Season 20/21: The Official Swansea City v Barnsley Match Thread

[Official Site News]

LIBERTY STADIUM PITCH UPDATE

Source: Official Site

Swansea City will replace the Liberty Stadium surface following this Saturday’s Championship fixture with Barnsley.

Immediately after the final whistle, work will commence on replacing the current playing surface with a high quality, hybrid turf pitch – the same used by Tottenham Hotspur at their 62,000 stadium - which will remain in place for the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign.

The club has made the decision to install a new surface following concerns surrounding the current pitch, which has become increasingly difficult to maintain to the normal standard and, as a result, has deteriorated in recent weeks.

After evaluating all options available, the club has acted swiftly as the team enters a demanding fixture list, with the new pitch set to be used for the first time when the Swans host Reading on Wednesday, December 30.

As a result of the pitch replacement work, the Ospreys rugby team have agreed to relocate their Boxing Day derby fixture against the Scarlets, which was due to take place at the Liberty.

The Swans are grateful to the Ospreys for their understanding and assistance at this challenging time, with the latter set to confirm a new location for that fixture.

Swans chief executive, Julian Winter, said: “We have realised for some weeks that we have an issue with the current playing surface.

“Whilst we have attempted to deal with it, with the run of fixtures we have had and with those yet to come, we have decided to take this step to ensure that we provide head coach Steve Cooper and the team with the best possible opportunity to carry our current form into the second half of the season.

“Investigations are underway into why the pitch has not held up as we would expect, but for now the imperative was to resolve the matter decisively and positively.

“Our owners have been 100 per cent supportive on this matter as they recognise the importance of the playing surface to our squad and are steadfast in their endeavours to best equip the head coach for the remainder of this campaign.”

Andrew Millward, Ospreys managing director, said: "The Ospreys and Swansea City have always had a close relationship and we appreciate the urgency around rectifying the problem with the Liberty Stadium pitch.

"While the Ospreys are disappointed at not being able to play our Boxing Day fixture at home, we appreciate this is a unique situation for Swansea City and acknowledge relaying the pitch is something that has to happen now."

John Hewitt, managing director of Hewitt Sportsturf, added: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the club again.

“We are able to provide a rapidly deployed, premium quality solution which we are confident will achieve the club’s objectives at this time.

“The lay and play turf we are using is of the highest quality and is used at other stadiums such as the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“We are confident that the club will see the immediate benefit of the pitch once installed.”

 

[Swans Trust News]

Read more

 

[swan65split]

Not looking forward too this one, on that pitch! prove me wrong guys! .....

 

[airedale]

Not looking forward too this one, on that pitch! prove me wrong guys! .....

The weather today and tomorrow will help playing conditions no end.

 

[swansnews]

VALÉRIEN ISMAËL PRE-SWANSEA CITY

Source: Barnsley Official Site

The Reds' Head Coach is looking for another intense performance from his young side when Barnsley take on Swansea in Wales this Saturday.

With the Reds still without Jordan Williams who had another scan this week, which will delay his return to training, and no Callum Styles this weekend as he serves a one-match suspension, the Reds' boss says he's looking forward to others taking their own chance when Barnsley face the Swans on Saturday.

"It is an opportunity for others in the squad." Stated Ismaël.

"For Stylesy, this is also maybe a good thing as he gets to breathe, he can rest ahead of more fixtures without risk of an injury.

"I always tell the lads they must be patient, but ready and waiting for their chance.

"We have a good team spirit and in this position we have the possibility to make a change, and now they must take their chance."

Saturday's hosts sit fourth in the table, and although they lost their last game in midweek - 2-0 at Derby County - they have been in impressive form this season.

Indeed, they've lost just one game at the Liberty Stadium.

"Any game is a big test for us." Admitted Valérien.

"But Swansea is one of the top sides. They are a possession-based team, and so we need another forceful performance.

"We need a high-intensity game from the lads, we need to be ready to suffer. Because there will be a lot of running, we need to make things tight and create our transition game.

"When we get chances in the box, we need to be clinical again.

"We have prepared for this, and we want to get another three points."

With the Reds on a three-match winning run, there have been some suggestions in the media that Barnsley could be looking capable of pushing for the playoffs.

But the gaffer wasn't interested in any talk about his side's prospects for the season, instead reminding people that we take each game as it comes.

"We aren't looking at anything beyond the game on Saturday. That is our sole focus as a club and as a team.

"I keep saying we take games one by one, and I will continue to say that.

"Tomorrow is the next chance for a win. That's our aim, our focus."

 

[PSumbler]

Not looking forward too this one, on that pitch! prove me wrong guys! .....

