Vitor Matos saw a determined Swansea side for the first half an hour of last nights defeat against Derby County. The Rams made it their third win away from home for the first time in five years. Thereafter we saw a tepid display of poor control and a lack of endeavour which is creeping into the Swans play in recent games.
Nigh on seventy five percent possession in the game with little or no impact overall is obviously the main concern. Creating chances or opportunities to seize upon is there at times but positioning, awareness and ability is not. The lack of effectiveness from wide players when in a position to get a cross in is alarmingly poor. Last night Eom stood out for his work rate and at times his ability to take on defenders but Ronald again proved to be a poor choice out on the wing. Behind them we saw Josh Tymon who supported Eom but didn’t have the best of games, and on the other side despite three dangerous crosses Josh Key couldn’t provide any type of assist.
Both Tymon and Key are poor choices IF you want defensive stability as well.
On that Ben Cabango is being constantly drawn wide because of the space left by Tymon and Key which enables room elsewhere. His recovery then leaves him looking to get back to defending the area has to be sharper. Cameron Burgess is good in the air no doubt, but a Swansea team insisting on playing the way they do isn’t to his strengths. He does look vulnerable with the ball at his feet.
In the centre we had Jay Fulton who didn’t have a bad first half, he linked play well, hardly looked backwards and ‘did a job’ using his experience on his three hundredth appearance for the Swans. He did nothing of any consequence but then really didn’t do anything to complain about. In the second half he got forwards sliding in for an opportunity, but as we see with Swansea City they seem to be always a few inches too short to convert chances.
The Derby defence were very well drilled, their positioning exemplary and each and every cross that was put in was cleared bar a few. The one chance coming from a ball in from the Swans right headed straight at the Rams keeper by Ben Cabango. (below) On the Swans left we saw low balls being played in but each time there was no Swans player available, this is also a feature of the Swans lack of attacking flair. Even when the hard work is done by Josh Tymon and Eom the end result is awful.
Ethan Galbraith is often a standout, he finds space but last night he was crowded out as the clear Swans danger man and lynch pin. He links well with his wingers an aspect which is often pointless especially when Ronald is on the ball. He gets forwards and gets chances as we saw last night when he scored. Bar two good shots Vipotnik doesn’t get the service he needs to be a real danger to defences. This is because attacks break down with over play, conceding possession and laziness in decision making. There’s no getting away from it the Swans do look threatening and they did last night at times. The ability to make succinct decisions is the problem. And that’s Vitor Matos’s issue.
He highlights this post match last night.
It has been pointed out to us by those who know far more than we do that the Swans are not positioning themselves correctly in the opponents area, there doesn’t seem to be a plan. There’s little variation on any set piece tactic other than a ball launched in to Burgess, Cabango or Vipotnik. It’s easy to defend and a well drilled opponent will lap up these balls into their area. The same can be said for corner delivery.
1. No change in delivery tactic from set piece free kicks.
2. Corners rely upon players on the edge of the area to win the ball when defended.
3. When in wide attacking areas very few balls in are accurate or thought out.
4. The desire of the Swans players to get to the ball is lacking in dangerous areas which stifles winning the ball back or impacting on the opponent.
5. Persistent loss of the ball by either giving it away, losing possession or over play is a recognised weakness in every Swansea game.
Other aspects are the players strength on the ball which also can result in losses of possession.
As illustrated here the opponents defence last night were guarding space and marking Swansea players out of any scoring opportunity. Cabango did free himself on one occasion but his headed effort was poor.
Below we see the persistent set piece from fee kicks not changing and of course the opponents when on the attack are far better organised when on the front foot. They have a plan and a clear objective.
The real concern is the relegation form which is now on clear display. Over the past ten games the Swans are now in the bottom three, in fact over the last eight and six games the story is exactly the same.
The form over the whole of the season doesn’t put the Swans in a relegation spot but it doesn’t take away from what is seen on the pitch and the performances. Conceding nine goals in three games with two in reply is more than concerning. Vigouroux in goal is currently in a bad run of form which isn’t helping. In fact over the past ten games the Swans have taken eight points from a potential thirty.
The lack of game time for both Melker Widell and Zeidane Inoussa both permanent signings is another head scratcher. Inoussa is a good player, give him starts, the same for Widell they need game time with all due respects to Jay Fulton and Ronald. Hopefully Matos will see this.
Going to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday again with a big supoort won’t be easy but there has to be a turnaround in goals scored and points taken from games. Again as we stated last night if Sheffield United get a positive result tonight against Portsmouth the Swans are one point from the relegation zone.
More on this upcoming game at the Hawthorns as the week progresses. Thanks for supporting the Indy and raising awareness and funds for a great charity.