Aerial assault fails - Big Sam looking smaller.
I've always had in the back of my mind a puzzlement as to quite how West Ham's Manager, "Big" Sam Allardyce acquired his always used sobriquet. I could understand it when he was at Bolton, with Sammy Lee as his assistant, and the contrast between Big Sam and Little Sam made sense.
However, nowadays, with no side-kick to use as a useful measuring stick, it's always struck me that he's not particularly "Big", in any sense of the word, either physically or, more pertinently after this game, character wise. What was that someone once said about losing with a degree of grace?
I pose this question, as I say, on two levels - one inconsequential, and one a tad more enlightening, I feel. After all, his physical stature when compared to some genuinely "Big" men within Football ( think Yaya Toure, Joe Hart at Citeh, Crouchie at Stoke, or Mertersacker at Arsenal) or "Big" men in Sport (think LeBron James, Yao Ming or Shaquille O'Neil in Basketball), or any number of Rugby Union players, is at least explainable by that early Little Sam contrast.
On the character side, however, the very nature of the man if you like, I've always felt that it's a most inappropriate handle. Over the years, "Big" Sam Allardyce has never, ever done anything resembling praise for the opposition ( or even an admittance of his and his team's shortcomings) in the aftermath of any of the defeats suffered by his team on any occasion.
I'm going on about this at some length because subsequent to Swansea City inflicting a 3-0 defeat on West Ham last Saturday at the Lib, which most pundits nationally described as comprehensive, he was at it again - insisting in the post match interviews that "....we controlled the game". Check those interviews out here .
I've always had in the back of my mind a puzzlement as to quite how West Ham's Manager, "Big" Sam Allardyce acquired his always used sobriquet. I could understand it when he was at Bolton, with Sammy Lee as his assistant, and the contrast between Big Sam and Little Sam made sense.
However, nowadays, with no side-kick to use as a useful measuring stick, it's always struck me that he's not particularly "Big", in any sense of the word, either physically or, more pertinently after this game, character wise. What was that someone once said about losing with a degree of grace?
I pose this question, as I say, on two levels - one inconsequential, and one a tad more enlightening, I feel. After all, his physical stature when compared to some genuinely "Big" men within Football ( think Yaya Toure, Joe Hart at Citeh, Crouchie at Stoke, or Mertersacker at Arsenal) or "Big" men in Sport (think LeBron James, Yao Ming or Shaquille O'Neil in Basketball), or any number of Rugby Union players, is at least explainable by that early Little Sam contrast.
On the character side, however, the very nature of the man if you like, I've always felt that it's a most inappropriate handle. Over the years, "Big" Sam Allardyce has never, ever done anything resembling praise for the opposition ( or even an admittance of his and his team's shortcomings) in the aftermath of any of the defeats suffered by his team on any occasion.
I'm going on about this at some length because subsequent to Swansea City inflicting a 3-0 defeat on West Ham last Saturday at the Lib, which most pundits nationally described as comprehensive, he was at it again - insisting in the post match interviews that "....we controlled the game". Check those interviews out here .
Now forgive me for pointing this out, and I'm sure that most West Ham fans would back us up on this, - that's just deluded.
The game, especially in its early parts, was competitive, but became progressively easier for the Swans, and that's something we'll get to.
Anyway, the teams lined up as follows.............
Swansea City
01 Vorm, 03 Taylor (Davies - 84' ), 04 Chico, 06 Williams, 22 Rangel, 07 Britton, 09 Michu, 12 Dyer, 15 Routledge (Moore - 81' ), 20 De Guzman (Agustien - 75' ), 10 Graham
Substitutes
25 Tremmel, 05 Tate, 33 Davies, 26 Agustien, 27 Gower, 14 Dobbie, 19 Moore
West Ham United
22 Jaaskelainen, 02 Reid, 03 McCartney, 05 Tomkins (Vaz Te - 46' ), 19 Collins, 20 Demel, 04 Nolan, 07 Jarvis, 16 Noble, 21 Diame (Diarra - 69' ), 09 Cole (Maiga - 62' )
Substitutes
13 Henderson, 17 O'Brien, 14 Taylor, 23 Diarra, 08 Maynard, 11 Maiga, 12 Vaz Te
Ref: Atkinson
Att: 20,424
On another sun kissed but showery afternoon at the Lib, it was no surprise to see ML send out the same team as the previous week's 5-0 beating of QPR, but with SS left out of the squad altogether (adios, and thank you SS) , and WHU made 2 changes, new signing Matt Jarvis replacing Matt Taylor out wide, and James Tomkins, the England U21 Centre Half brought into a holding MF role. Tactically, I would suggest, that told us a lot.
