Sad night at Loftus Rd.Swansea's latest trip to the capital, to meet QPR's finest , turned into an occasion where the sides were differently pleased with the outcome, since both sides had gone their individual ways since that last, Boxing Day meeting, and have differing outcomes likely still at the end of this season.
Or is that the case? Well, I'm wobbling, but I put that down to the disappointment of last night's defeat - whatever, I intend to have a bloody large scotch tonight, the better to put me in a more mellow mood.
QPR had recalled Zamora up front, and Joey Barton in MF, whilst Swansea replaced Nathan Dyer with Scott Sinclair, and Luke Moore with Danny Graham.
QPR had recalled Zamora up front, and Joey Barton in MF, whilst Swansea replaced Nathan Dyer with Scott Sinclair, and Luke Moore with Danny Graham.
The teams lined up thus........
Queens Park Rangers
01 Kenny, 03 Hill, 34 Taiwo, 35 Ferdinand, 42 Onuoha, 02 Diakite, 07 Taarabt, 14 Buzsaky, 17 Barton, 12 Mackie, 52 Zamora
Substitutes
24 Cerny, 06 Gabbidon, 18 Young, 32 Wright-Phillips, 09 Campbell, 10 Bothroyd, 21 Smith
Swansea City
01 Vorm, 02 Williams, 03 Taylor, 04 Caulker, 22 Rangel, 07 Britton, 11 Sinclair, 15 Routledge, 24 Allen, 42 Sigurdsson, 10 Graham
Substitutes
25 Tremmel, 05 Tate, 16 Monk, 12 Dyer, 17 McEachran, 27 Gower, 19 Moore
Ref: Probert
Some will have noticed that I'm generally speaking pretty promptly in my after match keenness to get down in text how the game we're looking at has gone, but I must confess that some 24hrs (almost) from kick off last night, this is the first time today that I've felt able to get some thoughts down, and I have a feeling that I'm not the only Swansea City fan who feels so grumpy and humpy after last night's debacle.
01 Kenny, 03 Hill, 34 Taiwo, 35 Ferdinand, 42 Onuoha, 02 Diakite, 07 Taarabt, 14 Buzsaky, 17 Barton, 12 Mackie, 52 Zamora
Substitutes
24 Cerny, 06 Gabbidon, 18 Young, 32 Wright-Phillips, 09 Campbell, 10 Bothroyd, 21 Smith
Swansea City
01 Vorm, 02 Williams, 03 Taylor, 04 Caulker, 22 Rangel, 07 Britton, 11 Sinclair, 15 Routledge, 24 Allen, 42 Sigurdsson, 10 Graham
Substitutes
25 Tremmel, 05 Tate, 16 Monk, 12 Dyer, 17 McEachran, 27 Gower, 19 Moore
Ref: Probert
Some will have noticed that I'm generally speaking pretty promptly in my after match keenness to get down in text how the game we're looking at has gone, but I must confess that some 24hrs (almost) from kick off last night, this is the first time today that I've felt able to get some thoughts down, and I have a feeling that I'm not the only Swansea City fan who feels so grumpy and humpy after last night's debacle.
Is it fair to call it that? Just, I think, since when we perform admirably I'm quick enough to praise it effusively - too much some would say- so let's just go with it.
I think what's got me into this lather is not the result - after all, on a night of premiership football that saw Wigan knock off the Champs elect at the DW, and Man City paste a WBA (who are on the same points as us, remember?) it wasn't that great a shock to see a side that has recently beaten both Arsenal and Liverpool at the same venue see us off comfortably.
I think what's got me into this lather is not the result - after all, on a night of premiership football that saw Wigan knock off the Champs elect at the DW, and Man City paste a WBA (who are on the same points as us, remember?) it wasn't that great a shock to see a side that has recently beaten both Arsenal and Liverpool at the same venue see us off comfortably.
No, it was more that in our recent bad run where we've lost successively to Everton, Tottenham and Newcastle our performances in each of those games gave us some scope for encouragement, since we competed admirably in each.
Last night, we just didn't.
It was as if all of our shortcomings, individual errors and lack of ability to change gear all came to haunt us at once, in one singular game. As I've said before, at Swansea City, it was ever thus.
Having got that off my chest, let's have a brief look at the bloody game, although it makes for a painful reading.
The start of the match was one of these where neither side seemed overly fussed to make an attacking effort, but since QPR were at home, natural momentum took them forward more often than Swansea, much to my frustration.
