Swans v Birmingham City
- Thread starter ivoralljack
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Yankee_Jack
Key Player
In retrospect what we saw tonight was a Brum Team of limited technical ability that had to out work and bully our kids to just get a point. Is this an illustration of how to play against us yes, but I hope that over the season the kids can smarten up, bulk up, and stiffen their spines in the face of such adversity. In contrast to the first two games, when players were showing and wanting the ball, in this game against such adversity they chose to be shy and in some instances to hide, which just made the challenge harder.
Fer is not the answer to this problem. He has serious shortcomings that will not permit him to offer leadership by example. And if anything, if he plays to form, can only offer a bad example to kids. Being a character in the locker room is all well and good, but frankly if that doesn’t translate into character, wisdom, skill, quality, consistency and work ethic on the field, it offers little in the end. Fer did not really make much of a difference to a midfield that still was overwhelmed by bully and bluster and underwhelmed by its own lack of quality .. on the night.
Potter saw what was happening on the field and was continually trying to adjust to offset what was not being delivered by the players. There’s only so much he can do when players are being pushed off the ball and hide rather seeking and wanting the ball. When the seniors he could call on (Dyer, Routs, Narsingh) are not showing enough in training to make the grade for selection then he has to play, stand by, and support the cards (players) he has been dealt.
We organized and held on against Brum and Monk’s so called bettering of Potter that could only deliver a point at home against a performance we all recognize was piss poor by us. I would rather be Potter than Monk. If we think Potter has problems, then Monk has a terrible season in front of him. We know we can get better.
Fer is not the answer to this problem. He has serious shortcomings that will not permit him to offer leadership by example. And if anything, if he plays to form, can only offer a bad example to kids. Being a character in the locker room is all well and good, but frankly if that doesn’t translate into character, wisdom, skill, quality, consistency and work ethic on the field, it offers little in the end. Fer did not really make much of a difference to a midfield that still was overwhelmed by bully and bluster and underwhelmed by its own lack of quality .. on the night.
Potter saw what was happening on the field and was continually trying to adjust to offset what was not being delivered by the players. There’s only so much he can do when players are being pushed off the ball and hide rather seeking and wanting the ball. When the seniors he could call on (Dyer, Routs, Narsingh) are not showing enough in training to make the grade for selection then he has to play, stand by, and support the cards (players) he has been dealt.
We organized and held on against Brum and Monk’s so called bettering of Potter that could only deliver a point at home against a performance we all recognize was piss poor by us. I would rather be Potter than Monk. If we think Potter has problems, then Monk has a terrible season in front of him. We know we can get better.
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I failed to get a live stream on the game,so had to make do with a commentary, seems the point was more than we deserved. Had it not been Monk then we may have allowed them a little sympathy, but being he, along with Jenkins, were the instigators of our fall from the Premiership,then I can hope for no more that he remains in the bottom three until the end of the season.
Exactly this Bravo YJ - I was watching the footwork which was in a different league to monks thugs - all our boys need to do is get the rest of their bodies (and minds) to join in and we will have ourselves a tidy team. Monks boys were just door supervisors - and they played to their max last night to be fair they have some great potential in their squad but they’re severely disadvantaged - they’re managed by Monk.
Borini
Key Player
Touche!
lliwt yr lavac
Key Player
John didn’t even make the bench. Fer was disappointing when he came on.
We saw plenty of fight from our youngsters but they were outmuscled by the bigger team, especially in midfield which is an area of concern for us. Oh for a Ryan Woods in there to toughen us up.
The old guard not even on the bench, looks as if we’re hoping to loan them out and get them of the wage bill.
Montero not used again, strange as he can be a game changer when used in short bursts.
Still no sign of reinforcements as the clock ticks down on the loan window.
We saw plenty of fight from our youngsters but they were outmuscled by the bigger team, especially in midfield which is an area of concern for us. Oh for a Ryan Woods in there to toughen us up.
The old guard not even on the bench, looks as if we’re hoping to loan them out and get them of the wage bill.
Montero not used again, strange as he can be a game changer when used in short bursts.
Still no sign of reinforcements as the clock ticks down on the loan window.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
According to the BBC, we had 61% of the posession and yet Brum managed 17 shots of 6 were on target. A strange game.
@Ladygargar ... good observation on the foot work, we also were technically better at taking the ball off them, we just lost it through poor quality and lack of physical substance when it mattered I’d like to se the full stats for the game. I can’t seem to get on 442 these days.
@Ladygargar ... good observation on the foot work, we also were technically better at taking the ball off them, we just lost it through poor quality and lack of physical substance when it mattered I’d like to se the full stats for the game. I can’t seem to get on 442 these days.
Mithrandir
Key Player
We got seriously outplayed by Birmingham in just about every aspect of the game. They were more physical, they fought harder, they pressed harder, they were more creative, they passed the ball better than us. The only area we were equal in was goals, which is ultimately what mattered, but frankly, a 4-0 result against us wouldn't have been unfair.
Other Championship teams will see this, of course. Potter better be working on a way to nullify this going forward or mid table is the best we will be able to hope for this year.
Other Championship teams will see this, of course. Potter better be working on a way to nullify this going forward or mid table is the best we will be able to hope for this year.
CroJack
Key Player
Mith, they didn't. Their passing accuracy was terrible, only 63%. They are bad passers, and I am disappointed we didn't exploit that. It's a third game in a row that the Blues had passing accuracy of 63%. The problem is that our passing accuracy was far away from good old Swanselona days when we used to average 85% - yesterday we had only 74%. Especially Fulton was terrible at passing, his pass success was misserable 36 % !!!! For a midfielder that's terrible. Also Grimes 50%, Fer 60% and Roberts 64% were bad. Fer, for example, normally averages 80+ %. Carroll's 72 % is not acceptable as well. Of our central midfielders only Celina had acceptable 78%.
Here is pass % for all players:
Mithrandir
Key Player
Agreed. In this context, I meant the way they passed the ball. They passed with purpose and forward intent, we passed with cowardice.
CroJack
Key Player
Totally agree. And that's something Potter must sort out. He has to teach our players how to manage the game. When a team of bad passers press you high on the pitch forcing you to make mistakes, then don't give them the oportunity to win the ball in you third. Hoof it, give them the ball, press them high and force them to make mistakes. Or when you win the ball in your half, use the pace up front and counter-attack. We did neither.
Mithrandir
Key Player
Nice graphic, I mention something similar in my analysis post. If you lose possession a bunch in the midfield in your own defensive half, and the other team gives you zero chance of counter-pressing (hoooooooof), and if you're incapable of playing around them, you're going to have a very bad day.
CroJack
Key Player
@Mithrandir you know how much I like 4-3-3, but that formation requires midfielders who can both run, tackle and pass accurately. We don't have such midfielders. Potter should switch to 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1 imho.
Mithrandir
Key Player
Yeah, I'd go with the 4-3-2-1 to try to maintain compactness. It might be easier for the midfielders to make quick, short, intricate passing patterns that way. I think our personnel is more suited for a 4-2-3-1 though.