Planet Swans ArchivesOf course some of that criticism is way over the top but I know that I was not alone in falling disappointed with the nature of Sunday’s derby defeat rather than the result itself. For the first time in along time we looked devoid of ideas or even a desire to win the game and that frustrates me far more than losing to Cardiff, or any other team for that matter.
The one thing that always rings true though is that we have not become a bad team overnight. There should be no need for wholesale changes in the way that we play or the squad that we have. The tactics employed by Michael Laudrup are the same tactics that bought us such memorable occasions last season and there should be no reason to suggest that we don’t have the same occasions lying ahead of us this time around.
What does seem to be lacking at the moment is confidence within the camp and that I believe is hampering our style of play. People talk about the wingers cutting inside and us playing narrow but we were applauding these tactics in the early part of last season when we were ripping sides apart. We were applauding these tactics when we were leaving the Emirates and Anfield with victories under our belt and we were applauding these tactics as we headed for victory in the Capital One Cup. Both Nathan and Routs at the moment look out of confidence and out of form which is a bigger issue then needing to get to the byline and get a cross in. Well, in my view anyway.
In midfield I have had heard calls for Jonathan De Guzman to be sent back to where he came from. This of course is the same Jonathan De Guzman who last year it was demanded that we spent £8m on as he was ‘world class’ I have no idea if this is the same people calling for both these moves but he is either world class or he isn’t. As someone pointed out last week he has had Dutch call ups so he cannot possibly be as bad as he is made out to be. Again, a player lacking confidence rather than a player who has become bad overnight?
If you want a viewpoint I think we have become more concerned with our passing and possession statistics rather than actually creating quality chances. I watched with frustration against West Ham as Vasquez made runs for the ball but was ignored for the simple ball backwards. Another one up for the successful passes ratio, another one down for the killer ball that could create the goal. I suspect that nearly all of us would sacrifice the possession stats by a few % for a few more chances in that column. A few less successful passes on that ratio for a few balls that were laid on to someone making the run.
The main difference between us at the moment and where we were 12 months ago to me is more around the speed of the play. At times we look static and it is frustrating to see us turn a good attacking opportunity into a backwards move towards safety. I would be looking to Nathan and Routs to make runs into space and for us to try and find those runs rather than a simple ball from Leon to JDG or Ash to Chico. Michu does not look the threat that he does last season and I believe that some of this is caused by him dropping back to look for the ball as it doesn’t appear to come up to him quick enough. Look for him making the run, we won’t make every pass complete but we will look as if we are at least making some creation.
The one thing that we are not in though is a crisis. Our form since we lifted the League Cup at Wembley has been patchy at best but we have had some good performances in there and those good performances will come again. The confidence is dropping and it is now time for everyone – players and fans alike – to stand up and be counted and get that confidence level up.
A good performance in Russia and a good one against Stoke on Sunday is now needed. The chance to get behind the team and get them winning and believing in themselves. We do not need to change to 4-4-2 (this is the default setting for many when we fail to win a couple of games in a row. It has been the default setting since Roberto was here) nor do we need to dump so many of the players who were doing their jobs well last season.
What we need is confidence and that comes through a good game or possibly even a stroke of luck. I don’t think I am really bothered what kick starts that confidence so long as it starts.
We haven’t become a bad team overnight but let’s show a little more imagination with the pass and not concentrate on the end of game stats outside of the only stat that really matters. Scoring more goals than the opposition.
We know we can do it.
