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Thread | Our achilles heel
at 11:47 3 Jan 2014
While in general I love how backs are going forward to contribute to attacks it is really starting to become obvious how vulnerable we are when backs are caught out of position and there is no one to fill the space they leave behind. So much so that it seems more than clear this is what opposing teams are now primarily targeting to exploit.
Having backs go forward can definitely work if the defensive organization is in place. When this happens either 1) Same side wings must fall back and replace backs going forward 2) DM must fall back and become CD while one of the other CD pushes out and replaces missing back or 3) We must be capable of playing a 3 man defense.
Our main problem is that we are not able to pull any of these plans off consistently. 1) Same side wingers are often engaged in same attack and Lamah is the only winger who really carries any real weight defensively 2) DM (most recently Cañas) is too often caught on the wrong side of an attack having to track back but often getting back too late which shouldn't happen as he should be the defensive midfield anchor 3) It seems like not much training has been spent on playing 3 in defense - when we have to defend with 3 men all three defenders seem unsure of their responsibilites add to this that Chico and Ashley look like bambis on ice when caught on the backfoot. |
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Thread | Danny Graham scoring one.
at 22:33 9 Dec 2013
So what do you guys make of DG putting one in. I hated that he was the one scoring. But I appreciate he didn't celebrate and I think it was a nice gesture with the standing ovation from home crowd when he went off. |
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Thread | Lack of consistency
at 22:10 9 Dec 2013
How come we play great football one match and then a few days later we play badly? Now I know the obvious answer is that we are facing different opponents but in my mind it seems to have as much to do with our attitude stepping onto the field. One match we seem on fire and the next we seem as if we can't be bothered. Is it fatigue? Is it too much squad rotation or is someone not doing a good enough job getting players in the right frame of mind before matches? |
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Thread | Setup when all players are ready!
at 21:47 4 Dec 2013
The way that Shelvey has played in AM role for the last couple of games I don't think it is a given anymore that Michu will just slot back into his preferred AM position when he is ready. Moving Michu up top seems natural considering the success he had in that position last year. But what about Bony then - a classy player too that seemed to have hit his stride just before his injury.
How would you set up the team when all players are ready again? |
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Thread | Who's responsible for backup shirts?
at 10:58 30 Nov 2013
On a couple of occasions not having backup shirts ready for players who need to change mid-game has been an issue. Michu in one game and Amat recently. That means we are playing 10 man for any number of minutes - because of a problem that should be very easy to manage with just a minimum of care. It is also in these moments that we see ML at his most frustrated state pacing about the bench area gesticulating etc. But really - shouldn't he delegate that responsibility. Right now it seems so random like everyone is thinking "Hey did we bring those extra shirts and where did we put them?"  |
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Thread | Danish TV coverage of Swansea games really poor!
at 10:40 24 Nov 2013
Sorry to post this here as it is not relevant to everybody - but don't know where else to post it! I just wanted to say that I am really frustrated at how poort tv coverage of the Swansea games has been this year. This year I think tv rights have been picked up by TV3 and they almost never show Swansea games. Last year tv rights were with another network and we had so many great Swansea games shown - and the network even admitted that they were having a record breaking number of viewers for Swansea games in general and the Cup final specifically! Why oh why does TV3 not show more Swansea games when it is obvious that so many people in Denmark want to see these games - I know that other clubs have danish fans as well but I doubt that it is anywhere near the interest that Swansea is seeing at the moment with ML in charge. How do other danish fans see this? Should we start a petition?  |
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Thread | Flipping midfield triangle?
at 10:32 24 Nov 2013
So most games we play with 2 defensive midfielders and 1 AM. But it seems we have quite a few midfielders who are good in AM role (Poz, Shelvey, JDG, Michu). Especially JDG and Shelvey have been used quite a bit as DM but in my mind seem more natural in either as midfielders or even AM. So why not flip the midfield triangle and play with 1 DM and 2 AM (/M)? Or do you guys think that will leave us too thin defensively with our backs going forward so much? :) |
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Thread | ML knows how to use them subs? :D
at 10:25 24 Nov 2013
I was a little wary when ML subbed Shelvey for Dyer in yesterdays game against Fulham. Thought Dyer was having a good game and was keeping the pressure on Fulham and I thought it was too early in the game (about 60th min) to pull back and play defensive. Thankfully Shelvey was not as usual put in DM role where JDG would then be moved up front but instead Shelvey played offensive midfield switching position with Poz now and then. Worked very well. All in all I must say that ML really seems to know how to use his subs to maximum effect. Looking at the last couple of games especially (but most games in general) the subs often come on and either turn the game around or even contribute with goals. Well done!. |
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Thread | Booing on the stadium
at 19:06 10 Nov 2013
Let me just say that I was watching the game on TV. But as the 1st half ended I think I heard the crowd booing at the Swansea players. I mean I have been sticking it to the players as much as anyone here on the forum for the last week but I would never go to the game and start booing. What goes on in the forum is one thing - but if you go to a game I think you should support the team - especially when they actually ended 1st half strong and looked to put in a fight... :/ |
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Thread | Positives today!! (Even if you don't feel like it)
at 18:32 10 Nov 2013
I know what you all think - oh no - not another "let's look at the positives" thread - especially not when we are still gutted about being robbed in extra time. But to walk away from a game like this - letting that bad ref decision overshadow all else just makes the whole thing even more unfair. So here are some of my positive thoughts on todays game:
Great that we finally had a positive lineup. One that sais "Hey we want to win this game" and not "Hey let's hope we can just get a 0-0 result". I would much rather be 2 down in 20 minutes and feel like we actually have a fighting chance than go 80 minutes looking like sh*t and then get a goal against us.
Bony!! I think he looked so much like he wanted it today - had confidence and attitude. I think he looks a class act. Sure his first touch is not world class, he is not the fastest player on the pitch - but his physique and his goal getting ability is right up there. Now we just need to be able to service him better.
Shelvey as a sub! I would much rather have Shelvey come on for the last 20 min, play a great game and feel like a success instead of having him play 90 minutes, play unfocused and walk off the pitch with another bad game to his name. Using him as a sub for a while will build him much more than 90 minutes ever will.
Great subs. Felt like ML used the subs just right today.
Leon Britton. Nuff said.
Phew I could go on... but let's hear someone else :D |
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Thread | Fix our team in 2 words
at 18:52 3 Nov 2013
So I guess we can all agree that we are not playing the beautiful football at the moment that we would all like us to do. But what exactly is missing? Describe in two words what you think is most needed for us to play better. I'll start:
PLAY FASTER! |
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Thread | Best players today?
at 18:47 3 Nov 2013
I actually thought Britton was solid as usual and then there was... hmm.. nope that's it for me  |
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Thread | How many goals are Shelvey going to cost us?
at 18:14 3 Nov 2013
Sure he has great potential but he has a huge problem keeping concentration throughout a game. At long periods during a game he simply phases out and seems on another planet. Liverpool giving 2 goals away, Kuban dying minutes of the game instead of holding on to the ball takes on 5 defenders trying to dribble through middle giving away a counter that leads to a goal when all he had to do was keep hold of the ball, and today instead of guarding the post was following ball around like a tourist. I could see it the moment he stepped onto the field for 2nd half and thought to myself it was only going to be a matter of time before another f*ck up. I know I'm just being really bitter after the game, and he can occassionally lift his game - but basic stuff like keeping hold of a ball 1-0 up with seconds to go or staying at your post when you've been put there to defend is stuff that is not due to bad skills or that no one has ever told him - he just lacks concentration in those moments to focus on what he is supposed to do. So how many more goals should we put up with him costing us before we realize that he still needs some mental training before he is ready for this level of football. :( |
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Thread | Is our defensive game worse than last season?
at 11:19 4 Oct 2013
Last season we seemed to have the ability to keep up a good defensive game when going up against stronger teams and sometimes even use that as a base to play some effective counter attacking football or edge home a narrow draw or win against those big teams. But this season we seem a lot more shaky when trying to play defensively and opponents have been able to get that late game goal.
Why do you guys think that is? I mean on paper our defense should be at least as good as last season (Taylor back, Davies keeps improving, Amat better backup) and I think we also have better defensive midfielders overall than last year. Pure bad luck? Have the opponents "figured us out"? Lack of concentration? What's up?
This leads me to a second question - should we abandon our defensive stance and just play that beautiful attacking football that we all know we can play as we seem to be able to go toe to toe with almost any team playing this way?
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