Back from the Game - Swansea (H)

[Man Friday]

Anybody see the altercation between the bloke with his daughter and a neanderthal straight after the match going down the steps (East Stand) where the neanderthal was having a go at the bloke for not going down the steps fast enough because he kept turning around? I assume he was looking for his young son who he had been sitting with. Apparently while he was turning around his elbow knocked said neanderthal as he tried to push past. I think the idiot threatened to break his arms or something. Most people would have told him to feck off.

So he delays the guy by walking like a nob, then elbows him as well? Fair play to the " neanderthal" for not knocking him out like most would.

...welcome to Britain in the 21st Century. What a great country we have become.

[andrew1957]

Well I enjoyed it.Thought Swansea were the best side to come to the Madstad this season (I did not see Boro game so they may have been better) and we did well to take a hard earned point. A friend came with me who comes about once a season - last came Boxing Day last year when we struggled against Cardiff and he thought it was the best Reading performance he had seen - interesting take after all the negativity here.

I thought Gunnarsson was immense - and people want him gone? MOTM for me.

McAnuff was quiet until late on - just hope he is not missing Brendan too much.

Rasiak is truly awful and unlike some I thought Long held the ball up better today but he just does not look like he will ever score again and Church must come back in for Plymouth as he is by far our best striker at present.

Marek had his usual game of brilliant moments followed by dross - which is why he divides opinion on here so much as some only seem to be able to see his good bits and others seem only to see the misplaced passes and the losing the ball in dangerous places. He is an enigmna.

Sig is a class act and it was good to see Karacan get on the pitch for once.

We are a couple of good strikers away from being a half decent side in my opinion - we can only hope that Santa has sent us a couple for January but I am not holding my breath.

[Jerry St Clair]

Couldn't see why McDermott took off our only strikers today and replaced them with wingers.

It might have been because Long was utter dogshit. Again.

Bryn was superb and saved our bacon with his beautifully timed interception of a Swansea cross late on. This message board would be a very, very different place had it not been for that.

[mr_number]

I haven't been to a game for a while, and this shocked me. The first half was unbelievably awful in my opinion... Swansea bossing the game, us not closing them down, neither the crowd nor the players seeming to care anymore. It made me very sad.
Second half was quite enjoyable, but I can't see how we're going to score if HRK is our main forward on the pitch, even though I understand why Long and Rasiak were taken off. And the formation change at half time stopped them dominating us massively, so credit to BMc for that. I also don't really think Brynjar had a great time...

[ayjaydee]

Most comments about Long's inability to get on Marek's through ball centred around his lack of pace. The way I saw it was a complete lack of bottle. Any impetus must have taken him into a situation with the GK that could have brought a free kick or pen but to me he seemed to pull out.

[swansea jack]

Swansea were the same side they have been for a couple of seasons - pretty to watch in areas where it is irrelevant, nothing happening when it matters.

...but still 6th in the table. LOL. If we have the ball (even in our own half) then the other team can't score.

Still sounds like we need that 20 goal striker though but don't have the money unfort.

[brendywendy]

Yet another nowt special team from the top half. Both teams awful first half.we dominated for twenty mins after the break.still toothless though. Sig,berti,bryn played well. Disappointed with jobi,marek and long. Wng.

[Maguire]

They were tidy in the first half and deserved the lead. Bit of a get out of jail card played by Gylfi there.

Second half we were all over them for twenty mins before they remembered how to play any football. Much improved from Reading.

Swansea were pretty but had terrible strikers. We weren't quite as pretty and also had terrible strikers. Fair result really.

Couple of Swansea tactics that went in our favour:

1) Their keeper trying to chip his goal kicks out to the wing all the time in the second half. Lost possession so many times I have no idea why he was doing it.
2) Dyer rinsed Bryn for the whole first half. I have no idea why he was switched to the left in the second but thank God he was.

Best piece of skill - Kebe (who played well again) down the corner busting out the drag back, nutmeg, then round another defender before cutting it back to Gylfi who fired straight at the keeper.

Rasiak and Long utter DOGSHIT. Long has to be on borrowed time.

[Woodcote Royal]

...and there was me thinking that FR was being sarcastic

Marek is a class act. He has bad games - yes, he is by no means untouchable. But if you watch his vision, control and movement he is streets ahead of this league. With better players around him he would be a greater influence. Someone like fulham or wigan should pick him up in january for a million, definitely worth a gamble.

In which case, it's time to get out those prayer mats!!!

Come on someone, anyone!!! Who who needs an extra over rated and over paid foreign midfielder who continues to block the progress of those who represent the real future of this club?

Have no fear, the first decent offer we get next month and Marek will be on his way.

Thoroughly enjoyed today's game between two teams who wanted to win with neither deserving to lose.

Back on planet earth, this was a decent point secured from promotion contenders with most of today's positives taking place on the pitch and nearly all the negatives plastered over these guff filled pages..................the likes of Finerain rarely disappoint in this respect.

[Petercccccc]

I have not bothered reading the whole thread i was not at the game but from what i hear is we played good at times just couldnt take our chances.