The early stages saw both teams testing each other out rather tentatively, with the Swans content to keep possession (there's a surprise), whilst the Hammers began by trying to get Jarvis on the ball, and sling in the first of the aerial assaults. The moves from both were negated., including a Jarvis cross that threatened with Nolan challenging and Vorm up to the task of matching, letting the dangerous ball clear all and run out behind.
In this period, West Ham were aided by a couple of misplaced Swansea passes, with both Chico Flores and JdG giving it away, but both players played their part in defending the ensuing attacks.
From 10m forward it was evident that Swansea were getting on top with the predominance of possession, and a pattern was now clear.
Whilst Swansea continued to enjoy the protracted build up, the Hammers were content to play on the break, often via the Bomber Harris route.
The concerted City pressure paid dividends on 19m.
Michu, primarily, drove the ball forward on the the inside right channel, and a swift exchange of passes coupled with a run outside from Angel Rangel allowed Nathan Dyer to play the ball into his path,. The RB took it well, and from some 15yds out on the right drove a fierce cross shot that may have been creeping in at the far post, only to see Jussi Jaaskelainen at the near post attempt to drop on the ball but find it ricocheting off his right elbow into the net. Ouch, 1-0 , and the Liberty rocked. It may be read as a GKing error, but the move had cut West Ham apart.
The shape of both sides was now clear.
Swansea's back 4 always had Britton ahead wth JdG the middle of ND to the right and WR to the left, leaving Miguel Michu to support DG. It was working well, too, particularly as the wingers were playing 10yds infield from last season, leaving both FB's Rangel and Taylor, room to break forward fast.
WHU's back 4 had Tomkins protecting, with Noble right, Diame central and Jarvis left, all pumping balls forward and high to Carlton Cole, supported by the funky chicken Kevin Nolan, who spent the time when he wasn't contesting with either Michu or de Guzman in a repetitive ear-bashing harangue of the ref, Mr Atkinson.
The paucity of the Hammers approach was being frustrated further by the high fast Swansea press, with Hammers given little time on the ball when they had it, and on 28m it led to a deserved second goal.
In possession just short of Halfway on the right, Reid was forced to turn back and play the ball to James Collins, some 10 yds deeper. Michu continued to press Collins, forcing him to attempt to play the ball back to Jaaskelainen, but his right foot pass hit his own left foot and stuttered toward the area and the keeper. Michu increased his pace and just as the ball rolled into the area and the Keeper was diving to collect, he stabbed a strong left leg to poke the ball home into the bottom corner.
As the ball rolled into the net for the second time, you could hear the roar swell, and it burst forth onto the delirious Lib. 2-0, and Miguel Perez Cuesta did his telephone gesture as he ran to the East to celebrate, urging the fans to turn up the noise. We did, even us old geezers in the West.
WHU best chance came on 35m, when a James Collins high ball FK again was only half cleared, and a clever spin and volley by Matt Jarvis drew a breathtaking one handed save from Michel Vorm, with the dropping ball hacked clear by Ash Williams.
Swansea were comfortable till almost half time, but a mis-placed pass led to three further corners after the 44th minute, all of which were dangerous, and the last of which saw Leon Britton hack the ball clear off the line. We drew a breath as Mr Atkinson blew for Half Time, and with a 2-0 lead, things looked promising.
It's interesting after a game to look back and consider what one's experiences were and to how it compares to general tactical analysis.
The consensus around me was that we had only been really threatened by the high ball, and ensuing knock ons, so it was brilliant to hear ML confirm that he's a little cleverer than we fans, since he highlighted that by cutting out the Free Kicks etc that allowed this aerial bombardment, we'd be a little more comfortable, which is exactly the way the second half turned out. Identifying the symptom, as well as the cause. As Morrisey once said, "this charming man".
The game, especially in its early parts, was competitive, but became progressively easier for the Swans, and that's something we'll get to.
Anyway, the teams lined up as follows.............
