Why Can't we play like Swansea ?

[Royal Lady]

He didn't "want out". He wanted to play regular football, Coppell would not give him that, so he had no real choice if he wanted to play every week. HTH.

[Ian Royal]

He didn't "want out". He wanted to play regular football, Coppell would not give him that, so he had no real choice if he wanted to play every week. HTH.

And he wasn't going to get it here and justifiably so. Why do you try and blame the club for a sensible decision made by a player?

[Royal Lady]

I'm not. I'm just putting right the comment that stated that Cox "wanted out" - as if he didn't want to stay here full stop. He wanted to stay, but not if it meant that he would forever be stuck in the reserves.

[Ian Royal]

I'm not. I'm just putting right the comment that stated that Cox "wanted out" - as if he didn't want to stay here full stop. He wanted to stay, but not if it meant that he would forever be stuck in the reserves.

He wanted to go to Swindon because he was virtually guaranteed first team football and already fitted in well there. He didn't want to stay here because he wouldn't have played every week. That's not rotting in the reserves. He could easily have got another loan deal.

He wanted out.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

I'm not. I'm just putting right the comment that stated that Cox "wanted out" - as if he didn't want to stay here full stop. He wanted to stay, but not if it meant that he would forever be stuck in the reserves.

This is quite correct - Simon' Cox's dad is a family friend, Cox wanted regular first team football, he felt he deserved to be given a chance, he was told his chances would be limited, and he was then given the option of seeking first team football elsewhere should a suitable offer come on for him -Cox is a Reading lad and he wanted to play for his hometown - given the choice he would have wanted his career at Reading

[Royal Lady]

^ thank you. I am a friend of Simon as it happens!

[glass half full]

I'm not. I'm just putting right the comment that stated that Cox "wanted out" - as if he didn't want to stay here full stop. He wanted to stay, but not if it meant that he would forever be stuck in the reserves.

I am convinced that he still has a big future in one of the higher divisions.

[Alan Partridge]

Well I actually went to the Liberty Stadium on saturday and witnessed the game first hand and as others have rightly said the football they produce would grace the top half of the Premiership and would be fantastic to see on a regular basis on the TV. I must say it must be great for fans of the club that have had some torrid times in recent years to see such a superb style of football on a regular basis.

Why can't Reading play like that? simple. Their players technically are better players than ours. They play with a confidence and a swagger that ours don't and they play with a freedom that ours don't get. Their right winger Dyer has pace to burn similar to \kebe, but is a better footballer, he's better with the ball at his feet, can beat players with pace and skill and his end product is better. Britton is a very good player in the middle for them. Only qa little lad but combative, he really runs his heart out similar to Harper but he's quicker, stronger, and more trusting of his ability to make things happen. Gomez is a bit of a luxury player like Matejovsky, but instead of not fitting him in, Swansea make it so that they get their most creative and inventive player on the field and play a formation to suit it. They play Gower a bit out of position on the left but he likes to get forward, he supports Scotland in attack and puts a shift in.

One thing i noticed is their goalkeeper De Vries, hardly ever kicks it long ball style out of his hands or off the floor. He didn't kick one long off the floor in the entire game, he instead passed it to the full backs or even to their centre halves. He also if he caught the ball would roll it out to their defenders. Unlike ours, all of their defenders (some of them were playing in League 2 not long ago) were comfortable and confident in posession, they would turn on it, play it short and would always have an option of a midfielder to pass it too.

Scotland up front plays on his own a bit but he links others well, I didn't think he had a particularly good game on saturday but the one chance he got it was out of his feet and buried into the corner in one superb move.

It was an excellent game, Fulham played their part but Swansea were the better side especially in terms of chances created. If they carry on in this way not only would they make a fantastic addition to the Premiership but with one or two additions they could make a real impact on it.

I must say from my personal viewpoint the last few weeks as a football fan it's been pretty tedious stuff, some of the Premiership/FA Cup games on the TV have been wretched long ball affairs, the last couple of games at RFC haven't exactly been one for the purist, watching Swansea reminded me what you go to football for. To see the game played at a level that you absolutely can not play it at. To be entertained and impressed at the skill level on show and all for £20. Well played Swansea and i wouldn't be surprised to see them win the replay!

[SLAMMED]

Coppell + Swansea's current team = Mid-table premiership

[Ian Royal]

Coppell + Swansea's current team = Mid-table premiership

unlikely, he'd almost certainly switch to 4-4-2, which wouldn't suit them as well.

[glass half full]

This is a really good post, AP.

Teams can contribute to a good, entertaining game if both are willing and able. Sadly, recent games in Championship and premiership have been boringly negative. Much of this could be contributed to the 'fear factor'. 4-5-1 is almost always negative. It would be so much better if more teams attempted to play the Swansea way.

