Tactically, physically, Norwich win the day.
For a lot of us Swans, this fixture had been one we were really not looking forward to. Not, I hasten to add because Norwich City are an unattractive team - far from it - no, it was because we Swans all know that we tend to play up to our capabilities in Match-ups where we're the underdog (Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea anyone...), and struggle to impose ourselves on our supposed "equals".
For a lot of us Swans, this fixture had been one we were really not looking forward to. Not, I hasten to add because Norwich City are an unattractive team - far from it - no, it was because we Swans all know that we tend to play up to our capabilities in Match-ups where we're the underdog (Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea anyone...), and struggle to impose ourselves on our supposed "equals".
But hey, if you're a SCFC fan, it was ever thus.
We've experienced many, many occasions, over the years, where a successful and thriving period is interrupted by a blind-sided home hiccup. This was nothing different. As it was, it remains so - so chill out brethren, we'll be back.
It's easy to say this in hindsight,of course, because one can realize a more objective and philosophical take on the game. But, let's not be mistaken, this was a savage, temporary one hopes, blow to the pride, particularly after the euphoria of the previous week's win at WBA. I'll come back to that.
McEachran came in for his first full start, replacing the injured Joe Allen, and in the Norwich side, Elliot Ward and Russell Martin were the key central defenders, and the influential Grant Holt edged out Steve Morrison up front.
The Teams lined up as follows;-
Swansea City
01 Vorm, 02 Williams, 03 Taylor, 04 Caulker, 22 Rangel, 07 Britton, 11 Sinclair (Routledge - 73'), 12 Dyer (Lita - 73'), 17 McEachran (Gower - 64' ), 42 Sigurdsson, 10 Graham
Substitutes
25 Tremmel,16 Monk,15 Routledge,27 Gower,29 Richards,18 Lita,19 Moore
We've experienced many, many occasions, over the years, where a successful and thriving period is interrupted by a blind-sided home hiccup. This was nothing different. As it was, it remains so - so chill out brethren, we'll be back.
It's easy to say this in hindsight,of course, because one can realize a more objective and philosophical take on the game. But, let's not be mistaken, this was a savage, temporary one hopes, blow to the pride, particularly after the euphoria of the previous week's win at WBA. I'll come back to that.
McEachran came in for his first full start, replacing the injured Joe Allen, and in the Norwich side, Elliot Ward and Russell Martin were the key central defenders, and the influential Grant Holt edged out Steve Morrison up front.
The Teams lined up as follows;-
Swansea City
01 Vorm, 02 Williams, 03 Taylor, 04 Caulker, 22 Rangel, 07 Britton, 11 Sinclair (Routledge - 73'), 12 Dyer (Lita - 73'), 17 McEachran (Gower - 64' ), 42 Sigurdsson, 10 Graham
Substitutes
25 Tremmel,16 Monk,15 Routledge,27 Gower,29 Richards,18 Lita,19 Moore
Norwich City
01 Ruddy, 02 R Martin, 03 Drury (Barnett - 57' ), 22 Ward, 25 Naughton, 11 Surman, 12 Pilkington, 15 Fox, 17 Bennett (Hoolahan - 76' ), 09 Holt , 10 Jackson (Morison - 83' )
Substitutes
31 Steer, 20 Barnett, 04 Johnson, 07 Crofts, 14 Hoolahan, 05 Morison, 21 Wilbraham
Ref: Atkinson
Att: 19,927
Why, I hear you ask immediately, wasn't this a record crowd given that it was a Home sell-out. It's exactly that, really, - whilst we sold out the home allocation, the Away fans didn't, unsurprisingly, since it's a damn long way to come. So it was easy to see the canopy-covered lower areas at the away end.
Perhaps the most noticeable thing from the off was Norwich's willingness to press at our defenders right from the start. As we all know, Swansea's possession based game is based upon distributing from the very back, with Michel Vorm almost always rolling it to either Ash Williams or Steven Caulker, who will have spread left and right .