The weather today and tomorrow will help playing conditions no end.

The pitch will resemble something more likely to be seen on a farm I think!

 

[swansnews]

MATTY JAMES PRE-SWANSEA CITY

Source: Barnsley Official Site

Heading into our Sky Bet Championship clash with Swansea City on Saturday, Matty James believes the momentum gained by winning games can only be good for confidence in the dressing room.

The Reds have won four of their last five games, including three consecutive 2-1 victories, putting considerable distance between themselves and the bottom three while also moving within touching distance of the play-off places.

Another triumph in South Wales this weekend could potentially see Barnsley climb as high as seventh, depending on results elsewhere and our on-loan midfielder says the atmosphere at Oakwell is positive.

“Any kind of sportsman or footballer will tell you that winning is key and it creates so much confidence and a buzz around the place – winning games is what you strive to do,” insisted James.

“So I think the run we’re on at the moment is very good and has created a good dressing room. It creates a feel-good factor for the young players and hopefully we can win again tomorrow.”

Under Valérien Ismaël, the Reds have been transformed into one of the divisions tougher outfits to beat – as demonstrated with their ability to come from behind to claim priceless victories in recent weeks.

James is enjoying his football at Barnsley and is hopeful the side can continue to grind out positive results as the season progresses.

“His standards for every single day that are set, his intensity in the way that he is around the boys and the expectations that he has,” said the midfielder of our Head Coach. “Certainly the way that Barnsley press on the front foot is something that he’s put a lot of emphasis on.

“Then it’s taking the chances when we get them. I think the youthfulness of the team is using that to our advantage – getting in and around teams, making it uncomfortable and hopefully having that quality to put the ball in the net and get three points.”

 

[Official Site News]

STEVE COOPER | WE NEED TO BRING ENERGY TO OUR PERFORMANCE

Source: Official Site

Steve Cooper says Swansea City will need to be ready to match the enthusiasm of an “energetic” Barnsley side at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.

The Swans host the Tykes in their final fixture before Christmas, a game that will end a relentless run of nine games in 28 days with the relative luxury of a seven-day gap until the Boxing Day match at QPR to follow.

Cooper and his side are looking to bounce back from a flat display in their midweek defeat at Derby, and to extend a six-match unbeaten streak in their own back yard.

They take on a Barnsley side who have won their last three games to climb into the top half of the table, just four points off the play-off spots.

But the Swans have made a habit of responding well to disappointment and adversity, and Cooper wants to see those qualities again.

“We know Barnsley have had some good wins, and won a lot of games since the change of manager,” said the Swansea boss.

“They have a lot of young players looking to play on the front foot and they have had good returns from that.

“They’ve had an extra day of rest than us, that’s the fourth time for us in this schedule. We have yet to have an extra day’s rest ourselves, but we won’t use that as an excuse although it is an important part of things.

“But we have to be ready as they are an energetic side, and we have to try and match that while putting our stamp on it.

“We do a lot of due diligence on the opposition, we watch a lot of games and will have seen a lot of games before we pick the team.

“We will also be focusing on what we do and trying to make sure that is the most important factor in the game.”

 

[Jinxy]

Will the Swans bounce back, will they go on a bad run, will the pitch swamp all the players up? I'd only like to call one of those.

 

[PSumbler]

Will the Swans bounce back, will they go on a bad run, will the pitch swamp all the players up? I'd only like to call one of those.

I'm really dreading seeing the state of the pitch today after the rain of this week and in particular yesterday for most of the day!

Wellies may be more needed than football boots!

 

[Jinxy]

Will the Swans bounce back, will they go on a bad run, will the pitch swamp all the players up? I'd only like to call one of those.

I'm really dreading seeing the state of the pitch today after the rain of this week and in particular yesterday for most of the day!

Wellies may be more needed than football boots!

You're right there Phil. The swamp will just add to the lotteryness of today, can't see it being much of a spectacle. There I said it - again!

 

[airedale]

Will the Swans bounce back, will they go on a bad run, will the pitch swamp all the players up? I'd only like to call one of those.

The Swans may bounce back, but I can’t see the ball doing much bouncing!

 

[airedale]

C’mon Cardiff today!

 

[KarlHRummenigge]

Cooper and the boys learned a big lesson against Rooney and his world class coaching team.

Grimes has to sit deep and set tempo from the off.

3-1

 

[Fireboy]

Cooper and the boys learned a big lesson against Rooney and his world class coaching team.

Grimes has to sit deep and set tempo from the off.

3-1

Do not, I repeat, do not feed the troll.