We’re not playing this weekend, and it’s unusual for me to be relieved that we haven’t got a game after a recent defeat…
We’re not playing this weekend, and it’s unusual for me to be relieved that we haven’t got a game after a recent defeat…
Normally I can’t wait for us to play again after losing to try and ‘put things right’ and ‘get back on track’, but after watching Wednesday’s poor performance at West Brom, Garry Monk and his squad need a good week or so to prepare for a tough home game against Manchester United on February 21st.
I don’t think another game, against the likes of United, just three days after a disappointing away defeat would benefit us in any way.
The Swans were back to dominating a game in midweek at the Hawthorns, having around 60% of the possession in the 90 minutes, but it counted for nothing as we were toothless in the final third.
Some fans were critical of the negative performance at Southampton, despite us winning and keeping a clean sheet, but they were even more frustrated after Wednesday when Monk’s side barely looked like testing the home goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Striker Bafetimbi Gomis was one of the main focal points yet again for special treatment, and while he didn’t perform well, the team around him didn’t help his cause whatsoever.
Jonjo Shelvey’s performance was somewhat inconsistent, you couldn’t fault him for effort but too often he was sloppy in possession and he, along with the rest of his team-mates, simply couldn’t cope under the constant pressure they were put under by Pulis’ hardworking side. His link up play with Gomis just didn’t click, but I’m not sure that taking him off was the best substitution to make around the hour mark. His partner had a rant on twitter about it, which was way over the top to say the least. It wasn’t as if he was creating much, had scored, set up a goal or was on a hatrick was it!?
Gomis also struggled, but coming deep and holding up play isn’t his style. We didn’t ask Bony to run the channels and make runs off the last defender did we?
With no hope down the middle, Swansea hoped for more luck down the wings, but Dyer lacks the confidence to perform like a true winger and Montero is slowly getting back into things after a recent injury.
Swansea pushed players forward to try and open the scoring but it was never going to happen. West Brom defended well with 2 lines of four, crowded us out, won the ball and had the space then to attack.
It was a rather boring 0-0 draw, and you had hoped the Swans could hold on for a point, but they made it quite easy for West Brom to net a couple of goals and get a straightforward home win.
Hopefully after a full week’s training and the return of Gylfi Sigurdsson can help the Swans produce a much better performance against Manchester United on February 21st.
