Possession without purpose

[Londonlisa2001]

703 passes attempted, 644 completed.

71% possession

And Blackburn will not have an easier afternoon this season.

At half time we were never coming back - they knew they could line up behind the ball, we would piss about around the halfway line with it and they would hit us on the break.

Too many players not interested and absolutely no movement in the team yet again. Still, at least the players can talk about good stats and loads of touches of the ball. With no purpose.

Absolutely dreadful and worrying times ahead. Very worrying.

They played a tactical masterclass.

No they didn’t. They were just doing their jobs as a competent championship team.

We are anything but.

By the way, all this talk on swans tv of the Swansea Way - that was as far removed from Roberto’s style of play as it’s possible to get. Or Brendan’s. Or Laudrup’s.

[Cooperman]

They played a tactical masterclass.

No they didn’t. They were just doing their jobs as a competent championship team.

We are anything but.

By the way, all this talk on swans tv of the Swansea Way - that was as far removed from Roberto’s style of play as it’s possible to get. Or Brendan’s. Or Laudrup’s.

Yes they did. They had done their homework, they had been drilled with clear instructions regarding not getting sucked in, and they were coached throughout the 90 mins re controlling the game without the ball. They played it perfectly.

[Neath_Jack]

703 passes attempted, 644 completed.

71% possession

And Blackburn will not have an easier afternoon this season.

At half time we were never coming back - they knew they could line up behind the ball, we would piss about around the halfway line with it and they would hit us on the break.

Too many players not interested and absolutely no movement in the team yet again. Still, at least the players can talk about good stats and loads of touches of the ball. With no purpose.

Absolutely dreadful and worrying times ahead. Very worrying.

They played a tactical masterclass.

Masterclass? We must be the easiest team in this league to play against. They know we won't play with any urgency, they know our defenders and Grimes will pass the leather off it between themselves, they know we ponce about with it in our own box, they know we will only play one way no matter what.. Doesn't take a Bill Shanks to play against us.

[Nocountryforoldjack]

Aye, 1 bag of s**t and 6 lumps of coal.

But enough about our midfield

What midfield?

[Cooperman]

They played a tactical masterclass.

Masterclass? We must be the easiest team in this league to play against. They know we won't play with any urgency, they know our defenders and Grimes will pass the leather off it between themselves, they know we ponce about with it in our own box, they know we will only play one way no matter what.. Doesn't take a Bill Shanks to play against us.

So they set their game plan accordingly and then executed it with precision.

We also had a game plan, it’s just not a very good one.

[KillayJack]

They played a tactical masterclass.

Masterclass? We must be the easiest team in this league to play against. They know we won't play with any urgency, they know our defenders and Grimes will pass the leather off it between themselves, they know we ponce about with it in our own box, they know we will only play one way no matter what.. Doesn't take a Bill Shanks to play against us.

This 100% not difficult to assess unless you’re blind or pi$$ed (or both)

[ARQS]

Let’s be honest they played the same way we’d all set a side up to beat us.

It’s hardly groundbreaking

[NeathJack]

They played a tactical masterclass.

No they didn’t. They were just doing their jobs as a competent championship team.

We are anything but.

By the way, all this talk on swans tv of the Swansea Way - that was as far removed from Roberto’s style of play as it’s possible to get. Or Brendan’s. Or Laudrup’s.

The style is like the illegitimate lovechild of Sousa and Clement.

[bakajack]

703 passes attempted, 644 completed.

71% possession

And Blackburn will not have an easier afternoon this season.

At half time we were never coming back - they knew they could line up behind the ball, we would piss about around the halfway line with it and they would hit us on the break.

Too many players not interested and absolutely no movement in the team yet again. Still, at least the players can talk about good stats and loads of touches of the ball. With no purpose.

Absolutely dreadful and worrying times ahead. Very worrying.

I said it on the RM speaks thread, but right now feels like RM is currently in a position similar to early career Rodgers where his fixation is on possession but without the man management (and game management) skills that Rodgers had.

Rodgers was followed up by Laudrup who always preached possession with penetration and we did play the best football of my lifetime during that period.

RM has a fixation on five at the back and wingbacks but the reality is that we have bombed out perfectly reasonable wingers during his time at the club now because he doesn't want to accommodate what we have in the squad and is trying to put square pegs into round holes (see Lati, Manning last season, Smith last season, etc).

With what we have we should be playing with a 4-3-3 utilising conventional fullbacks who will push on and support Piroe and Congreve as outside attackers with Obafemi through the middle and Paterson supporting from midfield where he can pull the strings.

I truly feel sorry for Obafemi and Piroe these past two games, we have created nothing for them outside of that one chance vs Rotherham for Obafemi (and the less we talk about that the better)

[WxmJax]

Glad I'm in London next weekend.

[Baron Goblet]

Bkackburn did very well and also rode their luck.

[Cooperman]

Bkackburn did very well and also rode their luck.

How did they ride their luck?

[Itchysphincter]

No they didn’t. They were just doing their jobs as a competent championship team.

We are anything but.

By the way, all this talk on swans tv of the Swansea Way - that was as far removed from Roberto’s style of play as it’s possible to get. Or Brendan’s. Or Laudrup’s.

The style is like the illegitimate lovechild of Sousa and Clement.

I thought of Sousa and Clement often yesterday. Sousa gets a little bit of a pass from me but I agree with your points. Clement gave me the worst feeling I ever had watching the Swans and Martin is pushing him hard.