As 2 of the 3 promoted teams from the last year's Championship, this was an opportunity for both Norwich and Swansea to lay down a marker by winning, and further consolidating the sound start made by both. The Clubs had gone in to the match at Carrow Rd in 9th and 10th position in the Premier League, separated by only their alphabetic dissonance, being equal on both goal difference and points, and 5 goals better(-3 v -8) than QPR, who sat 11th.
Being unable to travel to East Anglia I watched the game on an internet TV stream, one of many, and one with both a decent picture AND the English commentary.Wasn't I a lucky boy.Well,no, as it turned out.
Norwich started like a house on fire.Within the first minute, from their first attack, they were ahead. From an attack down their left the ball, via a deflection , was tranferred via a long looping cross from Elliot Bennet on the right wing that went beyond the far post, to be nodded back via Steve Morison to Anthony Pilkington, 6yds from the middle of the Swansea goal and he,to make up for his last week's miss at Old Trafford, smashed it in.
Worse was to follow for the Swans- after 9mins. From a free kick on Swansea's right, 30 yds out, the ball was swung in and Russel Martin ghosted between the zonal defence to head freely into the net.
Swansea almost immediately broke from the left via Scott Sinclair, and fom his determined run into the penalty area where, despite falling, he managed to hook it into the centre, from a deflected ball Danny Graham spun and scuffed/steered it beyond Ruddy in the Norwich goal.2-1, 10mins gone, and everybody breathed deeply.
For the rest of the first half the two teams were like an NBA game- skill,speed and end-to-end attack. Both are to be commended for showing people why the Prem is compelling. This wasn't harum-scarum stuff- it was a genuinely riveting hi speed Chess type of contest. Kudos to both sides.
The half time break allowed the fans to hope(Swansea) and believe (Norwich) that their team could win.
Unfortunately, for us, Paul Lambert's tactical adjustments trumped Brendan Rodgers' tweaks. Norwich dominated the second half, with a posession ratio of 60/40 % giving a strong clue to the way the game unfolded. From a corner midway through the second half Leon Barnett won a header and Bradley Johnson calmly lifted the ball across the box for Pilkington to score his second from close range.
Despite the Swans persistent commitment, including after 3 substitutions Steven Dobbie (one of the subs) limping off to see the visitors reduced to 10 men, Norwich were never really threatened. They saw the game out comfortably to finish with 3 home points and continue Swansea's bad run away from Home.
My feelings, for what they're worth, are this- the second half felt like Chelsea Away second half......we never really seemed "up for it". That's NOT meant to impugn the team effort. They gave it their all - it's more a reflection of Norwich, and their Manager's, ability to get the better of us both tactically and physically.
Our lightness of squad depth means that with current injuries we are desperately missing Caulker's aerial prowess and speed of thought/action. Gary Monk,our skipper, is bravely playing injured. In midfield, Joey Allen and Leon Britton can sometimes be both doing the same job- particularly when Joey may have been wearied by his Welsh exertions. Mark Gower may have been an option there. And up front, DG is tireless, but when the wingers (Sinclair and Dyer) are both doubled up on AND have to slot into midfield, we can become stretched.
This is NOT a knock of my team. I am very proud of them still, and still believe that Brendan and his coaching staff will get far more right than wrong. PLUS, it's only 8 games into the season, and to read some of the poppycock talked on some of my favourite Swansea City fan websites by some doom and gloom merchants who have little constructive to say but find it easy, behind the anonymity of a keyboard, to bad-mouth our own club, I have this to say.
Firstly, post your name and not a pseudonym and take responsibility for what you say.
Secondly, offer some constructive, realistic argument/opinion that stands some scrutiny.
Thirdly, and finally, get a life.
# these are the thought and opinions of Peter Thomas- if you don't agree with them how about posting something that all of the Internet audience can judge.He sits in G120, Lower West.Come and say hello.
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