Don't know about you lads and lasses but I feel gutted a bit like when we lost to Ipswich at Wembley a game we should have at least drawn but lost due to an outstanding goalkeeper on the night.
It's not over yet mate. Still another 90 minutes to go We play better away and we WILL score against Swansea this season
It's far from over, but I feel a bit low. Hopefully Saturday becomes another good away day in a long list of good away days. As many have said it is far from over. But ........... I can't help but feeling Swansea have done enough. We'd have been chuffed with that performance - not only the fact they scored a valuable goal, but basically although we huffed and puffed and there was the usual 150% effort, they didn't need to put anything more than an average performance in. We could have played all night without scoring (yes, Brittain should have, and wow, what an amazing flick from Morris for what would have been goal of the season). That 15 min spell at the start of the second half will haunt us, because we could - and should - have buried them. They saw it out, then stayed in 2nd gear. Even then, Lowe and Ayew had chances that I'm sure on another day would have gone for them. I feel they will be the fresher team on Saturday. Last night I got the feeling it was one game too far for us. Swansea simply can't play as 'average' as they did last night at home. So what to do? How to beat them? Well I'll leave that to a far better qualified franco-german scary man ....... but in my view the puzzle is what to do up front? We had more than enough talent to at least try keep it on the floor a bit. Dike won a lot of aerial battles, but they seldom led to anything. Morris proved if we played it on the floor that we could create. We have a plethora of attacking talent and the key is getting the right combo for the biggest game of this millenium so far. In my opinion - Start Chaplin, Morris, Woodrow. 2nd half reinforcements can come after 45 if that combo doesn't work. At the back, although I like Sibbick and he is massively improved and key, I just think he lacked that bit in his locker last night against experience, so would start Sol. Mads and Helik obviously stay, but that was far from Heliks best game. Halme on the bench is a shout that gives us cover in all 3 areas. He can defend; on his day he is a good holding mid option, and he is a threat up front late on when chasing. Midfield - dunno. Palmer was good last night, so deserves a start. Mowatt needs to play. I'd love to put Styles in there. How? Search me. Brittain over JW every day for me. Lets just hope young Callum can sleep and not dwell on that miss. Sometimes you just have to accept a team has the Indian sign over you in a season. If Swansea finish it Saturday, that will prove to be the case. 4 games with no goals scored is on the cards, sadly. But all my energy is now focussed on a Saturday night alternative headline of: "4th time lucky as Battling Barnsley take Swans in the one that counts"
Me too. I think it's over. Can't see us troubling them at all. Even when we do get into good positions we fluff our lines. Can I see us going there and winning 2-0, 3-1, 4-2. Not a chance. I just can't see Swansea not scoring and that's the problem.
I feel ok about it tbh. Last night went pretty much how I expected (and feared) and I don't think I have any complaints. So far this season Swansea have our number. They've played us better than any other team I've seen. We didn't hammer them and come away with nothing. We didn't throw away a lead. We didn't lose to a terrible refereeing decision. We didn't concede a howler. We gave everything on the pitch, but just fell short against a team that's absolutely done it's homework on us and were undone by a rare bit of quality. It's been said several times this season. We struggle most against teams who can/will play us at our own game. Another example of that last night. They need to show something different on Saturday to what we've seen in three games so far, if they're going to turn it round. I'm not too optimistic, but you never know.
It was not a cup final. Only half time in the tie. We have another bite at the cherry. Positive reaction is required. Take the game to Swansea from the first whistle. Get them on the back foot early. Tbh everything is finely balanced. All down to who turns up on the day.
A lot to unpick in your assessment of the game, but we've played Swansea three times now and I'm thinking the gear they've been in is their gear. Feels slightly disrespectful to how 50/50 the game was to make out they coasted. They didn't at all. It was a disappointing result but not a disappointing performance. We could have been smarter in certain areas, especially with the ball, but other than the goal and Lowe bamboozling Sibbick once our CBs didn't give them a sniff. And that one moment of brilliance is what £20 million and £80k a week gets you unfortunately. Chopping and changing isn't needed. We just need that second half intent in the first half. There were times yesterday where Swansea were all over the place and our final ball and decision making let us down. Opportunities will come for us - we just need to make sure we take them.
Except for ever goal Swansea score we need two. Baring in mind most we've scored all season is 3. If Swansea score 2 we need 4. Very unlikely.
Taking the opportunities is a given - it is last chance saloon. I didn't think Swansea coasted - sorry if that was implied - but they hardly went at it full tilt did they? And I really do believe it can be a magic Saturday.
They didn't go at it full tilt because we stopped them? We were giving them enough to worry about at the other end of the pitch protecting their narrow lead.
Swansea are a goal up meaning we need two to win outright. If Swansea score we need three to win outright. If Swansea score 2 we need four to win outright. If Swansea score 3 we need 5 to win outright