Well I've seen the Swans away at Wolves, Coventry and Blackpool and then at home at Coventry on boxing day and feel like commenting!

In 26 years I have not watched the team play football with such control, and it is great to see them moving the ball about with confidence and trying to score the perfect goal!

At the Wolves game, Gower hit the post after a tremendous passing move and it silenced Molineux, as the Wolves fans I think were embarrassed by our style compared to their lovely long ball. That night we played with a white ball on a white pitch, making it easier for them to spot it in the sky.

I doubt I shall see a move like that again, even though in every game you can see them trying by simply retaining the ball.

I find it weird listening to fans at games shouting negative comments to any of our players. What exactly do they want?

This is as good as it has ever been whilst I've been watching and I'm loving it!

Happy New Year to all Swans fans everywhere

Brian L

Daf, I was joking....chill.

No Dave. The neutral would have said what I did. A clever cloggs would have said what you did

I am neither of those but said it too. Everyone who was there would have said it. How clear do I have to be - we was brilliant! But we still didn't win dammit

Tony S:

WELCOME BACK.

Rich, "That was Birmingham we played. 25 million and just out of the Prem.

The neutral would have said it was the other way around."

So the neutral would have said 'Just out of the Prem and 25 million". Is that right?

How proud did should that make us feel? We went there and completely played them off the park. I think their crowd were stunned by how dominant we were and how we kept the ball from them and made them look inferior.

If they have the misfortune to go up they should be looking forward to doing a Derby. All that is stopping us knocking on the door is the ability to close out games where we are so much the better team.

Frustrating for sure, although we came really close today, but we should be so, so proud of what we are doing.

That was Birmingham we played. 25 million and just out of the Prem.

The neutral would have said it was the other way around.

I am so proud and can live with not winning today. One soon would be good though!

No buffet, no beer on this train!

Nick. There's a world of difference between match ratings and condemning players to groups! Our markings are one game and not judgement on someones career.

I would just like to remind all swansea fans on 52 seater coaches to remain in your seats after the game !

Well if the brum are premiership quality , swans are champions league ! We played them off the park and made them resort to lumping it up field to no one in particular. Only the scummer caused us any problems all day. We really need to finish some of these chances and if Scotland didnt think about taking a touch late on then the 3 points would of been ours.

Daf, thanks for taking the time to write that to us from the train.

One thing I was wondering is how you dare rate these players from 1-10 - that's like putting them into groups which is just plain stupid ;)

I'm sure you get what I mean!

The away support sounded quite amazing on Paltalk today - I was so proud to hear them out-sing the Brum fans from start to finish.

Estimates of anything from 2,000 to 3,000 fans made the trip which is quite amazing considering many went to the COv game, Ospreys game, had Xmas to pay for, New Year to pay for and there's a economic crisis on!

Time to give our first team a well deserved break now as we take on the non-league thugs.


In Roberto We Trust

SEALS ratings

De vries 7
Angel 6.5
Williams 8
Monk 8
Tate 7
Gower 5.5
Allen 7
Leon 8
Pratley 9.
Gomez 6
Pintado 6
Scotland 6.5
Brandy 7

Ref. 9

Away support 8.5

Very hard to rate, particularly Scotland. Overall an excellent performance. Great entertainment. Frustrating.

SEALS ratings

De vries 7
Angel 6.5
Williams 8
Monk 8
Tate 7
Gower 5.5
Allen 7
Leon 8
Pratley 9.
Gomez 6
Pintado 6
Scotland 6.5
Brandy 7

Ref. 9

Away support 8.5

Very hard to rate, particularly Scotland. Overall an excellent performance. Great entertainment. Frustrating.

