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Reply | 🔴 Four in at the Swans on the touchline
at 17:20 27 Nov 2025
Thought the three at the back with Casey in the middle worked because of his reading of the game, his pace which Canango can achieve but Casey's seems a lot more mobile whilst also tales very few chances, is he inexperienced oobviously but it allows us to play both Key and Tymon as wingbacks, mo need for wingers who are struggling, do you go with the two attacking and two defending midfielders and the loan striker very much like Martin's team set up but that shape must be adaptable during games. Inoussa and Widell in behind the centre forward worked a treat against Man City until we dropped too far loosing any threat up top which at any level you just cannot do.
As for Vipotnik or Idah two very different skill sets you could ask the question would they compliment each other 4-4-2?
One thing I thought we were reluctant to do against Derby was as they high pressed us we didn't try the early ball in behind their defensive line maybe under instructions to keep the ball on the floor,
We shall see how and if the coaching staff can get a tune out of the team because the turmoil at the club is evident and the supporters are drifting away. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Derby County : Match day thread
at 11:42 27 Nov 2025
We have players up top who can cause teams problems but the midfield isn't working properly but I will qualify that with the fact we have fullbacks who have been asked to support the attack with by the midfield to cover but it seems as if that midfield is not operating as a cohesive unit I like to two defensive mind midfielders but ones who can still press up but have the wherewithal to read the game to keep us defensively sound will our fullbacks press on, the third feeding of the centre forward and wingers.
With three forwards one advanced midfielder and two midfielders ready to intercept clearances high up the pitch that is 6 players pressing forward then add two full backs pressing on that is 8 players and pure folly, the fullbacks and defensive midfielders need to know who is pressing forward and who is defending and by that I mean marking tightly to ensure pressure is maintained. We don't and it will be something Matos needs to sort out |
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Reply | Swansea City v Derby County : Match day thread
at 10:41 27 Nov 2025
Is the cannot tackle, pass and unwilling to shoot the problem I rather think the problem is not getting the press right or not being in position to close players down properly which is otherwise known as marking, done with anticipation of what both the opposition and our own players are going to do. Reading where the ball is most likely to be after challenges and supporting those challenges? You could question different elements of people's abilities but teams setup and stability is paramount which we have lacked in the middle of the park. |
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Reply | Swans 1 Rams 2 : Second half shocker as nothing changes, Vitor comments
at 10:03 27 Nov 2025
For me Cabango does at times Cabango does try and force the pass forward better than playing it to Key, who won't play the first time ball to Ronald who comes for it and even looks for the ball in behind the defence which very rarely comes as Key turns takes too many touches to either play straight back to Cabango or worse cut infield meaning the forward ball is impossible as he is closed down because being unable to use his left foot. You have to get the ball to our wingers quicker letting the ball do the faster movement to give wingers options with other players moving both give them options be it inside or outside the winger either by the middle of the park players or fullbacks who have to be sure that players are in positions to cover their movements that get them out of position. Same can be said of the wingers when pressing, Ronald over did the press for their first goal with the expectations that the rest of the team would also press, both Ronald and Cullen could be seen questioning Key as to why he didn't push up on the fullback but should it have been the midfield to press when the ball came into the middle and Ronald could have held his position to mark the winger. Lack of team understanding that has been symptomatic of most of our problem this season inexperienced midfield which is why Fulton was picked but Cullen is not the best defensively minded midfielder and Galbraith is a wonderful prospect that needs to be developed. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Derby County : Match day thread
at 09:32 27 Nov 2025
On the whole we press pretty well ourselves in the first twenty minutes we played some nice football and we beat their press getting higher up the park while not leaving ourselves exposed, as we tried to force the game we lost our shape and by shape I mean opposition players were left unmarked giving the man on the ball the easy options our movement gave us options in that first twenty minutes but I really think once a team stifles our flanking plan then options through the midfield should be used but that means the fullback hold their defensive position aand the midfield provide the forward momentum or the other option is to bring the wingers in tighter to the centre forward to support his aerial challenge as we change things up also leaving space for fullbacks to come onto.
