S25/26 | The Official Match Thread | Swansea 1 Ipswich 4 | Att: 16,783 | 08/11/25 | The EFL Championship | The Swansea.com Stadium

[Andrew - North Hill]

1. The first half was pure Carvalhal. Cowardly, don't get players forward, can't string a pass together. Total bullshit. Unforgivable.

2. First 15-20 mins of second half, unrecognisable from the first half, really good, arguably as dangerous as we've looked all season (apart from Sheffield Wed away). Really enjoyed it.

3. Ref was a complete and utter bellend. Every foul we made was a yellow card. Every foul they made was merely a foul. I hated his performance.

I don't know where that leaves us tbh other than to say results and refs are not falling kindly for us right now. Can't and won't defend that first half though.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Despite all the patting on the back about our wonderful summer of recruitment, this is still fundamentally the same team that struggled for most of last year, so I guess it's not a total surprise we're not camped out in the top 10 after taking a punt on some spreadsheet signings to replace all those that left.

Defensively, Burgess is the only real change and he's...alright. Missing Darling's goals and ability to bring the ball out of defence.

Midfield is largely the same. Galbraith is...alright, doesn't really put his stamp on games does he? not a difference maker, just a tidy player. Stamenic. I think we're missing his stability in there, need him back.

Inoussa has shown some glimpses, but is nowhere near a 60 min player, let alone a 90 min player
We're still relying on Key and Ronald for our attacks down the right (yikes!)

Vip is a good player, but we're back to Williamsball where we're treating him like a lepper we dare not get close to and interact with. Maybe try giving him the ball more than twice a game and it might look better. Maybe having a central midfielder who can drive forwards with the ball through the middle would help with that? (Stamenic's run to set up Vip against Norwich springs to mind).

Sheehan clearly got caught with his pants down tactically today, that whole 1st half was us playing handicapped by the way we'd set up. Looked like the adjustments made at half-time (that should have been made after about 10 minutes) were going to work, but it just wasn't to be. Just before an international break is not a great time to put in your worst performance and result. Lots of time for decision makers to ponder decisions...I doubt they'd sack him at this stage though, but nothing surprises me anymore.

This is just spot on on every level.

 

[cmajack]

We just aren’t able to attack in a manner required at this level.
The warning signs were there in the pre season games in my opinion.
Today was a total bumming and it should have been more. I think we’re in trouble.

Said that after the first game of the season, and some gave me pelters on here for it. Thought with the way pre season went and then the atrocious first day performance at Boro , that things weren't looking good.

 

[jackharris]

If we did get rid of him with no-one immediately lined up, I’m struggling to think of anyone who could be a caretaker manager

 

[CygnusX1]

Good grief!

 

[westside]

Struggling to find any positives today.
The weather?

Curry and chips from Rossi's

 

[ARQS]

It's really gutting to be in a position where we are going to be sacking a really decent and honourable manager.

Unfortunately though the football we have played this season has been absolutely dire and I honestly don't think he's got it in him to be a manager in his own right.

It feels quite sad

 

[tardylum]

Said that after the first game of the season, and some gave me pelters on here for it. Thought with the way pre season went and then the atrocious first day performance at Boro , that things weren't looking good.

The only consistent people have been those who have been judging on performances and not results, for better or worse. I put pre-season down to some of the transfer coming in late and a lot of changes but from the first day it has looked very jumbled going forward. To be the worst attacking side after 15 games but this much is atrocious. Especially when Sheffield Wednesday are in the league and being forced to play a handful of academy players each week.

 

[bakajack]

1. The first half was pure Carvalhal. Cowardly, don't get players forward, can't string a pass together. Total bullshit. Unforgivable.

2. First 15-20 mins of second half, unrecognisable from the first half, really good, arguably as dangerous as we've looked all season (apart from Sheffield Wed away). Really enjoyed it.

3. Ref was a complete and utter bellend. Every foul we made was a yellow card. Every foul they made was merely a foul. I hated his performance.

I don't know where that leaves us tbh other than to say results and refs are not falling kindly for us right now. Can't and won't defend that first half though.

Of the players booked today:

Tymon - beyond stupid. Ball wasn't even in play and he rugby tackled the throw in taker. Now misses next game
Inoussa - a daft tackle that didn't need to be made
Samuel Smith - harsh yellow in what was a genuine attempt to play the ball
Galbraith - went flying in, no arguments at all about being booked
Cabango - booked for complaining to the ref about their player. Stupid and now also misses next game

 

[JackFish]

Despite all the patting on the back about our wonderful summer of recruitment, this is still fundamentally the same team that struggled for most of last year, so I guess it's not a total surprise we're not camped out in the top 10 after taking a punt on some spreadsheet signings to replace all those that left.

Defensively, Burgess is the only real change and he's...alright. Missing Darling's goals and ability to bring the ball out of defence.

Midfield is largely the same. Galbraith is...alright, doesn't really put his stamp on games does he? not a difference maker, just a tidy player. Stamenic. I think we're missing his stability in there, need him back.

Inoussa has shown some glimpses, but is nowhere near a 60 min player, let alone a 90 min player
We're still relying on Key and Ronald for our attacks down the right (yikes!)

Vip is a good player, but we're back to Williamsball where we're treating him like a lepper we dare not get close to and interact with. Maybe try giving him the ball more than twice a game and it might look better. Maybe having a central midfielder who can drive forwards with the ball through the middle would help with that? (Stamenic's run to set up Vip against Norwich springs to mind).

Said a few weeks ago that we definitely have more depth and options this season, but wasn’t convinced that the first team had improved at all. There’s a gaping hole in the number 10 position and nobody in the squad that seems to be able to play there effectively like LOB did in the second half of last season.

Burgess might be a better defender than Darling but he doesn’t have anywhere near the ability on the ball and that’s definitely had an impact on our ability to play out from the back.

Those were the big two players we needed to replace in the summer, and it doesn’t really seem like we’ve done it very effectively.

It’s probably still time for Sheehan to go now which is a shame, but we do seem to be getting worse, and we continue to look completely bereft of ideas going forward.

 

[Magic_Michu]

If we did get rid of him with no-one immediately lined up, I’m struggling to think of anyone who could be a caretaker manager

K’OL

 

[Longlostjack]

Of the players booked today:

Tymon - beyond stupid. Ball wasn't even in play and he rugby tackled the throw in taker. Now misses next game
Inoussa - a daft tackle that didn't need to be made
Samuel Smith - harsh yellow in what was a genuine attempt to play the ball
Galbraith - went flying in, no arguments at all about being booked
Cabango - booked for complaining to the ref about their player. Stupid and now also misses next game

Lack of discipline on the pitch is never a good sign.

 

[bakajack]

Lack of discipline on the pitch is never a good sign.

We give away a lot of completely unnecessary yellow cards. If they were for "tactical fouls" or genuine attempts to play the ball it would be fine, but so many of our bookings have been for things like dissent, kicking the ball away, getting involved with other players, etc

 

[Nocountryforoldjack]

With our managers it's like buying shoes from shoe zone, they are cheap and look great.... For about 4 weeks then fall apart. Isn't it better to splash out on a pair of Bikes?

 

[Swansea93]

K’OL

Wright from the unders seems to get good praise.