Those of you interested in my season-to-date stats may click on the link below ->

[scfc.co.uk]

Absolutley delighted with todays result. We are a very difficult team to beat which is what you need to be before you start dominating. look at any succesful team, they always get the defensive facet right before looking further forward. Glass two thirds full and getting fuller

could be signing bill murray and andie macdowell in january,its like groundhog day watching swansea lately,draw after draw!

mitch,totally agree with you mate,we are outplaying everyone and only getting a draw,its frustrating!
saying that,if you would have said 12 months ago that we would be playing birmingham away and being the much better side(again) id have taken that,12 months ago they were a division higher and we were a division lower.
well done today anyway boys,it will be nice to see if we can put in a good performance against reading(im sure we will)they are the only team to outplay us i believe!
id like to see a striker coming in to the squad in january,everyone wants a winger aswell but i would like to see orlandi or macdonald given a chance to show what they can do!

Oh, please, let's stop the moaning about the draws!

Do you realise that after 26 games in our first run in the Coca Cola Championship we have lost to only four [4] teams?

And three of those four teams are presently in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Places in the Table? And probably are the teams to be promoted to the Premiership.

And one of those three teams has only 1 win and 1 draw against us.

And we're doing it with several of our top first team players gone.

And Martinez' squad concept and squad development have produced players who have been able to step up and battle well.

Perspective!

Combined match stats for the 2 games (Cov & Brum), Swans shots 37 opponents shots 9. Both games end 0-0. Hmmmmmm.........

Complete domination of Birmingham again today, and we've taken 1 point out of six against them.
They could well be in the Premiership next year, if so, then they really should nave our midfield who are wasted down here.
After we consolidate this season, as most fans seem to be happy with, might we be building a new team next year?

Congratulations to Gary Martin for winning the December monthly prize in the Richard Keen Insurance Predictascore Competition.

Well done, Gary.

Take my hat off to these guys today, I stated " We were going to get stuffed". I hold my hand up, and Birmingham got stuffed. Once that ball goes in, and we get a win, I think someone is going to get a stuffing.(After Xmas). LOL

UP THE SWANS.

Great draw today, nice break from the league on sat,would take another draw sat

FT 0-0. Playing away to a near Premiership club and another clean sheet. The defence and midfield are about there, when Roberto gets the striker balance right we'll be a prem team. Kevin Phillips and Marcus Bent were subbed, presumably because they were ineffective. My glass is definitely two thirds full

Looks like we pretty much dominated that game as well, another draw but still a good away result I think.. Looks like we deffo need someone with that killer instinct up front that can finish teams, we seem to be playing consistent footy week in week out, will be interesting to see what Roberto does in the Jan transfer market.

8 draws in a row.

Would have taken a point at kick off, but how frustrating is it when we're slaughtering teams.. yet slipping further and further from the play offs?

Brum down to 10 men D Murphy sent off 68th min... C`mon Swans!!

Hardly suprising that we've replaced a few players from the team that only played 46 hours ago is it Swanton?

Todays team

Dorus De Vries

22. Angel Rangel

2. Ashley Williams

16. Garry Monk

5. Alan Tate

14. Jordi Gomez

7. Leon Britton

8. Darren Pratley

24. Joe Allen

11. Mark Gower

18. Gorka Pintado

Scotland and Butler on the bench,Pintado and Gower to start

Paul B

Tell me exactly what Gomez has done in the last three home games. I cant comment on the away games because i wasnt there, having said all that i dont think RM will drop him, and personally i hope he plays a blinder today and proves me wrong.

drop gomez? are you nuts?

thought you might like like this

A bloke walked into a bar and ordered a pint of Whitbread he placed it on a table and walked into the gents. A young lady hoisted her skirt and blew off in the glass. When he came out the barman explained what had happened. He aproached the girl and said
"oy you fart in my Whitbread"
She said "no I'm Tessa Sanderson"

Roy,

I think you are dead right to ask for an apology from the clown that called you a racist.

Just for the record, that whilst some may think that "coloured" is now deemed an unacceptable word to use in association with 'black' persons, one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the World,with aims of ensuring the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination and is called the NAACP.

That's the National Association for the Advancement of COLORED people to you and me!

I heard that Sanderson and Whitbread are both out injured -

Are they the Pointer sisters?

I am with you on this one Roy, you certainly don't come across as racist and 'that' remark has been used for years and not one person i know has taken offence to it. PC brigade !
Come on the jacks today ! Another draw will do me !

