Originally Posted by
Keyser Soze
Indeed. This is the same view I have held since around derby day. Everyone from 15th to 23rd are in the scrap as the gap is small.
Four things say to me that Swansea will be sucked further into the fight.
1. Form
Looking at form they are not good compared to those around them. I think there are only three teams or so between 15th and 23rd with worse form so they will likely be dragged down further
2. Fatigue
Luke imposed a style on them reminiscient of former days. The trouble is without a deep squad, frequent resting (like Man City and Arsenal), or and being conditioned for this style over a longer term horizon, this style brings post January fatigue and injuries, especially hurting old players or fresh youth ones. Man United have this issue with an injury crisis today. Leeds and Norwich were relegated from the Premieship because of it too. Swansea are now getting it too. The system is high intensity but it also relies on a deep squad of players who all have the high-octane sprinting ability and all knowing the system, and loan players in January often makes no difference due to the time needed to acclimatize (why Klopp often doesn’t do January loans).
The squad isn’t deep enough and they are knackered. Against us they managed to live off hate and emotion but that isn’t sustainable. As I said before our derby, and after it, their fundamentally unsound footing will continue. Here we are - continued shocking form since as a result of being drained.
3. Collapsed morale
They raised morale against us due to some drunken ranting “oratory” by their team chef, but that proved short-lived, as I predicted. Ronald Mc Donald continues to draw blanks and has no end product and all the post-Jan hype on him has died. They knew they would not reach the playoffs, but neither did they believe they would need to be up for a relegation fight. The fans online seem down in the dumps. Players are arguing. Coach today says “These performances not acceptable”. Note the words “These” and not “This”. This is a pattern, not one-offs.
4. Performance
I was watching yesterday their stats v Boro. 497 v 337 passes to Swansea. 61% v 39% possession to Swansea. But look at the stats that matter, and what does this produce? Shots on target were 12 v 7 to Boro. Shots on target 4 v 1 to Boro. Shots off target6 v 4 to Boro. How many “Clear Cut” chances by Swansea? An astonishing 0.
So for all fhe passing and possession they are creating little. Remember in school there was always a little squirt that shouted “I’m gonna kick your head in” but never threw a punch in six years and ran away from a fight. Like Scrappy Doo in the Scooby Doo cartoon. That is Swansea at the moment. All that possession without a shot on target is a waste of time. I think Brendan Rogers called it “Resting on the ball”. Well Swansea do so much resting even the fans and players are falling asleep it seems.
Goal difference probably suggests they will land around 18th because even with their piss porm they are bound to pick up a few surprise points. Watching them squirm in pain will make me smile but they will do just enough to survive. Buf if the don’t spend in the summer and deepen the squad they could be in trouble again next year.
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