Just a few seasons ago we were all so excited at the prospect of playing, and probably losing, to Chelsea because we were all so happy just to be in the premier league. We didn't care about the result, it was great just to watch us play the best teams in the best league in the world. Now it seems we've, me included, become jaded as our, my, expectations have exceed the influence our club has in the premiership. Its all doom and gloom now, our joy has gone. I've found myself caught up in the pseudo panic too and I've given my fair share of abuse and damning appraisals to my team, my manager, my club and its new owners. At the end of the day though, if we peek from behind the bruised clouds of our anxieties we'll see that things are still as bright for us as they've ever been. We're still playing the best teams in the best league and we're doing it every week. All that's changed is that we as fans have become expectant, arrogant even. W expect our small club to be up there competing and regularly beating the Chelseas, Citehs and Utds of this league and we whinge, moan and complain when we don't. See what I mean, our expectations outweigh our abilities and we've become arrogant as fans. Personally I'm not worrying about the Chelsea game, or any of the ones closely to follow because I'm not expecting much if anything from it or them. I'm certainly not expecting a result but I am expecting/hoping for a performance. We are on a hiding to nothing against the Blues so essentially the pressure's off and its the same for the next 3-4 games. We're playing the best the league has to offer over the next month and I love it. We are who we are and we are where we are and that's it.
I disagree. What has changed is that we no longer play attractive, exciting football, we are selling players for vast sums of money and are not replacing them with the quality needed to stay in the league, and as a result, this could well be our last season in the PL. I wouldn't say arrogant, I'd say, very concerned. All I expect is that the club try and improve the team each season. This season, our team is significantly weaker.
I'm sure they will Valley. The only area we're weaker imo is our defense and the loss of Ash would have weakend any team. Everywhere else we're on a par or improved. Ayew was a bit player last season. He book-ended a useless year with a couple of good performances no loss to us at all. Siggy re-signed for 4 years, superb and we have signed two strikers to replace the pathetic Go-miss. What we are missing most is Ash, his leadership, his voice and his general noise in the club. That's gonna take time to get back. I still say, after only three games in. After three games there should not be concerns or talk of relegation shows that some of us are out of touch with reality. We've got a new squad and three games in, according to some, we're doomed. Playing the @I care about my team' card is out of order, we all care about our team but some are going over the top. Expectations in order? I personally don't think so.
We are also a lot weaker in midfield as Leon (who is still head and shoulders above the rest of our CMs) is now a year older and Ki has lost the plot compared to two seasons ago, and I'd argue that although not a fan of his, we haven't replaced Jonjo as Fer is a championship player at best. Upfront we are weak as if Baston gets injured, Llorente won't get us enough goals imo. We also needed to sign a winger who can cross the ball as Routs and Dyer are at best, decent back up options now. We needed a top CB, a Leon type CM and a back up to Gylfi. Our squad is bare thin in quality or depth this season. The only position where we have enough depth is GK
I think for me the loss of Ash is massive, but what concerns me more is that we haven't tried to replace him with experience or with someone who can play and is a leader, I know that costs but we just had to do it. My other concern is that we just didn't strengthen the middle of the park. I still believe we have players good enough to stay in this league, but the Middle of the defence is a massive worry. I am also concerned more with our lack of shape, we just look all over the place and that as I have said before, there is no game plan and if there is the players don't know what it is. I am still not convinced Guidolin is the man, but I thought that when they gave him his new contract. So all in all I am being negative, but what I have seen so far gives me that negativity. All my hopes at the moment rest on Bastons head, along with Siggy, whom I hope will get us the goals to stay in the league. So it is early, but my concerns are there.
I think, it hurts my brain, we are going through a transition in the way we play. We have definitely changed our point of attack away from 'through the middle' out to the flanks. To do this we've had to change our style and tactics, the DNA of the team. Imo, this is not some grand design from our manager but simply a response to the personnel we now have in the squad. Instead of breaking down a tricky, claustrophobic defense through the middle, relying on runs from sharp attackers and pinpoint passing we are spreading the ball away from the middle out wide to the flanks for our tricky wingers to initiate our attack. We don't have the personnel to play through the middle anymore but we have a plethora of talent out wide and Guidolin is attempting to adapt our game and play to our strengths. We are reliant on our wingers to produce quality balls into the box for our center forward and advancing midfield to attack, overload the defense and ultimately score goals. None of this is happening though. Monty may be able to skin whoever is in front of him but his delivery is woeful. Barrow has the ability to skin whoever is in front of him but doesn't and when he does his delivery is woeful, Dyer hasn't had a chance yet but we know his delivery aint the best and Routledge currently looks lost as he constantly cuts in but only sees Siggy stationary in the middle and Loriente with his back to goal, he has no one running channels so has to play the ball sideways to Siggy or back to Naughton/Rangel. The main failing we have to overcome is that our midfielders inability or lack of desire to get into the box. They seem to have a mental block when it comes to getting in the area, Routledge, Siggy, Ki, Cork, Britton all of them constantly balk at the 18yd line as if crossing it was against their religion. The only midfielder getting to grips with things in attack is Fer, who's got two goals simply because he got his arse into the box. All of this leaves Loriente up front alone to get into the box, alone, to deal with ineffectual and easily defended crosses from the byline. The balls into the box rarely get near him or leave him with too much to do, alone, and its making him look bad and he certainly isn't. All he needs better service and more support.Give him that and we'll be singing his name instead of mispronouncing it. That's how I see it right now Valley, we're in a transition phase, changing style and tactics. We're effectively re-writing our DNA. This has not been our way since Martinez back in L2 and L1. I don't like it right now either, its alien, its ugly but it is necessary if we are to make the most of the squad we've got. We will get it right I'm sure and it will be another kind of beautiful, I'm sure and hopfuly we'll see it develop as we play the best over then next month. That's all I want out of the next couple of games, progression and the points will come with it.
Progression is a must but i honestly cant see us doing much if any of that playing the way we are. Its the type of football they play in Italy and they have gone down hill over the years. their league is absolutely rubbish today...
It would help immensely if our wingers could put a decent cross into the box for our strikers, it's been a problem for a number of seasons, what the hell do they do in training?
I don't think many are overreacting. As Valley said - we no longer play attractive football. What has me jaded is that in the first few seasons I felt that we had a chance against all the big teams due to the way we played. Last season and this, I've lost that belief. I feel myself writing off the games against the big teams before we've kicked a ball. Now I see games like Hull, Burnley, Stoke, WBA etc as games we may get something out of if we're lucky rather than brimming with confidence that we'll beat them. It's not that being in the PL is no big deal now, for me it's about our style, performances and rubbish transfers. I still can't believe Stoke have got the 2 players we should have signed.
Update..... Baston is unlikely to be fit for the Chelsea match. Hugely disappointing My team for Sunday Fabianski Naughton, Van der Hoorn, Amat, Kingsley Cork, Britton Barrow, Siggy, Montero Llorente Fernández gets dropped based on previous form. Montero must start this one. Ivanovic will still be hurting from last season after montero ripped him a new one. Heart 1-0 swansea Head 3-1 Chelsea
3 games in and we are already relying on Baston....how bad is that that we are putting all our hopes on a player that has not even played yet................This alone tells you what confidence the fans have got in the manager and team this season....
Lawro says " Swansea have lost both games since their opening-day win at Burnley and they barely had a sniff against Leicester. Things will not be any easier for them against Chelsea. The Blues have won three out of three so far and I don't see that sequence stopping against the Swans." Lawro's prediction: 0-2
