THE Match

[Behindthegoal]

I’ve just entered the ballot for a ticket. It’s going to be uncomfortable with fingers and toes crossed for a couple of days.
There are 3,000 seats available. What chance to see my first live match since March 2020?

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Good luck and enjoy.

I'll watch from my hospitality suite - comfy seats, quality beer, no queue for the toilets, air conditioning.

If we make Wembley, I'll take a trip.

 

[The Blobster]

I cashed in my season but would not have been able to enter the draw as I do not have a printer facility at home to print out a ticket .
How many people who left their money in will be disenfranchised by this ?

 

[Behindthegoal]

You forward the email to a mate, he prints it for you.
No mates?
Put it on a memory stick, take it to Boots and print it as a photo.
If you can’t think of a workaround you don’t deserve to go.

 

[ivoralljack]

I cashed in my season but would not have been able to enter the draw as I do not have a printer facility at home to print out a ticket .
How many people who left their money in will be disenfranchised by this ?

I have a printer, it's old but it works and I'm getting a new one shortly. Feel free whenever the need arises.

 

[CroJack]

Denmark is on the red list, so no Wembley for me.

 

[Jackflash]

Denmark is on the red list, so no Wembley for me.

Turkey same here, ATM.

 

[Jackflash]

I’ve just entered the ballot for a ticket. It’s going to be uncomfortable with fingers and toes crossed for a couple of days.
There are 3,000 seats available. What chance to see my first live match since March 2020?View attachment 1982

Good luck with that BTG

 

[KVetch]

EFL Cup 2020/21: Chelsea vs Barnsley - tactical analysis

Tactical analysis of the EFL Cup match between Chelsea and Barnsley, looking at the tactics of the two teams. This tactical analysis will show how Chelsea's tactics were able to get the best of Barnsley.

totalfootballanalysis.com

Here's hoping we can play like Chelsea.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

It would be sufficient to play the best version of ourselves. More than sufficient.

 

[Jackflash]

I get the feeling Andr'e will see us through.

 

[ivoralljack]

Reading today that in the second half of the season Barnsley won SEVEN more points than we did, scored TWO more goals and conceded FIVE goals less!! No doubt who has the momentum and which is the form team. Another thing that concerns me is that Barnsley have perfected their version of the gegenpress and we do NOT like playing teams who hard press us.

We like and need time to play our slow buid-up game but you can be sure that no way on earth will this Barnsley team allow it. They'll be in our faces from the off and stay there until the final whistle. The bookies know this and all the odds and smart money are in favour of the Tykes to turn us over.

Unfortunately they could have a point. As @Yankee_Jack has said, it would be sufficient (to win) to play the best version of ourselves. But the question is, WILL we? We've got this awful habit of blowing hot and cold. We beat both promoted Norwich and Watford by a combined score of 4-1 then carelessly toss away two home points against relegated Wycome - and there have been other results equally as bad and performances even worse.

So which Swans' team will show up? God only knows!! Whether you champion Cooper or challenge him, one thing is indisputable, and that is his inability to get his team to consistently produce good performances. As a youngster I well remember Swans going to Leicester in the Second Division where we got thumped 1-6. I watched the return fixture at the Vetch and we battered them 6-1 in response. And this is how I feel about our team at the moment. There are times when I scream in despair and frustration at our abysmal display yet, on occasion, I purr with delight at a Rolls Royce performance. So those are my feelings about both Barnsley games. Produce a Silver Ghost display and our players will be at Wembley. If it's to be Ford Mondeo stuff then they'll be packing their respective holiday suitcases early doors.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

If Barnsley are going to be pressing hard then it’s imperative that we go 3+2. We need to expand the field when in possession and out number them in the middle third when they have possession. I think 3+2 will permit us to do that and lock up shop in our defensive third. Andre will play and increment numbers in the middle third when they have possession. It will also get the best WBs in the league on the field. Grimes and Fulton start in between the WBs. With Andre, Lowe and Cullen up top. Effectively a 3-4-3 combination in possession. 3+2 to 3-4-3 is our best pivot going forward and our strongest defense when under pressure. We’re going to ask Andre to do what he loves to do and does naturally ... be anywhere, at any time, and continually be involved.