Swansea City
01 Vorm, 03 Taylor (Davies - 84' ), 04 Chico, 06 Williams, 22 Rangel, 07 Britton, 09 Michu, 12 Dyer, 15 Routledge (Moore - 81' ), 20 De Guzman (Agustien - 75' ), 10 Graham
Substitutes
25 Tremmel, 05 Tate, 33 Davies, 26 Agustien, 27 Gower, 14 Dobbie, 19 Moore
West Ham United
22 Jaaskelainen, 02 Reid, 03 McCartney, 05 Tomkins (Vaz Te - 46' ), 19 Collins, 20 Demel, 04 Nolan, 07 Jarvis, 16 Noble, 21 Diame (Diarra - 69' ), 09 Cole (Maiga - 62' )
Substitutes
13 Henderson, 17 O'Brien, 14 Taylor, 23 Diarra, 08 Maynard, 11 Maiga, 12 Vaz Te
Ref: Atkinson
Att: 20,424
On another sun kissed but showery afternoon at the Lib, it was no surprise to see ML send out the same team as the previous week's 5-0 beating of QPR, but with SS left out of the squad altogether (adios, and thank you SS) , and WHU made 2 changes, new signing Matt Jarvis replacing Matt Taylor out wide, and James Tomkins, the England U21 Centre Half brought into a holding MF role. Tactically, I would suggest, that told us a lot.
The early stages saw both teams testing each other out rather tentatively, with the Swans content to keep possession (there's a surprise), whilst the Hammers began by trying to get Jarvis on the ball, and sling in the first of the aerial assaults. The moves from both were negated., including a Jarvis cross that threatened with Nolan challenging and Vorm up to the task of matching, letting the dangerous ball clear all and run out behind.
In this period, West Ham were aided by a couple of misplaced Swansea passes, with both Chico Flores and JdG giving it away, but both players played their part in defending the ensuing attacks.
From 10m forward it was evident that Swansea were getting on top with the predominance of possession, and a pattern was now clear.
Whilst Swansea continued to enjoy the protracted build up, the Hammers were content to play on the break, often via the Bomber Harris route.
The concerted City pressure paid dividends on 19m.
Michu, primarily, drove the ball forward on the the inside right channel, and a swift exchange of passes coupled with a run outside from Angel Rangel allowed Nathan Dyer to play the ball into his path,. The RB took it well, and from some 15yds out on the right drove a fierce cross shot that may have been creeping in at the far post, only to see Jussi Jaaskelainen at the near post attempt to drop on the ball but find it ricocheting off his right elbow into the net. Ouch, 1-0 , and the Liberty rocked. It may be read as a GKing error, but the move had cut West Ham apart.
The shape of both sides was now clear.
Swansea's back 4 always had Britton ahead wth JdG the middle of ND to the right and WR to the left, leaving Miguel Michu to support DG. It was working well, too, particularly as the wingers were playing 10yds infield from last season, leaving both FB's Rangel and Taylor, room to break forward fast.
WHU's back 4 had Tomkins protecting, with Noble right, Diame central and Jarvis left, all pumping balls forward and high to Carlton Cole, supported by the funky chicken Kevin Nolan, who spent the time when he wasn't contesting with either Michu or de Guzman in a repetitive ear-bashing harangue of the ref, Mr Atkinson.
The paucity of the Hammers approach was being frustrated further by the high fast Swansea press, with Hammers given little time on the ball when they had it, and on 28m it led to a deserved second goal.
In possession just short of Halfway on the right, Reid was forced to turn back and play the ball to James Collins, some 10 yds deeper. Michu continued to press Collins, forcing him to attempt to play the ball back to Jaaskelainen, but his right foot pass hit his own left foot and stuttered toward the area and the keeper. Michu increased his pace and just as the ball rolled into the area and the Keeper was diving to collect, he stabbed a strong left leg to poke the ball home into the bottom corner.
As the ball rolled into the net for the second time, you could hear the roar swell, and it burst forth onto the delirious Lib. 2-0, and Miguel Perez Cuesta did his telephone gesture as he ran to the East to celebrate, urging the fans to turn up the noise. We did, even us old geezers in the West.
WHU best chance came on 35m, when a James Collins high ball FK again was only half cleared, and a clever spin and volley by Matt Jarvis drew a breathtaking one handed save from Michel Vorm, with the dropping ball hacked clear by Ash Williams.
Swansea were comfortable till almost half time, but a mis-placed pass led to three further corners after the 44th minute, all of which were dangerous, and the last of which saw Leon Britton hack the ball clear off the line. We drew a breath as Mr Atkinson blew for Half Time, and with a 2-0 lead, things looked promising.
It's interesting after a game to look back and consider what one's experiences were and to how it compares to general tactical analysis.
The consensus around me was that we had only been really threatened by the high ball, and ensuing knock ons, so it was brilliant to hear ML confirm that he's a little cleverer than we fans, since he highlighted that by cutting out the Free Kicks etc that allowed this aerial bombardment, we'd be a little more comfortable, which is exactly the way the second half turned out. Identifying the symptom, as well as the cause. As Morrisey once said, "this charming man".
Style and substance.
