S25/26 | The Official Match Thread | Stoke City 2 Swansea City 1 | Att: 23,089 | 13/12/25 | The EFL Championship | The Bet365 Stadium

[LeonWasTheDogs]

I’m still not sure if he knows his best eleven.

I’d be going with:
Vig
Galbraith
Cabango
Burgess
Tymon
Franco
Yalcouyé
Inoussa
Widell
Eom
Vip

Keep Key away from the eleven. Tymon and Eom can work down the left, Widell is a better option than Cullen, and Inoussa over Ronald.

Stamenic needs to be in a midfield of Yalcouye and Widell imo. I think it’s one of Yalcouye or Franco.

 

[LeonWasTheDogs]

People may say you shouldn’t feel sorry for footballers because of the money they earn, but from a human point of view I feel sorry for him.

Needs to be taken out of the squad for his own good as much as anything else. He’s not going to play his way back into form/confidence in the short term so having him in the Matchday squad is no good for him or the team.

Absolutely, they’re not robots and will suffer the same as the rest of us irrespective of how much they earn.

 

[Flash]

Gutted to lose, but still positives to take from that. We look a lot more dangerous going forward. Seemed like the slightly better side in the first half but lost it. Were the worse side in the second half but it was level. Fine margins. One thing we need is a replacement for key, we look so much better with Galbraith playing there but he’s a bit wasted not being able to control the midfield. Widell and Innousa need to start next game as well.

 

[lidojack]

At least it's the disappointment of losing a game we didn't deserve to as opposed to the "we are so bad it's depressing" disappointment we are used to.

 

[Cooperman]

Stamenic needs to be in a midfield of Yalcouye and Widell imo. I think it’s one of Yalcouye or Franco.

There isn’t much in it between Stamenic and Franco. I fell on the side of Franco, just, but one can easily replace the other.

 

[Copamundial]

Not sure what people saw in Yalcoue’s cameo, gave the ball away several times.

 

[cmajack]

We’ve seen promising signs from Matos, and this is all without his own staff in place too, not disheartened about our showing today nearly had a draw after being 2 down.

Once again beaten by a side woefully out of form, it's happened too many times for it to be a coincidence. If any team is out of form , play us , you are guaranteed 3 points. What a shit season this is AGAIN.

 

[peter]

Shouldn’t have lost that one, can take some positives from it. Don’t think Eom, Key or Ronald should be starting, but might have to make do until January.

the problem is unless we move people on we must be close to the f f p limit
just hope this new head coach and his regular coaching team can improve what we have and quickly

 

[SwanseaJack]

Anyone remember when Key was apparently wanted by M'boro a few months ago

Would snatch their hands off for a few quid now

 

[GriffTom]

Is it just me or have every top 6 side we’ve played been garbage? And we’ve been worse on most occasions but I didn’t think we were today. Key has lost us that game. Still making some poor decisions in the final third but believe it will come. If that’s the level of the top 6 we should be nowhere near the bottom. Also no idea how the ref got 40 seconds additional to the 7 after the time wasting and stoppage in added time.

 

[Swans Jack]

People may say you shouldn’t feel sorry for footballers because of the money they earn, but from a human point of view I feel sorry for him.

Needs to be taken out of the squad for his own good as much as anything else. He’s not going to play his way back into form/confidence in the short term so having him in the Matchday squad is no good for him or the team.

I do understand that. But how long does Key need? He has shown season upon season he is a terrible player. Has the attacking mindset but has cost us so many games. Its a trend that has to stop. If his confidence is shot now, then they will be gone if out of squad. Has to now.

 

[Menston4128]

Frustrating is my overriding emotion.

Both goals could have been avoided, not the strike for Stoke's 1st but the sloppy defending leading up to it.

If Key wasn't on the pitch Thomas does not score simple as that, he did nothing whilst Galbraith was at RB.

I believe Matos is searching for his best team and I get starting Cullen after his goal midweek (although I wouldn't have personally) but he had very little impact.

Widdell & Inoussa have to be starting games as does for me Yolcouye.

As for Key, he is worst player in this squad (probably the Championship) by miles and should not ever see a match day squad ever again at Swansea. Today he did nothing positive at all, he is just shite.

Let's hope he has a re-occurence of his illness on Friday.

If we do nothing else in January we need a RB.

 

[LeonWasTheDogs]

There isn’t much in it between Stamenic and Franco. I fell on the side of Franco, just, but one can easily replace the other.

I don’t see Franco doing the disciplined holding role. He’s like a Jack Russell running off all over the place snapping at people heels. Maybe though if he can stay put.

 

[Swans Jack]

Anyone remember when Key was apparently wanted by M'boro a few months ago

Would snatch their hands off for a few quid now

He be better off working in a key cutting shop. Make a few quid on his name, Key and Keys...I'll rent the shop for him if he wants.. As long as he goes.

 

[Menston4128]

As cameos go it was as bad as anything I've ever seen

It wasn't a cameo. He played a major part in the result.