freds Swansea post match Fred Fred

[dww]

I still think Sakho is better with the ball at his feet than many give him credit for. He looks ungainly but the things he actually does seem good to me more often than most other players (not just our other defenders which isn't much of a yardstick). I also agree with Shaggy that his fizzed balls into midfield are actually very useful if we have good, confident players ahead of him.

[Assassin]

I still think Sakho is better with the ball at his feet than many give him credit for. He looks ungainly but the things he actually does seem good to me more often than most other players (not just our other defenders which isn't much of a yardstick). I also agree with Shaggy that his fizzed balls into midfield are actually very useful if we have good, confident players ahead of him.

This

[G]

Agreed, he started the moves for the first and third goals with those fizzed balls. I don't worry about him on the ball at all, he has confidence to try things, sometimes it won't come off but they are clearly being told not to hoof it down the park so if he's in a tight spot he tries to get out of it. As pointed out in the Skrtel thread, I don't think he's done much wrong on the goal, he's had to make a late decision to challenge Bony and gets unfortunate with the header. Skrtel plays him onside while doing nothing of use and Lucas and Hendo are standing beside Siggy and then let him run off to slot the ball home unhindered.

That pass to Bony just after they scored was terrible though!

[RedReet]

I like the way he passes too, but my only concern is he scares the **** out of Mignolet when he is lining up a pass. Not that that takes much.

[McDermotX]

Liked some of his passes last night (especially for the first goal), couple of times he takes the wrong option though and even one of the little flicks put the team under pressure, which is his greatest weakness IMO.
Awful for the goal as well as his initial position is all wrong, and even if you can point to Skrtel playing the onside, it's just as arguable that Sakho is also playing him on despite being the wrong side of the player. You can't legislate for a ****e header but that's just what Sakho done, the same way Can missed the initial header to clear. Outright errors led to the goal, much as the way it almost hit us again while Sakho hadn't shaken off the error after the restart.
Other than that I thought the CBs played well with even Skrtel and Can trying passes further forward as the game progressed.

[RedReet]

98% pass accuracy for Skrtel, only 1 missed pass all night.

[Shaggy]

I still think Sakho is better with the ball at his feet than many give him credit for. He looks ungainly but the things he actually does seem good to me more often than most other players (not just our other defenders which isn't much of a yardstick). I also agree with Shaggy that his fizzed balls into midfield are actually very useful if we have good, confident players ahead of him.

Agreed, he started the moves for the first and third goals with those fizzed balls. I don't worry about him on the ball at all, he has confidence to try things, sometimes it won't come off but they are clearly being told not to hoof it down the park so if he's in a tight spot he tries to get out of it. As pointed out in the Skrtel thread, I don't think he's done much wrong on the goal, he's had to make a late decision to challenge Bony and gets unfortunate with the header. Skrtel plays him onside while doing nothing of use and Lucas and Hendo are standing beside Siggy and then let him run off to slot the ball home unhindered.

I find the "other view" continually bewildering. So what, he looks ungainly and not very elegant - but aren't you watching where the ball goes? He keeps the ball 90 times out of 100, and his passing is not safe and sideways, it is progressive and bold.

Since coming to the club his pass completion rate is 90%, and given his passing is much bolder than any of our other defenders that's an impressive stat. He's not afraid to fizz it through gaps and most importantly it usually goes forward, not some 10 yard sideways pass. His average passing length is 20m, and it's this passing from that back that really helps us get going. Witness his ball to Moreno last night. I think these facts - allied to actually watching with your own eyes - is ample proof that he uses the ball well and efficiently....despite his unconventional technique, which is irrelevant.

Defensively he's solid, wins most of his duels (statistically a fact) and isn't going to be out-muscled by many (Bony bounced off him a few times last night). According to Squawka Sakho made 2 defensive errors last season (in 18 starts) and has made 2 this season (compared to Lovren's 6).

Clearly any comparisons to Djimi Traore are completely ridiculous, other than they are both French, black, tall and left footed defenders.

[dww]

98% pass accuracy for Skrtel, only 1 missed pass all night.

I actually think Skrtel is under rated on the ball. He's very conservative though - almost the opposite to Sakho in that regard. It's his tendency to defend so deep and make errors under high or bouncing balls that are his problems.

[Maxiedge]

I think people are excited because from the United game forward we have found a way to play (even without any forwards the manager trusts) which is exciting to watch and beginning to get results. It's not just rediscovering form but the manner in which we are playing, which people thought was gone that is exciting. There is obviously a lot of work still to do but I don't see why people should not be happy to see this revival getting started (everyone certainly bitched enough when things were not so good).

We were ****e at Burnley. I wouldn't say that was exciting.

I do believe we are improving but that's mainly to do with Coutinho and Lallana getting a run of games (and playing with Sterling). Defence and keeper still dodgy. Midfield still average.

[RedReet]

What are his aerial duel stats Shaggy, do you know? Most matches I check they are pretty poor. but just wondering how that's averaged out over his whole time here.

That's not a criticism, you don't always have to win the header to kill teh attack, but just wondering out of curiousity.

[Tee]

I still think Sakho is better with the ball at his feet than many give him credit for. He looks ungainly but the things he actually does seem good to me more often than most other players (not just our other defenders which isn't much of a yardstick). I also agree with Shaggy that his fizzed balls into midfield are actually very useful if we have good, confident players ahead of him.

He can play that lad, not his fault he has Djimi Traore legs! Our best CB and hope he keeps his place.

[dww]

Defensively he's solid, wins most of his duels (statistically a fact) and isn't going to be out-muscled by many (Bony bounced off him a few times last night). According to Squawka Sakho made 2 defensive errors last season (in 18 starts) and has made 2 this season (compared to Lovren's 6).

We shouldn't be using Lovren as a yardstick of good performance though.

Clearly any comparisons to Djimi Traore are completely ridiculous, other than they are both French, black, tall and left footed defenders.

They also both look ungainly. Elegance is clearly a much valued trait for our fanbase.

[RedReet]

We were ****e at Burnley. I wouldn't say that was exciting.

I do believe we are improving but that's mainly to do with Coutinho and Lallana getting a run of games (and playing with Sterling). Defence and keeper still dodgy. Midfield still average.

Burnely was a poor match, but our attacking players still showed some glimpses of class, none more so than the goal and we got 3 points and a clean sheet. There was plenty of encouragement to take and it was no surprise that the players took enough confidence from it themselves to go out last night and put on that performance.

[Shaggy]

What are his aerial duel stats Shaggy, do you know? Most matches I check they are pretty poor. but just wondering how that's averaged out over his whole time here.

That's not a criticism, you don't always have to win the header to kill teh attack, but just wondering out of curiousity.

Says he's won 55% of his aerial duels so far this season and 80% of his tackles.

[RichC]

I still think Sakho is better with the ball at his feet than many give him credit for. He looks ungainly but the things he actually does seem good to me more often than most other players (not just our other defenders which isn't much of a yardstick). I also agree with Shaggy that his fizzed balls into midfield are actually very useful if we have good, confident players ahead of him.