S25/26 | The Official Match Thread | Blackburn Rovers 1 Swansea City 2 | Attendance: 11,013 (372 away) | Tues 30th Sept | The EFL Championship

[Wr1]

Maybe if they change the playoffs system there can be a spot for best performance team

 

[Whaleoilbeefhooked]

Benson will be better on another day. We need to settle on a 10 and then let the team settle. Both starting wingers and starting CF need to gas themselves and be replaced on 50-55.

Why not swop our wingers during the game more often? Benson is so one footed that he would receive the ball on the right, then cut back onto his favoured left, loose momentum, then pass it backwards. The same could be said of
Inoussa, who’s right footed playing on the right wing.

 

[PSumbler]

The Championship is far more open than it has been in recent seasons and the key now is finding consistency in both performance and result.

We also need to remember that our opening 10 fixtures were determined by stat sites as being the toughest of any team in the division at the start of the season so being nearer the top after 8 games should also be praised up.

If we can hit consistency particularly at home and start winning the games we are drawing then who knows what we can achieve here. and If Wrexham can draw at Leicester there is no reason why we cant beat them on Saturday - that would see us nicely set up for the international break

 

[Dillwyn the Dog]

Was at the game in the Blackburn stand on the side nearest the penalty, shout and have to say I thought we were lucky and got away with one, so kudos to the ref if he got it right.

The Blackburn fans were going mental and even more so when Burgess won the header not long after as he looked to be pushing down on the Blackburn player.

I definitely think he got it right - Burgess pulled his left leg away and Csntwell tried to make out his right leg had caught him. The ref should have booked him then for simulation and the other Blackburn player who appealed whilst falling over.

 

[Dr. Winston]

Consistency is always the key in this division. Any team capable of putting together a couple of decent unbeaten runs will fancy themselves for a playoff spot, and in a season where the relegated sides haven't started well perhaps even more.

I'm fairly convinced that we've got a squad good enough for the playoffs. It's down to Sheehan to get the mix right. I'll stick with what I've been saying for weeks about us needing to balance the midfield better with a dedicated creative influence, especially at home and probably even away against your bog standard sides like Blackburn.

It's in our own hands.

 

[magicdaps10]

I was adamant that the foul on Can't well wasn't a penalty but seeing it again in slow motion and various angles, I was wrong it was a penalty.

Nice to have a bit of luck and even stranger I was also wrong in my initial view, rarely happens both those things

 

[eteb]

I don’t get the argument the midfielders are the same.

Galbraith is a tempo controller with insane weight of pass.

Stamenic is a physical defensive midfielder suited to the deep role.

Franco is a ball winning 8 that makes his way into the box.

Yalcouye is an 8 that drives the ball forward with ball at feet.

None of them are a 10, but they aren’t the same either.

They're all different but far too similar. None of them are true attacking players. IMO you need stamenic as the defender, Galbraith as the best player in the league and a 10

 

[eteb]

Consistency is always the key in this division. Any team capable of putting together a couple of decent unbeaten runs will fancy themselves for a playoff spot, and in a season where the relegated sides haven't started well perhaps even more.

I'm fairly convinced that we've got a squad good enough for the playoffs. It's down to Sheehan to get the mix right. I'll stick with what I've been saying for weeks about us needing to balance the midfield better with a dedicated creative influence, especially at home and probably even away against your bog standard sides like Blackburn.

It's in our own hands.

I think we need to play a 10 against the "lesser sides" and a more solid flat 3 like we're doing now against better sides. We've shown we can win games with the flat 3 against good opposition and it gives us the option of going more attacking if needed.

 

[cadleigh]

Good subs tonight, which were badly needed because we were struggling at the point to get anything going again after half time.

Hats off to Sheehan for the win, but it still feels like a continuation of Russell/Williams work rather than a new era. The performance described by my kids "This is boring to watch" is not going to increase the attendances.

I'm going to lower my expectations and accept we are just going to be pragmatic and boring for most of the season, I will have to continue waiting for the return of exciting attacking football, tonight was the first concern that maybe the summer signings while add depth, maybe not as good as we'd like to think they are.

I am harsh critic of Sheehan because I think we're awful to watch from entertaining point of view, but at the end of the day you can't argue with results if we are hoovering around the play offs.This years championship in general is very poor, it feels like I am watching league one football.

So what matches do your kids find not boring? I thought last night’s match was very entertaining - lots of action in both boxes, two very well taken goals, some thrilling saves, some periods of sublime passing and a real sense of jeopardy. Far from perfect by any means, but IMO a good deal more enjoyable than Millwall (where we never really found a way to play) or games where we completely dominate the opposition and the result is never in doubt.

 

[Dr. Winston]

I think we need to play a 10 against the "lesser sides" and a more solid flat 3 like we're doing now against better sides. We've shown we can win games with the flat 3 against good opposition and it gives us the option of going more attacking if needed.

Based on what we've seen so far I'm not sure that there are any "better" sides in the division. Early days of course and the relegated teams might suddenly remember how much more expensive their squads are, but we certainly shouldn't fear anyone yet.

 

[cadleigh]

I don't see a Championship level player, his touch is poor, decision making worse and looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights half of the time.

Also how much coaching does he need, he's been at Swansea 2 years now and there has been zero improvement.

We are certainly fortunate that it was their right winger who was on fire last night.

 

[monmouth]

Sobbing in his bedsit. Hasn't been seen since Franco's goal.
He's not one of us and never has been.

He’ll be back with a new moniker. ‘Olly Solksjaer’s massive arse’, or something.