So, Leeds then 
Swans v Birmingham City
- Thread starter ivoralljack
- Start date
Mithrandir
Key Player
The only positives today were the point, and Celina. Everything else and everyone else was a shower of fucking shit.
Disappointingly, James was terrible when he came on. Hope we don't see him subbed over Montero again unless we are up a goal or two.
Disappointingly, James was terrible when he came on. Hope we don't see him subbed over Montero again unless we are up a goal or two.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
So fucking lame and ugly but we walk with a point.
Basically we are playing a U23 Team studded with a few old farts in the Championship. That’s how we have to look at it. Don’t expect any reinforcements in the loan period. This is it. A good looking squad on day 1 has been trashed and we’re left with this. The kids are talented and technically better, but there are going to be lots of games like this where they will be bullied and pushed around by hacks. We walk with a point with the outside chance of stealng a win.
Basically we are playing a U23 Team studded with a few old farts in the Championship. That’s how we have to look at it. Don’t expect any reinforcements in the loan period. This is it. A good looking squad on day 1 has been trashed and we’re left with this. The kids are talented and technically better, but there are going to be lots of games like this where they will be bullied and pushed around by hacks. We walk with a point with the outside chance of stealng a win.
LittlePuma
Key Player
7 points from 3 matches. No complaints. On to Leeds!
They’ll hammer us unless there are some pretty big changes and some miracle loan imports - preferably tag wrestlers for that is the arena we now find ourselves in - it’s BRUTAL and our babies are not up to it - welcome to the Championship boys
Oh and nice one sky for the most excruciating touch line cast EVER! C’mon Carlos?! ffs.....,
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Mulder made all the crucial saves when he needed to. Not strong on the cross or commanding his 6 yard box never mind the penalty area, but he got it done. Rodon grew another few years of experience with this experience.
Disappointing was Carrol who was all but absent and McKay who never really wanted any part of this game. McB had nothing to work with all game but still ran his socks of. Fer is still flattering to deceive. Also, the likes of Dyer, Routs and Narsingh are not even being selected for on the bench ... that’s just terrible ... surely they have enough professional pride to make the effort in training to earn selection ... but apparently not.
The critical element is #9. We have zero cover in that role.
Disappointing was Carrol who was all but absent and McKay who never really wanted any part of this game. McB had nothing to work with all game but still ran his socks of. Fer is still flattering to deceive. Also, the likes of Dyer, Routs and Narsingh are not even being selected for on the bench ... that’s just terrible ... surely they have enough professional pride to make the effort in training to earn selection ... but apparently not.
The critical element is #9. We have zero cover in that role.
Mithrandir
Key Player
No complaints about the points total. Infinite complaints about the performance.
They've ALL been fucking fairies! I'm so angry about that display. As a team we TOTALLY lacked so many basics that any self respecting side should have. Brum were quicker, stronger, more aggressive than us; they won virtually every second ball; won most of the 50/50s; they passed it better than us; they were more SKILFUL; they had far more desire and commitment and looked like a team. They should have won by 3/4 nil. Period.
Potts has got it all to do and, frankly, I'm disappointed with what I'm seeing from his team. There's no flow, no tempo, no rhythm and no bottle in our game. We are simply dreadful. So, was this a wake up call? No, not even that. We were lifeless and clueless in most aspects of the game and how the hell do you revive a corpse? Potts can only work with what he's got and he hasn't got much. Mulder did his job and the defence worked hard to earn us that point. But, right now, midfield and attack are disaster areas. Oli works hard but that's not enough. He's got a lot of learning to do but it's going to be difficult for him because the service into him varies from non-existent to woeful. Take him out of the box and he's just a willing carthorse. But a budding thoroughbred he's not.
WE NEED EXPERIENCE! Fer showed that and, tbh, I can't wait for Bony to get back because he's got quality and class that Oli will take years to acquire..... if he ever does. Kids can win things but not our lot. They need some tough, old heads in there to bring them along. We need at least a cover CB, two midfielders and a striker as a minimum requirement. But please, NO MORE KIDS just yet. I want to see some men out there who know what's required in this Division.
If we play as we have done for the past 135 minutes, we'll need a calculator to keep count of the shots flying into our net.So, Leeds then
Mithrandir
Key Player
One thing to note, we've struggled against the high press when teams have done it in all three matches so far, although this one sticks out because Birmingham utilized a high press for probably a full 60 minutes. Bielsa's Leeds will high press the living fuck out of us for 90 minutes and whatever there is for extra time. I'm not feeling optimistic about Tuesday...
CroJack
Key Player
Mulder?
Mithrandir
Key Player
Yeah Mulder was in good form today. Can't see Nordfeldt taking the gloves back as of now.
Behindthegoal
Key Player
Mulder earned his wages. Asoro had his moments, but attracted 3 Blues whenever he had the ball.
Celina was our top man tonight but suffered, like a long list before him, because his mates were not available for a forward pass.
Celina was our top man tonight but suffered, like a long list before him, because his mates were not available for a forward pass.
CroJack
Key Player
With other words they outplayed us.
Pressing is a part of the game and nowadays a very important part. You don't need to be Tyson to apply pressing, but you have to RUN. Another thing is that we are bad at passing and passing accuracy. Without keeping possession and passing the ball accuratelly, we WILL be bullied and outmuscled.
As for the kids I hope you watched a pre-season game between almost the strongest Liverpool team and Manchester City kids. I was hugely impressed how Manchester City played, but they run into spaces, passed the ball accuratelly, and pressed when off the ball. The difference between Manchester City kids and Swansea kids is Pep Guardiola.
Today Gary Monk outsmarted Graham Potter. From now on expect every Championship team we meet to press us for at least 70 minutes.
Potter has to react. The best weapon against pressing is better pressing, the best weapon against teams who keep possession is to be better than them at keeping possession.
We don't need muscles and experience, what we need is better managing.
A couple of days ago I watched an intervew with Marcello Bielsa. When asked about how on earth he's managed to transform Leeds from losers to winners in so short period of time, he answered that a single pre-season is enough.
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Mithrandir
Key Player
Yep, Carrol and Fulton will never be able to match the physicality of a lot of teams in the Championship. Even Fer is only going to help so much, and he brings his own weaknesses. Graham Potter's job is to either, A) get them to be able to pass the fucking ball with even a modicum of success to be able to make teams chase shadows, or B) convince the owners to add to the midfield to be able accomplish A).
That's his job. Oh, also, learn to move the opposition around and play high percentage switches of play. It seems obvious to me to help deal with the high pressing, but we rarely do it from my viewing.
MIjacks
First Teamer
I understand today was bad and I do think Potter could have done better than just deciding to hit it long as the solution to the way they set up. However Carroll and Fulton were especially bad passing tonight so hope Fer can get 90 in soon and we can add a mid. We do have 7 points out of 9 and there are some bright spots overall. I'm hoping Bony can come back relatively soon because today's game is totally different with a target man like him. So I am gonna stay positive that we can have a fun year.
Well at least Laverne & Shirley were there tonight to admire their ‘handiwork’ - even they must have seen how light our squad was in the sneakers compared to Birmingham who were solid but hardly brutal - this must be a revelation to them as there is no equivalent process in the home grown sports they’ve known - it’s a bit like being oiked out of the colosseum stands (epl) to take your chances with the gladiators or the lions - if we had a deeper tougher team I’d be looking forward to some great football but we don’t - so thanks for that. Maybe they’ll lend us Rooney from their other more salubrious stable?