Who ever slagged of brendan rodgers can not say we wre any better im just suprised they have all come to surface now sticking up for someone who has 2 points from 2 games...ohh you wouold of all sucked rogers dick now!!!!

I wouldn't of sacked brendan if it was me in charge,
he will probably be a premer league manger. now a poll of that would prove a point or two.

In 3-4.5 years for Roylaeee sake, Rogers is a top of whatever leaguexxxxxxx big love

[Petercccccc]

I have not bothered reading the whole thread i was not at the game but from what i hear is we played good at times just couldnt take our chances.

Who ever slagged of brendan rodgers can not say we wre any better im just suprised they have all come to surface now sticking up for someone who has 2 points from 2 games...ohh you wouold of all sucked rogers dick now!!!!

I wouldn't of sacked brendan if it was me in charge,
he will probably be a premer league manger. now a poll of that would prove a point or two.

In 3-4.5 years for Roylaeee sake, Rogers is a top of whatever leaguexxxxxxx big love

Dick

Where were you 2 weeks ago you hipocrite.

[rabidbee]

Most comments about Long's inability to get on Marek's through ball centred around his lack of pace. The way I saw it was a complete lack of bottle.

Yep, I agree. Hey may have thought he was offside, or he may have thought that he'd only twat the goalie if he had got there earlier, but he definitely wasn't pushing hard to win that ball.

[Stooper]

I have not bothered reading the whole thread i was not at the game but from what i hear is we played good at times just couldnt take our chances.

Who ever slagged of brendan rodgers can not say we wre any better im just suprised they have all come to surface now sticking up for someone who has 2 points from 2 games...ohh you wouold of all sucked rogers dick now!!!!

I wouldn't of sacked brendan if it was me in charge,
he will probably be a premer league manger. now a poll of that would prove a point or two.

In 3-4.5 years for Roylaeee sake, Rogers is a top of whatever leaguexxxxxxx big love

Dick

Where were you 2 weeks ago you hipocrite.

[The whole year inn]

LOL

[starbug]

I haven't been to a game for a while, and this shocked me. The first half was unbelievably awful in my opinion... Swansea bossing the game, us not closing them down, neither the crowd nor the players seeming to care anymore. It made me very sad.
Second half was quite enjoyable, but I can't see how we're going to score if HRK is our main forward on the pitch, even though I understand why Long and Rasiak were taken off. And the formation change at half time stopped them dominating us massively, so credit to BMc for that. I also don't really think Brynjar had a great time...

+1

Humiliating first half, barely acceptable second half. Couldn't understand why it took us so long to mark their No 7 who was just bossing the game and always in acres of space.

On the plus side we got a point from a game we shouldn't have, against a good swansea side who are doing very well for themselves. Kebe done well when he came on - finally someone who can cross the ball...

Lastly can we please please please show the players the video, watch the Swansea players and learn what it is to pass and move instead of lump and hope.

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

+ 2.

Another plus point. We've found a makeshift right back who kicks with his right foot. So maybe we can now play Tabb in his natural position once he's fit.

[PieEater]

I thought Swansea just ran rings around us in the first half and our performance was one of the worst I'd seen. Our midfield was totally missing with Cisse manmarking Pratley (and then losing him for their goal) leaving Marek to chase around everyone else . Why on earth would you man mark someone when you're already outnumbered in midfield?

Second half we were much better going 5 in midfield with Sig playing behind the striker, and Kebe made a big difference when he came on. So overall given how pisspoor we were in the first half I've got to be happy with a point. I thought Bertrand and Gunnar had particularly good games given how quick Dyer was.

Special mention for Long who was utter dogshit, and must have a bet on with Church for being caught offside the most.

[Man Friday]

Long was supposed to be quick and yet a goalkeeper (a species not renowned for their pace) beats him to a 50-50 ball over 12 metres. I used to really like Shane but I think he needs to move on.

[Sun Tzu]

Swansea were the same side they have been for a couple of seasons - pretty to watch in areas where it is irrelevant, nothing happening when it matters.

...but still 6th in the table. LOL. If we have the ball (even in our own half) then the other team can't score.

Still sounds like we need that 20 goal striker though but don't have the money unfort.

Indeed, and credit to you for where you are in the league !

But the league is poor this season. It's a pretty damning verdict on a team with pretensions of promotion that their fans are happy if they play keep ball in their own half to stop the opposition scoring ! If you have the ball and don;t get in the opposition box you are highly unlikley to score either !

As for having no money, as the caller to 606 pointed out you pulled in 6 million in the summer and apparantly have no debt ! We may be running on a tight budget but at least we've had some superb seasons to show for it. If you're board are holding on to cash and not investing then as a fan I would be livid. Presumably they don;t actually want to get promoted ?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Surely if Swansea have no debt, compared to our £8m owed to JM they are in a sounder financial position, we keep hearing about the real world, perhaps we are not the only ones trying to live within our means, seems like Watford now have less debt as well, tho not a nice new Stadium.

If the Swans have no debt and the Stadium is paid then they have done bettr tan we did, tho i seem to recall they Stadium s not oned by the club, rather the local authority, tho i stand to be corrected on this.