S25/26 | The Official Match Thread | Swansea City 1 Man City 3 | 20,490 | Carabao Cup 4th Round | 29/10/25 | The Swansea.com Stadium

[jackharris]

 

[Magic_Michu]

Change of shape tonight… has Sheehan stumbled on a formation and a tactic that works.

I’d go with it again on Saturday… it certainly brought the best of out Franco, Galbraith and Widell.

 

[Bluenile]

Not me who needs to get a grip. You’re being emotional. I’ll let it pass.

Give it a rest! You'll be irritating everybody soon.

 

[jonboyswan]

I didn't feel it was a back 5, just more samual and tymon interchanging i think criticism of Idah abit harsh, first 30mins was very lively and like the team after that seem to run out of steam. Hopefully the confidence gained by Franco and wedell will help bring more positive (forward thinking) displays when we go back to the league.

 

[magicdaps10]

Change of shape tonight… has Sheehan stumbled on a formation and a tactic that works.

I’d go with it again on Saturday… it certainly brought the best of out Franco, Galbraith and Widell.

The shape was quite fluid and allowed Widell and Franco to be involved more attacking especially with the wing backs on their side.

Inoussa given the role off Idah and hitting the left side which allowed Tymon to drop back aswell.

Looked good but given we went all in for 4 wingers might mean that we won't persist with it.

 

[WentToSchoolWith]

Just back from the game. Mirror most of the thoughts on here - good enough performance, great effort, all we can ask for. Casey superb, thought Widell, Key and Inoussa had their best games for us this season - Inoussa especially was incredibly dangerous in the first half. Widell has to be a lock for the next few weeks considering our lack of creativity?

Very strange atmosphere where I was sat, just next to the SE Standing block. Girl in front of me openly sat in a Man City top - and I don't mean a young, young girl, I mean early 20s - and an awful lot of silent people around me. When it got going, it was really bouncing tonight, but I think the number of bluenoses 'sneaking' into the Swans stands was higher than anyone expected

 

[Bluenile]

First 25-30 mins I thought we were the better side and, let's get it right, that's 25-30 mins of acquitting ourselves brilliantly against one of the best teams in world football.

After that? Well surprise surprise, they started to get a grip on the match against a team a division below them.

But we never gave in and we didn't disgrace ourselves at all.

I actually think we stumbled upon a few things tonight:

That a back 5 might just be the way to go if we want to release Key and Tymon further forward, Casey is probably a better CB than Cabango, and Inoussa is raw but very direct and is about the only player we have with genuine pace to burn. I'd only make one change for Saturday and that would be bringing Vip back in.

Surely VIP and VIG?

 

[monmouth]

Surely VIP and VIG?

lol. Yes

 

[PenlanJack]

Change of shape tonight… has Sheehan stumbled on a formation and a tactic that works.

I’d go with it again on Saturday… it certainly brought the best of out Franco, Galbraith and Widell.

Yeah, it was pretty good at nullifying their counter attacks, just once they broke and we looked outnumbered and Doku and Bobb weren't particularly sure what was happening, which led to Key getting an assist.. Franco, Widell and Innoussa seemed to actually follow instructions finally, because the pressing wasn't as chaotic, there was a bit of structure, it was a bit of chaos, but it was City's conditioning that won them the game, If Franco, Galbraith and Widell could've stayed at that level we'd be in the quarters, the subs weren't as impactful as hoped and City who suffocated us with sheer will, just managed to get over the line

 

[Londonlisa2001]

I thought we had a really good go. Didn’t disgrace ourselves, didn’t look like a team of lower league cloggers, some nice periods of play in the first half in particular. A few stand out performances. For me Casey and Widell stood out for us although a few of ours played really very well. For all the bashing beforehand I thought Key did well. Franco did really well particularly in the first half. And I thought Samuels Smith had a good game as well.

Don’t understand the criticisms to be honest. Sometimes you have to say that the team you are playing are in a different class. There isn’t a player for them that wouldn’t stroll into our starting 11.

Years ago there were real chances of upsets against these top teams. Now it really is vanishingly rare. Shows really how wide the gulf is these days between teams in the championship and the top few in the premier league.

I think it’s great though. As it gives our younger players something to aim for. They should be able to look at their opposition tonight and work out what is needed to try to get nearer to their levels. Composure, anticipation and the ability to find space are the real differences for me. They always manage to find an out ball and are very good at stopping our out balls. It makes them look quicker and means they aren’t chasing around so they stay fresher. We ran ourselves into the ground and it showed at the end.

An enjoyable game and will do us good,

 

[Jackareme]

That was a bloody good effort against TOP TOP opposition.
If we can get a premptive bid in for Casey (especially) and Smith Samuels - they look way better than most loan signings we have had.
To summarise the challenge we faced - both teams made changes in the second half. Their changes were to introduce Stones, Gvardiol and Foden.
FFS we brought on Benson Ronald and Fulton.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Surely VIP and VIG?

Ha! Yes of course Vig should go back in

I meant outfield obviously.

 

[Birchgrovejack]

That was a bloody good effort against TOP TOP opposition.
If we can get a premptive bid in for Casey (especially) and Smith Samuels - they look way better than most loan signings we have had.
To summarise the challenge we faced - both teams made changes in the second half. Their changes were to introduce Stones, Gvardiol and Foden.
FFS we brought on Benson Ronald and Fulton.

I wouldn't mind betting, that the money they spent on the defence that ended that game, is roughly what we've spent in our history.

Ake 50m, stones 50m, gvardiol 65m

 

[Blackpooljack]

I must have been watching a different game, by fab do you mean making a nuisance of himself because other than that I can’t remember him doing anything.

You're in the minority bud.

 

[Copamundial]

If I have one criticism of last night it’s the fact that we allowed a second string City side to play the way that they are most comfortable with.
Many on here stating recently that possession football is dead….obviously not.