Are we too nice?

[Houston_Blade]

But the fouls weren't nasty fouls, the type where all their side pile in. They were persistent or just late and feeble.

What we needed was for a melee like we had v Derby to get us revved up.

What I'd have done is got some lighter fluid, thrown it on McBurnie's rascal beard and thrown a match on. Do you mean that kind of nasty?

 

[SwissBlade]

What I'd have done is got some lighter fluid, thrown it on McBurnie's rascal beard and thrown a match on. Do you mean that kind of nasty?

erm... well i guess the end result would be the same...

 

[Grappler]

Lundstram wasn't on the bench last night, but i actually thought when i was writing the OP that we needed a 'Lundstram Leveller' early in the second half. I didn't mention it though as i knew that the thread would get dragged down to "lundstram isn't good enough" etc.

Anyway, you're right, Swansea changed things in the first half, whilst we were overloading them down our left, they quickly reacted and covered it. Same on the right. We saw very few runs from Basham in the way that he normally does.

People have mentioned pace. Normally the speed of our attacks comes down both flanks, not with players that have blistering pace (although Baldock is quick), but in the speed we move the ball down the wings and also overload teams down the flanks. That was quashed in the first half.

Second half, as you say, it seemed that there was a big gap between Norwood (deep), Fleck and Duffy.

Wilder was right, take the chances and we don't give ourselves that problem, however, we didn't take chances and we did give ourselves that problem, so when that happens, what do we do?

I thought bringing Madine on was right, but for McG, as was Dowell, but i think bringing another player into midfield, like Basham would've helped, plus we could've reverted if we needed to

Agreed Swiss, our midfield is too lightweight for certain games, and yesterday, second half, was exactly that.

Whatever people think of Lundstram (and I know most people don't think he is good enough), he has that "enforcer" mentality, built like a small tank, happy to put a very hard tackle in.

 

[Guesty]

Leroy Fer had a fabulous game, unfortunately, dictating the game in the 2nd half - our midfield couldn't really get close to him.

Fer is one of those, too good for this level (when he's on it at least) but maybe not quite good enough for the Prem.

Hindsight is easy but it might have been a good idea to take Norwood off. He just couldn't do his defensive job properly after getting booked. He left O'Connell totally exposed for the latter's booking, for example. Fer helped exploit that on a couple of his gallops.

On a related note, what on earth was that (pre booking) tackle from Norwood in the centre circle? He just ignored the ball and blocked his man off. Nothing nasty (he barely touched the guy) but it was weird how he so obviously webt straight for the man.

 

[Chali 2na]

Fer is one of those, too good for this level (when he's on it at least) but maybe not quite good enough for the Prem.

Hindsight is easy but it might have been a good idea to take Norwood off. He just couldn't do his defensive job properly after getting booked. He left O'Connell totally exposed for the latter's booking, for example. Fer helped exploit that on a couple of his gallops.

On a related note, what on earth was that (pre booking) tackle from Norwood in the centre circle? He just ignored the ball and blocked his man off. Nothing nasty (he barely touched the guy) but it was weird how he so obviously webt straight for the man.

I think Fer would be able to comfortably step into quite a few PL teams personally, reminds me a bit of Wijnaldum to be honest.

I agree that maybe Norwood could have come off, but we don't have an obvious better option.

And don't get me started on the ref.

 

[Guesty]

I think Fer would be able to comfortably step into quite a few PL teams personally, reminds me a bit of Wijnaldum to be honest.

I agree that maybe Norwood could have come off, but we don't have an obvious better option.

And don't get me started on the ref.

Fer has played OK in the Premier League but always for struggling teams.

 

[Upton_Blade]

Swansea seemed to want it a little bit more than us and as a result we didn`t get to dictate play like we often do.

Not going to be a popular comment but well done Swansea for getting stuck in. Soon as we had the ball they were snapping at our heels.

This is the worrying part for me. We perhaps don't have the quality some teams have but i never thought i'd ever say teams wanted it more than a Wilder team but it has happened a few times now this season.

Rotherham pretty much the whole game, the 2nd half yesterday and the 2nd half against West Brom spring to mind.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I know what you mean Large Mendonca - just catching up on last night’s MOTD and they showed an absolutely blatant dive by Salah. As clear as you’ll ever see - there’s a good few seconds between the tiny bit of contact and yer man throwing himself to the ground. Makes me sick: it’s cheating, and refs don’t do enough about it.

Compare that with Danny Rose booking for diving today.

 

[BushBlade]

Compare that with Danny Rose booking for diving today.

Exactly what I said whilst watching the match.

 

[Agreasychipbutty]

. Tonight was crying out for an enforcer to be a bit of a nasty bastard and put in some hard tackles

That's what we've signed madine for, was disappointed in the lack of kidney punches when he came on.

 

[GrayBlade]

I thought we could have made a lot more of that obvious arm ball in the area near the end, I was amazed that there was only a half hearted appeal. That probably sums up a difference between us and Swansea because you can bet they’d have appealed in unison and tried to influence the Ref into giving a knee jerk penalty, old Premier League habits die hard.