All about movement of players but not being dragged about to suit the opposition so we leave players unmarked able to become a danger to us. Marking has to be tighter incase we lose the ball |
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Reply | Swansea City v Derby County : Match day thread
at 17:47 26 Nov 2025
Think Matos saw the main elements that have been our problems for some time trying to consistently play down the flanks on the floor trying change the point of attack but doing it just too slow on the right and on the left we had more movement and pace and interplay but inevitable the only way to get decent dangerous crosses in is to get the left footed Tymon beyond their back line which leaves such an exploitable gap on our left side. End of last season that gap was plugged more often than not by the aware O'Brien until we tried to use him playing further up front which meant gaps once again appeared.
Last season and the end of the one before Cabango oftened bypassed Key to get the ball quickly forward be it in the channels, over the top behind defenders or quickly to feet, this season to see two players Key and Ronald who seem have to no awareness of what the other is going to do is pitiful, be it in attack or defence. Ronald had been asked to chase down the ball to try and put intense pressure on the player on the ball but once he had force their fullback to pass back into the middle he needed to let the midfielders in the middle of the park apply the pressure or expect the defence to step up in this case Key who instead ended up in no man's land and ineffective.
To see the ball stalling down our right until we need to attack and then we commit to getting forward but we throw caution to the wind over committing we often get back into games but we cannot seem to fathom the fact the opposition is going to react and we have to snuff out any attempt for the opposition to get back into a game by keeping a viable threat up top while being defensively solid but not dropping so deep that we give teams every opportunity to get back into the game..
Teams are bidding their time until we lose our shape. |
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Reply | Burgess
at 22:48 8 Nov 2025
Casey and Samuel-Smith fill in no problem, Santos on the bench along with Parker.
I would not like to see Stamenic in our back four just as I didn't like Fulton dropping into defence at the start of games..
People seem to forget that midfielders need to drop deep if our defenders push forward , example like Ollie Cooper for Manning ,
We also must remember that if we are being stifled as we play out from the back when keeping our full backs wide then if one midfielder dropping back isn't enough then a second may be needed but the first needs to move rotate to create space, teams are doing this to us in the midfield as we get our numbers and pressing tactics wrong and it is pitiful to see lots of teams opening us up so easily. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Ipswich Town : Match day thread UPDATED
at 22:17 8 Nov 2025
Our tactics today were terrible in that first half but initially we did try and play to feet trying to get some momentum going but we were closed down very quickly and not helped by poor refereeing, balls into feet just didn't work as they brought to bear pressure high up the pitch, so we tried playing long and high to Vipotnik and Widell neither particularly effective when the ball is in the air Vipotnik was awful as a centreforward to hold the ball up or making a nuisance of himself, we have seen Idah being much more effective in that role to link play.
We have Inoussa who is quite effective in the air especially if the ball is chipped in behind the full backs his pace and strength were wasted today.
We saw for our goal that getting possession high up the pitch is essential but so is keeping it when teams need to attack us , making sure our rotation and movement ensures options on the ball, forward momentum but lastly and not least enough players in defensive positions to stop counter attacks as we press forward.
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Really think we got caught out far too many times in the midfield we are far too rigid in our roles that hinder both our attacking options and defensive options. |
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Reply | Burgess
at 21:51 8 Nov 2025
Burgess and Cabango both need a safety net of someone with pace alongside them. Last season Darling did the covering for Tymon once Darling got his head around playing on the left side of defence, once Darling and Cabango were allowed to attack the ball one covered each other well and with four at the back Key and Tymon could chase forwards down, resulting for the most part in a relatively solid defence which wasn't caught colded by pace. through the middle.
Casey playing in the middle helped us play with three at the back, Samuel-Smith playing on the left of the three was not as effective today.hence reverting to four at the back.
We needed to change to the back four got back into the game but did we then pushed too many men forward to yet again get picked off because of our lack of pace in the centre and no cover as our fullback revert back to play as wingback in search of another goal and all the midfield also moving forward left us badly exposed for the second goal which we compounded to get picked off again a further twice.. [Post edited 9 Nov 8:13]
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Reply | Swansea Indy view on Sheehan
at 01:56 3 Nov 2025
We have a number of key players missing from Sheehan's end of season team, Darling replaced by Burgess may seem a good replacement but they have different strengths and weaknesses. O'Brien replaced by either Galbraith or Stamenic, Galbraith is a great replacement but doesn't have the experience that O'Brien had, and Stamenic is a very different player has good feet but more languid, and rangy.