It was as if all of our shortcomings, individual errors and lack of ability to change gear all came to haunt us at once, in one singular game. As I've said before, at Swansea City, it was ever thus.
Having got that off my chest, let's have a brief look at the bloody game, although it makes for a painful reading.
The start of the match was one of these where neither side seemed overly fussed to make an attacking effort, but since QPR were at home, natural momentum took them forward more often than Swansea, much to my frustration.
Still, what City did do, and don't we always, was to secure the bulk of possession, which seems to have opened a can of worms on GB's and MB's of our Club, as if we were doing this simply to frustrate our fans as much as we seemed to frustrate theirs last night - evident from the R's supporters chanting "It's just like watching paint dry" during this early period of ascendancy/equality.
To be fair, neither side created anything you could describe as a gilt edged chance, with Swansea's best efforts being a 14th m Gylfi Sigurdsson corner, headed on by Steven Caulker to leave Scott Sinclair almost free to stab in at the far post post, only to see his air-shot and the combined attentions of Taiwo and Barton to frustrate the effort. Similarly, further set pieces where Ash Williams threatened, and either Sigurdsson or Allen shaped to shoot were re-buffed by the vital press and close of the Rangers tacklers.
QPR, for their part, had threatened from an early Buzsaky strike (wide), and a Taarabt dribble and run, closed down at the death. On 20m, Zamora laid off a ball to Mackie, but his scuffed shot saw Vorm gather comfortably.
Later in the half it became evident that Rangers were pressing higher and further up the field, all the better to disturb the Swans' patient distribution, and I began nervously glancing at the clock to see how far we had to go to get to the mid-game break on even terms.
You will know now, if you're a Swansea supporter, that what was feeling almost inevitable was about to happen. Needless to say, it did.
Even as it approached half time,with the officials showing a bare minute to hold fast, Neil Taylor gave away a sloppy throw when he let the ball run out without giving his full attention, and then compounded the error by fouling Bobby Zamora wide out on the right, with less than that minute to go showing to half time.
From a ball swung in hopefully the Swans Angel Rangel headed it clear but only to the odious Joey Barton, 10 yds out on the left, and his near post drive beat Vorm before the keeper could get down. What a soft goal to give away, particularly so close to half time. Oh, but we MUST learn, and this was a bitter pill to swallow.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the perennially nauseating Barton had been booed off by his own supporters, so it felt somewhat incongruous to hear him serenaded as the teams left the pitch at the break, with him feted that "there's only one Joey Barton" - undoubtedly a Truism, thank God,- ringing in his ears as his ecstatic team-mates mobbed him for his success. Karma, folks,karma............it'll get you in the end, Joseph.
At half time Alan Tate replaced the already booked Neil Taylor and Wayne Routledge went off to be replaced by Nathan Dyer.
From that important perk in the very last breath of the half, QPR came back energised, and proceeded to take more of the game to the Swans.
This is one of the few occasions when I can say that we were really "not at it", so when the second goal went in in the 55th minute from a deflected Jamie Mackie shot, we couldn't really complain, since we weren't really in the game at any which way you like to call. Oh my word, I hate describing these types of games, where the side just can't seem to get in it. C'est la vie.
From a Rangers move that developed on the right, Mackie took control some 30yds out, and maneuvered room for a shot. His low, skimming drive clipped Rangel's heels and the diversion completely wrong footed the already committed Vorm, entering the net on the right of the goal as the keeper went left.
Swansea's best threat came shortly after, when from a cross Caulker's header was only kept out by Clint Hill's intervention, although Danny Graham nodded narrowly over from a free kick awarded after he'd been brought down on the right and late. Inches, even if against the run of play.
Again there was a good corner from Sigurdsson (who's dead ball delivery is excellent), but Rangers saw it out.
On 67m came the final nail in the coffin, when an absolutely stunning strike from 30 yds by Buzsaky beat Vorm's dive comfortably. The move had originated from the left, and left Adel Taarabt able to lay the Hungarian clear some 30yds out again, but the way he steered it clear to give him an opportunity brooked no intervention, so when his clean hit took to the air it was one of those where you know that with the ball not spinning the pace and accuracy is likely to take it in. It did, 3-0, and we were down and out.
At this stage we were taking a pounding and I was only hopeful that we'd keep Rangers out and from not causing further embarrassment, so each and every interception and denial at least kept the status quo.
A 75th m corner, so sloppily executed, was only indicative of our bad performance on the night.
This had been, in my eyes, our worst performance of the year, without a doubt, and I'm only glad that it's come now, at a point in the season where we've hopefully done enough previously to make our remaining games sufficient to get us over the finish line without specifically mentioning the "R" word.