01 Ruddy, 02 R Martin, 03 Drury (Barnett - 57' ), 22 Ward, 25 Naughton, 11 Surman, 12 Pilkington, 15 Fox, 17 Bennett (Hoolahan - 76' ), 09 Holt , 10 Jackson (Morison - 83' )
Substitutes
31 Steer, 20 Barnett, 04 Johnson, 07 Crofts, 14 Hoolahan, 05 Morison, 21 Wilbraham
Ref: Atkinson
Att: 19,927
Why, I hear you ask immediately, wasn't this a record crowd given that it was a Home sell-out. It's exactly that, really, - whilst we sold out the home allocation, the Away fans didn't, unsurprisingly, since it's a damn long way to come. So it was easy to see the canopy-covered lower areas at the away end.
Perhaps the most noticeable thing from the off was Norwich's willingness to press at our defenders right from the start. As we all know, Swansea's possession based game is based upon distributing from the very back, with Michel Vorm almost always rolling it to either Ash Williams or Steven Caulker, who will have spread left and right .
With Holt and Pilkington pressing hard, this avenue was always blocked, and even when McEachran or Britton dropped centrally to collect from Vorm, they would find, Surman particularly, equally keen to engage this hard fast press. Subsequently, Vorm did more kicking than at any other game that I've seen (and that's ALL of them).
First tactical mark to Norwich.
Despite the genuinely competitive element this introduced to the game, the Canaries coupled it with a robust physical presence, that however much it borderlined on the limits of what is and isn't a foul, the often red-card fond Martin Atkinson deemed acceptable.
Despite the genuinely competitive element this introduced to the game, the Canaries coupled it with a robust physical presence, that however much it borderlined on the limits of what is and isn't a foul, the often red-card fond Martin Atkinson deemed acceptable.
Thus, since the linespersons/Asst refs nowadays all seem content to be the Ref's cypher/familiar and no more by simply always deferring to his viewpoint, Swansea found themselves involved in a helter skelter game of pinball, where their technical advancement was being challenged by the hyper fast openness
of the match.
McEachran had shown skill aplenty, as had Sigurdsson, with Britton grafting to knit it together. Promising set ups from them all were being countered by the endeavor of Fox, Surman and Pilkington & Bennett wide. It was real competition.
I think it's probable that Swansea were just shading the half, but it was far from comfortable, and my old friend the "butterflies-in-the-stomach" feel absent last week had payed me a return visit in Spades. I was as skittish and nervous as the Anfield Cat had been some days earlier, twitching and nodding and metaphorically kicking every ball, like some sort of West Stand Martin O'Neill.
Thank goodness that after some 23m, the Swans took a decisive step that both excited us all, and calmed me down for the half, by constructing and scoring an excellent goal.
Sigurdsson picked up in the inside left channel and whilst taking the ball across field toward the right slipped Nathan Dyer forward down the centre toward the box. Dyer cleverly fooled two defenders and sneaked a killer ball to Danny Graham on the edge of the box toward the left. Graham's confidence is sky high, and after one touch with his left to control, he steered a right foot side footed finish into the net past Ruddy's left hand.
of the match.
McEachran had shown skill aplenty, as had Sigurdsson, with Britton grafting to knit it together. Promising set ups from them all were being countered by the endeavor of Fox, Surman and Pilkington & Bennett wide. It was real competition.
I think it's probable that Swansea were just shading the half, but it was far from comfortable, and my old friend the "butterflies-in-the-stomach" feel absent last week had payed me a return visit in Spades. I was as skittish and nervous as the Anfield Cat had been some days earlier, twitching and nodding and metaphorically kicking every ball, like some sort of West Stand Martin O'Neill.
Thank goodness that after some 23m, the Swans took a decisive step that both excited us all, and calmed me down for the half, by constructing and scoring an excellent goal.
Sigurdsson picked up in the inside left channel and whilst taking the ball across field toward the right slipped Nathan Dyer forward down the centre toward the box. Dyer cleverly fooled two defenders and sneaked a killer ball to Danny Graham on the edge of the box toward the left. Graham's confidence is sky high, and after one touch with his left to control, he steered a right foot side footed finish into the net past Ruddy's left hand.
1-0, and the Liberty sang.
Given both sides determination, the game remained dangerously open, and from a left wing cross, Andrew Surman had gotten between Caulker and Williams and perhaps really should have scored, although Vorm had done well to read the trajectory of the header, and grasped it on the line.
