Grayson got his tactics all wrong today. Fair play to him for eventually
changing them and changing the result but I hope he learnt some things today
that he won’t repeat. He went 4-4-2 with Watt and Becchio up front, Johnson on
the left and our best and most lively player, Gradel on the right. It didn’t
work, why ? Basically, there was a lack of pace. Gradel, the only one with pace
was up against a tenacious Swansea left back who really gave him a run for his
money. First 10 minutes wasn’t too bad actually, we passed it around a bit and
created the best chances both of them falling to Becchio. The first a good move
ended up with Becchio’s shot being deflected for a corner then the second, a
corner saw Becchio unmarked with a free header from just outside the 6 yard
box,
he headed it into the top of the South stand, a really bad miss and he knew it.
Then Swansea scored. They hadn’t really been in the game, but had just started
to pass the ball around. A simple ball through should have been easily cut out
by Naylor but he got himself in an off-balance muddle where he couldn’t decide
whether to kick it or control it – he did neither and the Swansea forward was
through on goal. I might be being a bit harsh here but I thought Higgs (Casper
injured apparently) made it very easy for him by sticking to his near post
leaving a big gap to his left which is exactly where he placed the ball. 1-0.
The Swansea fans went loopy.
Swansea then took total control of the game, their only crime was that they
didn’t make their superior play count. They had their chances as they
completely
outclassed us on and off the ball. Higgs made two outstanding saves to keep us
in it, one another one on one through bad defending which he did well with his
feet, the second he tipped around the post after a good shot. Grayson looked
lost on the bench. We were terrible all over the pitch. Up front Watt and
Becchio just never worked, neither has any pace so they were not making runs
and
were completely ineffective. You won’t see that partnership again this season
(I
hope !). On the left wing Johnson showed us yet again he isn’t a left winger.
He
did have one or two moments though and hit the bar with a good effort and also
played a great cross which picked out an unmarked white shirt in the box,
unfortunately that white shirt was Kilkenny whose header looped over the bar.
On
the right Gradel was lively but he’d met his match with their left back, it was
a good scrap but effectively it nullified our best player. In the middle of the
park Kilkenny and Howson just never got into the game and when they did they
just lost possession particularly Howson who just kept getting the ball stuck
under his feet.
At the back we were atrocious, Collins and Bessone cannot defend and I think
they are both a liability. I was watching Collins closely, he stands off his
man
and lets them play as if he’s scared to tackle but then tries to make up by
performing some heroic last ditch tackle. He needs replacing quick. Bessone is
a
disaster, Swansea had the freedom of the right side of the park. At the final
whistle he looked like he’d just won the cup final as he was playing against
his
old club, no thanks to him. Naylor was the only defender in the back four
doing
any tackling.
So 1-0 down at the break, outplayed and clueless, there was only one solution
and that was Grayson change the formation. He didn’t !
I’ve noticed Grayson is a manger who obviously gives them a boll*cking and then
gives them 10 minutes to change their ways before he changes it, he very rarely
makes half time tactical changes.
Second half started the same as the first ended with Swansea completely in
control and us looking lost. Watt went from an ineffective performance to a
player who couldn’t do anything right, he was lost alongside Becchio and the
partnership just crumbled. Swansea should have been out of sight by now and I
think they only have themselves to blame. At every opportunity since they went
1
up they were looking to time waste. Really strange, negative tactics and I
think
their negative attitude and our positive attitude was the main reason they lost
this game.
So after 50 odd minutes Grayson dragged Watt off to be replaced Sam and
reverted
to his 4-3-3 with Watt on the right and Gradel over to the left. This change
won
us the game. Swansea continued to have more possession but we were now much
more
effective on the break and were playing as the away team. Sam made an immediate
impact. It was a strange decision not to start Sam as for me he is not only our
top goalscorer but best player. He looked a different class today when he came
on, lots of time on the ball making possession seem effortless and allowing
others to get into space as he dragged the black shirts towards him. Meanwhile
Gradel was getting all sorts of space on the right wing and just ran Swansea
ragged on the break. Kilkenny and Howson finally came in to the game and at
last
we looked like a team. The crowd also came alive. All these factors combined to
give us our equaliser. Gradel did really well on the left, got his cross over,
Naylor headed, their keeper made a good save but it came out to Johnson
unmarked
in the box and he crashed it home. We didn’t deserve to be equal.
Swansea strangely weren’t time wasting anymore and seemed in a hurry. They
still
looked dangerous but we looked like the team with the momentum and shortly
afterwards we got the winning goal. Gradel again did well, there were a couple
of attempts (Kilkenny and someone else ?) it then fell kindly to Becchio who
was
unmarked in the 6 yard box and he turned it into the empty net.
Swansea then got frantic and tried lots of long range shots most pretty decent
but just missing the target. They moaned to the ref about Higgs time wasting ….
What a shame. They’ve only got themselves to blame. They’re a powder puff team,
excellent footballers, great pass and move football but no bloody conviction at
all , no backbone to the team just a group of nice footballers that will
probably dominate most games they play in this league. That doesn’t win you
football games something that Grayson to his credit knows. We were second best
today by a mile but in terms of our attitude we were streets ahead and that is
why football is a fascinating game.
Higgs – 7. Two great saves to keep us in the match. His kicking was poor today
,
he overhit too many kicks. Maybe we’ve been spoilt by Casper ?
Connolly – 6. Looks shaky to me, nothing coming forward and very dodgy
defending
at times.
Collins – 4. He’s a tall, lumbering mess at the back. Naylor needs a strong
partner. Couple of good last ditch tackles second half but he shouldn’t be
making these.
Naylor – 7. Badly at fault for the goal but I thought he held the defence
together at times with some strong , committed tackling.
Bessone – 3. New left back needed, he’s hopeless. Kilkenny was giving him a
right talking to at the end of the first half.
Kilkenny – 7. Took him a while to get in to the game but when he did he was
effective. I don’t think his fitness levels are great , he needs to step up.
Howson – 6. I was disappointed with Howson’s first half performance in which he
lost possession time and time again and just didn’t do enough for me. Second
half when the tide turned a bit he came in to it and showed what he can do
running with the ball which is why I expect more.
Johsnon – 6. He had a busy game and had a lot of the ball. For every good thing
he does there’s 3 or 4 moments that remind you that this bloke is lacking. He’s
no left winger and when Kilkenny was dragged off second half he was moved
centrally. Scored a good goal though.
Watt – 3. Tried hard first half but didn’t gel with Becchio at all although
they
both suffered through lack of service. I was a bit surprised to see how slow he
is. He’s all legs and definitely very inexperienced at times.
Becchio – 7. I thought he played ok today. My expectation levels are low and to
see Becchio actually show some composure on the ball is surprising to me. He
missed our best 2 chances first half but to his credit and one thing I could
never criticise him for is his effort and determination to get his goal and he
did.
Gradel – 8. Very lively throughout, our best player. He’s a real handful and
caused them all sorts of problems second half.
Subs:
Sam – 8. Made a real difference.
McCormack – looked hungry and lively and caused some problems. I’d like to see
more of this lad.
Somma – looked classy.
Grayson – hope he is learning, I suspect he is. Good changes second half today.
Roll on Barnsley.
The police let the Swansea fans out and it could have got nasty with the police
horses running around kicking cars etc. I’m sure the police like to justify
their wages by creating a bit of a stir now and again.
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