Lee Walters,

It was me who caused all the stink, and how could I forget Adrian Forbes. I was there at Bury where we held on to a 1-0 lead or about 100 minutes, and poor old Willy got arrested.

Interesting insight into our Welsh league loanees, and just highlights the need as many of us have said for the need for a decent standard of reserve team football.

Another bloody draw and another game we should have won.
To be honest i,m getting sick to death with these draws purely because the football we are playing merits more than one point.
On yesterdays game ive got to disagree with Ian Walsh,s(who i normally agree with and see,s the same match as me)comments when he said Covenrty deserved the point. Absolute nonsense, yes they probably defended well, but lets be honest they werent in the game.
Yesterday we played great football all the way from Dorus to the edge of the box, then we are absolutely clueless, and devoid of ideas. Having said that i do believe that we do not get one ounce of luck. The ball never seems to fall kindly for us in the box, goal line bloody scrambbles always go against us. A parried save from the keeper never seems to find our player.
Roberto has got a lot of hard work to do finding a way of unlocking defences. We seem to be unable to thread a ball between two defenders in the box. Tommy does great work beating his defenders, then lets hinself down with his final pass.
Our shooting yesterday didnt help, Pratley couldnt hit a cows arse with a banjo unless its from five yards. Gomez has gone off the boil and should be dropped. I noticed yesterday his lack of desire to win the ball in midfield, and lets be honest thats what we pride ourself on, the engine and deesire from Leon., Pratts and little Joey to win the ball. At the moment Gomez hasnt got that, his overall play is poor, his passing and his shooting are off par.
Are we playing the right system. Would another striker in January benefit Jason. I think so and go 4-4-2.
One things for sure, i,d be delighted with a drraw against Brum, but to be honest i cant see it.
Now a lot of people might think i,m mad but i,d love to see LT10 coming on loan and playing alongside JS. Its worth a gamble because weve got no other striker that can score goals.
On a breighter note looks like Routledge is on his way to QPR in a permanent move. Shame for the scum, and shame about the late equaliser yesterday.

Hello there

Please shush about the whole racism thing, even though the term "coloured" is not considered acceptable when referning to someone of a non-caucasian human it was not meant in any offence and the only people who are kicking up a stink seem only to be doing it to stir the brown stinky stuff.

By the way with reference to another poster, can't remember who. John Williams was not the last "coloured" "black" or "person of a non-caucasian race" to play on the wing for Swansea, Adrian Forbes anyone??

Anyway the whole point of posting was that I thought some might be interested in how some of our youth players are getting on. Obviously I popped over the bridge to spend some time with the family for Chrimbo and me and my Step-Dad saw Port Talbot Town take on the mighty Neath on Boxing Day, a lot of people will not like the fact that I didn't go to the Liberty but really don't stress about it, it really isn't worth it!!

Anyway there were no players playing for Port Talbot , Lee Devulgt was and he seemed to do okay. Anyway Kerry Morgan, Kyle Graves and Dion Chambers were all involved for Neath. Chambers came on late in the 2nd half and there was very little chance for him to have an impact on the game.

Kerry Morgan was a very short player with a good engine. He has a very useful looking long throw, he scored a very impressive free kick to equalise after Neath went 2-1 down after a penalty for Port Talbot. I think that despite his skills and efforts on the pitch he will struggle for first team appearances as his height and temperament might hold him back.

Kyle Graves was a fairly competant defender at that level, there is something of the Keith Walker about him, he managed to command the defence confidently but I expected a lot more from him as he was playing at a level which is a fair old distance away from the Championship.

Please bear in mind that there is a reason why Alex Ferguson is considered one of the greatest managers in history, Roberto Martinez can pick out talent from all over Europe and why I work as a Customer Services Manager and no one really knows anything about me )

I am a little worried about these three boys as all three were outshone by Port Talbot's Captain a very strong and commanding centre back who's forehead seemed to attract any high balls like a magnet. Also Neath started the game by scoring after just 2 minutes so the win was there for the taking, but they just could'nt control the game. Neither team could to be fair, Port Talbot managed to string together a few decent passing moves one of which leading up to their winning goal very late into the game.

