Planet Swans ArchivesBrian Flynn was forced into more changes with Andy Robinson missing through injury and Kristian O’Leary also missing through a bad back sustained today leaving Lenny Johnrose to fill the void at the centre of defence. Jon Coates replacing Lenny in midfield and 17 year old Mark Pritchard in for Robinson up front.
Freestone
Jenkins Johnrose Iriekpen Howard
Maylett Wilson Britton Coates
Pritchard Nugent
The Swans were a goal down inside 24 seconds as they surrendered possession after kicking of themselves and the ball landing at the feet of Dave Kitson who chipped the ball over the out of position Roger Freestone and over both centre backs into the net. Not the start that we wanted or needed but with over 89 minutes left it was not a lost cause.
For the rest of the first half, the Swans played well enough until another injury probably affected any chance we had of getting back into the game. Britton, Pritchard and Maylett all brought good saves out of the opposition goalkeeper as the Swans looked for an equaliser and in fairness at this stage they were looking more dangerous than at any stage on Saturday against Kidderminster.
That was until Maylett went down under challenge and the stretcher was called for. Kieron Durkan being the natural choice of successor in the right wing position. However with Coates on one wing looking his usual dis-interested self and Durkan on the other you immediately felt that we had no potential from the flanks and so it was to prove.
You also have to question at this stage some of the injuries we are picking up. They are niggling ones but there are many of them. Is there something wrong with the training methods being imposed at the club or are the players simply not fit enough to start with?
The half time discussions were around the potential lack of width and it was predicted (sadly correctly) that we would resort to the long ball to Nugent to launch most of our attacks. Cambridge in the first half did not look a dangerous side – second half we enabled them to become just that.
Coates was replaced by Martinez as soon as the second goal went in – a fine solo effort from Kitson but by then it was too late the game was already a lost cause. Coates is a player who we are constantly told has the skill and vision but sadly for us we see it once or twice a season. Many have slated Nick Cusack for his decisions on players in and out but letting Coates go was one of his correct ones – Flynn bringing him back was a mistake.
I have defended Michael Howard on many an occasion but tonight I cannot do it. He was simply awful. He never found a Swansea man with his long ball from the back and even some of his short passes picked out a man under pressure. The only good ball he did all night was cocked up by Coates who as usual bottled a 70/30 challenge in his favour.
Britton was moved to the left with the introduction of Martinez and looked more lively for it but Wilson and Martinez in the middle were not working. Martinez is still a way short of full fitness judging by the two appearances in the past four days and Wilson makes a mockery of the money Middlesborough paid for him – proof that the transfer market did indeed go mad?
Pritchard up front brought a sharp save from the keeper first half but faded in the second. Having said that he had some good touches of the ball and in time to come he will prove to be a valuable asset to the squad.
Durkan proved that he can cross the ball at times but his inability to run at defenders and take them on a la Maylett is a worrying trend and we don’t look half as dangerous without him on the pitch. How serious that injury is remains to be seen but a stretcher usually means potentially a bad injury.
In short we were not good enough tonight and with just 1 point from 2 home games over the past four days we have proof that we are not good enough in depth. You’d love to see the full strength side that we had on the opening day but with injuries left right and centre will we see that first XI again this season?
For the second game running I am going to dip out of a man of the match selection as no-one stood out for me. Brian Flynn clearly has work to do and his priorities must be looking at a couple of new defenders and possible consideration to looking at the training methods being used before we become more like the walking wounded.
The early season bubble has not necessarily burst but it is severely deflated – can we find the air to get it back up there again?
