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Reply | We have to replace Burgess in the summer
at 08:15 14 Mar 2026
Three at the back would have been the best way to have accommodate him with the other two. I would like to see Casey back here if possible.
As for Key not getting goal side of the goal scorer he expected that inside channel runner to be picked up by the midfield, Wrexham created the same problem on the other side for Tymon he was held in to the middle which gave the winger space either the centrehalf comes across if possible or the midfield/ winger drops to pick up the spare man, Wrexham used the runners from deep just as we did in the first 20 mins they need to be picked up they created space for the winger or as the case on the right in the box for the goal scores in either case not picked up because inexperienced players against a team with a higher level of experience on the pitch and off.
f Matos is as good a coach as we think he is, provided he get the right players in then the results should improve. |
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Reply | Wrexham 2 Swansea City 0 : What a waste of time for a sold out away end
at 07:21 14 Mar 2026
In that first half there was some excellent moves by the Swans at times and we were unlucky not to go ahead, their goalie saved them, as we tried to open them up the game got stretched gaps that shouldn't have appeared did, a number of times players were lost, tracking back was poor, the defensive setup lost it's shape. In an attempt build pressure on Wrexham gaps appeared very similar to the ones seen against Ipswich who counter attacked within the first 5 minutes, yes we could of scored early on in the game and yes we should of had a penalty but the cover for players being asked to press forward is poor at times, it is one of the reasons that Fulton has a more prominent role these days with his experience.
The second half was a typical game of Wrexham playing the waiting game very similar to the last 20 mins of the first half wait and when the gaps appear pounced, they didn't over press leaving us have the ball deep but keeping the middle of the park tight very similar to so many games we have found ourselves in.
Could we have shot from the edge of the box yes but they closed us down very quickly but having an attempt at least pulls defending players out of positions to make the blocks but we lacked the subterfuge at the edge of the box no reversed or disguised passes or dummy runs off the ball or was it a case of Wrexham's defence kepted it's shape, a couple of desperate moments but far too few were created, instead we had crosses into the box which were well defended, second balls won. High cosses into the box against poorer defences work but against well organised teams add to that we had taken off one of our tallest players leaving only Vipotnik as one with any stature in open play. Should we have got players on the end of some of the whipped crosses, yes but we have some very inexperienced players on the pitch, should we have brought Ward on and push Key further forward because he does seem to be a far more effective player going forward rather the one stuck at rightback not prepared to play a forward pass in case we lose possession.
Frustrating because we were the team on top in that first half but left ourselves open, second half they defended and waited even Stoke with ten men blocked the path through the middle of the park but with ten men the press was felt against better organised teams a couple of painful lessons should and hopefully will be learnt. |
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Reply | Wrexham v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 22:04 13 Mar 2026
Couldn't be interpreted in any other way than a penalty, poor challenge by the defender.
The sense of urgency of our game diminished ,not saying you go all out attack but the lack of pace in our game was telling at no time was a change of pace employed to outwit their defenders or pull their midfield out of shape. |
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Reply | Wrexham v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 21:03 13 Mar 2026
Good play by the Swans shame we didn't get the goal, now as we try to push up in the midfield we are become drawn to the ball meaning we are now leaving the winger open for the quick cross field ball because they are pushing players into the channel between the centre half and full back holding our fullbacks in again as our fullbacks join the fluid attacks their wingers remain wide,Stamenic didn't see the danger and didn't track back as the midfielder attack our gap between the centhalves and fullbacks. |
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Reply | Good idea or madness?
at 16:24 12 Mar 2026
Worked a treat for us, Jamal Lowe was high up the park the ball cleared into space which Lowe could run onto, the opposition had quick enough players to stop any forward run Lowe could make with the ball, so he turned away from goal and waited for support while reducing the defenders to a stand still, Key came up quickly in support, pass received with one touch, pasted the inert defenders and ball dispatched promptly dispatch into the goal, the advantage of have a fast forward with enough experience to know to hold the ball up to allow the break out to catch up. |
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Reply | Portsmouth v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 09:21 11 Mar 2026
To be fair to Vigouroux with regard to the goal, his positioning in the centre of the goal is right for shot stopping and would you expect your defenders to deal with those whipped in crosses at what point does he know that the ball is going to get passed them, he did make the decision to come but as with any good run across the front of the goal the forward got in front of him. Forwards and defenders attacking balls someone has to come out on top often the attacking team benefits but with defending like Fulton's yesterday and Key's on Saturday we had the benefit.
