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

[cmajack]

Martin was shite. Full stop.

Unfotunateterly Shhehan might follow him, if he carries on the way he’s started. No one can be optimistic after watching that today

Well we haven't won in the last 3 league games, and also had a crap pre season.

 

[Michu78]

I expected to lose (although I expected Boro to be better than they were - miles better). But I also expected to see the hints at least of a style of play that would not involve lumping the ball up field in a fairly aimless fashion.

First half we were relatively tight and I had no problem with that. But second half is when I would have expected some degree of players passing and moving and finding each other that didn’t suggest they met on the bus. In other words, irrespective of result, I expected to see a shape of play beginning to suggest itself. Unfortunately, the only style of play that suggested itself was Stoke City at their most hoof like. We do not have the players for that. So as well as being awful to watch, we won’t be very successful results wise.

I also expected an amount of creativity and drive in our play. I didn’t see any.

It’s early doors and as you said we will bring players in. But it needs to be quick and they need to make an impact.

I hope we will not have to see Fulton starting again for some time (although he was better than Franco today who looked very unfit). I also hope not to see Cullen and Vipotnik as our two main strikers.

At the back we look ok (assuming cover brought in at full back). Elsewhere we don’t.

I also hope that the club makes the decision to bring in some experience. Player future profit for PSR purposes is really important but it won’t help resale value if we spend a season down the lower part of the league or worse.

I expected to lose (although I expected Boro to be better than they were - miles better). But I also expected to see the hints at least of a style of play that would not involve lumping the ball up field in a fairly aimless fashion.

First half we were relatively tight and I had no problem with that. But second half is when I would have expected some degree of players passing and moving and finding each other that didn’t suggest they met on the bus. In other words, irrespective of result, I expected to see a shape of play beginning to suggest itself. Unfortunately, the only style of play that suggested itself was Stoke City at their most hoof like. We do not have the players for that. So as well as being awful to watch, we won’t be very successful results wise.

I also expected an amount of creativity and drive in our play. I didn’t see any.

It’s early doors and as you said we will bring players in. But it needs to be quick and they need to make an impact.

I hope we will not have to see Fulton starting again for some time (although he was better than Franco today who looked very unfit). I also hope not to see Cullen and Vipotnik as our two main strikers.

At the back we look ok (assuming cover brought in at full back). Elsewhere we don’t.

I also hope that the club makes the decision to bring in some experience. Player future profit for PSR purposes is really important but it won’t help resale value if we spend a season down the lower part of the league or worse.

The non existent shape of play was the biggest concern today. I personally think Franco is the most overrated player in our squad. Our midfield still continues to function poorly with him in it. I still don't know what type of midfielder he is.

 

[JackSomething]

Well we haven't won in the last 3 league games, and also had a crap pre season.

Fair play, it takes some doing to look at our end to last season and turn it into a negative. That's more creative than anything our players managed today anyway.

 

[cmajack]

Fair play, it takes some doing to look at our end to last season and turn it into a negative. That's more creative than anything our players managed today anyway.

Unfortunately it's facts though, I'm sure if we had finished on a 9 game unbeaten run that would have been mentioned.

 

[cmajack]

Fair play, it takes some doing to look at our end to last season and turn it into a negative. That's more creative than anything our players managed today anyway.

Just watched the highlights of Bristol city v Sheffield United. My gosh, their performance today was light years ahead of that turgid shit we put out today.

 

[JackSomething]

Unfortunately it's facts though, I'm sure if we had finished on a 9 game unbeaten run that would have been mentioned.

It probably would have, but it would have meant just as little to this season as your pointing out we failed to win our final two games does.

I find it hilarious that you are trying to include the last two games from last season in your fretting about this season. Even if you have to include those results for some reason, any reasonable person would be more impressed that a club previously flirting with the relegation places won 5 games in a row before losing and drawing the final two games.

 

[jackharris]

 

[JackSomething]

Just watched the highlights of Bristol city v Sheffield United. My gosh, their performance today was light years ahead of that turgid shit we put out today.

I'm not arguing with you that we were anything other than turgid shit, just the silliness of pointing to the final two games of last season as if that has any impact on this season.

As someone said in another thread, we'll probably be completely average this season and finish in mid-table again. Either way, a 1-0 loss away to Middlesbrough, a place we always seem to lose, on the first day of the season is not reason for people to be losing their shit so spectacularly. In my opinion of course.

 

[Baron Goblet]

That was a professional attempt at a draw. Sheehan would have hoped for more but his instructions to Franco and Fulton give him away.

 

[cmajack]

It probably would have, but it would have meant just as little to this season as your pointing out we failed to win our final two games does.

I find it hilarious that you are trying to include the last two games from last season in your fretting about this season. Even if you have to include those results for some reason, any reasonable person would be more impressed that a club previously flirting with the relegation places won 5 games in a row before losing and drawing the final two games.

I'm glad you find it funny, though i don't find anything remotely amusing about having 6 weeks to get your act together and then serving up that tripe today, and no doubt the near 700 travelling fans didn't find it funny either.

 

[JackSomething]

I'm glad you find it funny, though i don't find anything remotely amusing about having 6 weeks to get your act together and then serving up that tripe today, and no doubt the near 700 travelling fans didn't find it funny either.

Cheer up, it could be worse, you could be a Sheffield United fan tonight...

 

[jonboyswan]

I'm glad you find it funny, though i don't find anything remotely amusing about having 6 weeks to get your act together and then serving up that tripe today, and no doubt the near 700 travelling fans didn't find it

Jeez what a massive overreaction.

 

[Captain_Sham]

I'm glad you find it funny, though i don't find anything remotely amusing about having 6 weeks to get your act together and then serving up that tripe today, and no doubt the near 700 travelling fans didn't find it funny either.

Get a grip. Its fking game of football.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

37000 views. More than 500 replies. That’s how you do match day coverage. Without even trying hard. All hail Jackharris and the doyen of Swans fan sites, Mr Phil Sumbler.

It would have been a shorter thread if we’d won but stil.

 

[Jackareme]

Cheer up, it could be worse, you could be a Sheffield United fan tonight...

We will make them feel a whole lot better next weekend