Swansea too had another great chance to go further ahead when Scott Sinclair was freed on the left cutting in to the box. SS's confidence, conversely, is not at it's highest and rather than shoot himself where Danny G only had a tap-in, he was frustrated by Elliot Ward's goal saving tackle sliding the ball off his toe for a corner instead.
We groaned collectively because it felt like something that would come back to bite us. It was, and did.
The remainder of the period was fought on an even keel, with Swansea's MF battling hard to keep abreast of Norwich's equivalent. Bennett and the powerful Pilkington predominantly wide, gave as much to the visitors as Dyer and Sinclair did for the Swans. One notable exception was the booking of Drury for another foul on Dyer, and this contributed to another key tactical change in the second half.
Given both sides determination, the game remained dangerously open, and from a left wing cross, Andrew Surman had gotten between Caulker and Williams and perhaps really should have scored, although Vorm had done well to read the trajectory of the header, and grasped it on the line.
Swansea too had another great chance to go further ahead when Scott Sinclair was freed on the left cutting in to the box. SS's confidence, conversely, is not at it's highest and rather than shoot himself where Danny G only had a tap-in, he was frustrated by Elliot Ward's goal saving tackle sliding the ball off his toe for a corner instead.
We groaned collectively because it felt like something that would come back to bite us. It was, and did.
The remainder of the period was fought on an even keel, with Swansea's MF battling hard to keep abreast of Norwich's equivalent. Bennett and the powerful Pilkington predominantly wide, gave as much to the visitors as Dyer and Sinclair did for the Swans. One notable exception was the booking of Drury for another foul on Dyer, and this contributed to another key tactical change in the second half.
Britton, McEachran and Sigurdsson were all individually decent, but not maybe as cohesive as our Middle has been with Joe Allen in the side, but that's
another lesson learned for us I'd suggest.Whilst the Swansea 3 were all technically more than capable, their very newness as a threesome led to some realistic competition from their NCFC opponents.
A word about that.
another lesson learned for us I'd suggest.Whilst the Swansea 3 were all technically more than capable, their very newness as a threesome led to some realistic competition from their NCFC opponents.
A word about that.
I've heard some moans and groans with regard to McEachran's performance. So it's only fair to comment thus.
I'm a McEachran fan. The youngster is a stellar talent who will go on to have an excellent career. Think about our own Joe Allen. He is, nowadays, battle hardened by all those starts in Div 1 , the Championship, and now the PL.
Josh is not, - yet. He will be, and I also believe it was both right to start him yesterday since JA was unfit, and, that he will contribute importantly for us this year. He took a fearsome blow to the head yesterday from a clash with the ubiquitous Grant Holt. It may not quite have clicked into place for him yet with us, but it will.
Patience, brothers, a little patience. And Joe Allen will be fit too. That's good choice.
It's very easy in the Swansea City family to criticize anything "new", which doesn't instantly become some sort of hit. Resist the temptation, lest you embarrass yourselves, if you think that way.
So, at the end of this first half, Surman and Fox for Norwich were shifting the ball decently, and the balance at the close of the period felt just about right, but not at all comfortable - Swansea 1-0 ahead - but only just.
The Second half was to show that those self same butterflies were justified.
I've seen BR post match interview - they can both Managers be found here - and he identified immediately what we all saw : that Swans' indeed had had a "sloppy period" and it came very early on the restart.
I'm a McEachran fan. The youngster is a stellar talent who will go on to have an excellent career. Think about our own Joe Allen. He is, nowadays, battle hardened by all those starts in Div 1 , the Championship, and now the PL.
Josh is not, - yet. He will be, and I also believe it was both right to start him yesterday since JA was unfit, and, that he will contribute importantly for us this year. He took a fearsome blow to the head yesterday from a clash with the ubiquitous Grant Holt. It may not quite have clicked into place for him yet with us, but it will.
Patience, brothers, a little patience. And Joe Allen will be fit too. That's good choice.
It's very easy in the Swansea City family to criticize anything "new", which doesn't instantly become some sort of hit. Resist the temptation, lest you embarrass yourselves, if you think that way.
So, at the end of this first half, Surman and Fox for Norwich were shifting the ball decently, and the balance at the close of the period felt just about right, but not at all comfortable - Swansea 1-0 ahead - but only just.
The Second half was to show that those self same butterflies were justified.