[PEARCEY]

Well I actually went to the Liberty Stadium on saturday and witnessed the game first hand and as others have rightly said the football they produce would grace the top half of the Premiership and would be fantastic to see on a regular basis on the TV. I must say it must be great for fans of the club that have had some torrid times in recent years to see such a superb style of football on a regular basis.

Why can't Reading play like that? simple. Their players technically are better players than ours. They play with a confidence and a swagger that ours don't and they play with a freedom that ours don't get. Their right winger Dyer has pace to burn similar to \kebe, but is a better footballer, he's better with the ball at his feet, can beat players with pace and skill and his end product is better. Britton is a very good player in the middle for them. Only qa little lad but combative, he really runs his heart out similar to Harper but he's quicker, stronger, and more trusting of his ability to make things happen. Gomez is a bit of a luxury player like Matejovsky, but instead of not fitting him in, Swansea make it so that they get their most creative and inventive player on the field and play a formation to suit it. They play Gower a bit out of position on the left but he likes to get forward, he supports Scotland in attack and puts a shift in.

One thing i noticed is their goalkeeper De Vries, hardly ever kicks it long ball style out of his hands or off the floor. He didn't kick one long off the floor in the entire game, he instead passed it to the full backs or even to their centre halves. He also if he caught the ball would roll it out to their defenders. Unlike ours, all of their defenders (some of them were playing in League 2 not long ago) were comfortable and confident in posession, they would turn on it, play it short and would always have an option of a midfielder to pass it too.

Scotland up front plays on his own a bit but he links others well, I didn't think he had a particularly good game on saturday but the one chance he got it was out of his feet and buried into the corner in one superb move.

It was an excellent game, Fulham played their part but Swansea were the better side especially in terms of chances created. If they carry on in this way not only would they make a fantastic addition to the Premiership but with one or two additions they could make a real impact on it.

I must say from my personal viewpoint the last few weeks as a football fan it's been pretty tedious stuff, some of the Premiership/FA Cup games on the TV have been wretched long ball affairs, the last couple of games at RFC haven't exactly been one for the purist, watching Swansea reminded me what you go to football for. To see the game played at a level that you absolutely can not play it at. To be entertained and impressed at the skill level on show and all for £20. Well played Swansea and i wouldn't be surprised to see them win the replay!

Thats an eloquent post AP and you are right. Its only 6 years ago when Swansea had to win the final game of the season to stay in the Football League. Look at them now.
I, too would not be at all surprised if they beat Fulham in the replay and they have some incentive to do so given the draw for the last 8.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Spot on AP

Only thing I would say is that a lot of our players have the ability to play a similar style to the Swansea players but it would take time to get them to play in that way

The likes of Harper, Rosenoir, Karacan, Bikey, Matejovsky, Doyle and a few others are technically good enough, as you say though they just need freedom, confidence and encouragement to play that way

Similar to us, Martinez has taken a few years to mould that side and that style, and he has done a great job getting them to the standard they are

[West Sussex Royal]

Swansea looked very good because Fulham let them play to a certain extent.

I think in the next few weeks Swansea will start to find it much harder in the Championship as everyone knows more about them now and teams will start to flood the midfield and deny them space. Coppell admitted after we lost there that maybe he got his tactics wrong.

If they lost one or two couple of key players that would be it and they are not a threat on the top 2.

Agree though that wouldn't fancy them in the play-offs.

[Samrfc01]

I think that if we were to finish 3rd or 4th then the only team that would be able to match/beat us home and away would be Swansea

I would have no worries about any other team but Swansea just have something about them.

[SteveRoyal]

If we want to play like Swansea we need a team revamp.

Or we could just focus our team around Matejovsky.
I'm sure Martinez would love to have a player with Marek's passing ability in his team.

[Royalee]

Coppell + Swansea's current team = Mid-table premiership

Coppell + Swansea's current team = relegation to League 1

Coppell can't manage foreign players or those who are so-called 'luxuries', the more intelligent players would grow frustrated with his primitive tactics and the flair players would inevitably leave.

[PEARCEY]

Yes Steve I think Matejovsky would fit in at Swansea.
The one thing I would say though is that we are all in danger of eulogising Swansea and perhaps forgetting what a great season we are having. Its simple. Win our games in hand and we go top. We have some young guns coming through the ranks and a stable financial club. I admit watching us play in a style like Swansea would be more enjoyable but lets not forget some of our players do have the technique to play like that(just look at Bikey).
I hope both sides go up. Just as long as Brum dont.

[Ian Royal]

I think that if we were to finish 3rd or 4th then the only team that would be able to match/beat us home and away would be Swansea

I would have no worries about any other team but Swansea just have something about them.

Apart from Cardiff who've already done it you mean?

[Ian Royal]

Coppell + Swansea's current team = Mid-table premiership

Coppell + Swansea's current team = relegation to League 1

Coppell can't manage foreign players or those who are so-called 'luxuries', the more intelligent players would grow frustrated with his primitive tactics and the flair players would inevitably leave.

You do talk drivel.