It all was going so nicely, well for fifteen minutes of the game yesterday at The Hawthorns. The script unfolded as soon as West Bromwich Albion got ahold of the game. A game which ended just the way most expected.
We shouldn’t dwell too much on the game itself, our extensive match report is below. We will pinpoint those defensive errors below though.
⚽️ Swans collapse at West Brom
New head coach, Vitor Matos watched the capitulation from the touchline but we have to mention the lack of supoort he has alongside him. His three chosen coaches to come in, we reported on that last weekend are still a mystery. It was common knowledge to a point, well in our circles that three coaches were coming to the Swans. That was to be finalised last Monday. The metal hammer put paid to any immediate appointments with work permits an issue and salaries. This has been in discussion all week, but the longer there is no announcement the longer Vitor will stand pretty much alone on the touchline. That’s what Swans fans should be concerned about. And nothing more. He is alone with nobody around he trusts and has worked with before. It was in place but again there are issues.
Have a look back at what we disclosed and kept you all up to date with last week.
Sometimes in journalism you have to be brave, be able to take the flak (not personal insults) and of course always be available. Not everything is cast in stone, a wider view on life is not always easy to find, but we are told the Swans are determined to support Vitor. Whether that is with these three coaches or otherwise only those now with that responsibility know.
Maybe it won’t go down well in certain quarters but Vitor is pretty much the lowest paid manager in the Championship, but compared to his limited salary in Portugal (around €70,000 euros) a year he is sitting pretty. However, you simply cannot expect no support and two interim helpers in Joe Allen and Leon Britton to turn this around. Vitor needs confidantes in his own tongue, people he can bounce things off who know him and what he is all about. Trust and ideas. The fact this isn’t happening as yet will for us become a real issue come midweek.
You cannot coach alone with your mind on other matters, trying to implement even the basic of strategies without people of the same mindset. It will cause Vitor issues, the input of information into this squad after yesterday’s debacle is so important. And where is his solace, friendship and extra knowledge ? It’s an absolute priority.
What we saw yesterday after fifteen minutes of exemplary play was catastrophic in football terms.
The defending from all three Baggies goals was horrendous. Stu James senior football writer from the Athletic noted it immediately. "Sadly, that’s a team that has relegation written all over it right now. A hugely positive start - two superbly-taken goals - undermined by the same old collective & individual failings. We capitulated 2nd half &, in truth, Albion ran all over us. Shot count is embarrassing. Burgess poor defending on the first. Eom weak prior to No2. Franco missing in action, Key a rabbit in the headlights, Inoussa peripheral, Cabango badly out of form, Cullen blindly turning into players again (Derby 2nd goal too). Fulton & Ronald on to do what ?”
Summed up in a nutshell, and the players were left in no doubt after the game the strength of feeling from over a thousand travelling Jacks. On the defensive issues take a look below.
Goals one and two.
Goal 3 was also very much open to criticism.
This game will lay heavy on Vitor’s shoulders today. He does call for togetherness, what else can he do ? But the effort is lacking, there’s a sense of cluelessness and apathy in the team that we haven’t seen at Swansea for a very very long time. People may take umbrage at our Friday night dig which is below. And by that we do mean umbrage.
Maybe now a few people are getting the point ? No matter where they live.
Next Saturday at home to Oxford United and then on the following Tuesday evening against Portsmouth, they are both winnable games. From these two fixtures we will have a much clearer picture on where a Vitor is improving. No panic stations from us just yet. Nobody wants to hear incessant moaning, we will always point out when something is wrong, but this really isn’t the time.