I've seen BR post match interview - they can both Managers be found here - and he identified immediately what we all saw : that Swans' indeed had had a "sloppy period" and it came very early on the restart.
Within 3m, Norwich City were level, and within 6m they were ahead.
For the visitor's first goal, Swansea carelessly gave the ball away on their right, midway in their own half. From the free kick conceded the ball was headed out to the right, and from a ballooned volley, it went high and wide beyond the far post. Lots of us, and the team too evidentially, thought the ball was going out on the full in the air - all but Norwich's Elliot Ward.
For the visitor's first goal, Swansea carelessly gave the ball away on their right, midway in their own half. From the free kick conceded the ball was headed out to the right, and from a ballooned volley, it went high and wide beyond the far post. Lots of us, and the team too evidentially, thought the ball was going out on the full in the air - all but Norwich's Elliot Ward.
He hadn't given it up, and he cushioned a skilled volley back into the six yard box, where the ever present Grant Holt leaped with Ash Williams and planted a looped header over all the Swansea rearguard and into the net. 1-1, disastrously, and in somewhat bizarre circumstances.
At 1-1 , Swansea had been unlucky when from an outswinging Sigurdsson corner, a thumping Steven Caulker header had crashed against the outside of the post and wide.
Similarly, McEachran produced a defence splitting pass, but Danny Graham, in attempting to round Ruddy was forced wide, and his finish deflected for a corner instead.
Worse was to come for us Swans, because the men in yellow's second goal was shabbier still.
At 1-1 , Swansea had been unlucky when from an outswinging Sigurdsson corner, a thumping Steven Caulker header had crashed against the outside of the post and wide.
Similarly, McEachran produced a defence splitting pass, but Danny Graham, in attempting to round Ruddy was forced wide, and his finish deflected for a corner instead.
Worse was to come for us Swans, because the men in yellow's second goal was shabbier still.
Dyer gave the ball away again, weakly, which is unusual for ND, and from much the same position. Norwich moved it confidently forward through Bennett's advance, and he cut diagonally and then sideways across the Swansea box to roll an inviting pass to the fast approaching Pilkington. He slightly mis-hit his shot, and thus it was heading either wide of the post or into Vorm's hands at his dive toward the post, but Neil Taylor, in attempting a block, diverted it across and into the opposite side of the goal.
2-1 to Norwich, and a sloppy, clumsy concession on our part, fully exploited by the fast breaking visiting players.
The Swans had been knocked completely out of their stride, and it was to get worse before it got any sort of better.
At this point, Lambert pulled another effective tactical switch. Drury, who had already been booked and was vulnerable to Dyer and Rangel marauding down the right in a Swansea attempt to get back into the game, was replaced by Barnett, who went to CB, releasing Russell Martin to go to RB, and with Naughton coming to LB to counter the insurgency on the Swansea right.
The switch was effective, giving Norwich greater flexibility to defend, and to break forward in counter-attack, given that the Swans were compulsorily committed to seek something from the game.
In the 63rd minute, the nadir was reached.
From a move that broke down with Swansea trying to get forward, the Canaries moved it centrally to Elliot Bennett, driving down the middle at the Swans. To his right, with Neil Taylor stranded forward, Grant Holt was in acres of space, wide and free. Bennett, to his credit, drew the challenging defence and put Holt in on goal, and his near post low drive skidded past Vorm and in.
The Swans had been knocked completely out of their stride, and it was to get worse before it got any sort of better.
At this point, Lambert pulled another effective tactical switch. Drury, who had already been booked and was vulnerable to Dyer and Rangel marauding down the right in a Swansea attempt to get back into the game, was replaced by Barnett, who went to CB, releasing Russell Martin to go to RB, and with Naughton coming to LB to counter the insurgency on the Swansea right.
The switch was effective, giving Norwich greater flexibility to defend, and to break forward in counter-attack, given that the Swans were compulsorily committed to seek something from the game.
In the 63rd minute, the nadir was reached.
From a move that broke down with Swansea trying to get forward, the Canaries moved it centrally to Elliot Bennett, driving down the middle at the Swans. To his right, with Neil Taylor stranded forward, Grant Holt was in acres of space, wide and free. Bennett, to his credit, drew the challenging defence and put Holt in on goal, and his near post low drive skidded past Vorm and in.
