please log in to view this image ............................................... please log in to view this image Swansea................................... vs ...................... Stoke City The Liberty Stadium Swansea Sun 02-10-11 3:00 PM KO For travel info/info on the stadium click HERE Welcome everyone to the match thread for the game between Swansea City and Stoke City. The Swans last played Stoke more recently than many of our other opponents this season, on the 7th of March 2001 at the Brittania, where the Swans claimed a 2-1 away win. A little info on our opponents; Stoke City, founded in 1863 are widely accepted to be the 2nd oldest football club in the world, after Notts County. Their only major trophy to date is the 1972 League Cup (gained thanks to a 2-1 win over Chelsea), and they will this season embark on their third European campaign (having been involved in 1972 and 1974). They played in their first FA Cup final last season, and have also appeared in 3 FA Cup semi-finals (1899, 1971 and 1972). They are nicknamed "The Potters" due to the pottery industry based in and around Stoke-on-Trent. The Match; Swansea come into this game smarting slightly perhaps after probably their poorest performance of the season away at Chelsea. Fingers were pointed around the back four, but the reality is we don't really have any cover, so the boys had better get their heads back in the game against Stoke, a side who aren't afraid to test the backlines strength physically. The Swans will be looking to maintain their good start at fortress Liberty, and extend the 270+ minute run of not conceding a Premiership goal. Stoke come into Sunday's game after a good win over Besiktas. Goals from Peter Crouch and a Jon Walters penalty helped them come from behind to overcome Roberto Hilbert's opener. It's also worth remembering that before that they held the previously unstoppable Man Utd juggernaut to a draw at home, and by all accounts it was a thoroughly deserved point. Prior Form; Chelsea 4 - 1 Swansea City Premier League Swansea City 3 -0 West Brom Premier League Arsenal 1 - 0 Swansea City Premier League Swansea City 0 - 0 Sunderland AFC Premier League Shrewsbury Town 3 – 1 Swansea City League Cup Swansea City 0 – 0 Wigan Athletic Premier League Stoke 2 - 1 Besiktas Europa League Stoke 1 - 1 Man Utd Premier League Stoke 0 - 0 Tottenham League Cup (Stoke won 7-6 on pens) Sunderland 4 - 0 Stoke Premier League Dynamo Kiev 1 - 1 Stoke Europa League Stoke 1 - 0 Liverpool Premier League Team News; Swansea will be without Kemy Augustien and Steven Caulker as they miss out with, respectively, a hamstring injury and a knee ligament injury. Craig Beattie misses out with an ankle strain while Alan Tate and Ferrie Bodde are long term absentees. Leon Britton has picked up a niggle in his back and it looks like he will be assessed before the game. Stoke will most likely be without Salif Diao and Kenwyne Jones as they miss out with a fractured cheekbone and a hamstring complaint respectively. Matt Etherington will face a fitness test on a dead leg picked up against Besiktas. Trivia; Completely guessed lineups; Swansea Vorm Rangel Taylor Williams Monk Allen Gower Dobbie Sinclair Dyer Graham Stoke Begovic Wilson Wilkinson Huth Woodgate Pennant Etherington Palacios Whelan Walters Crouch Key Battles; Willams & Monk vs Crouch A lot will depend on how much of the ball Crouch sees, and how much time he's given to do things with it. The telescopic striker is, in my opinion, seriously underrated with the ball at his feet and can do damage from any area of the pitch. Given that Monk is probably still a little way off fully fit, and Ash isn't the tallest, I'm expecting a lot of high balls for the Swansea CB's to deal with, even if Stoke's changed playing style means their fans are getting more used to seeing the ball on the floor. Brendan Rodgers before the game; Tony Pulis on Swansea pre-season; Analysis; Swansea, for the second week in succession, take on a team whose last league outing was against Manchester United. Stoke fared well (although the lack of a Mr Rooney undoubtedly helped) and deserved their point, and Tony Pulis continues to inspire Stoke to punch above their weight in this, most competetive of leagues. A lot has been made about Stoke's physicality, but anyone paying close attention will have noted the shift in their playing style. While they're still not afraid to mix it up and pump the ball into the box via whatever means are available, they're also becoming increasingly adept at playing the game on the floor and the signing of the diminuitive (but combative) Wilson Palacios is a sign of this. In fact, after doing a bit of research on our respective squads heights on average, it occurred to me that your 6 shortest squad players are all likely to be involved in the action. The average heights of the respective teams are still indicative of a gulf in power and physicality, but I can't see either of the teams trying to match the other's style. Both have basic philosophies engrained now, and while playing styles can shift, I'm still expecting the Swans to have the lions share of the possession and for Stoke to try and hit us on the break by utilising Crouch as a target man. Leon Britton's back injury looks like ruling him out at the moment, and I'd expect Stephen Dobbie to get the nod to replace him. We're getting used to seeing two different lineups/gameplans depending on whether we're home or away, and at home we need to be capitalising on possession and chances. Dobbie, while he's been poor in his admittedly small amount of game time thus far, scored twice for the reserves against Newcastle and with Mark Gower staking his own claim for a place in the middle, a midfield three of Gower, Allen and Dobbie doesn't look too bad. With Danny Graham back in to lead the line, hopefully between him and Dobbie they can muster some chances and both break their Premier League duck for the Swans. For the Swans to be successful, the key will be to stop the supply to Peter Crouch, and guard against set-pieces. To do this, they'll have to close down the men playing the passes to him in open play before they get the chance to deliver an accurate ball upfield, so the Swansea midfield three will have to press Palacios, Whelan, and the two likely fullbacks Wilkinson and Wilson high up the field to stop them having all the time in the world to pick out what is, undoubtedly, one of the easier targets in the Premier League. Williams and Monk will have to take great care not to be dragged out of position as they are going to be expected to win a lot of headers in this game, so concentration will be of utmost importance. One area I think the Swans can attack Stoke is down the wings. What Swansea lack in physicality, they more than make up for in pace out wide and burgeoning understandings between their wingers and fullbacks. Rangel and Dyer already know each others game inside out to great effect, while Neil Taylor and Scott Sinclair continue to improve their linkup play apace. Sinclair, now that I'm talking about him, needs to do something soon, as for me he's started this season very quietly, and it reminds me of the form he showed towards the end of last season when he was being double marked. If he's not having the best game, he needs to not try anything fancy, and just use his pace and fitness to work for the team and play simple, possession retaining passes. All in all, this should be a really intriguing game to watch. Stoke, footballing differences aside, have done what the Swans hope to do and established themselves in the PL at the first time of asking. Can the Swans follow suit? This could be a good judge of how far we have to go... Iachu Da. Scott Scottswan's famously biased, ill-fated and banned prediction; Swansea 2 - 0 Stoke
Also, Mark Gower and Matty Etherington will lineup against each other for the first time since being at Spurs together as youngsters. This made me think of Mamady Sidibe who had a spell for us earlier in his career. All the best to him. Stoke have released a statement saying a "significant number" of tickets to the game are still available. If they can't be sold, can the Swans allow more home fans in and reduce the area of the away section?
