S25/26 | The Official Match Thread | Middlesbrough 1 Swansea 0 | Att: 26,035 (Away 685) | 3pm | Saturday 9th August 2026

[cmajack]

We move on and look to Tuesday, the cup game is a free swing at bat to fix our formation and get some minutes into the legs of players that need them

Can you remember last years free swing? Lost to Wycombe in another shocking performance.

 

[bakajack]

Can you remember last years free swing? Lost to Wycombe in another shocking performance.

I try to forget about it

 

[LeonWasTheDogs]

Enough with this.

This isn't 1985. Motionless target men whose only function is to get on the end of crosses just don't cut the mustard anymore. To be a striker in the modern game you need to offer a lot more than he does. And Cullen for that matter.

Our only two striking options, and both are pitiful. No more excuses. It's killing us more than any other issue.

Sadly, I agree. I’d like to give Vip more time, but how much time does he need? At least Cullen does chip in with a reasonable amount of goals. Ideally we need better than both, but good strikers seem to be very hard to find. Mind you, with Ronald’s deliveries anyone’s going to struggle up top!

 

[cmajack]

As we are still trying to bring players in then I would say no? Whether bringing in players in the final weeks of the window that will be integral to us is ideal is another question, still catching up from Watson and the previous Americans

So how long are we going to blame the last regime for our problems? We were all excited that Widell (a Swedish international) had signed for us, he was that good we had to sign him in January and loan him back for fear of losing him, and Inoussa as well. They couldn't even make the team today, that's how good they are, or are they that good and we just have a shit manager that doesn't know how to set up a team with them in it.

 

[cmajack]

Sadly, I agree. I’d like to give Vip more time, but how much time does he need? At least Cullen does chip in with a reasonable amount of goals. Ideally we need better than both, but good strikers seem to be very hard to find. Mind you, with Ronald’s deliveries anyone’s going to struggle up top!

If you have any doubt as to how poor Vipotnik is play the Plymouth home game from last season in full.

 

[cadleigh]

In the live table we are nestled quiet nicely in the bottom 3. It's gonna be a long old season.

We have only dropped one place since yesterday

 

[exiledclaseboy]

Aggressively mediocre

 

[cadleigh]

So how long are we going to blame the last regime for our problems? We were all excited that Widell (a Swedish international) had signed for us, he was that good we had to sign him in January and loan him back for fear of losing him, and Inoussa as well. They couldn't even make the team today, that's how good they are, or are they that good and we just have a shit manager that doesn't know how to set up a team with them in it.

Oh, I think we can carry on blaming the last regime for quite a bit longer, owners and managers alike.

 

[gerwyn.evans]

So how long are we going to blame the last regime for our problems? We were all excited that Widell (a Swedish international) had signed for us, he was that good we had to sign him in January and loan him back for fear of losing him, and Inoussa as well. They couldn't even make the team today, that's how good they are, or are they that good and we just have a shit manager that doesn't know how to set up a team with them in it.

Isn’t this the first or 2nd window since the new regime came in and the players that were signed that are problematic were before that and take time to shift. Not sure how long but it hasn’t been very long so far. Widell not playing was probably due to the fact that Sheehan didn’t want to blood new players in a new league in a difficult away fixture.

 

[magicdaps10]

Oh, I think we can carry on blaming the last regime for quite a bit longer, owners and managers alike.

Interesting.

I can agree on board room level but seeing the difference in Williams team to Sheehan team after only a couple of games last season, I think it can be argued for managers.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Oh, I think we can carry on blaming the last regime for quite a bit longer, owners and managers alike.

Tbf you (and Gerwyn) have a point. It's going to take years to undo some of it.

 

[gerwyn.evans]

Isn’t this the first or 2nd window since the new regime came in and the players that were signed that are problematic were before that and take time to shift. Not sure how long but it hasn’t been very long so far. Widell not playing was probably due to the fact that Sheehan didn’t want to blood new players in a new league in a difficult away fixture.

Or am I wrong and we should have been expecting to win today?

 

[magicdaps10]

Isn’t this the first or 2nd window since the new regime came in and the players that were signed that are problematic were before that and take time to shift. Not sure how long but it hasn’t been very long so far. Widell not playing was probably due to the fact that Sheehan didn’t want to blood new players in a new league in a difficult away fixture.

Don't forget how young Widell and Inoussa are, coming from another country.....you can understand why he would want to bed then in.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Aggressively mediocre

With a hint of bland

 

[TheLoneRanger]

I think the underlying issue to today's performance is our lack of creativity and goalscoring during our pre season.


There was a point in today's game when I thought what the F have I just seen and told me all about what to expect this season......when Cam Burgess pulled his gum shield out.

Nothing wrong with wearing a gumshield.

Can you name the Swans forward who also wore one??