The Blobster
Prediction Champ
Coms say contact outside box , but who cares unless you're from Stoke .
Basement battle with Stoke
- Thread starter The Blobster
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THAT'S how to take a pen!! Well done, Grimes.
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
Cullen on the turn puts it wide of the post .
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
Time for some subs surely
Yup, Lowe on for Cooper
Yup, Lowe on for Cooper
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
Wooooohooooo great work from Lowe and Key scores a cracker
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
changes
Govea , Walsh and Abdulai coming on
Govea , Walsh and Abdulai coming on
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
Lowe tries to chip the keeper from distance
Patino replaces Cullen
Patino replaces Cullen
Great finish from Key after some fine work from Lowe. Tell you what though, if Rushworth was a keeper in my team I'd kick him up the arse so hard he wouldn't be able to sit down for a week. And I'd tell him I'd keep doing it for as long as he keeps fucking about and taking unnecessary chances instead of clearing the ball from danger. Who the hell gave him licence to do that? Williams no doubt! 
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
Decent win but Against a very poor Stoke side .
So pleased my prediction was wrong tonight and this result should see us safe for this season. But, make no mistake, this was NOT a good performance against a disjointed Stoke outfit who didn't manage a shot on target until the 87th minute. And the result could have been very different had another referee allowed the goal after Rushworth's calamity and awarded us just a free kick instead of a penalty. Some stats:
POSSESSION: 51-49 SHOTS: 12-10 OT: 4-1 CORNERS: 2-6 FOULS: 15-16 GOALS: 3-0
In fairness, Stoke manager Steven Schumacher, conceded that in any event Swans were the better side on the night and I thought he came across very well in his interview - very balanced in his view of the game. We had to beat what was in front of us, we did so and were the better of two poor teams. As stated in the post match interviews we had to up the intensity which has been lacking in recent games and we did but there was little fluency and rhythm in our play, good passing football at a premium. A better side than Stoke would have tuned us, imo, and there's much work to be done.
That said, the win and the three points were priceless, so I'll be delighted to move on and hope that we'll add some style in the remaining games.
POSSESSION: 51-49 SHOTS: 12-10 OT: 4-1 CORNERS: 2-6 FOULS: 15-16 GOALS: 3-0
In fairness, Stoke manager Steven Schumacher, conceded that in any event Swans were the better side on the night and I thought he came across very well in his interview - very balanced in his view of the game. We had to beat what was in front of us, we did so and were the better of two poor teams. As stated in the post match interviews we had to up the intensity which has been lacking in recent games and we did but there was little fluency and rhythm in our play, good passing football at a premium. A better side than Stoke would have tuned us, imo, and there's much work to be done.
That said, the win and the three points were priceless, so I'll be delighted to move on and hope that we'll add some style in the remaining games.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
I was not able to watch the match. I've only seen the extended highlights.
General impressions? Did Williams make good on getting a better tune out of the team or were Stoke just so rank that our U-21 would have been competitive?
General impressions? Did Williams make good on getting a better tune out of the team or were Stoke just so rank that our U-21 would have been competitive?
CroJack
Key Player
My stream was poor so I missed some of the action. Stoke didn't create a single big chance, we created three + a penalty. So, we definitely deserved to win this one.
Our players got really good ratings by Whoscored.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Key took his goal very well. Poses the question: Key or Abdulai ... midfield or full back. Both players are part of our short term future. Both are technically very strong and athletic. I believe Abdulai has played in midfield for U21 and that's how he is listed in the first team squad on the web site. What are their natural positions and shouldn't we be playing them there. Key seems well suited to a midfield role.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Also, have to say ... Cullen ... he plays, he scores.
With another one-touch strike that was more difficult to take than it looked. He had to anticipate the path of the ball; get to it before the defender then control the strike to guide it into the net. It may have looked easy but it was all about instinct and touch with Cullen operating where he does best. Keep serving him those sort of balls and he'll get us the goals we need. I absolutely agree that he's not an all round striker but he is a damned good finisher. So give him the stuff to finish. I have to add that his effort and energy to press up front was very impressive and he was often found working in defence as well. Culls is a local lad and his desire to do well for us shines like a beacon.
As for the Key goal, I thought everything about it was superb - a real footballing goal. It started with Culls, back in defence, pointing our man on the ball to release Lowe on the wing. Lowe did really well skinning his marker with some real skill tight on the left touchline before breaking away to set up Key who had been way back in defence at the start of the move before sprinting to take Lowe's pass, touching the ball at pace beyond the covering defender and then smashing it high into the net for a goal we could all be proud of. Great stuff! I could watch it again and again.
Then there was Grimes' penalty. No keeper on earth, no matter how tall, no matter how agile, no matter how good his anticipation, was ever going to save it. The absolute epitome of how to take a penalty. Well done, Grimesy, that was a masterclass in that particular art.