Phil SumblerThere are exciting 0-0 draws and then there are games like this afternoon’s at the Liberty where Swansea and Birmingham played out a complete snooze fest with the biggest talking point probably being the half time altercation involving first team coach Alan Tate.
Tate grabbed Jon Toral by the neck and he fell to the floor as the sides left the pitch at half time after the Birmingham player appeared to say something to Tatey that he clearly took offence to. Incredibly he took his seat for the second half but you would have to suspect that it is not the last we have heard of an incident that added some spark to an otherwise dull encounter.
Marc Guehi’s effort at the end was the closest the Swans came to scoring and was the only real attempt of note in a game that probably made many of us grateful that stadiums remain closed as it least with a television people have the option of reaching for the off button.
It highlights that the Swans requirements for this season are far from fulfilled and also shows some more of the deficiencies in Steve Cooper as a manager in a game that was crying out for fresh blood but never happened until 5 minutes from the end when Liam Cullen was introduced into the fold.
In some games there has to be a plan B when plan A (assuming there is a plan A) is not working. For me the midfield just had nothing in it and I am struggling to see at the moment what Korey Smith added to the performance and should have instigated an earlier change from Cooper.
If there are positives to be taken then it is that I don’t believe we will concede many goals as we have a solid unit at the back but the clear flip side to that is that we will not score many with this side as we have no natural goalscorer or a great deal of creation to make use of the ones that we have that are capable of scoring goals.
Watch back this game and count the number of decent balls we put in for Lowe or Ayew to give them decent service and our most dangerous threat continued to look like Gibbs-White which tells its own story that an attacking midfielder is currently our best chance of a goal.
Of course we should not complain at four points from the opening two games of the season too much but there are enough warning signs at the moment to suggest that there is work to be done in the transfer market and certainly work to be done with the personnel that we already have.
The side is desperately calling out for a creative element and someone in a Brewster mould who knows where the goal is and can create chances for themselves out of nothing.
And as a final tip for people this season, if stadiums do open and we get the chance to attend matches in person then take a book…