None of the players could be called direct replacement for the ones lost and Sheehan has struggled to fit them into the system that worked well last season, who would have though the likes of Franco would have been given time on the bench. On initial showings did Widell look up to pace with the Championship, not really but was he given time but if you did allow him more time who would he replace, Yalcouye again a young inexperienced player and a loanee ( a number of us would not like too many young loanees in the team at the expense of our own players) most probably the sending offis the best thing for him experience wise the Sheehan allowing room on the bench for Widell soon to be promoted I suspect,
Then there is Inoussa who for me should start every game but he was or is nursing and injury problem so maybe it is understandable that Eom is getting game time.
Then there is Vipotnik given the attacking players around him is that why he is getting goals and looks sharper is he as good a centre forward as Idah in terms of his hold up play and aerial nuisance value able to release speedy players into space, is Idah up to pace with the Championship yet. Cullen getting minutes to good effect against Notts Forest, both Key and Ronald replaced by Inoussa and Galbraith but the same outcome slow paced football.
Sheehan has had lots to try and sort out trying to fit players into last season formation but they are not the same players.
Last but not least we have Kalean Casey, how old is he, he was excellent in all three cup games he has played in and against Chalton he looked as if he belonged in the centre of defence , except getting caught out by the bouncing ball but who hasn't and inexperience often leads to mistakes.
So do we revert to three at the back releasing our woeful at defending, sometimes, fullbacks to become the attacking wingbacks they show an aptitude for and ditch our wingers who previously gave us width enabling them to get closer to the previously isolated centre forward.
Sheehan has lots of options to consider maybe too many but maybe the absences because of Yalcouye sending off, Vipotnik's injury, Stamenic regrettable family circumstances have helped Sheehan get a clearer picture of how best to utilise his "better" players.
Will mention Bobby Wales until he is given a run of games how is he ever going to show the promised performance he was bought for and the same for Parker who has rarely let us down in his first team performaces in the Championship where he had an assist as a winger and won a number of corners high up the pitch and look capable in his defensive roles in the cup games he appeared in and a good player to have as cover for Key.
A number of valuable loan players in but not at the expense of our players, will make an exemption for Casey because we are lacking a bit of pace in the centre halve positions. Happy to have Samuel-Smith as cover for Tymon, similarly
Benson, good to have good cover for positions within the squad but how long will we have them if they don't get game time does that tie Sheehan's hands somewhat? [Post edited 3 Nov 2:18]
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Reply | Final ball
at 22:03 1 Nov 2025
We need to see a little more guile and patience.Happy when we get the ball in quickly to have defenders turning struggling to get back into position fine but once a team is entrenched in their defensive formation a lot more movement is needed on and on the ball, we can't just start piling players forward leaving us short at the back susceptible to counter attacks. Players have to come off defenders and get ball into their feet in tight areas or the box a wall pass and movement can create that little bit of confusion and space for a shot from nearer the goal, as a midfielder Lampard and Gerrard played it so often, the former getting so many goals from the returned ball often ricocheted through a wall of defenders that left goalies flat footed you wouldn't need as much power in the shot nearer the goal so little backlift means you get the shot away quicker. [Post edited 2 Nov 9:25]
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Reply | Widell on the bench today
at 21:46 1 Nov 2025
Casey looked comfortable in the middle of the three as did the other centreback around him, it also should be noted Tymon was seen in a much better position to intercept balls out to the wings.
Something to build some momentum on hopefully. |
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Reply | Charlton Athletic v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 21:41 1 Nov 2025
Don't think Chalton deserved more than a point if that.
Nice to see the goal scored with a direct ball through the middle we have started to get a number of goals by varying our play, running at defenders around the edge of the box pushing them back finding the feet of players in the box.
Must admit it was a poor game off head tennis in the first half, once our defensive headers actually got played in to players or spaces we could exploit and we started playing the ball on the ground we looked by far the better team. [Post edited 2 Nov 9:11]
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Reply | Casey to replace Bango or Burgess
at 15:25 1 Nov 2025
I agree that Man City have top players but we have been sucked into the defensive games too often while we have got sime really good players in all areas of the park we often need a rocket up the back side at half tune to get tighter,if we are going to play a pressing game we need to do it as a unit but also as a unit know when a press in not on and be able to defend what ever part of the pitch teams attack us from but you have to find your passes to attacking outlets and be able to support those outlet, we do seem to panic in our attacks especially when the first ball or run from deep is not on. |
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Reply | Casey to replace Bango or Burgess
at 10:42 1 Nov 2025
No point playing five at the back and then dropping our midfielders deep, against City Franco and Galbraith and then Inoussa and Widell also drop deep which meant Idah running the forward line on his own. I have been wary of playing Idah up top but against City in that first twenty minutes he played well but he had the support of runners, Widell and Inoussa getting up to support his lay offs or going beyond him, their movement also created space for Key out wide to run at players then Franco got forward to slot the goal home, all done with pace and good movement to create the space.
