“We lacked composure – that’s unlike us” – Steve’s baffling comments

Steve Cooper claimed last night after the Swans were once again second best for the large parts of the 90 minutes that it was simply a case of missed chances and a lack of composure that cost us but claimed that the latter was very unusual for us.

For me the side has lacked any level of composure for most of the past two months as we have stumbled through games with just the occasional glimpse of looking like a side pushing for promotion.  The only thing that surprises at the moment is that, despite all our shortcomings, we are still 3rd in the table which is more of a sad indictment on those around us rather than a reflection of our ability.

We have increasingly resorted to hoofing the ball around aimlessly and inviting pressure from the opposition which is largely gratefully accepted and more often than not costly for us as we follow poor performance with poor performance.

It seems that every opposition manager has us sussed out and our lack of any cohesive Plan B is obvious for everyone to see which just makes the post match comments of Steve Cooper incredible to read.  “We turned it over too much, and lacked a bit of composure, which is unlike us,” Cooper said after last night’s game which was decided by a last minute winner but a last minute winner that had been coming for most of the game based on the fact that QPR were comfortably the better side.

I’m not sure what games Cooper has watched recently but pretty much since the Norwich game we have looked like a side lacking composure and turning the ball over too much.  It is grating to hear commentators talking about us being a possession based side as we are anything but these days and we certainly aren’t an enjoyable team to watch.

“We are disappointed, we missed chances in the first half, and they have ended up costing us on the basis we have ended up conceding,” he said.

“If somebody had said we were going to create as many chances as that in one half then we would have been happy, and we would have expected to at least take one of them,” added Cooper but again you look at the chances last night and accept that – one hit of the post and a good save from Smith aside – did we ever look like a team that was threatening to score a goal?   For me, no.

Finally, Cooper added “We now have to make sure we get ready and win our next game, there are three left and unless we win games nothing can happen. We know that.

“We did not get the job done tonight, we have to try and get it done in the next one.”  These are of course words that have been repeated time and time again in recent months but it just doesn’t seem to come through.   Reading away on Saturday is the next game and does anyone seriously believe we will be anything but the same team all over again?

It feels right now as if Cooper is hiding and he clearly has no idea how to stop the rut we are in.