Fulton has to start ... although commonly considered a defensive midfield player, he has been instrumental in starting, driving and finishing plays that have led to some of our most fabulous goals this season. A player with solid, seldom acknowledged technical ability, he Has the tools to be a solid Prem player and when he’s on he can be a massive influencer of the game at this level. Fulton does more in 30 minutes than Invisible does in 90.

Cullen should lead the line and stay center and high up. It’s time to show what he can do inside the box.

invisible should be assigned to carry water bottles. Woody ... it is what it is

 

[ivoralljack]

It will also get the best WBs in the league on the field.

Barnsley would argue about that having a very good pair of wing backs themselves. Of late they've been more effective than ours.

Fulton has to start ... although commonly considered a defensive midfield player, he has been instrumental in starting, driving and finishing plays that have led to some of our most fabulous goals this season. A player with solid, seldom acknowledged technical ability, he Has the tools to be a solid Prem player and when he’s on he can be a massive influencer of the game at this level. Fulton does more in 30 minutes than Invisible does in 90.

Agree. Fulton is our driving force in midfield. Trouble is on occasion he can do an imitation of Hoory and disappear. We need him to be at his absolute best in the next 2/3 games. If he is, we've got chances.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

WBs of late ... they’ve been handcuffed ... either on the bench or played in 4+whatever versus 3+2. Can’t play as a WB when you’re forced by your boss to play as a FB or you’re not played at all.

 

[CroJack]

Reading today that in the second half of the season Barnsley won SEVEN more points than we did, scored TWO more goals and conceded FIVE goals less!! No doubt who has the momentum and which is the form team.

Why don't you ask me about their REAL form?

They have been afwul, but lucky lately. Should've lost 6 out of their last 10 games.

Barnsley are a hoofing team who average 58 % passing accuracy and don't keep the ball on the ground. When you watch them playing it's like watching Cardiff.

Yes, they are agressive, and they press high on the pitch, but that's also their vulnerability. Our lads are more experienced, they are technically better, and they have proved they can be agressive as well if needed.

I have no doubt we'll beat them over two legs, and frankly I don't understand all this Barnsley hype.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Agreed @CroJack ... with a savvy manager and more consistency we could have finished 2nd with some room to spare. We squandered points. It’s criminal. Can the players organize themselves on the field to execute despite Andy Pandy’s approach. Team selection is going to guide us to our travails against Barnsley.

 

[ivoralljack]

Why don't you ask me about their REAL form?

They have been afwul, but lucky lately. Should've lost 6 out of their last 10 games.

Barnsley are a hoofing team who average 58 % passing accuracy and don't keep the ball on the ground. When you watch them playing it's like watching Cardiff.

Yes, they are agressive, and they press high on the pitch, but that's also their vulnerability. Our lads are more experienced, they are technically better, and they have proved they can be agressive as well if needed.

I have no doubt we'll beat them over two legs, and frankly I don't understand all this Barnsley hype.

I didn't say they were a good team. They are good at what they do and it's effective otherwise they wouldn't be where they are in the table and, as I pointed out, their results have been better than ours in the second half of the season by a decent margin.

They have been afwul, but lucky lately.

Bit like us when we were getting those late penalties to win/draw games our performances scarcely deserved.

That said, I agree with you in that I think we'll beat them over the two legs BUT if we take anything for granted, or start cruising, then we'll come a cropper.

 

[Jackflash]

I didn't say they were a good team. They are good at what they do and it's effective otherwise they wouldn't be where they are in the table and, as I pointed out, their results have been better than ours in the second half of the season by a decent margin.



Bit like us when we were getting those late penalties to win/draw games our performances scarcely deserved.

That said, I agree with you in that I think we'll beat them over the two legs BUT if we take anything for granted, or start cruising, then we'll come a cropper.

If any games are going to be self motivating it's going to be these. Forget Cooper, they know exactly what is expected of them for their own good and the fans. Just get out there and play the football we know your capable of. treat them all as if they were the Scum.

 

[ivoralljack]

Absolutely! If the players aren't motivated to give 100% in these games then there's no hope for them. But I think they will. My main hope is that we don't go there playing for a draw expecting to beat them at the Liberty. We should take the game to them and, if necessary, use the long ball to bypass their high press. That'll keep them honest and take some of the heat off us at the back.

Thing is, don't use this as just an excuse to hoof it at every opportunity. I hope that Cooper has been using the last few days wisely to drill his charges in the INTELLIGENT use of the long ball. Pin them back doing that then we can use our superior football to good effect where it matters - in their third.