Just watched it on record.
No, we weren't that bad, however Swansea were pretty impotent and clumsy, so it doesn't say much. The upside is we didn't concede and didn't look like conceding. No idea how WBA will deal with us next week however.
The formation of the squad and how Slav is dealing with this early season foray suggests he knows that Wilderball is in it's second wave in the side on the pitch and he's trying to vaccinate them against it. In fairness we did look a lot less 'Norwoody' and in defence of him in the second half at least his pings did find players, such as Osborn advancing up the wing. But it's that end result, the cross and the finish, which is critically wanting. We get into areas where we can advance and we either check back, give it to Burke to lose or Didsy is trying fruitlessly to get a shot in on goal.
The midfield didn't miss Fleck at all but Berge is simply a bit part player at times. The rather daft lineup which committed Brewster to Left/Right wingback was puzzling. It was as if Slav is using these first five games as pre season warm ups to decide where he's going next ... which is why I am nowhere near the 'Slav Out' camp and won't be even if we are in the lower region by Xmas and we are still crap. I will be though if he hasn't bleached Wilderball out of our system. I think he is trying to rethread the bar into a 4-4-2 lineup, which I feel is a better move with which to rebuild the squad, jettison the makeweights and string some results together to make a challenge for the top.
Ramsdale 5/10: Good save from Lowe second half and seemingly a bit more settled, however Swansea hardly challenged him
Baldock 5/10: He doesn't like four at the back. He can't get far up that wing and lacks the options he enjoys in a real RWB role
Egan 6/10: Pretty standard outing. He wasn't challenged much, in fairness.
Basham 5/10: Another player who seems ill at ease with four at the back. Not his usual venturing self and coughed up possession meekly at times
Robinson 5/10: Average but uninspiring. A decent block in the first half from him. He's not Championship standard
Berge 5/10: Not impressed. Disappears for long periods, then switches on and takes players on but there's no end product
Norwood 5/10: Some of his set plays were in fact better than recent ones. And for a change his pings found players. But still doing this quarterback schtick, pointing, pointing, pointing. What at?
Burke 3/10: Same old, same old. He made such an impact when he was subbed
McGoldrick 4/10: Uncharacteristically unclinical in front of goal
Brewster 6/10: Played out of position form most of the game and found himself defending most of the time
Sharp 5/10: Missed our best chance, which is unlike him. Feeding off scraps.
Bogle 4/10: Not enough time to impose. I do think that RM in a 4-2-3-1 is a decent position for him
Osborn 6/10: Definitely created better options when he came on and busied himself
McBurnie 3/10: Fouling a lot, falling on the floor and arguing with the ref. Shithousery.
II called my mate from the party during the match. He said, 'Slav looks like a beaten man already'.
Is it just me also, but I can't understand a fucking thing he says to camera. I get it he's not English, our language isn't his tongue. But he talks in riddles. Maybe I am just used to Wilder and his straight talking, but Slav needs to work on his interviews.
pommpey
" games.