As for lofted crosses that is a little easier the decision to come can be made earlier and at times should be with Vigouroux instead of letting forwards and defenders battle it out. Would prefer Vigouroux to come for those a lot more and defenders dropping onto the goal line while leaving a path for Vigouroux to claim the high ball wthl only attackers to impede or foul him, nice early shout once he is happy with the flight of the ball, whipped in crosses are much harder to deal with. |
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Reply | Portsmouth v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 08:14 11 Mar 2026
Otherwise engaged last night so didn't catch the first halfbut was pleasantly surprised to hearing on the radio commentary on the drive home of the two goal lead but learning that we should have been ahead by more and then the two missed chances came on, managed to catch the game after that the substitutions of Galbraith and Vipotnik could only been seen as a protecting them for the Wrexham game Widell and Cullen offered very little attacking threat but worked hard to close down players but were chasing shadows, the long ball threat which we tried to adopt didn't work because lacking in pace and stature, it is not playing to Cullen's strengths and with little hold up play and Widell
concentrating on the defensive game.
Matos resorted to changes to bolster the defence, Key's forward run, defensive work and lack of game time took its toll very noticeable when trying to chase back one time and there was nothing left in the tank and similarly Franco given his workrate he also was spent.On came Fulton and Ward which helped in the aerial battles although at times our big boys got in each others way but it also meant that we dropped further back inviting more pressure an invitation which Portsmouth didn't need as they were desperate to get back in the game but the changes also meant we became reluctant to play out from the back very few balls to Cullen's feet so to try and counter that the ball playing Yalcouye brought on and yet we didn't or couldn't play ourselves out of our defensive position all a bit nervy in the end but yet again seeing the game out.
The concern for me is that Cullen maybe a good option if if we are chasing a game or with his experience as a starter in the midfield but as an out and out forward trying to hold the ball up he may get away with it with ball to feet or chasing balls played carefully into spaces for him chase down ut we didn't , couldn't or wouldn't do either, it does highlight that lack of options we have up top especially when we have a number of games in quick succession.
In the end great grinding out an away win against any championship team which is hard but Portsmouth are a struggling team, hope we don't come unstuck against the better teams we are in line to take on in the near future..
Yesterday went from happy being ahead, worried the two goal lead wouldn't be enough, to even more worried given the reduced one goal lead to relieved and happy to look at the table ahead of tonight's games that could change our position.
Are we now in a position to try some of our youngsters or are the best candidates out on loan unable to return or will we not risk it because those tantalising play off positions are in sight, a couple of wins in the next couple of games would mean no but a couple of loses for me would mean trying to see it any of our young forward projects could be a better option when pace and strength is needed up top. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 12:07 8 Mar 2026
Excellent goal, awareness that goalie was off his line good position waiting for the players poor clearance and snap decision for the goal. Usually your first instinct to play the ball is correct, play the ball quickly before the chance goes. He delayed his pass on the earlier break away until it became unworkable, which he would have been throwing a tantrum if the through ball chance was missed by others. I for one was bemoaning a missed opportunity only to be relieved and happy for him to ensure the 3 points were secured. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 10:25 8 Mar 2026
A number of managers realised he wasn't the answer to who should take the corners and stopped him taking corners then they used him as that player who sat deep at our corners to counter the opposition counter attacks and then realised he was too slow to do that, with the recycling on managers they each had to learn over and over again, rewind and repeat for the fans, Grimes needs the right players around him, yes he is or was an integral part of the team but maybe having a quality midfield player as his manager has enabled Coventry to get the best out of him for their team. [Post edited 8 Mar 10:29]
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 08:29 8 Mar 2026
Still have my worries about how Stoke opened us up and had two very good scoring chances, great save by Vigouroux and block by Key, it came after a good period of play by us where we also could have scored but then did we get careless in our defensive work, getting caught out by pushing too many players forward without adequate cover.
Our game became a little too open after a good 10 or 15 minutes did Galbraith push on a little too much too early instead of starting from a slightly deeper area keeping the midfield solid while allowing to be part of better distribution from the midfield he will have to be careful as later in the game while trying too hard .to effect the game he got caught on the ball luckily he does have a certain amount of strength and ball skills to get himself out of trouble this time.