3-1, oh, Woe is me.
With 25m still to play, the game wasn't necessarily over, but it's nature thus forward guaranteed a harum-scarum affair where Swansea threw caution to the winds, and Norwich attempted to pick them off from the break.
This was further aided tactically when Lambert replaced Bennett with Hoolahan on 76m, the Irishman's quick feet and ball retention key in creating further chances and enhancing control.
Vorm, for Swansea, was forced into two further world class saves.
The one from Kyle Naughton's fantastic screaming drive where he feathered it onto the crossbar and then wide was a full length MoTD feature moment, but the second, from a Norwich City attack, six yards out and crashed goalward by Hoolahan, was even better as he turned it over the top.
From concomitant Swansea attacks, Scott Sinclair headed wastefully over when he might have done better, and Caulker, the Swansea CB, won a free kick from a rampage forward that allowed Sigurdsson to arrow the shot toward the top corner only to see Ruddy magnificently turn it over.
At last, from a corner, the Swans got one back.
With 25m still to play, the game wasn't necessarily over, but it's nature thus forward guaranteed a harum-scarum affair where Swansea threw caution to the winds, and Norwich attempted to pick them off from the break.
This was further aided tactically when Lambert replaced Bennett with Hoolahan on 76m, the Irishman's quick feet and ball retention key in creating further chances and enhancing control.
Vorm, for Swansea, was forced into two further world class saves.
The one from Kyle Naughton's fantastic screaming drive where he feathered it onto the crossbar and then wide was a full length MoTD feature moment, but the second, from a Norwich City attack, six yards out and crashed goalward by Hoolahan, was even better as he turned it over the top.
From concomitant Swansea attacks, Scott Sinclair headed wastefully over when he might have done better, and Caulker, the Swansea CB, won a free kick from a rampage forward that allowed Sigurdsson to arrow the shot toward the top corner only to see Ruddy magnificently turn it over.
At last, from a corner, the Swans got one back.
They had been denied a penalty when a Routledge cross drew howls of anguish for a handball, which Mr Atkinson denied, but from that subsequent corner, things got better.
The incoming kick was headed up into the air, and as the ball dropped, Holt and Ash Williams tussled for it, and even though later TV footage seemed to show Holt's head grappled and gripped by Williams, when the ball slipped free it was obvious that Holt's tug on AW's shirt would be seen by the Ref.
The incoming kick was headed up into the air, and as the ball dropped, Holt and Ash Williams tussled for it, and even though later TV footage seemed to show Holt's head grappled and gripped by Williams, when the ball slipped free it was obvious that Holt's tug on AW's shirt would be seen by the Ref.
Unsurprisingly, it was. A clear penalty, and the only puzzle was who would take it?
Sinclair had been replaced by Routledge, with Gower on for McEachran, so up stepped the confident Danny Graham. Despite a tremor-inducing stuttering run up, Graham rolled it securely wide of Ruddy's right side, and the Swans had a toe-hold.
3-2, but with only 3 mins +extras to go.
Even in that short time, Swansea created 2 guilt edged chances that might well have given them a share of the spoils.
One came from a burst down the right, and from Sigurdsson's cross, his pull back found Graham free in a packed six yard box, but his first time shot at goal rolled agonizingly 6 ins wide with Ruddy for once beaten.
The other saw Caulker match his earlier header from a Sigurdsson corner, only this time it was on target and speeding into the roof of the net only for the excellent Ruddy to parry and push it over the bar.
So there it was - despite a truly nerve-stretching, mind-bending last 10 mins, that spell from half time till that point had seen Norwich, both tactically and physically, exploit their created advantage, and hold out for a (just) merited win. What we can honestly say is that this had been a cracking Premier League fixture, which had shown both teams confirm that they're certainly good enough for this division.
So, time for reflection. What do we make of the game ?
Let's look at the visitors first.
They are a more than competent, tactically innovative side that today , just, deserved their win, since they were able to exploit our limitations (which they had obviously planned for), and they gave a demonstration of the pertinent use of specific players, which suited this particular fixture.
Even in that short time, Swansea created 2 guilt edged chances that might well have given them a share of the spoils.
One came from a burst down the right, and from Sigurdsson's cross, his pull back found Graham free in a packed six yard box, but his first time shot at goal rolled agonizingly 6 ins wide with Ruddy for once beaten.
