Swansea Away Post Match Thread

[Maybes]

I thought Hobbs was our best player today, it'd be easy to attack McGivern again but one or two senior players should take a long hard look at themselves, Oakley and Brown deary me.

Also the guy dressed as Santa, missed the boat I think.

Hobbs is class. Wayne Brown is comical.

[CKB]

Looking at NSLL's post, I'm actually a little happier.

It wasn't a game which WE lost, we didn't throw anything away, we merely didn't deserve to win on the day. Now, some of you may say that sounds stupid, but in the CC, every team is so evenly matched that you are going to lose occasionally. As long as we aren't so terrible that we're contributing to our own loses, I'm still fairly positive.

Does that make sense?

It does but are teams sussing us out more now? surely a couple of fresh new faces and a sort out in some areas can help us in the longer run?

[CosbehFox]

Hobbs was superb, he grew as the game went on.

We weren't that bad!

Despite the tactical mistake in formation, Weale barely had a save to make.

This 'one shot on target' nonsense is typical of anyone who wasn't there. Dyer hit one just wide, N'Guessan rolled back to the goalie and Fryatt was unlucky when stretching after one. He also had another blocked and Waghorn could have had a peno.

It was no different to performances from earlier this season except we didn't have a final ball and we didn't get the rub of the green like previous games.

[Guest Mee-9]

no, absolutely wrong, don't you buggers ever read anything...

i 'suggested' that i would like to see us focus on developing a long-term attacking partner for fryatt.

as far as howard, i have simply highlighted what i feel to be his limitations, significantly his age and diminishing mobility.

for the record, i suggested that he KEEP HIS PLACE, as long as he plays well enough, with kermo being gradually introduced off the bench, allowing him time to develop an understanding with fryatt without putting too much pressure on him, fryatt or the team...

the comment i made today was regarding the extent of the changes, ie that after starting to get some consistency NP would make changes to the entire right side of the team...

ie up front - kermo for howard; in midfield - gally for oakley, oakley for wellens, and at the back morrison for neilsen, hobbs for morrison....

is it any wonder that we only had 39% possession in the first half.

for me, it would have been nice to see how kermo played with a settled side behind him, introducing him and then putting out a much changed team, seems a curious thing to do, and hasn't really proved anything.

You always say Howards crap mate Stanley Matthew's played football until he was 50. Steve Howards 33? Got another 17 years left at least mate

[marbelladave]

Evening all. Harbinger of doom here!

Sometimes I wonder why I bother! Almost 3 hours each way on the M4 that at various times resembled a car park or a river. Horrible driving conditions.

Still when the team was announced, it at least sounded interesting, how wrong can you be?

The defence was reasonably solid, sure the Swans wide men got plenty of joy down the flanks but in reality did not create all that much, despite the usual jitters from Brown and Hobbs.

Biggest issue was with the midfield. As usual when we only play 2 central midfielders we were outnumbered (predictably in this case) in this area, which is where the game was lost/

Oakley and King did not play badly, they were simply outnumbered and allowed themselves to be pushed too deep leaving a huge space in front of them. Yanni was supposed to play off Fryatt but ended up so deep that both he and Fryatt were completely isolated.

On the flanks Dyer was ok but again pushed so deep that he was largely ineffective as an attacking force, Gallagher was just as ineffective going forward and more or less hopeless in defence.

Second half the subs brought a little more urgency but to be honest, Swansea were barely troubled.

All in all a largely ineffective performance by a group of players who can and should be doing better

[Maybes]

Hobbs was superb, he grew as the game went on.

We weren't that bad!

Despite the tactical mistake in formation, Weale barely had a save to make.

This 'one shot on target' nonsense is typical of anyone who wasn't there. Dyer hit one just wide, N'Guessan rolled back to the goalie and Fryatt was unlucky when stretching after one. He also had another blocked and Waghorn could have had a peno.

It was no different to performances from earlier this season except we didn't have a final ball and we didn't get the rub of the green like previous games.

How that wasnt a penalty I'll never know. Looked nailed on.

I could be wrong, hopefully might show it on the Football league show - wont hold my breath though.