All for going compacted after a goal expecting a backlash but initial against City we kept a threat in our game almost scoring the second
But then we continued to try and remain compact but without an outlet because we either dropped too deep or we seem to think Idah needed to chase the ball down constantly which as we have seen with the likes of Vipotnik, Yates and Bianchini if not done properly can lead to opposition defenders either strolling with the ball up through the middle uncontested, as City did as Idah either ran out of steam or was caught in a mindset that we would want to keep a player high up the pitch. So we dropped dropped further and further back 5 defenders and 4 midfield ers Idah had no support in the closing down of players and no outlets to play to and to be fair our clearance became desperate and pretty aimless very little in way of good quality ball.
If we allow teams to play through us with no challenges on the ball because we aren't tight enough to players, Fulton in his early years used to make desperate lunging tackles because he wasn't marking his player close enough. There is only so much standing off players you can do at times you have to get tighter we started making lunging challenges in the midfield being off balance, just not tight enough as a team press.
Have a look at the highlights of the Man City game and watch Tymon in the move where City hit the post, Tymon back track guarding against the cross but then got jinxed into thinking the winger was going to cut back inside, Tymon tried to block that inside ball and got done on the outside but he didn't need to make the challenge as Inoussa got back and was in the right place to stop the winger cutting inside so the only option would be to go outside allowing Tymon to keep in position to stop the cross or get a challenge in.
Man City upped their game with the quality they have but we have seen us cut open by teams as we try unsuccessful presses high up the pitch for me if the ball is going back to the goalie we have a successful press let the goalie have it, we are one nil up or not losing why would you not want him to have it but what we must do is ensure that goalie hasn't a quick long ball to spare wingers or free players in the middle of the park.
If a goalie with the ball at his feet closes to come forward out of his box fine the higher up the pitch he comes the bigger the gap to his goal, the more congested the area of the pitch he has to play in, the same goes for an advancing defender the bigger the gaps to exploit behind him but we have to make sure the player on the ball is forced into a blind alleys with little options how many times have we seen our centre halves or others in the past end up giving the ball away after taking one touch too many, yes better players only take the number of touches needed but getting tight to players who would cut the out options meaning the ball can be won to exploit the gaps that do appear in behind them
But if we drop so deep it gives us little chance to get forward with numbers.
The question about not playing too deep would be do we play with a high line of defence, if we have enough pace in the defence so is that where Casey needs to be used?
If teams are going to play out from the back we need to make sure their only option available to them is back to their goalie with no option for him to find easy balls.to unmarked players. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Manchester City : Match day thread
at 12:51 30 Oct 2025
Agree they took control but initially we contained them well but we consolidated our defensive position after we scored and even force the error that we couldn't quite capitalise on, but there is only so much defending that can be done without being broken down, we allowed their defenders to get further up the pitch which meant any possibility of attacking by us could be snuffed out given we would need to go almost the full length of pitch and if we didn't do it carefully we would become disjointed. No doubt about the quality of the Man City team and as you quoted in your post copied below needs reviewing but is it also about our lack of belief as a team that we can push on to create further chances, we sat back and were opened up.
As you say of Sheehan
"In terms of tactics he should study the movement made by Man City, their positioning and off the ball movements."
In the first 20mins as above ours was excellent and we found weaknesses in their setup.
What was a little disappointing in our play was the way we ended up conceding ground in the middle of the park dropping deeper and deeper and then letting their wingers space and we have seen it before conceding goals late in the first half.
The positive is we matched the, got ahead, then contained their initial onslaught but the negative is we gave up ground far too easily, high up the pitch, more than happy to see teams pass the ball aimlessly back to their goalie with no pentration but not happy seeing centrebacks given free rein to add to a teams attack unchallenged.
