Is interesting now ahead of city. If begovic puts in a staring performance and we do not lose, does Jose keep him in the side after that?

Tibo made a mistake that cost us the game. If his replacement comes in and plays superbly what then?

I expect tibo comes back in but does that send the right message to the rest of the squad?

A mute point if begovic is average or worse against city.

Tibo had to timeshare to a certain degree last season with Cech, why piss the future of your club off by straight away putting him in the same position, with lets be honest, an inferior talent.

And dropping him for that 'mistake', you better drop the defenders too for getting caught square and playing the attacker onside to expose Tibo in the first place.

With Ivan struggling at RB, if Jose dont pair Matic with Mikel or Ramires we will be lucky to get a draw at the Etihad

Needless to say, that wasn't what we demanded. However, after a slow preseason, most of us could forecast few dropped points. Looking at the positives:

 

Costa played the full game with no signs of pain. He was constantly against 2-3 defenders, didn't let the team down and had a pretty good game without the goal. The one incident late when he was tripped down without the goal was a blatant foul, either a run a goal or a yellow card and FK just outside the box.

Oscar had a good game and goal. I remember his last goal was against the same opponent. I thought it was unlikely to have him off once when were down to 10, he was our best player.

Hazard at the usual high standard.

The backup GK was good, would have lost the game without him.

Jose made the right call again when we were in trouble, Zouma filled the gap in midfield and immediately they lost their superiority in the game.

 

Agree with everything apart from the Hazard bit.

 

I didn't know he was playing until well into the second half when he woke up.

Missed the entire game as I was a stag do, but thats a pretty rubbish start. Ivan on the decline? Worrying.

It is a bit of a worry because last season we were on fire from the world go.

I’ve not been impressed with any of our games since the season ended, we don’t look remotely close to being that side who were thumping teams this time last year.

I must say I would have taken 4 points from the first two games but I was expecting 3 against Swansea and 1 against City. I think it's to early to call something a must win but we could really do with beating City on Sunday.

To put things into perspective though Man Utd got 1 point from two games in the 2008/09 season and they won the league that year with 90 points. That's four points ahead of Liverpool who finished second. Obviously it might not go down like that but it goes to show that you don't have to start the season off great to win the title.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=60FpAWZeJMU

In case anyone's still feeling down about Saturday, this should brighten up your Monday

To be fair that one was not on out backline, it was on willian. Defence had a perfect line, willian dropped back, mainly as brana was awful, and played gomis onside.

To be fair that one was not on out backline, it was on willian. Defence had a perfect line, willian dropped back, mainly as brana was awful, and played gomis onside.

Glad someone agrees with me. That was a terrific line. Only because willian had a momentary lapse in concentration and didn't get back out after he tracked that it went wrong.

New to this guys.

 

But have to vent somewhere. The results at this stage dont worry me. Its the structure and philosophy of our football. We seem caught in between styles. At times we want to press and win the ball back high (as most, if not all, good teams do). But we lack the necessary mobility and physicality to do so, therefore often resort to dropping deep and playing on the counter.

 

When I watch other teams play, I can see the way they work, as a team, and what they are trying to achieve. With us it seems half hearted, and without clear instruction. It seems in Mourinhos heart he wants us to play deep and counter as thats easier, and the style he is comfortable with. Yet his head knows the fans and the owner wont put up with that so instructs (at times) to push further forward. Even then our FBs dont take up high enough starting positions, our midfield are not brave enough to get on the ball in tight areas, and our Defense continues to drop deep at the mere sight of an attack.

 

All in all I just dont see an evolution (the word he persistently used when he first cam back) and it worries me. I dont us want to scramble to get points and results. id rather see us with a clear attacking style and mentality. If this means we lose the odd game so be it but with time the group will embrace and be better for this.

 

Thoughts?

Great game on Saturday, was surprised to see us "go for it" with an attacking line-up and tactics, and a little surprised by how much time you gave us on the ball and your defensive vulnerabilities.

 

Here's my take on the game, and a detailed look at the tactics etc:

 

http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=408884

Great game on Saturday, was surprised to see us "go for it" with an attacking line-up and tactics, and a little surprised by how much time you gave us on the ball and your defensive vulnerabilities.

 

Here's my take on the game, and a detailed look at the tactics etc:

 

http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=408884

Like Gomis and like Gary Monk a great deal.

Great game on Saturday, was surprised to see us "go for it" with an attacking line-up and tactics, and a little surprised by how much time you gave us on the ball and your defensive vulnerabilities.

 

Here's my take on the game, and a detailed look at the tactics etc:

 

http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=408884

 

You're surprised your team went for it ? it's something Swansea have been doing against the top teams since they arrived in the Premier League.

Last time we drew our opening game, we won the CL. Relax.

You're surprised your team went for it ? it's something Swansea have been doing against the top teams since they arrived in the Premier League.

 

We didn't last season under Monk. We played counter attacking 10 men behind the ball stuff at the likes of Everton, Southampton, Arsenal to name a few and got points in all of them. Last week at Chelsea was completely different though, our full backs were rarely given the freedom to attack in away games last season.

We didn't last season under Monk. We played counter attacking 10 men behind the ball stuff at the likes of Everton, Southampton, Arsenal to name a few and got points in all of them. Last week at Chelsea was completely different though, our full backs were rarely given the freedom to attack in away games last season.

Well done for today's result.