[Aeropars]

YOu know a lot of people on here really should either shut up or watch another sport. I wasnt there today but its the same old tripe which follows a home draw or loss.

Its ambitious of people to think we are going to cruise to a playoff position. To think we should be winning every game is nieve to say the lease.

Swansea are a quality championship side and at time we just have to hold our hands up and say 'well done' we were outclassed. Not because people were rubbish but because we were not allowed to play.

Win the game in hand and we're back in 4th. Anyone want to moan at that??

[caz123]

YOu know a lot of people on here really should either shut up or watch another sport. I wasnt there today but its the same old tripe which follows a home draw or loss.

Its ambitious of people to think we are going to cruise to a playoff position. To think we should be winning every game is nieve to say the lease.

Swansea are a quality championship side and at time we just have to hold our hands up and say 'well done' we were outclassed. Not because people were rubbish but because we were not allowed to play.

Win the game in hand and we're back in 4th. Anyone want to moan at that??

First sensible post ive read all day

[J.Lisemore]

Our best player was Hobbs.

Brown and Mcgivern are a joke at the minute.

I didn't know King was playing once again..

Gallagher can't cross.

Fryatt can't keep the ball for more than 2 seconds.

Disappointed once again, but thought Swansea played well today, especially Nathan Dyer.

[swanningaround]

From a Swansea perspective, you worked hard and the yellow cards you picked up were deserved cos you didn't pull out of any challenges, you weren't very good in the first 45 and we were always a threat up until the final pass (we are vgery guilty of not getting enough bodies in the box) Second half you improved greatly, worked even harder made a few chances and you should have had a penalty. It was a nailed on pen for me and everyone around me we can only think the ref didn't give it cos he made so much of going down. you are a strong physical team and all you need is a bit of quality in midfield, if you had Britton and Pratley in your midfield i'd fancy you for an automatic spot. overall i think we just about deserved the win but we need to start scoring more, playing one up front limits us.

you only fetched 900 which is the biggest away following here so far this term but I thought you may have fetched more ( we fetched significantly more to you for both games and we are a smaller club support wise. Those that did come dis make plenty of noise tho and were better than some of the so called big clubs ( Forest and Boro were shocking)

[JoeyB]

I thought we were pretty shocking today, Mcgivern was Woeful, Gallagher tries to hard, and we just didn't get enough width at times, throughout the game, Swansea were first to every second ball and looked like they wanted to work for each other which is more that can be said for us.

Kingy started off in what looked like a defensive mid role and didn't look like he enjoyed it as much, and after morrison but Dyer on his arse in the first half and got booked for it he had to be careful with any other tackles he put in.

Second half was a marked improvement, but it would be nice if we actually shot instead of passing it ll the time!

[Daggers]

Just saw the goal - awful.

[Maybes]

From a Swansea perspective, you worked hard and the yellow cards you picked up were deserved cos you didn't pull out of any challenges, you weren't very good in the first 45 and we were always a threat up until the final pass (we are vgery guilty of not getting enough bodies in the box) Second half you improved greatly, worked even harder made a few chances and you should have had a penalty. It was a nailed on pen for me and everyone around me we can only think the ref didn't give it cos he made so much of going down. you are a strong physical team and all you need is a bit of quality in midfield, if you had Britton and Pratley in your midfield i'd fancy you for an automatic spot. overall i think we just about deserved the win but we need to start scoring more, playing one up front limits us.

you only fetched 900 which is the biggest away following here so far this term but I thought you may have fetched more ( we fetched significantly more to you for both games and we are a smaller club support wise. Those that did come dis make plenty of noise tho and were better than some of the so called big clubs ( Forest and Boro were shocking)

Really? Thats pretty poor. Tis' a fair treck though, 400 mile round trip today.

Middlesborough are not a big club . There attendances are shocking.

[CKB]

YOu know a lot of people on here really should either shut up or watch another sport. I wasnt there today but its the same old tripe which follows a home draw or loss.

Its ambitious of people to think we are going to cruise to a playoff position. To think we should be winning every game is nieve to say the lease.

