Back from the Swansea Game

[RoyalBlue]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

[Royal Ginger]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

Just once i'd love him to say "That was a bit sh*t wasn't it. We were utter crap. Got it a bit wrong" rather than the random positive cliche generator that he employs.

[Libertine]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

Possession
Swansea City: 71%
Reading: 29%

Goals Attempted
Swansea City: 26
Reading: 9

Shots on target
Swansea City: 10
Reading: 5

Goals scored
Swansea City: 2
Reading: 2

To be fair, and if completely based on only the numbers, we should be celebrating a point won.

[parky]

If the order of goals had been reversed we would be celebrating a point won!

[Plymouth_Royal]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

McD will always try to draw a positive. The thing that really irritates me is when he says we played some good passing football. WHEN!!!?????

I;m pretty sure I've seen a stat somewhere showing we had the worst ball retention in the league.

[leon]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

Just once i'd love him to say "That was a bit sh*t wasn't it. We were utter crap. Got it a bit wrong" rather than the random positive cliche generator that he employs.

yes he should say, "we're shit, we're going down and I don't know what I'm doing" and wankers like you (and RoyalBlue) would be rubbing your hands with glee.

[BenReadingFC]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

Possession
Swansea City: 71%
Reading: 29%

Goals Attempted
Swansea City: 26
Reading: 9

Shots on target
Swansea City: 10
Reading: 5

Goals scored
Swansea City: 2
Reading: 2

To be fair, and if completely based on only the numbers, we should be celebrating a point won.

The possession stats sum up the game, they we're all over us until the 1st goal. We then had some say in the game and bagged a brace somehow. About 20 mins into the 2nd half they upped a gear and got what they deserved really. At times we were lucky and had McCarthy to save our blushes. I'll take the point. Livid about chucking away a 2 goal lead but I would of took the draw before the game and nothing has changed. Some shocking decisions from the lino's today.

[RoyalBlue]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

Just once i'd love him to say "That was a bit sh*t wasn't it. We were utter crap. Got it a bit wrong" rather than the random positive cliche generator that he employs.

yes he should say, "we're shit, we're going down and I don't know what I'm doing" and wankers like you (and RoyalBlue) would be rubbing your hands with glee.

My god! How your intellect adds to the level of debate! I suspect that even The Sun is a significant challenge for you.

No one is suggesting he says anything like that. However, perhaps there is a time for "no more Mr Nice Guy" and a rather more frank and honest assessment of the team's performance. Despite Swansea's apparent dominance there shouldn't be an excuse for throwing away a lead like that and being overrun in the manner reported by those that were at the match. Putting a positive spin on that does almost suggest an absence from reality.

A bit of straight talking wouldn't do the players any harm and I think it would be welcomed by the supporters who have paid hard earned cash to be at the game.

[Cripple Creek]

Watched it here in Oz so have no idea about the fans' performance, as for the team, well, I think Swansea having 70 per cent of the possession says it all really. As one of the commentators over here said that kind of stat only usually exists when you are talking about Barcelona. A real mish-mash of a performance in a match we thoroughly deserved to lose. I have no idea what the plan or the tactics were for this game or, frankly, if there even was one other than 'hoof it up the pitch'. I saw us play against Chelsea and was hugely impressed at our performance so, it seems, we can do it. I think there needs to be some soul searching now. Fortunately, it is still early but with performances like this I don't think anyone can realistically expect us to stay up.
McCarthy was, for me, the only positive to take from this game. I think we may have to lose a few more in the efforts to try and actually establish a way of playing. We are going to lose if we play like that anyway so I don't really see that we have anything to lose in bringing Guthrie back and trying to get some creativity in the midfield. Thank God I'm not a football coach as I wouldn't like to have my work cut out for me in the way Brian does right now.
Swansea will stay up with the way they play, comfortable on the ball, thoughtful, committed, determined. Wish we played like them. I really hate to think what Suarez is going to do to us.