Nunes who didn't get a lot of ball when he came on went deeper in search of the ball maybe rotating with Tymon but he also did the usual thing a player with good ball skills and trick that are useful further upfield and took too many touches getting caught on the ball instead of taking the easier option in a dangerous area of the pitch. Stoke created chances as we did, we managed this time to remain unbreached.To be fair to Nunes he did seem a bit more motivated into tracking or tackling back but as with most inexperienced players gave away a number of freekicks.
It is nice having some of these quality young players on loan but they are still relatively inexperienced at senior level and hopefully that inexperience will not affected us too much as we try to build an more effective squad for the future. [Post edited 8 Mar 8:30]
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 00:41 8 Mar 2026
Scoring a lot more goals from set pieces under Matos, wasn't O'Dea suppose to be a set piece coach?
It did look as if Vipotnik marker got blocked by Cabango because Vipotnik started his loop around run very close to Cabango making it impossible for his marker to track him.
On our defensive corners we ensure we have a man on the front edge of the six yard box to attack the low whipped in ball a man on the front post and the big men zonal marking, noticed Cabango near the back post instead of Stamenic who was in the middle, Cabango there to stop those back post crosses being as effective.
Remember Potter using zonal marking in the box and it just didn't work leaving us conceding late goals.
Teams will always concede at corner, all about limiting at one end and scoring at the other. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 21:42 7 Mar 2026
The better the quality of the whipped in cross the easier it is to attack and hard to defend against
Wish Tymon had his shooting boots on for some of their clearances, player trying too hard to get power on a ball instead of getting a good contact. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 18:07 7 Mar 2026
That playing from side to side was frustrating but Stoke employed five players to protect the middle of the park, those five also press forward quickly when we lost the ball in the midfield, they did sit and wait Nunes made the mistake, the break or ball over the top was on for us but we didn't need to take risks, the openings would come, they did and eventually we took advantaged. All very nervy but for the most part the ball wasn't lost in dangerous areas.
Midfield is not quite right Galbraith waiting high up the pitch he should be on the ball at every opportunity and I think Stamenic would prove a bigger nuisance further up the pitch.
A win is a win and happy to take it. How Thomas got away with the second bookable offence is understandable but his third challenge was typical of some of the Stoke play witnessed. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 16:01 7 Mar 2026
Perm any 2 from 3, if the ref made the decision earlier foul he wouldn't of have to rely on the assist ref making a decision over their disallowed goal, ref making life hard for himself. |
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 14:12 7 Mar 2026
More or less gone back to the team that was settled, bar the move of Galbraith and the inclusion of Key, Hope remains defensively strong and Galbraith and Stamenic can fulfill their defensive and attacking roles effectively knowing when to press and when to cover but that also means the forwards must be more selective in their press making sure gaps don't open up |
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 14:46 5 Mar 2026
Wouldn't say that has been the case under Matos up until a number of games ago, Galbraith and Tymon made sure they were tight to the wingers even having inception which allowed us to play on rhe front foot, teams are getting wiser to our style of play under Matos and have stymied us leading to us having to play slightly differently. Teams often try a pressing game but if they are being played through then they hold off letting the goalie have the ball and providing their defensive unit is up to it, the game then becomes a midfield battle which we lost against Ipswich, played through, players dragged out of position when no cover in place.
Home game with the hope of lessons learnt. [Post edited 5 Mar 23:13]
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Reply | Swansea City v Stoke City : Match day thread
at 08:51 5 Mar 2026
We got caught with our pants down against Ipswich we lost our defensive shape in that first couple of minutes trying to press too high or more a case of becoming stretched our fullbacks were off their wingers giving them time on the ball allowing them to give possession to oncoming midfield or fullbacks who attacked at speed unmarked as we pressed thoughtlessly. We had no cover and were played through often, disappointing and as has been said reminiscent of previous managers play and after the first goal it seemed we felt we needed to throw caution to the wind but got caught again, it we had been successfully with the disallowed goal things might have changed but.
Does seem the pressure to play attacking and introduce the new players led Matos down the same rabbit hole that Sheehan went, a number of bad games but now strong enough team with the experience gained under Matos to recover points.
Let's hope we can see a return to looking a stronger unit for the whole 90 minutes, Matos and Sheehan good form stemmed from a good defensive play which cut out the errors deep in our half. |
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Reply | Ipswich Town v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 16:44 28 Feb 2026
Stamenic too passive for me, you could see the difference in the second half when the press was more considered. Nunes needed to have the ball more but also needed to be aware of Tymon's overlapping runs. Disappointing. |
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