Half time saw Allardyce realise that he had to go for more, so Vaz Te replaced Tomkins, though the pattern was little different.
City's greater control was now evident, and from a break on the left, Danny Graham cut in and curled a right footed shot toward the far corner, only to see JJ turn it behind for a corner.
Joy of joys, in the 52nd m Kevin Nolan was at last booked, for one foul too many, this time on Leon Britton, to be followed 6m later by the equally reviled James Collins. There must be a God.
Swansea were by now severely testing the West Ham back line, and whilst Danny G was closely given offside, just 5m later saw him break free from a sublime Dyer ball, and whilst we all got ready to holler from his check back onto his right and his clipped shot (after all, we've seen it before), our cheers choked in our throats as the ball rolled agonisingly an inch wide.
No matter, City were now playing total football, with everyone content to give, and receive the ball, and it was a pleasure to see in the flesh the later 44 pass move that kept the ball for 2 minutes, and the 27 passes leading to the third goal will take some beating.
After recycling the ball around, back and forth, Dyer's deliciously timed ball put Routledge free on the right , and his clever cut back was met by the equally clever Danny Graham, who had held his run some 8 yds out as the defenders careered toward goal, leaving him to side foot home. 3-0, and another quality goal to put the tin hat on it.
By now, West Ham had replaced Carlton Cole with Madiga, and Diarra later came on for Diame. The threat got less and less, and Swansea were cruising home.
For us Swans, Agustien came on for JdG to close the game out, and Luke Moore gave the high performing Routledge a rest.
Perhaps best of all, the supremely confident Neil Taylor came off to give an enlightening cameo PL debut to Ben Davies, and the youngster impressed in his brief time. The conveyor belt rolls on, we hope.
Apart from another Dyer shot which went wide of the upright, there were no further close threats, and it was clear from long spells of Swansea possession that the game was well and truly over. The final whistle blew to a blast of the Levellers - What a Beautiful day, indeed.
You know as well as I do that after that sort of performance and win, it's always going to be a pleasant weekend.
City's greater control was now evident, and from a break on the left, Danny Graham cut in and curled a right footed shot toward the far corner, only to see JJ turn it behind for a corner.
Joy of joys, in the 52nd m Kevin Nolan was at last booked, for one foul too many, this time on Leon Britton, to be followed 6m later by the equally reviled James Collins. There must be a God.
Swansea were by now severely testing the West Ham back line, and whilst Danny G was closely given offside, just 5m later saw him break free from a sublime Dyer ball, and whilst we all got ready to holler from his check back onto his right and his clipped shot (after all, we've seen it before), our cheers choked in our throats as the ball rolled agonisingly an inch wide.
No matter, City were now playing total football, with everyone content to give, and receive the ball, and it was a pleasure to see in the flesh the later 44 pass move that kept the ball for 2 minutes, and the 27 passes leading to the third goal will take some beating.
After recycling the ball around, back and forth, Dyer's deliciously timed ball put Routledge free on the right , and his clever cut back was met by the equally clever Danny Graham, who had held his run some 8 yds out as the defenders careered toward goal, leaving him to side foot home. 3-0, and another quality goal to put the tin hat on it.
By now, West Ham had replaced Carlton Cole with Madiga, and Diarra later came on for Diame. The threat got less and less, and Swansea were cruising home.
For us Swans, Agustien came on for JdG to close the game out, and Luke Moore gave the high performing Routledge a rest.
Perhaps best of all, the supremely confident Neil Taylor came off to give an enlightening cameo PL debut to Ben Davies, and the youngster impressed in his brief time. The conveyor belt rolls on, we hope.
Apart from another Dyer shot which went wide of the upright, there were no further close threats, and it was clear from long spells of Swansea possession that the game was well and truly over. The final whistle blew to a blast of the Levellers - What a Beautiful day, indeed.
You know as well as I do that after that sort of performance and win, it's always going to be a pleasant weekend.
It
was indeed comfortable to watch MoTD, Football First, Goals on Sunday
and MoTD2, and hear our team being praised with a little less
condescension
than we sometimes got last year. Hey, I'm not complaining - as it
happens I think we get a generally good press - it's just nicer to be
offered it in this, our second season.
As our admirably level headed Manager stresses, there will be bad days to go along with this good one, but I suspect we'll settle for that. No deeper tactical analysis today, let's just enjoy the buzz.
Onward, Swansea City.
As our admirably level headed Manager stresses, there will be bad days to go along with this good one, but I suspect we'll settle for that. No deeper tactical analysis today, let's just enjoy the buzz.
Onward, Swansea City.
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