To be fair, neither side created anything you could describe as a gilt edged chance, with Swansea's best efforts being a 14th m Gylfi Sigurdsson corner, headed on by Steven Caulker to leave Scott Sinclair almost free to stab in at the far post post, only to see his air-shot and the combined attentions of Taiwo and Barton to frustrate the effort. Similarly, further set pieces where Ash Williams threatened, and either Sigurdsson or Allen shaped to shoot were re-buffed by the vital press and close of the Rangers tacklers.
QPR, for their part, had threatened from an early Buzsaky strike (wide), and a Taarabt dribble and run, closed down at the death. On 20m, Zamora laid off a ball to Mackie, but his scuffed shot saw Vorm gather comfortably.
Later in the half it became evident that Rangers were pressing higher and further up the field, all the better to disturb the Swans' patient distribution, and I began nervously glancing at the clock to see how far we had to go to get to the mid-game break on even terms.
You will know now, if you're a Swansea supporter, that what was feeling almost inevitable was about to happen. Needless to say, it did.
Even as it approached half time,with the officials showing a bare minute to hold fast, Neil Taylor gave away a sloppy throw when he let the ball run out without giving his full attention, and then compounded the error by fouling Bobby Zamora wide out on the right, with less than that minute to go showing to half time.
From a ball swung in hopefully the Swans Angel Rangel headed it clear but only to the odious Joey Barton, 10 yds out on the left, and his near post drive beat Vorm before the keeper could get down. What a soft goal to give away, particularly so close to half time. Oh, but we MUST learn, and this was a bitter pill to swallow.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the perennially nauseating Barton had been booed off by his own supporters, so it felt somewhat incongruous to hear him serenaded as the teams left the pitch at the break, with him feted that "there's only one Joey Barton" - undoubtedly a Truism, thank God,- ringing in his ears as his ecstatic team-mates mobbed him for his success. Karma, folks,karma............it'll get you in the end, Joseph.
At half time Alan Tate replaced the already booked Neil Taylor and Wayne Routledge went off to be replaced by Nathan Dyer.
From that important perk in the very last breath of the half, QPR came back energised, and proceeded to take more of the game to the Swans.
This is one of the few occasions when I can say that we were really "not at it", so when the second goal went in in the 55th minute from a deflected Jamie Mackie shot, we couldn't really complain, since we weren't really in the game at any which way you like to call. Oh my word, I hate describing these types of games, where the side just can't seem to get in it. C'est la vie.
From a Rangers move that developed on the right, Mackie took control some 30yds out, and maneuvered room for a shot. His low, skimming drive clipped Rangel's heels and the diversion completely wrong footed the already committed Vorm, entering the net on the right of the goal as the keeper went left.
Swansea's best threat came shortly after, when from a cross Caulker's header was only kept out by Clint Hill's intervention, although Danny Graham nodded narrowly over from a free kick awarded after he'd been brought down on the right and late. Inches, even if against the run of play.
Again there was a good corner from Sigurdsson (who's dead ball delivery is excellent), but Rangers saw it out.
On 67m came the final nail in the coffin, when an absolutely stunning strike from 30 yds by Buzsaky beat Vorm's dive comfortably. The move had originated from the left, and left Adel Taarabt able to lay the Hungarian clear some 30yds out again, but the way he steered it clear to give him an opportunity brooked no intervention, so when his clean hit took to the air it was one of those where you know that with the ball not spinning the pace and accuracy is likely to take it in. It did, 3-0, and we were down and out.
At this stage we were taking a pounding and I was only hopeful that we'd keep Rangers out and from not causing further embarrassment, so each and every interception and denial at least kept the status quo.
A 75th m corner, so sloppily executed, was only indicative of our bad performance on the night.
This had been, in my eyes, our worst performance of the year, without a doubt, and I'm only glad that it's come now, at a point in the season where we've hopefully done enough previously to make our remaining games sufficient to get us over the finish line without specifically mentioning the "R" word.
You know exactly what I mean.
At last night's game, the R's were the most animated and committed throughout, and I never ever felt as if we were at least "in the game", being undone by a more lively and engaged performance.
I feel hugely sad saying this, but it's important that we realise that every single game counts in this ultimate division, and we really weren't at the races, for whatever reason.
It's hard to explain what went wrong- we all saw it after all - and you can be sure that each and every member of the squad will know that that level of performance is not satisfactory, so forgive me from giving the finger to all of those who "slag-off" our team without trying to explain and understand.
