Planet Swans ArchivesAnd to be honest the performance against Huddersfield gives me some heart as for the first hour and a bit we played much better than we have done in recent weeks.
However, we are still weaker at the back than any of us would like to see and that is at the moment our downfall. Four of the last five goals have come from a corner, all five of them you would have said we should have dealt with. Six more points on the board today would look very healthy from our perspective. We haven’t got them, we know why and now we have to wonder what we can do to change it.
Today’s news that Kevin Austin will sit out the next 2 or 3 games means that we have to change things around at the back which is almost certain to mean changes in personnel elsewhere on the pitch. So what should we change and where?
Goalkeeper – Willy is getting some flak at the moment for his positional sense and the non-commanding of his area. I have to say that my confidence in him has dipped as the season has gone on and I personally would be playing Murphy at the moment. He hasn’t let us down in the games that he has played IMO and must be chomping at the bit to get a run in the first team. Give him a game I say. I’m probably not alone although it most definitely won’t be unanimous.
Defence – the loss of both Izzy and Watt was a big one. I think we could have ridden the storm of losing one of them but to lose both just caused us a problem bigger than we realised at the time. Now that Austin is out we are going to have to find a replacement to partner Monk and if we get no-one in on loan then it’s going to be Tatey or KOL. Tatey would be my first choice but then I remember how well he combined with Britton on the right side when we were playing really well so maybe KOL in the centre, Tatey at right back? If we played Tatey at right back do we move Ricketts to left back or leave Tom Williams there? Personally I think Williams could do a great job on the left wing so maybe Ricketts at left back, Williams moving forward?
In midfield. Assuming we have KOL in the back line then we take him out of the midfield equation. Britton for me picks himself on the right and working on the above permutation then Williams plays left wing. Robbo has to start at the moment in my opinion and I would place Darren Way or Roberto along side him. Probably Way. Just. However, if Williams played left back then it’s Way and Roberto with Robbo left wing. Keep Macca back in reserve although more performances like the one that we saw on Friday and I would have him starting with Williams at left back.
Up front. Perm two from LT10, Knight, Fallon and Bayo. LT10 starts, we all know that has to happen and assuming a two man starting line, I would today pick Bayo. I think given time Fallon and LT10 could work well but not now – we need results so lets go with the tried and tested. Knight has scored goals since he has been here and it’s harsh to have him on the bench but what an asset to have coming on if we need goals. Assuming we can remember how to make asubstitution!!!
So what does that leave us? A starting line up of
Murphy
Tate Monk KOL Ricketts
Britton Way Robbo Williams
LT10 Bayo
Bench: Willy, Roberto, Fallon, Knight, Macca
We know there are changes that could be made and this is not taking into any account any loan signings. It’s just a thought, just an opinion but do we have enough there to get the results we need for promotion? Anyone, got a spare crystal ball?