With britton doubtful and all the others who are out through injuries we are very thin on the ground. I have a feeling that stoke will be to strong for us which is a bloody shame. we may get a win but our chances are diminishing day by day. also the guys we have had on trial have left the club, one refused our terms and the other was deemed not good enough. it looks like monk will have to fill in even though he is not fit......
In an age where the art of heading the ball is in serious decline even at the professional level, if a team has stength in that vital part of the game and can deliver telling crosses into the box, it is an even more effective weapon. Is it a vista of perfectionist beauty no, but neither, quite honestly is seeing a buzillion passes between a pair of center backs and the goal keeper and a lack of guile, cunning and invention to interweave passes to prise open a defense and get around or into the box when the game is played completely on the floor. Nothing is more dangerous to defend than a cross pulled back so that defenders are turned towards their own goal and the impetus and positioning shifts with the forward coming in from behind. This is true when the ball is hit low or when it's clipped or driven higher to attack specific zones in the box. Our fragility from crosses and corners is what we have cringed at for years now .... Saturday is going to be a stern examination of that weakness.
I apologise! Be interesting to see where we are in the league after todays games. I can't see Norwich getting anything at Man Utd, and I think Wigan and Blackburn are unlikely to get anything either, so that should help us out.
Great thread mate, this is going to be a real tough game for us due to the injuries we have, and the lack of signings as replacements, think we will be real lucky to get a win here, and to be honest will be happy with a draw, but not to be negative here, going for a 2-1 win for us .
Quality thread again Scotty. Gonna be a tough game for both sides, and it will probably come down to whose style works best on the day. I think we can really have a go at their full backs, but if the rumours of Dyer as well as Leon being out for Sunday are true, we may well struggle to impose our game on Stoke. With our defensive woes at the moment, I am not too confident about the game, as I think we would struggle to deal with someone like Crouch at the best of times. They will sit deep, so we need to show more cutting edge than we did against Wigan (the last team to come here and sit deep), and yet again, if he plays, it will be a massive game for Danny Graham to show what he can do. It pains me to say it, but unless Stoke are tired from their European game on Thursday, I think this game is there for the taking for Stoke. 1-2 Stoke
Difficult to put a good guess on what team Stoke will put out lately: Begovic (nailed on) Wilkinson/Huth Shawcross Woodgate Wilson Pennant Whitehead/Whelan Delap Etherington Crouch Walters
Onto the game itself. We will be reasonably predictable and let you have possession and look to hit you on the counter attack, which is why I'd quite like Jerome to start as I think his pace is a handy asset to have away from home. Tough game. No more than 1 goal in it I reckon. Either a draw or a 1 goal victory either way.
I'm praying that we have signed the Greek defender and he is good enough for us, I'm a bit like jager I'm going for a 2-1 win but we must keep the ball on the floor as we will lose the battle in the air.......it will be our passing game verses the long ball of stoke and i hope we come out on top but its going to be difficult with stoke's high profile players.......come on you swans....
Many teams have underestimated Stoke but our Manager won't. The aerial threat is going to be very real, particularly as we've been decimated at the back. God I wish Caulker was fit for this one! As others have pointed out Stoke can play a bit too and Crouchy is very good with the ball at his feet. Head says a draw but I'm hoping that the home crowd and the long trip down to an unfamiliar ground will tip it for us. 2-1 the Swans.
Was crouch playing for portsmouth when we beat em in the fa cup ? He is a good player but I think we should be able to cope with him.
Against a strong Stoke side (on paper) I'd take a point now. Pulis gets criticism on the Stoke Board for not having a go away from home, so if they go for it tomorrow things could open up for us. My heart says 2-0 Swans, my head says 1-1.
My prediction for this game was 2-1 to theSwans, helplessly hoping again for a win. That was my heart talking, realistically we are going to be under a huge ammount of pressure from Stoke. They are no pushovers and are well experienced in knowing how to play the game for their own needs. I really hope we can win, but can only see a draw or defeat, we`ll see tomorrow. please log in to view this image
Crouch was playing for Pompey then, its on the swans site and below, thought we had played against him before http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7842637.stm