I think Sheehan has a bit of a problem with looking after players who may has niggling injurys that means three games in quick succession are causing him problems. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Manchester City : Match day thread
at 09:34 30 Oct 2025
We played 5 at the back yesterday we got our challenges in early all round the pitch in that first 20 minutes stifling their progress and catching them cold maybe but deservedly going ahead. Now I am all for consolidating that lead keeping ourselves strong in defence initially but we have seen us back off drop deep and inviting teams on and their pressure tells once that initial backlash subsides we need to go back onto the front foot getting challenges in and moving the ball quickly forward, once we do that and they concede possession as all teams will we have to look to play in the gaps teams leave as they press us, usually that is in the middle of the park and can be exposed with quick play, as opposition defenders press to close those gaps then gaps appear further forward, we are not adapting to utilise those gaps as they appear, we did in that first twenty minutes by the end of the game Man City two one up drooped into defensive mode and we got picked off as we played long balls from our backline into densely packed areas to be caught overcommitting players forward too early so not creating forward momentum with balls to feet and try and build pressure as Man City did giving them opportunities to counter attack effectively. |
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Reply | Casey to replace Bango or Burgess
at 08:55 30 Oct 2025
Getting to the point that ee are seeing if you are unable to adapt to different tactics to utilise your players best points then their weak points get exposed, we have some very good players in the squad but we are struggling to get the best out of them, the formation has to be fluid enough to allow any player to get forward knowing that rotation of players will mean cover to allow us to both attack and defend properly. That is not happening consistently enough. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Manchester City : Match day thread
at 08:35 30 Oct 2025
One thing you must remember is that Key has pace to burn similar to Doku I thought at times he marshalled him well but I still think he needs to get tighter at times so opposition wingers do not get balls to feet even get tight to make it harder to get get around, yes you then worry about the ball in behind but as we saw with the excellent Casey many of the balls into channels were cut out, the last thing you wanted was Doku running at you with the ball at his feet being able to drive at you pushing you back into the box which is exactly happen for their first goal.This isn't the first time players of quality have been able to push us back into our box Tymon allows himself time and time against to be pushed back backing off constantly, it doesn't work at times the foot has to put in or you get your body in the way to stop that forward momentum stopping us back pedalling into our box, yes but it is Man City and their quality is better but it wasn't in that first twenty minutes nobody could argue that we didn't deserve to be infront.
Idah looked a threat in holding up the ball Inoussa and Widell were causing them problems, but then we dropped off, not getting challenges in, yes Man City upped their game their players had a lot more movement off the ball creating spaces especially making themselves available to their players challenging for the ball in tight situations enabling them to open up spaces but in many instances we stopped our movement, getting tight and putting challenges in.
After Idah's booking his work rate dropped. For me the ref didn't help us in any way, Idah's lunging challenge penalised with a booking but similar by Man City players penalised with fouls but no bookings meaning they kept putting the challenges but we dropped off not getting getting tight enough not matching there movement, Idah now caught between two mindsets does he save his energy to remain a threat or spend it chasing down their central defenders as they drove through the middle of the park allowing ourselves to be press back to be unable to win the ball higher up the park and be a threat, you could say we defended well but we rode our luck by virtually inviting Man City onto us and in the end the pressure told.
As they pressed forward they left themselves open to counter attacks which initially we capitalised on and were unlucky not to go two up.
As for the third goal yes we got picked off but it was inevitable Key presumably under orders to press up too soon, making himself unavailable to balls played across our forward moving back line and passes to him became intercepted on too many occasions easily picked off.
I really think there are really good players and fullbacks in both Key and Tymon but they have picked up some really bad habits in their defensive game. [Post edited 30 Oct 8:40]
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Reply | Did we send Charles Sagoe back too soon?
at 07:27 30 Oct 2025
He was given the ball often deep in our half with his back to the to the opposition defenders and with absolutely no oncoming midfielder asking for the ball or other midfielders to far beyond him because we are chasing the games pressing forward expecting him to turn while being tightly marked leaving us static in the midfield and not suppling options to the player on the ball. We have seen our wide men in exactly the same position, Ronald and Key and similarly recently Inoussa amd Galbraith the flanks stifled as we don't get enough movement in effort to remain in possession of the ball or as has been seen recently we play the long ball, without support being in place or joining the forwards quickly. |
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