Paid for it as well Phil, wouldn’t let us get back in to watch and had the same message to pay again. Email going to them tomorrow. Clubs useless, I can see Martin Morgan lining up to get back into the club, probably waiting to get it on the cheep.
Just got home …. Well that was truly disheartening ….. The green shoots of hope from last Saturday turned out to be artificial …. We have width and possession, but no pace, urgency or forward impetus, let alone a goal threat. Yes, we are missing some key players (Roberts, Bennett, Smith and Walsh) but what we are also missing big-time is a striker. Unless we get a striker, plus pace and urgency into our game, it looks like it’s going to be a long season.
If that was a work in progress we are in serious trouble. Looked forward to a slight improvement on last Saturday with some shots on target but basically got a very nervous sideways and backwards possession type football with n9 pace, no creativity when Dhanda was taken off and plenty of mistakes. Let’s be fair Stoke we’re not that good we were bad. Piroe goal was well taken and Laird looked good when he came on but apart from that we look to be in trouble....dragged my wife down on the basis that last Saturday was good she left after 60 minutes....I was one of many hundreds that left before the end....very disappointed
Seems the squad is not fit ..,. “Russell Martin says Swansea City's players are not fit enough to play his style and insists results will come as their conditioning improves. Swansea have taken only one point from Martin's first three Championship games after a 3-1 defeat to Stoke City. But Martin says it will take time for Swansea's new coaching staff to make their mark. "We were brought in two weeks ago - that is why I am not anxious about anything," said the head coach. "The pre-season was disrupted so I don't want to be disrespectful to anyone, but they are not as fit as they should be or they can be for our way of doing things. "I think the intensity has been a bit different - I think a few of them have said it to you (the media). The more we train and play, they will get fitter and stronger. "We will get them to where they need to be physically." Swansea fell behind after 15 minutes against Stoke to a Nick Powell header and the game was all but over after Sam Clucas and Leo Ostigard struck early in the second half. The hosts did at least offer a response through Joel Piroe's first Championship goal. "We didn't start very well - the guys were tired," Martin added. "We knew this. This was our biggest fear before the game, that we are not quite conditioned well enough to play how we want to play, but we'll get there. "If we had a pre-season, the Blackburn game finishes differently, this game finishes differently, the players are conditioned, we have a couple of different options we haven't got now. "But that isn't the case. We have a long season to get a lot of things right, but what I have seen in two weeks from the players is an incredible willingness to try to do what we want them to do, a real togetherness in the squad and in every single game we have been really competitive. "This team will be capable of a lot when we get condition to the way we want to play, we get some key players back and we help them out with some additions."
1 point from 9 now, says it all. Early doors but need something to switch on before it becomes a long rutt !
Just got home, having read this thread and the match report I don't think I will bother with the highlights!
Having slept on it, the only thing that I would add to my earlier comments is that we don’t have any ‘dogs’ in the team - we seem far too nice. If we are in a relegation battle this season, we will need men not boys ….
That sounds like an excuse to me, being not fit enough, passing the buck all ready. I know we’re a work in progress, but if we’re in the relegation zone end of the month, then it’s heads down and a long old bloody season.
my view of last nights "game" . firstly were we that bad or Stoke that good , a bit of both I suspect . IMO they were everything we weren't sharper, cohesive, stronger and it may have only been a subconscious thought after reading the Managers comments but fitter than us . They pressed us high throughout the game and to do that for 90 minutes (with the exception of the a few brief moments) takes a lot of effort, ourselves a number of points Cooper & Cabango , in that formation against that type of opposition not for me , they were both guilty of being too slow with themselves both caught on the ball too many times.We were much too slow in moving the ball although with no one willing to make the runs to receive the ball , no one willing to run the channels all in all to predictable . everything we tried was on our left except for the period Liard came on ( good effort for him). I was surprised at Dhanda starting but he was no worse then anyone else so why take him off at that period of time in the game ? .Midfield need to do a lot more if we're have any hope of creating chances something so blindly obvious I know but it needs to be addressed and quickly.If Grimes is heading out the door based on last night we'd be lucky to sell him
I think you are right Matt, it was a bit of both. We were bad and Stoke were good. I think they will be challenging for promotion this season. Hopefully, we can improve: we have players out who can come in to strengthen the side, whilst we need someone up top. That said, this season was always going to be about re-building but we need to stop the rot sooner rather than later or we will be in a relegation dog fight all season ….
If we are not fit after pre season training hat the hell were the players doing during that period? Stoke were good but not that good we were just far too slow n thought and movement. Maybe the return of some of the injured players will inject some positivity in to the team..... I don’t miss many games but will give the Plymouth game a miss as I am sure many others will....
I didn't see any of the game but I'm willing to give Martin time and see what happens. It's very much about rebuilding, as you say and he doesn't have the resources to construct a mansion, although I'd hope for a bit better than a weatherproof garden shed! A lot of fans are very fickle though and expect almost instant results. Cooper got results but wasn't wanted for the style of play (and he had better players at his disposal). Martin's got an almost impossible job, so a little perspective would be good. I'll be more than happy with mid table as long as we're on the right path and I'm reserving that judgement for a while yet. I'll take a double over our neighbours as a successful season
With you regarding our league position, Happy with mid table and with positive signs and i'm more than willing to give the guy time ,he'll be given it I'm sure as it appears the owners are backing him , I just hope he delivers
I agree - I’d want and hope that Martin sees out the length of his contract: you can’t make a silk purse …. He needs time and (financial) support
