you read this board then thanks for all the hard work you've put in this far into the club we all love very much. Long may it continue you with you at the helm
I've been saying this for a while, look at the Swans results for the whole of this year (2013) not good reading. I'm not sure if Laudrup is the right man for them or it could be that they believe their own hype.
Oldsparkey, Great post, IMO we will play this way until we can find better quality wide men with pace (forrest at celtic) and if after january we have said players the team will be more attack minded.
An interesting cunundrum. If we become more attacking and expansive would we lose the one for all and all for one attitude we have when defending? It is no good giving the ball to a fast, tricky winger just outisde his own penalty area, he needs to be well upfield to be most effective - and then we lose a body at the back. Not as simple as that I know but to take the step forwards it has to be considered. What we are now is a very fit, organised, well drilled team who know what they can do and what they can't, hence the use of set pieces for goals and Noone's lack of opportunities so far. Cornelius coming back will give us another option up front and maybe that is where a good winger will come into his own but at this level and especially in our next 2 home games I can't see Malky making any short term changes to the set up.
Cheers guys - and Bluey, I agree with you. Can't see Malky doing anything else than more of the same - and rightly so however unnatractive it can seem to the outside world.
I'm just waiting for that stage in the season when Malky knows we are staying up and we start to experiment with other styles with emphasis on attacking football.
Sparks With all their intricate passing movements around their own penalty area I thought the one trick the Swans really missed was not getting the ball quickly enough and far enough up the park to Routledge and Dyer. They are actually very fast, tricky wingers (although the Jacks fans have reservations over their crossing skills). The few times they caused us any real problems were when those 2 got the ball well inside our half. KTC did okay v. Routledge but I dreaded every time Dyer got wide against Tayls. In particular, and totally against their ethos, Ashley Williams hit one superb long ball in the first half, over Taylor's head and got Dyer in on goal only for him to slice the ball well wide - must have had his boots on the wrong feet. However, our improved pressing second half meant they caused us few difficulties as the game went on.
It's tricky, we don't look great but we get results. Having said that, we didn't look great all last season, but we won the championship with points to spare, difficult to argue with that. I was a little surprised with the jacks, they didn't show any of the flair I was expecting from them. They done ok the first half but were always brought under control when they got near to our box. The second half we asked the question of them and they had no answers, no good complaining about conceding from a set piece, wasn't a big secret that it's one of our best times to score. I can't see us changing things much, if at all. We try to hold the first half( and hope we can nick a goal) second half we step up the play. How well we do will depend on how our players manage to keep up this kind of tempo needed to compete at this level with our style of play.
The next 2 homes will be a good measure. Lets hope the Mancs and Ar5sena1 pick up some red cards and injuries (not serious of course but enough to keep some of their best players out) over the next 2 weekends.
The players will fit into the team not the other way round with Malky, There are wide midfielders / wingers that will give us the same attitude when defending but will also give us more quality / pace when going forward. Cowie who again was excellent was asked to play right midfield / wide, For all his attributes he does not have the pace or skill to go past the last defender (same can be said of Whitts). Bellamy was well Bellamy, Never gave an inch and talked rangel off his game but his pace has now gone and as much as i want him to go past the full back he doesnt have it in his game now. We now have a right back who can get up and down the pitch and deliver a cross or ball into the box, Taylor can do it but seems to lack the conviction or confidence to go for it.
Watching yesterday, the approach to defending the first half is people getting back into position at a jog. No unwasted energy rushing about. This keeps some reserves for the second half where we do. Teams may twig this and get forward quicker in the first half, but at the moment, it's doing the job.
Fair points Eldon. Tayls problem is that he doesn't have the pace to get forward in the Prem as he used to in the Championship. There was one occasion yesterday when he carried the ball forward (first half) their defence opened up in front of him but rather than piling on and trying a shot (he scored a very good goal at Pompey 3 season ago from a similar position) he passed it out to beller/Whitts can't remember which and the move slowed up.
only managed to catch the second half, but we completely controlled that half, medel barely gave the ball away and the only real criticism i have is that the striker was isolated and stood no chance....... once again, you cant fault this team for commitment, a lesson showed to swansea in how to approach a derby........
Too many players there are either show ponies or overrated. If they had Marshall, KTC, Medel, Turner, Caulker, Whittingham, Bellamy for example they might be ok. But they're not good enough to get into their team are they Leighton
Still feel we struggle to get the ball on target from open play, maybe Cornelius will make the difference there, maybe not.
Hi Sparkey, Glad to see Caulker showing what we taught him. Seriously, congratulations on a thoroughly deserved victory. My dear Mum used to explain how the Welsh people had 'hwyl'. To me, only one team exhibited that yesterday and was the main difference between the 2 sides.
Cheers Redprintt - I agree with you wholeheartedly about the Welsh having "Hwyl". It seems that it also has influence, over Chileans, Icelanders, Koreans and Scots to name just a few who come into contact with us. Hope you can sort out SOD - I think he's going to take you down. If JET is your best player by a mile, I would say it's pretty nailed on as it is.