Swansea are a quality championship side and at time we just have to hold our hands up and say 'well done' we were outclassed. Not because people were rubbish but because we were not allowed to play.

Win the game in hand and we're back in 4th. Anyone want to moan at that??

Very true and i'm just like you....BUT i feel teams are sussing us out and maybe a few fresh faces can help our cause even more! i really think it would, when teams are doing well they look to invest in some much added quality that will kick them on even more and that's really where my point lies! I believe a few things need to be looked at and looked at quick! RB, Midfield the two issues..but it's easier said than done if Nige doesn't have any cash to splash!

[z-layrex]

For people to say we should have won this is silly. They are exactly the level of lc, a game with Swansea could go either way. We are both decent championship teams, nothing more yet.

[Dan]

Not from me. The game only seemed to demonstrate the problems that have been apparent for ages and which, only our unconvincing but elevated position has glossed over.

You only get the chance to win promotions by creating chances and scoring goals, not by having one shot on target in a match.

I said that, todays performance was a perfect example of everywhere we're going wrong this season.

is it any wonder that we only had 39% possession in the first half.

I'm seriously surprised it was as high as that, my guess was about 30%

Todays performance was absolutely shocking, its all well and good saying that we've just come up and we're bound to lose a few, but there seriously is absolutely no urgency whatsoever is there. For starters, we're not nearly attacking enough, us and Pearson have already seen Swansea this season, as a side that will keep the ball but not do too much with it, a side that will not score 4 in a game all season, yet we decide to be negative too. The mentality was absolutely awful, just me that thought Weale had more touches than any other player for us in the first half?

The defence today just proved again why its been failing lately, I don't blame any of them against Dyer, he's too good for this league and I honestly think most Premier full backs would dread defending against him. But McGivern was poor again, Brown couldn't pass wind, and Morrison had his worst game of the season. On the bright side, I'd say Hobbs was our best player.

The midfield has been the problem all season, and seasons before that, its not lack of creativity, its lack of strength and desire to win the ball back. We have creative players, we have goalscorers, but when they've not got the ball, what can they do? It's a strong tackler we need above anything - fact. Lee Carsley or Lewandowski? Carsley for me. Gallagher I thought was one of the few who had any sort of attacking intent, but his corner taking was absolutely abismal, bar the one where he set it up for Kermo to volley, which he sliced horribly. Andy King just proved again why I don't rate him, I literally forgot that he was playing today, I cannot see the star quality the majority of our fans see in him, and how anyone can pick him over Wellens is beyond me. Oakley as well, for an experienced central midfielder, dear me, he gives it away far too often, another poor game for him. Dyer didn't do too much.

Fryatt I feel sorry for, I've not been one of these that absolutely raves about him, but he is a natural goalscorer, and today he had absolutely no chances, its impossible to judge his game. Kermorgant spends more time moaning than playing (like me then), he has a touch of quality but also I think controls the ball very casually at times.

And the Swansea fans? Hard working, attacking and physical? Jesus christ, I actually wonder if every fan in the country is over-critical of their own team at times, because no bloody way did we play like any of those three descriptions given at all. I hate losing obviously, but its twice as frustrating and angering when the team take such a negative attitude like this.

[Asha]

A few people have been saying that Swansea weren't that good?

Erm, what? I thought they were complete class. I don't remember Nathan Dyer EVER getting stopped by our full backs, he just ran riot all game and was deserved man of the match. Swansea also kept the ball well most of the game, restricting us to low possession and very few shots.

Fair enough, last 10 minutes they really dropped off and were there for the taking, but deserved winners if you ask me, and that's before all of our faults yesterday.

[CosbehFox]

They are a proper footballing team, a lot more better than the majority of this awful, low quality division.

[JoeyB]

I said that, todays performance was a perfect example of everywhere we're going wrong this season.

The defence today just proved again why its been failing lately, I don't blame any of them against Dyer, he's too good for this league and I honestly think most Premier full backs would dread defending against him. But McGivern was poor again, Brown couldn't pass wind, and Morrison had his worst game of the season. On the bright side, I'd say Hobbs was our best player.