The other saw Caulker match his earlier header from a Sigurdsson corner, only this time it was on target and speeding into the roof of the net only for the excellent Ruddy to parry and push it over the bar.
So there it was - despite a truly nerve-stretching, mind-bending last 10 mins, that spell from half time till that point had seen Norwich, both tactically and physically, exploit their created advantage, and hold out for a (just) merited win. What we can honestly say is that this had been a cracking Premier League fixture, which had shown both teams confirm that they're certainly good enough for this division.
So, time for reflection. What do we make of the game ?
Let's look at the visitors first.
They are a more than competent, tactically innovative side that today , just, deserved their win, since they were able to exploit our limitations (which they had obviously planned for), and they gave a demonstration of the pertinent use of specific players, which suited this particular fixture.
I've got genuine admiration for them, and whilst they may not suit my aesthetic tastes in terms of style, I have no doubt that they're in advance of more limited Clubs (Stoke etc), and will certainly survive and maybe thrive in this division. Be realistic enough to give Norwich City the credit for yesterday "doing a number" on us, and move on.
From our own viewpoint, the most disappointing thing was to lose to a Club at our level - we have been delighted to see our outstanding performances against our so-called betters (Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea), so to get caught out by a fellow "newcomer" was hugely frustrating.
The reason I mentioned earlier the WBA game was that if we'd been asked a couple of weeks ago what we expected from those two games (WBA away and Norwich home), many, I suggest, would have opted for 2 pts from 2 draws being satisfactory, if not as good as possible. As it happened, we got 3 pts from 6.
From our own viewpoint, the most disappointing thing was to lose to a Club at our level - we have been delighted to see our outstanding performances against our so-called betters (Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea), so to get caught out by a fellow "newcomer" was hugely frustrating.
The reason I mentioned earlier the WBA game was that if we'd been asked a couple of weeks ago what we expected from those two games (WBA away and Norwich home), many, I suggest, would have opted for 2 pts from 2 draws being satisfactory, if not as good as possible. As it happened, we got 3 pts from 6.
So, a sense of perspective please.
Still, no matter. We will learn from it - we all know that the Manager and Staff will sit down and analyze with the team what went right, and what went wrong.
Still, no matter. We will learn from it - we all know that the Manager and Staff will sit down and analyze with the team what went right, and what went wrong.
What we, as supporters, can do is this.
We can give our boys both the space and trust to get it right. That includes the upcoming trip to the Canaries, about which I'll write later this week.
What they don't need is people going off the deep end and portending doom and gloom as a result of this admittedly horrible defeat. The team has given us so much more than that, already, this year.
We can give our boys both the space and trust to get it right. That includes the upcoming trip to the Canaries, about which I'll write later this week.
What they don't need is people going off the deep end and portending doom and gloom as a result of this admittedly horrible defeat. The team has given us so much more than that, already, this year.
They've made us delighted, proud, and wise enough to say, at the end of a bad day.........
Onward, Swansea City.
##
So here we are are on Sunday evening, and my watching today has seen me witness WBA, who we beat on their own patch last week, go to Wolves, and tear them apart for a 5-1 victory. Concurrently, Citeh, the champions-elect, had to work hard to come away from Villa Park with a 1-0 victory. You will remember we got our first away victory there, by a 2-0 scoreline.
Onward, Swansea City.
##
So here we are are on Sunday evening, and my watching today has seen me witness WBA, who we beat on their own patch last week, go to Wolves, and tear them apart for a 5-1 victory. Concurrently, Citeh, the champions-elect, had to work hard to come away from Villa Park with a 1-0 victory. You will remember we got our first away victory there, by a 2-0 scoreline.
Don't get too cocky - and don't get too down. This week's break (more to come this week) will see us, hopefully, re-group, and come back refreshed, ready to go again. Keep the faith. STID.
1 comment:
Another great match report Pierre, picking up all the salient points and feelings from another nerve tingling Saturday at the Liberty. Can't win them all as well we know.Problem is, we've been spoilt, and expectations have risen. I'm sure the break will do us all a world of good. As for Stoke, Man C and the rest, LETS BE AVING YOU.
Thanks and keep up your splendid work.Come on the Swans!
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