[Barry the bird boggler]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

Wasn't that his point though, it was a point won and not two dropped given the overall shabby performance, least that's what I thought from his radio interview.

[Snowball]

Swansea are a very good side.

Consider how they went to QPR and scored 5 for no reply., then beat WHU 3-0




I thought some of their passing, especially in the last third was devastating. IMO it wasn't
us playing badly, it was them playing, on occasions, brilliantly



They had 74% possession at Stoke

They like to hold the ball, we all know that. There are two ways of playing against that.

Let them play in front of you, have lots of ball, ignore the possession stats and try to nick a goal.

Stoke did that, scored two and won 2-0. We did that, scored 2 and went 2-0 up.

In the end, had we won it would have been robbery, but their first goal back had a huge slice of good luck
and had they not got that goal then, we would probably have gone on for a "resolute" win.

By choosing that tactic you exaggerate the possession disparity

2-2 away at a tough place to go, a club in 11th place. That's a good result, end of.


74% 0-2 Stoke Away LOSE
62% 5-0 QPR Away WIN
60% 3-2 Crawley Away WIN
60% 2-2 Reading Home DRAW (Possession stat from Swansea's web-site)
54% 3-0 WHU Home WIN
54% 3-1 Barnsley Home WIN
51% 0-2 Villa Away LOSE
40% 0-3 Everton Home LOSE

[Royal Ginger]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

Just once i'd love him to say "That was a bit sh*t wasn't it. We were utter crap. Got it a bit wrong" rather than the random positive cliche generator that he employs.

yes he should say, "we're shit, we're going down and I don't know what I'm doing" and wankers like you (and RoyalBlue) would be rubbing your hands with glee.

No, you're missing the point. I want the team to do well, and I think McD is an amazing manager, what i'm sick of is the meaningless bollocks that pretty much every manager in professional football spouts regardless of a result.

Ian Holloway said that Blackpool weren't good enough and insinuated disappointment. It was a breath of fresh air.

[russyb]

That was an awful display from us despite ending in a 2-2 draw, i watched it on internet stream. Time and time again our defence was split through the middle, when we did win the ball we just didn't keep it, one of the worst displays from Reading i have seen in a while. Have to say we are lucky to have a point, i thought we had turned the corner against Newcastle but if we play like that in future we will be destroyed by other teams.

[Rex]

Swansea are a very good side.

Consider how they went to QPR and scored 5 for no reply., then beat WHU 3-0




I thought some of their passing, especially in the last third was devastating. IMO it wasn't
us playing badly, it was them playing, on occasions, brilliantly



They had 74% possession at Stoke

They like to hold the ball, we all know that. There are two ways of playing against that.

Let them play in front of you, have lots of ball, ignore the possession stats and try to nick a goal.

Stoke did that, scored two and won 2-0. We did that, scored 2 and went 2-0 up.

In the end, had we won it would have been robbery, but their first goal back had a huge slice of good luck
and had they not got that goal then, we would probably have gone on for a "resolute" win.

By choosing that tactic you exaggerate the possession disparity

2-2 away at a tough place to go, a club in 11th place. That's a good result, end of.


74% 0-2 Stoke Away LOSE
62% 5-0 QPR Away WIN
60% 3-2 Crawley Away WIN
60% 2-2 Reading Home DRAW (Possession stat from Swansea's web-site)
54% 3-0 WHU Home WIN
54% 3-1 Barnsley Home WIN
51% 0-2 Villa Away LOSE
40% 0-3 Everton Home LOSE

Having read both your posts on the match, I see where you are coming from. McDermott will positive spin the result. We as spectators don't. It's undeniable that Swansea are a good/great team but the fact is we held out against the onslaught. It didn't give me a glimmer of hope watching that yesterday. We are feeding off the scraps at the moment and sitting on the two goal lead should have gone 4-5-1 to contain the score line. Taking it from the two points lost angle offers the more pessamistic viewpoint that most of the support will adopt. Positive spin just sounds like we are greatful for a point gained.
Once again the international break is upon us to sort this out but I feel it's more detrimental for this club more than others.