I had a correspondence this week with a friend who's also a "glass-half-full" supporter, just like me, and we both agreed that when you get a performance like that it hurts but you re-double your support.
From BR's post match interview, and from the way we've approached the body of the season, I expect no less than a bounce back against the still struggling Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Many of us will remember from that Away day at Blackburn that we were ultimately undone by a match winning performance from Yakubu Ayegbeni, the Yak, but an equally dominant performance from the now departed Christopher Samba - gone to the Shekels of Anzi. And good riddance, on our part.
For our own line up I would not be surprised to see several changes.
Since we're at Home I expect no different than our usual 4-3-3, although I'm certain the personnel will be switched.
Common regard seems to be from Wednesday that Joey Allen looked tired, and that's no surprise given that this League drains like no other, so Mark Gower, surely, must come into consideration for that spot.
Again, lots will know I'm a Josh McEachran fan, who, I believe, will be an England regular of the future. I would not be unhappy to see him slotted into the furthest forward slot of the middle three, with the the only bugbear being does he replace, or enhance, Gylfi Sigurdsson? Personally, I'd sit the South Wales Xavi (LB) this week, and play a middle three of Gower holding, Sigurdsson deep but in front, and McEachran advanced.
ND must start on the right, with SS on the left, Time for a rest Wayne.
At the back the middle 2 are sacrosanct - no change there, but what about Tatey giving AR a rest, with Tayls holding his spot, just?
These, of course, are just mere speculation and conjecture.
Whatever the line up put out by BR and his staff, I, and 99% of us Jacks will give the team nothing other than our greatest respect and our total support.
That's what being a fan means. If our side was casually offering us the finger as they strolled toward their Summer Holiday you'd find me happy to criticise. The fact that they are not more than demands that they both deserve and get our total support.
Onward, and hopefully upwards, Swansea City (if only a little)
At last night's game, the R's were the most animated and committed throughout, and I never ever felt as if we were at least "in the game", being undone by a more lively and engaged performance.
I feel hugely sad saying this, but it's important that we realise that every single game counts in this ultimate division, and we really weren't at the races, for whatever reason.
It's hard to explain what went wrong- we all saw it after all - and you can be sure that each and every member of the squad will know that that level of performance is not satisfactory, so forgive me from giving the finger to all of those who "slag-off" our team without trying to explain and understand.
I had a correspondence this week with a friend who's also a "glass-half-full" supporter, just like me, and we both agreed that when you get a performance like that it hurts but you re-double your support.
From BR's post match interview, and from the way we've approached the body of the season, I expect no less than a bounce back against the still struggling Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Many of us will remember from that Away day at Blackburn that we were ultimately undone by a match winning performance from Yakubu Ayegbeni, the Yak, but an equally dominant performance from the now departed Christopher Samba - gone to the Shekels of Anzi. And good riddance, on our part.
For our own line up I would not be surprised to see several changes.
Since we're at Home I expect no different than our usual 4-3-3, although I'm certain the personnel will be switched.
Common regard seems to be from Wednesday that Joey Allen looked tired, and that's no surprise given that this League drains like no other, so Mark Gower, surely, must come into consideration for that spot.
Again, lots will know I'm a Josh McEachran fan, who, I believe, will be an England regular of the future. I would not be unhappy to see him slotted into the furthest forward slot of the middle three, with the the only bugbear being does he replace, or enhance, Gylfi Sigurdsson? Personally, I'd sit the South Wales Xavi (LB) this week, and play a middle three of Gower holding, Sigurdsson deep but in front, and McEachran advanced.
ND must start on the right, with SS on the left, Time for a rest Wayne.
At the back the middle 2 are sacrosanct - no change there, but what about Tatey giving AR a rest, with Tayls holding his spot, just?
These, of course, are just mere speculation and conjecture.
Whatever the line up put out by BR and his staff, I, and 99% of us Jacks will give the team nothing other than our greatest respect and our total support.
That's what being a fan means. If our side was casually offering us the finger as they strolled toward their Summer Holiday you'd find me happy to criticise. The fact that they are not more than demands that they both deserve and get our total support.
Onward, and hopefully upwards, Swansea City (if only a little)
2 comments:
A Nice account of the Match, as a non-Swan I am sure you will be safe this season.
Stroking the ball across your back four all day looks sexy on TV, but make sure your keeper can stop a shot aimed to his right once in a while to make this look worth while.
QPR wanted it more.
You're a great writer Pierre!
Looking forward to the next installment of this roller coaster season
STID!
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