So here we go. Hold tight on the upper deck.
Hands up who can name two or more players from the Swansea side that we played yesterday? Three or more? Four or mo… oh look if you still have your hand up you’re either on a wind up or your on the playing staff at The Liberty.
So am I saying that they wanted it more? Am I saying that we screwed up? No, I’m making the point to that we need to focus on what we actually saw there and not dumb down our analysis to just whether we were were pants or not.
Swansea were excellent. They defended convincingly in number and to be frank their attempts on goal frequently had us looking like we were up against a marauding European outfit. Ball on the floor, wave upon wave of attacking football.
So beyond marveling at the discovery of the finest team the world has ever seen, where did we go wrong?
Well, we didn’t have much possession. And without the ball we only appeared to have Sandro who stood half a chance of winning it back. PNB is beginning to look pooped and what looked like a twisted knee might just be great opportunity to rest him up for a game or two.
On that whole ‘winning the ball back’ business, Bale and Modric do a good impression of two people waiting for their butler go fetch it for them. Modric tracks back, but it’s rare to see either putting their shoe in.
The substitution of van der Vaart revealed we had nothing creative enough left on the pitch to threaten them with. The removal of PNB revealed we will be horribly vulnerable without him. Any sparks that might have flown from us were extinguished there and then.
Livermore and Walker? Walker I’ll persevere with as there is only Charlie to replace him and he’s better than that. But when is young Kyle going to get some proper instruction from one of our illustrious coaches?
Livermore can go back to the reserves and pay off his outstanding dues. After some promising performances I’ve come to the conclusion he’s a pretender. Not a con man, rather he’s mastered looking the part but he’s a long way off from being the required standard. Swagger, sadly little substance.
I see in a few places Friedel getting some stick. THFC want to make that Arry quote, ‘People want goalies that don’t make mistakes – and they don’t exist’ made into a bumper sticker and include as the crappy ‘free’ gift with next season’s membership pack.
For those genuinely seething of course there is I suppose always the option of having a butchers at the league table and taking a deep breath.
It was a good point, we cant win every fucking week, we,d be barca and all our players would be worth 50 million, we arnt and they arnt, if the goons hadnt fluked another win no one would have cared, we will finish top 3, thank you and good morning.
A goal up with 10 mins left and we couldn`t see it out, how`s that a point gained ? Do you see us as winners or losers ? Benny cocked up big time, a diagonal ball to the Swan and all Benny had to do was keep him wide. Lack Lustre performance at best, really a bit Jeckel & Hyde from us.
In all fairness, it was a goal up against the run of play.
see citys result, it was a good point, if u think we should win every game then ure deluded
Lacklustre is one word, not two….silly silly
What the f*ck was VDV doing shooting from 35 yds (not shown on MOTD) when he was clear of the Swans defenders with only the keeper to beat ? I just don`t feel he is fit enough or has enough confidence that he will outstrip them over 25 yds, a player on top of his game would have taken a touch, sidestepped the keeper and virtually walked it in the net. Trust me he`s not fit!
I seem to remember him scoring though, also why do you think he only cost 8 mil? I dont trust you though.
I believe it was a deflection off a Swan for the goal and VDV has had fitness problems along with hamstring probs for 9 years now.
so what, he’s scored 8 league goals, how many points has that netted?
With the chances created by Bale, Azza, the Croat, Ade, Parker, Walker et al that`s a poor return, anyone playing off Ade would be in double figures by now.
cant believe i’m reading this, rafa is a quality player and an integral part of our success
I saw him score from exactly the same move and position v Villa away last season, so I wouldn’t have thought it was a fitness issue, more likely an attempt to repeat that feat, after all, hitting it that early could’ve caught the keeper unaware?
If he`d hit it properly and placed it in the right hand corner i would agree, it was half hit and accross goal towards the LHC, my granny would have saved that.
The percentage option was to take it on the run, the keeper would have had to come out, wrongfoot him, job done. HNY Sir Ian of Essex.
He got it wrong Raz, you’ve played the game and it doesn’t always go your way, that’s football.
Look where the gooners are now,we need to be beating teams like Swansea.Friedel at fault for soft goal.
Yesterday was very sad to see.
The team did look tired esepcially in the second half. Agree with rotation during the Christmas period.
Tactics again indicated the man cannot think on his feet. I remember Mourinho (as an extreme example) in his first couple of seasons of the premier league would change things around within the first half hour and even make substitutions in the first half if he felt things were going wrong and needed changing.
If Ade is injured I think we could be in trouble, and also agree Kaboul is talented enough to do right back with kyle back in lennons position. Hell I bet when we are short Kaboul could even play defensive midfielder?????
How is it Swansea can roate 6 players and still play so well????? I assume these changes included second choice players? God thats even more worrying.
So perhaps fatigue (both mental and physical) may have been the main factor after all and little to do with anything else????