[Wimb]

I can't particularly subscribe to the Swansea are a very good side theory when to my mind they've been distinctly average for most of the season.

They smashed QPR, but looking at how most teams have gone on to do that lessens the 'wow' factor somewhat. West Ham then gifted them two goals to put the game out of reach a week later and that's the last time they've won. Since then they've been well beaten by Villa, Everton and Stoke with their only points coming in home draws against Sunderland and ourselves. Their start to the season has been pretty favourable by Premier League standards and to have only eight points isn't an overwhelming total and roughly what you'd be targeting if you want to stay up.

I'm not saying they're a bad team and they certainly put in a good performance yesterday but again I can't agree with the notion that they've a very good side. I think they'll be very much in a relegation battle come the end of the season.

[floyd__streete]

Possession
Swansea City: 71%
Reading: 29%

The players looked dead on their feet by the time Swansea had equalised and that last 20 minutes was actually wholly depressing to watch as we chased shadows and when we did get sight of the ball we could hardly get rid of the thing quickly enough. The above stat shows just why the players tired so badly; if you haven't got the ball you are working doubly hard to close down your opponents, the lack of any composure and quality on the ball in most areas is quite shocking. At the moment it feels as if the brilliant work done in that outstanding 15-out-of-17 winning streak at the end of last season is being put to waste and that we have missed an opportunity. Hard work ethic alone isn't nearly enough in this league, yet that is about the only quality we have!

[Elm Park Old Boy]

Possession
Swansea City: 71%
Reading: 29%

The players looked dead on their feet by the time Swansea had equalised and that last 20 minutes was actually wholly depressing to watch as we chased shadows and when we did get sight of the ball we could hardly get rid of the thing quickly enough. The above stat shows just why the players tired so badly; if you haven't got the ball you are working doubly hard to close down your opponents, the lack of any composure and quality on the ball in most areas is quite shocking. At the moment it feels as if the brilliant work done in that outstanding 15-out-of-17 winning streak at the end of last season is being put to waste and that we have missed an opportunity. Hard work ethic alone isn't nearly enough in this league, yet that is about the only quality we have!

On the other hand, Jem's header very nearly won it at the death. What would people be saying if that hadn't been cleared off the line?

[paultheroyal]

It's interesting that almost without exception the fans who were at the game are bemoaning a shyte performance and two lost points, yet in his post match interview McDermott was celebrating a point won!

Quite how throwing away a 2-0 lead can be a cause for celebration for a manager is beyond me and the fact that McDermott doesn't appear to recognise the value of points in this league is really worrying.

Just once i'd love him to say "That was a bit sh*t wasn't it. We were utter crap. Got it a bit wrong" rather than the random positive cliche generator that he employs.

To be fair he normally does. Not as strong words as that but...

[paultheroyal]

Possession
Swansea City: 71%
Reading: 29%

The players looked dead on their feet by the time Swansea had equalised and that last 20 minutes was actually wholly depressing to watch as we chased shadows and when we did get sight of the ball we could hardly get rid of the thing quickly enough. The above stat shows just why the players tired so badly; if you haven't got the ball you are working doubly hard to close down your opponents, the lack of any composure and quality on the ball in most areas is quite shocking. At the moment it feels as if the brilliant work done in that outstanding 15-out-of-17 winning streak at the end of last season is being put to waste and that we have missed an opportunity. Hard work ethic alone isn't nearly enough in this league, yet that is about the only quality we have!

On the other hand, Jem's header very nearly won it at the death. What would people be saying if that hadn't been cleared off the line?

A lucky 3 points but we will take that.

[Royal Rother]

I think they'll be very much in a relegation battle come the end of the season.

What, Swansea? No way.