Jordan Thorniley is back in the cellar and Jimmy Husband is back in a back 5. Or 3. Callum Connolly is in defence. Or he's on the wing. Or maybe in midfield. No one knows. Kirk is in for CJ. Why? Search me. Gary is up front on his own. We're fairly clear about that at least. Unless Gary is in goals and Grimmy up front. Y'never know with Critch.
Why is this randomly a big game? I'm stuck outside for a few minutes because of a broken turnstile as Swans fans tell us they 'want to go home' because (and get this, you've almost certainly never heard anyone sing this before!) 'Blackpool's a shithole' - such wit and originality chaps. Book them a slot on North Pier.
Inside at last. To be fair, before kick off Swans make loads of noise. Why is 16th vs 14th like this? Have I missed something? Have 12 of the top 13 gone bust this morning and no one told me? I don't think so. It just seems everyone is up for it. Fair enough. More of this sort of thing.
It's been a bit of grind but we've made chances. Swansea haven't really made anything.
---
Connolly gets a foot in. Kev slides it forward. Bowler cuts inside running as he does, as if it's the easiest thing in the world and then slaps it into the side netting at the near post. He's not phased. Go again. Football is fun.
Swansea put together 4 really slow attacks. They're foiled by their
Critch brings on Lavery and CJ which is exactly what I hoped he would do. Gaz and Kirk go and sit on the bench to relive their goal. Swansea have it on the left. A cross. A downward header that spits off the pitch and bounces over the top. The ref gives a corner although I'm not sure if Grimshaw made a wonder save or not. The corner comes to nothing.
CJ hunts down a loose pass. He belts away up the left, going wide, waiting. What's he waiting for? It turns out, it's Josh Bowler, drifting in and picking up on CJ's lovely pull back but lashing his first time hit inches wide... It just won't go in for him today. I don't mind, he can use up his bad luck before we need a goal from him.
That's it. There was injury time and theoretically, tension, but it felt weirdly untense. Last week was a dramatic 1-0 win, but this felt as routine as it a 1-0 win where they have a lot of possession and a decent late chance can feel.
---
Strangely, I've not mentioned the name of Dujon Sterling despite the fact he was really good, getting forward as well as defending solidly. I thought Husband was absolutely superb. He just loves defending and he's got a lovely touch and timing. One moment late on, they knocked a rare long ball, Jimmy was one on one and he just trotted over, won the header, tidied it up and it was like they'd never had a sniff. For a player who has been out injured for ages and wasn't even supposed to play today, he was terrific.
To be fair, Marvin is always good and he really was again today. A late challenge where he got a whack was the last of several terrific interceptions in a dominant performance. Connolly also did nothing wrong and stepped out the back 3 well adding to midfield and showing a willingness to deliver the ball. I'm really starting to like him and he looked happy where he played today.
Kev and Kenny both played well. We certainly don't lack bite and both of them used the ball well, with Stewart particularly quick witted in his passing. Kirk impressed me today. He's not a whippet and I suspect he'll frustrate sometimes, but he's good at one touch stuff and his delivery was really nice. It's easy to see how he racked up the assists for Crewe. He seems quick thinking if not fleet footed.
Suddenly, it seems we're looking upwards with a bit of interest. It seems ridiculous. If we can get something on Tuesday, it would leave us looking at a potentially very exciting run in and at side with Keshi Anderson back in it. The fact we're even thinking about that is absurd. It's already been a terrific season and the moment we start expecting is the moment the bubble bursts. Sheffield United were, despite losing to us, one of the few sides that have actually impressed me this year. They have a lot to play for.
Why is this randomly a big game? I'm stuck outside for a few minutes because of a broken turnstile as Swans fans tell us they 'want to go home' because (and get this, you've almost certainly never heard anyone sing this before!) 'Blackpool's a shithole' - such wit and originality chaps. