Swansea City (A) - Post Match

[Rich]

Swansea have a big weakness and that is that they are very vulnerable to counter attacks.

Man U used that against them big time.

If we tried to play that way in the second half then forgot to attack and United also have a keeper that is excellent starting up quick counter attacks.

Mignolet is excellent but he is also rubbish setting up quick counter attacks. That is a very big weakness when you defend as deep as we are in the second halfs.

I'm not blaming Mig in any way.

No, you're right about Mignolet.

He doesn't release very quickly and when he's forced to he doesn't clear very accurately. I'm not having a dig at him either as his shot stopping is outstanding and that's his primary job.

[spider-neil]

Gerrard may be long in the tooth but he really needs to learn the slow the game down and stop playing into the opposition's hands by raising the tempo by trying to pick out the striker and gifting the opposition the ball. We needed Allen in the midfield yesterday when Coutinho went off, his injury (Allen) is a pisser.

[Shaggy]

Gerrard may be long in the tooth but he really needs to learn the slow the game down and stop playing into the opposition's hands by raising the tempo by trying to pick out the striker and gifting the opposition the ball. We needed Allen in the midfield yesterday when Coutinho went off, his injury (Allen) is a pisser.

There was one move - think it was towards the end of the first half - when we kept the ball for what must've been 50 passes. Okay we didn't really get anywhere, but we were working it around the pitch nicely. Then all that effort went to waste when Gerrard tried a 50 yard cross field Hollywood ball and just surrendered possession. Found that really annoying.

[The_weatherman]

I agree what's been said about first vs second half performance yesterday, but overall I'm satisfied with the result. A draw away against a pretty strong Swansea side I would have taken beforehand.

Sakho was overall good yesterday, and not sure I think he cost that first goal as such. He steps up when our midfield is away because Shelvey is free, and Skrtel is there as backup. Just unlucky the tackle from Skrtel doesn't fall out differently. It was his first game, plenty to take from it, and as he get's used to our system and his partners he will be a great great addition.

Moses did well yesterday, and I was more impressed with him than I had hoped to be. Can definitly do a job for us, and a good option to have.

And we have to thank Shelvey for the assists, they were superb played in depth.

I mostly agree, decent point, the performance will hopefully keep them in check as well as they need to improve to stay top a little longer. Sakho looks very promising, I thought they put him under a lot of pressure and he was way too busy on his debut - but that could still work in his favour.

We are definately missing Allen, Agger and Johnson though, Agger for his composure and Johnson just brings so much to the team and it would have been nice to swap Allen on for Coutinho or Moses at that point as we needed someone to try to help us keep the bloody ball.

Still not a bad start, we have Luis in reserve still and he'll be pumped up and with Sakho beddding in and Cissokho returning with Johnson we could be in a worse position.

[The_weatherman]

There was one move - think it was towards the end of the first half - when we kept the ball for what must've been 50 passes. Okay we didn't really get anywhere, but we were working it around the pitch nicely. Then all that effort went to waste when Gerrard tried a 50 yard cross field Hollywood ball and just surrendered possession. Found that really annoying.

I think he was trying to reach Wisdom? I was annoyed as well, he really needs to cut these out, or find the right moment to do so, no when we are playing keepy ball.

[Tee]

There was one move - think it was towards the end of the first half - when we kept the ball for what must've been 50 passes. Okay we didn't really get anywhere, but we were working it around the pitch nicely. Then all that effort went to waste when Gerrard tried a 50 yard cross field Hollywood ball and just surrendered possession. Found that really annoying.

I remember that, and yes it was a bit annoying. But then he (and Coutinho) is one of the only players capable of these passes...look at that amazing first time lofted counter through ball to Sturridge when we should have scored.

It is not always going to work but we cannot stifle that side of his game IMO.

[Muddled]

Mignolet is excellent but he is also rubbish setting up quick counter attacks. That is a very big weakness when you defend as deep as we are in the second halfs.

I'm not blaming Mig in any way.

Agreed.

I mentioned it in the match thread too - he needs to kick flatter and with more accuracy. High kicks that gather snow aren't going to be won by any of our attacking four, especially when the opposition have time for a brew and to get back in position. With time, he'll also know when to release; Sturridge needed it quicker towards the end of the match, but Mignolet hesitated, Sturridge was offside and we surrendered possession back to Swansea.

It's a small criticism though because his primary purpose of shot stopping is superb.

[spider-neil]

There was one move - think it was towards the end of the first half - when we kept the ball for what must've been 50 passes. Okay we didn't really get anywhere, but we were working it around the pitch nicely. Then all that effort went to waste when Gerrard tried a 50 yard cross field Hollywood ball and just surrendered possession. Found that really annoying.

There is a stigma with regards to sideways passes but away from home the first thing you should be trying to do is quite the crowd and frustrate the opposition. When you cheaply giving the ball away you are playing into their hands. A home I get Gerrard's need to get things moving quickly, away from home we need to be more clever.

[kingfunk]

What was the deal with Michu warning Sakho not to showboat? Why do footballers have a problem with showboating? I don't get it?

[Tee]

What was the deal with Michu warning Sakho not to showboat? Why do footballers have a problem with showboating? I don't get it?

Because Sakho made him look like a fool a couple of times. And then when he scored it was like...."there you go" FFS.

[kingfunk]

If its effective I don't see the problem with it.

[The Birdman]

Toure and Sturridge barely trained for the past 2 weeks.
Sakho hasn't played since May, doesn't speak/understand English all that well yet and was playing his 1st game in a new league.
Moses has hardly featured for Chelsea.

Coutinho getting injured changed the game as we stopped retaining the ball and just retreated deeper and deeper but all the reasons I've listed above had a massive part to play.

We didn't offer an attacking threat 2nd half because our most creative player went off and Moses and Sturridge aren't fully match fit so faded badly.

Add that to the fact that we didn't have an attacking outlet from right back and we were basically attacking through Henderson and Aspas, who after a quiet start had a lively last 10 minutes and looked a lot better.

[Reece]

Ashley Williams really is a ****house. He seemed to have a real chip on his shoulder last night.

Awwww is poor Ashely upset because we didn't sign him?

[Tee]

Ashley Williams really is a ****house. He seemed to have a real chip on his shoulder last night.

Awwww is poor Ashely upset because we didn't sign him?

He was proper upset, especially when Gerrard had the nerve to go in for a 50/50 tackle on the cunt. Him taking out Coutinho the way he did was a disgrace and changed the game really.

[wiw]

Doubt it will be the last time Coutinho is kicked out of a game this season, sadly