Swansea (a) Post Match Thread

[cibaman]

In theory letting Gareth Barry go was sensible - shifting older players out and replacing with younger and more enthusiastic lads. But we only really managed half the equation!
It's been true of a fair few players we've let go in pursuit of improvement. So far, we've not been very adept at it.

It was to some extent understandable in that we'd just signed Fernandhino. But part of the rationale was that Rodwell would be ahead of Barry in the pecking order. Which didn't turn out so well.

 

[FanchesterCity]

You don't think it might be anything to do with how open and exposed both have found themselves this season? I take it pep will shore up the middle which will help the defence enormously. Time will tell though.

You typed that as I was typing mine - totally agree. They aren't blameless, but defence starts from the front, and we've been battered in midfield a number of times this season.

 

[cibaman]

Was it me, or did Swansea look rather insipid for the final 15 minutes. I was dreading a goal in the last 5 minutes but the Swans looked content to play it out ?

Yes, as was Dean. There should have been 3 added minutes just for the Sagna injury.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Just watched a bit of a recording & I didn't think we were that bad by our standards this season.

Awful finishing, but we've played much worse than that. If the OC had built the midfield around the two Ferns in August & worked on it with different formations for different teams we would have done a lot better I think.

Anyhow. Thank fuck that's over.

 

[Bill]

Was it me, or did Swansea look rather insipid for the final 15 minutes. I was dreading a goal in the last 5 minutes but the Swans looked content to play it out ?

thought the same mate. for longer actually. I said to my mate that these were playing for a draw half way through the second half. I think with a deal for Bony in mind.

 

[oneclubfrommanchester]

So our decline is bollocks??

13-14 - Finished 1st. 86 points, 102 goals scored, 37 conceded.

14-15 - Finished 2nd. 79 points, 83 goals scored, 38 conceded.

15-16 - Finished 4th. 66 points, 71 goals scored, 41 conceded.

How would you describe this?

That just depends on your spin. 2nd most successful manager in our history. His success was better than Mancinis. We hit a massive high bar in his first season which was difficult to emulate. 2nd season we finished 2nd no shame in that. With our key players out for large parts of the season we still reached the CL semis - won a cup AND finished top 4. Relatively speaking therefore I dont see we have gone backwards I feel we have been very unfortunate with a severely depleted squad that any manager would have struggled with. At one point we could barely get a first 11 out. So lets get all this into the correct perspective. Had we had no injury probs then YES i would have expected a good go at the title. and Im sure we woluld have given LCFC a good run for their money. Think about it, VK playing the whole season would have given us clean sheets most games and SA playing almost every match would have given us at least another 10 goals not even to mention KDB and how he and his goals were missed. Context and Perspective is needed. If we have the same injury issued next season Pep will struggle also make no mistake about that.

 

[blue ranger]

I was looking at the EFC report this morning, and it appears that GazBaz has been voted fans' and players' player of the season. I am pretty certain that we would not have been scratting about on the last day for fourth place had he been sitting in front of Otters and The Mangler for most of the season. One of the most scandalous decisions taken to ship him out!

1000% agree with this. Decision to let him go 3 years ago was comical.

 

[blue ranger]

Honestly mate they look like they are kicking a live hand grenade around at times.

Don't agree on the otamendi front. Has his faults but composure on the ball isn't one of them.

 

[OB1]

I was looking at the EFC report this morning, and it appears that GazBaz has been voted fans' and players' player of the season. I am pretty certain that we would not have been scratting about on the last day for fourth place had he been sitting in front of Otters and The Mangler for most of the season. One of the most scandalous decisions taken to ship him out!

Because his replacement, Fernandinho, has been so shite.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Because his replacement, Fernandinho, has been so shite.

Fernandinho wasn't that player until Pellegrini put him there though. He had a Gareth Barry impersonator playing behind him at Shakhtar, allowing him to get forward & mug people & imo be a much better player. I recon both Ferns & Gaz Baz would have been a good 3.