I thought Morrison was pretty steady today, his only problem was getting booked early in the first half and when dyer moved over to the left wing second half Morro couldn't really but his foot in just incase it was mistimed and he ended up picking another yellow and getting sent off, then he would have been no good to anybody really.

We can't just pin point individual mistakes for today, its easy to blame Brown, Yann Or McGivern, but as a team, we weren't playing together in stages, we weren't first to the second ball, and couldn't cope with there 5 man midfield, which mean Yann had to drop back which left Fryatt isolated up top. Swansea were paying lots of nice passing football, and there midfielder had free range to go where they want, and we didn't know how to cope with that.

Second half when we got the ball we used it more effectively instead of just lumping it into the channels for Fryatt, Dyer, Gallagher or Yann to chase, which wasn't going to do much good really was it.

Our main problem is we seem scared to shoot, we always seem to do one pass or trick to many and loose the ball, Waghorn was kind of guilty for that, jinxed past a couple of defenders before getting brought down and conceding possession.

Yeah we were bad yesterday, but we were still better than this time 2 years ago weren't we!

[Sir Alex Ferguson]

A couple things annoy me about this, kermo starting, he was awful against forest and got brought off after 30 minutes and hasn't done a thing since, i'm not howards biggest fan but after having a grreat game last weekend surely he has to start.

And the pure stubborness of pearson, by not calling back DJ Campbell from Derby, i'm not saying he's the answer to our scoring problems but sure he's an option if we are not gunna buy in the transfer window. DJ is scoring in a poor side surely if he had a good run in Leicester's side he would score.

[Karljohn]

Still think the season is shaping up nicely, a stack of away games coming up and with a game or two in hand.

For me, its how long we stick with Oakley, for a club captain I have never seen one so quiet, the midfield is crying out for Max Gradel and we need cover in defence also as who steps up if someone picks up an injury? Robbie Neilson?

I may be wrong but is Oakley the only player not to have been dropped this season? even Fryatt was dropped for Bristol City at home

[JoeyB]

A couple things annoy me about this, kermo starting, he was awful against forest and got brought off after 30 minutes and hasn't done a thing since, i'm not howards biggest fan but after having a grreat game last weekend surely he has to start.

And the pure stubborness of pearson, by not calling back DJ Campbell from Derby, i'm not saying he's the answer to our scoring problems but sure he's an option if we are not gunna buy in the transfer window. DJ is scoring in a poor side surely if he had a good run in Leicester's side he would score.

Yann had to drop back into midfield to be the 5th man in an over run midfield, but his first touch yesterday was good, and he won countless headers, his distribution was good to. I dont know why some people are moaning about Yann when he is still settling into the English game. And as Dave Pundit would say hes an English Rock , you dont see many players doing a diving header to clear a corner, apart from John Terry!

Im not trying to big him up, im just trying to say he needs more time to settle in.

Because it seems when Howard starts and Yann comes on everyone loves Yann

But when Yann Starts and Howard comes on everyone loves howard!

[SirBlueFoxington]

Went to the game yesterday and yes we were poor first half, and second half we picked ourselves up and played better. I do think that even though we did lose, we lost to a quality side which will be up there in, and around the play-offs this season. So to lose just by 1 goal, and we did have a few chances to level it ourselves, i don't think that it was such a bad loss.

I must say i did defend McGivern last game against Ipswich, but yesterday he was poor. We really do need Berner back. Does anyone have any news on when he'll be fit again??

[marbelladave]

This is the killer.

Swansea are a decent side but lack a real cutting edge in attack, an average top half Championship side in other words.

We set up poorly and really did not play very well at all yet we were close to and within a decent penalty shout of getting a result against a side with a good home record.

We really do not have to improve all that much to be putting away teams like Swansea and I find it frustrating that we are not doing so, particularly when we have shown ourselves more than capable at various times this season.

[Guest Mee-9]

Our best player was Hobbs.

Brown and Mcgivern are a joke at the minute.

I didn't know King was playing once again..

Gallagher can't cross.

Fryatt can't keep the ball for more than 2 seconds.

Disappointed once again, but thought Swansea played well today, especially Nathan Dyer.

And your a disabled/boo boy.