Holmes_and_Watson

For a while it was looking that Championship wasn't his level, which just seemed odd. He's not blisteringly quick, and can look a bit ungainly. But he was lumbering and off the pace. So much better now.

Thanks for that as always Alex. Lots of good points about how we're developing and sharing the same frustrations along the way that we have. Particularly interesting on Aribo. I'd seen him on a number of occassions for Rangers. Over a fairly decent spell too. I was wondering if was an injury/ behind the scenes fall out/ personal reasons why we just didn;t seem to see the same player. A little flash or two early on, but that quickly went downhill. Way back, I was a little sniffy over the SPL. But then we started getting lots of gems from there. I was surprised that he just didn't look near cutting it. It's been really good to see him better than I remember him at Rangers. Form a few lumbering sub appearances to more regular impact appearances all the way to now. The last couple in particular, he's covering even more ground, even more eager to receive the ball too. Like a few of the others, there's a period of sharpness with the more minutes they play. Both fitness and Martin's system. But Edozie and Aribo and others are moving in the right direction. Happy for them. Credit to Martin. There does seem to be honesty, a supportive environment to develop, train and play in, he is using those who work for him and we've needed that. If and when our unbeaten run coems to an end, and when it startes to get to the business end of the season, hopefully that enviromnent will be boost the players to do well more than a shouty, finger poiinting, under pressure one. I know where I'd rather work. Martin's also been right about the opposition chances of late too. We do have areas that can be exploited. But we know that and look to mitigate that as much as possible. it's not always going to work. But we've had a few games where their player has been forced into a shot, on the move at an angle. We're back in numbers nearly all the time, which is about all you can expect.

Wow! Swansea have some decent players. They are as well drilled in our playing style as anyone in the league. We out worked, out fought, utterly out passed and out classed them. We were creating right to the end and they simply couldn't cope with it. They had a couple of early efforts. One from an angle and one from a set piece. None that are going to kep Martin worrying unduly. We've had games with more possession. We've had games with more shots. But our possession was dominant. When we didn;t have it we were structured and they often had it, because we'd been creating something. When we got a shot today, it was nearly always on target. Behind the shots, we simply controlled the game. A ridiculous amount of positives. In addition to the usual work rates for the likes of AA, Aribo looked even shaprer today. He was all over the pitch, offering us different options with his strength. Stephens, not long back, isn;t as sharpe. But he offered a lot of strong play, passing options and looked to drive us forward. Martin praised him a lot at the start of season for his vocal leadership. We saw him push us forward a fair bit today. Stu supported Edozie really well, getting the youngster the opportunities and being there when it needed to be passed back. Taking some of that decision making off his shoulders. Stu was also always about to get froward or track as needed. Edozie did very well. He's now getting enough minutes that he's not only back to the level he got to earlier in the season, but pushing past it. Martin impressed the need for goals from our wider players. Edozie is now delivering that. He offers something different from Fraser too. When their defence saw Fraser coming on, they must have hung their heads a bit. Direct, experienced and aware of opportunities. Having seen a lot of other Championship teams in recent weeks you can see the gap in quality in our passing style. We might not be as out and out attacking as an Ipswich. We might not be as fast or physical as a Watford. But we have so much more control over games. The work done has made us a lot more felxible. We have players instinctively taking up those positions they were coached into ealrier in the season. Bednarek and THB were solid, but Downes, Stephens, Smallbone and others like Aribo today gave them lots of out balls through the middle. It takes a lot of the strain off of Baz. He did very well with the quick passes he had to make from the back today, but didn;t have too much else to do. Cracking performance, and lets hope Leicester can do us a favour later.

Yay! So pleased for Adams. He takes up good positions just waiting and waiting. It looked like the chance was gone. Chested it down for the shot too.

Admas runs into their defence and they get a break. But we're so well drilled in getting players back now.

Another lovely move. KWP linking up well with Aribo. He's been so good today, Mara in a good position and Fraser is such a key finisher for us.

Martin is going to be thrilled at the work rate, that the possession after all the subs has led to dominance and that we're creating chances against a side who just can;t cope with us. I guess there will be some of him that will also see it as a sign of the progression of his own tactics in a different (and more lucrative) set up.

Aribo taking up the Smallbone poistion as we pass it out of defence. He's keen to get it back, and 20 seconds later is supporting Mara in midfield (and having a word in Joe Allan's ear when he fouls Mara)

Mara so nearly on the end of that. Nice work from Manning.

Remember folks, not all links to streams may be going to the football. 🙂

Adams part of a structure press that results in an unforced error form them. 1) Yet another example of how much better we do that. 2) That Adams and Fraser can do a 2 man press 3) That we are still putting the work in. AA off for Mara. A quierter game for AA. Partly because of the way we've set up today. But he was dilligently working his socks off all game. Glad to see him get a breather though, with so many fixtures.

KWP goes on a mazy run, as we're 3 up. However, Adams who started in the midfield in that move linking up with Alcaraz was the man waiting in the middle for a decent delivery. There's a lot of that in our game, where Adams takes up good positions.

Smallbone watch: A good tackle wins us the ball back. He passes it to Fraser then makes the run for the return. Unusually, Fraser goes back. We then pass it around, because we need Smallbone back in midfield. Where he does pick up the ball. That all ends up with us keeping the ball all the way to Fraser blazing it in for a third! Super stuff.

Fraser's first touch. Good control, takes on defender looking for a cross. Hopefully more of that, with Adams and Aribo strong enough to take advantage.

Fraser on for Edozie Adams on for Stephens

Ah. No power in Aribo;s shot there. Clever from him and KWP to link up.

Oh, that bounced waiting for someone to get on the end of it. We left plenty of space there. Martin was already on the sideline trying to get our intensity back up.

Crumbs! That was Aribo chasing around like a hare to get the ball back. Meanwhile, it was Smallbone effortless not bothering to close the play down as he was covering the space for their out ball.

Now we shall punish you Swansea! Enter Will Smallbone, Man of A Thousand Passes! They are going to have to work hard to get past that kind of movement and passing.

5-0 win. 3 points Minus 10 points for all the failed drugs testing. 😞

Great work from Stephens. Part of defending, links up well with Aribo, surging run and a very good delivery that we just don;t have anyone on the end of (and often won;t have as that's the tough bit of our system, getting in psychic players)

We chose not to pass it to Smallbone! Stephens offering more space further up. Stephens could be a very handy player since he can play in a number of roles.

Smallbone for Downes Alcaraz for Stu Both the outgoing players have done very well today. Ket's see how their replacements get on.

SOmething different for that attack. Stephens strong physically in defending. But not quite as sharp so telegraphs the pass to Aribo. However, Aribo's our most strongest forward player, keeps control and his increasing fitness gets him away to set up the attack. Edozie's shot hiot the defender. There was a runner, but is was well worth him taking the effort on that occassion. As I type, Aribo popping up in the middle of the box. Adams really can;t compete with Aribo's all round contributions of late.

And there we go. Baz had to do some quick work there. But coll as you like he makes the decisions and we pass it out from the back.