The game itself wasn't of a great standard and I would probably would opt for the Swans next time I am in the area. But the Port Talbot following was really quite vocal and passionate about their team (I was a little uncomfortable though as PT play in blue and there were a few C*rdiff fans there) it was enjoyable and I would recommend going to a Welsh league game if the Swans are away and you have a spare fiver available and time to kill. However if you are a Port Talbotian then you could wait 'til next season and support the Lido as they always tended to be a little more Swansea balanced, adn they look to be going up for next season.

Okay that's that then, I hope you are not too bummed about my reviews of three potential stars and hopefully they just had a poor game.

Peace out people and have a great New Year, let's hope there are points in the next game and more than 1!!

Onwards and upwards and all that!

Moderator who adjudicated,

Thanks for you decision, and end of story, but I would like to apologise to anybody I offended by using a term I didn't realise was no longer acceptable. Please advise what term I should use in the future should a similar debate arise.

ROW,

I am not looking to resurect a debate. I feel personally insulted, and have respectfully asked for an apology.

I think you have known me long enough to know what type of person I am. If I had been called a Muppet, Idiot or some other name that has been bandied about I could live with that, but a racist bigot is a personal insult I can not accept.

I apologise if people feel I am being over sensitive.

Dai please make a judgement. If you feel I am in the wrong end of story I will not refer to this incident again.

(Can't speak for Dai, but I wanted to point out that the Andy who posted earlier was not me- The Andy- who always lists his locations as Swansea who USUALLY posts here)!

The remark in parentheses was from another mod. This is not Dai writing now, but the mod who deleted the remark you object to. The term you used to start this thread, although you did not intend it to be offensive, is no longer considered acceptable. His response was a personal attack.

Now let's just let this one drop.

A winger of colour?

This debate was boring last time and will be again if repeated.

Move on.

Andy,

What the hell are you on. I am not a racist, or bigot. I don't feel the term "coloured winger" is in any way offensive. What term would you use to describe John Williams? Was anybody else offended by my description? I would respectfully ask for an apology.

I have been supporting this club for over 40 years and have not cared what nationality, or colour any of our players have been during that time, nor will I care in the future. If we sign a martian I will support him, (or her). Please do not cast aspertions on my integrity. I do feel offended by your remark

Anthony or real name 'krnrix@talktalk.net'

Why is it funny? I stated vehicle so there are mini buses and coaches going up there which might have two seats.

I am going to Solihull on Monday for 5 days so i did not particularly want to drive to Birmingham twice in two days.

But its seems as i have to. Not the end of the world since i was few of the rain soaked gang that drove up to Blackpool.

I certainly expect my 27 quid seat to be better than my 28 quid( on the day price) Blackpool seat.

Would you still describe Coventry as a team dropped out of the Premiership? Or as an established Championship club?

Whichever it is, what cannot be argued with is that they came with a well rehearsed plan to nullify our strengths. They squeezed Rangel, matched up in midfield, and generally worked hard to stop us playing our game.

It worked for 15 minutes. During which time they troubled our defence not at all.

After that we absolutely hammered them. During which time they troubled our defence not at all.

Like everybody else I wish we had won, and, I too, have my own pet recommendations on what is needed to change it.

But I tell you what, I am so, so satisfied with our first season back in this division. I would settle now for 10th at the end.

The fact that teams come to protect a point speaks volumes.

Brum will have a go at home. That may just help you know!

Insulting remarks deleted. He was using a term no longer acceptable, but not in a derogatory manner. Your response was a personal attack. Let's have no more.

i have space in my car for two

Enough of this joviality.3 points tomorrow,I can feel it in my water.

That was quick,they have pulled Armstrong and we have not signed him yet

Swanton,

Let's hope we don't throw it away tomorrow.

I heard that Sanderson and Whitbread are both out injured - pulled armstrings!!!

What about Billy Sharp?

Roy Wells

I hear we might be after LANCE Armstrong too