Barnsley

[ivoralljack]

Not much to say about this game other than we SHOULD win it given Barnsley's position in the league. But the usual question, is WILL we? Are we going to play for 90 minutes today? Or even 70? 60 perhaps? Will the rest of the team finally back Ayew and start putting in some effort and URGENCY into their play? Is there any chance that those players, so good under Potter, can start playing like professional footballers, which they have scarcely resembled during Cooper's tenure? Will our defenders stop gifting goals to the opposition? And will everyone, except Woody and Ayew, stop regarding the opposing goal net as something akin to Dracula's aversion to garlic, crosses and wooden stakes?

So many imponderables and I haven't got a clue about any of the answers. The trouble is that I don't believe Cooper has either. This game could go either way. It should be a case of Fortress Liberty but, as we've all seen, it's more like Sandcastle Liberty. Therefore I'm going to have to take a punt and I hopefully predict that we will win this one by a goal, or possibly two. But I don't have any confidence in that at all. Just hope.

 

[The Blobster]

Wrong thread but I've just noticed your 7otb predictions have gone AWOL again !

Barnsley's recent results have been impressive , we will do well to come away with a point today.
On my way to collect borini soon so will be back with my game impressions tonight.

 

[CroJack]

Barnsley's recent results have been impressive , we will do well to come away with a point today.

Their away form is hardly impressive.



They have earned the vast majority of points at home turf, 15 out of 20, where they give it a go and play high intensity attacking football. I like how they play, but the trouble with Barnsley is a) they can't score from the chances they create and b) they have the second worst defence in the Championship.

The result of the reverse fixture was 1:1, but the result could have been 7:5. So many good chances both Barnsley and Swansea created. I expect an open game today with many chances to both teams. The team who has better defence will win this game.

 

[Behindthegoal]

I trudge to home matches now with no expectations. Very much akin to the head down shuffle of the later PL years

 

[CroJack]

I didn't know that Gerhard Struber took over at Barnsley on 20 November. This means trouble for us. He is known for high pressing football and his appointment explains their excellent form in the last six games.

 

[IanABS94]

Not confident about today. I forsee a typical Swansea lethargy amongst the players who think we'll be able to control the game.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Swansea City: Freddie Woodman; Kyle Naughton, Ben Wilmot, Ben Cabango, Jake Bidwell; Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain), Tom Carroll; Andre Ayew, Sam Surridge, Bersant Celina.

Substitutes: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Connor Roberts, Declan John, George Byers, Barrie McKay, Wayne Routledge, Borja.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

A new midfield combination: Grimes, Fulton, Carroll.

Celina sticks on the wing .... is he really more effective out there than Routs, McKay or especially Peterson.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

We must be playing away. We have been penned into our own half since the start of the game.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

We’re 7+ minutes into the game we’ve barely cross the half way line
WTF is this .... another masterful plan and prep by Andy Pandy

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Finally after almost 11 minutes we get into their half and put in a cross

 

[CroJack]

Two shockingly poor teams competing for the "Who Can Make More Poor Passes" trophy.

 

[CroJack]

Cooper out.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Barnsley are looking the home team and the better team ... or at least the better coached

 

[Victoria Swan]

Disgracefully bad football from us - we don't seem to care. Let's string some passes together and stop giving the ball away!

 

[Yankee_Jack]

How badly did we mess up they opportunity

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Surridge hits the cross bar from distance with the keeper stranded miles from goal

 

[IanABS94]

Cooper has no fecking clue does he.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Cooper has no fecking clue does he.

doesn’t look like it.

 

[ivoralljack]

Barnsley are looking the home team and the better team ... or at least the better coached

That wouldn't be difficult! I believe I've sussed why Cooper wears the expression he does. I think he has a growing awareness of just how great his deficencies are as he sees first hand how other managers coach their teams to deal with us. As I type we are coming more into the game and giving cause for hope. And, as Cooper lurches from mediocrity to average then back again, hope is all I have left because expectation departed long ago. On another 'cheerful' note, Cardiff are winning 2-1 at Wednesday. At least Monk is losing and he's above us in the table. That's how bad we've become!