Planet Swans ArchivesJanuary is going to prove to be the most vital month of the season with so much action on the pitch and so much action off the pitch needed to ensure that the start we gave ourselves over the first half of the season is not wasted over the second half. There are areas that need strengthening and preferably before Franchise FC visit next Tuesday.
Following the 0-0 score at the County Ground on Saturday, there were changes forced upon Jackett thanks to the injuries to both OTJ and LT10 leaving the Swans to line up as
Willy
Sam Izzy Monk Tatey
Leon Roberto Robbo Macca
Connor Forbes
Subs: Murphy, Austin, Freezer, Bayo, Williams
Maybe the writing for the afternoon was on the wall in the first few minutes as a very poor Vale side dominated Swansea who looked a little jaded following the Christmas programme of games. But as the half went on a pattern developed of Swansea not so much looking to score but to walk the ball into the back of the net. Always it was the one pass too many that broke down our moves, some of which were quite pleasant to watch. The best chance fell to Paul Connor who squared for Forbes when best placed to shoot and the 0-0 scoreline was as predictable as it was blank at half time.
45 minutes in and two changes at the interval. Bayo replaced the completely ineffective headless chicken of Forbes whilst Freezer came on for the dangerous looking Macca. At the time I probably just about agreed with the second change, at the end of the game I wondered how loudly Port Vale would have laughed at it when the final whistle blew.
Whilst Macca gave us genuine width on the left, Freezer took that away from us by constantly coming inside – mostly without the ball as well – losing us a genuine attacking outlet in the process. On the plus side, Bayo won more balls in five minutes then Forbes did in 45 and his introduction co-incided with our best period of the game. Several decent chances were spurned to give us the lead and with Paul Connor getting no change from the referee despite having his shirt pulled all over the place you just knew it wasn’t to be our afternoon at all.
Indeed some of the refereeing decisions beggared belief at times and most definitely all officials need to learn that once the ball has left the keepers hands they cannot pick it back up again to kick it upfield. Both keepers got away with it. In addition, diving is a bookable offence, arguing is a bookable offence and so is play acting. And, according to the referee so is being Leon Britton but hey lets not get into the symantics of the rules eh?
On the plus side for us I thought Connor did OK with the job he was given, won some nice balls, held up some nice play in the first half and fed the ball well to Forbes, Robbo and Macca. Bayo did well for 15 minutes when he came on but faded rapidly, I’m sure we would do better if we strapped a Mars Bar to the ball. I don’t want to dwell on the negative too long but Freezer disappointed me greatly this afternoon as did Forbes. Good games, bad games maybe – both impressed on Saturday. Consistency. What’s that then?
I certainly didn’t join in the booing at the end of the game – what the is that all about – but I most certainly will join in the calls for the new players – we need them and quick – we can’t rely for ever on results going our way to hold a top 2 spot.
Disappointing start to the year for sure.
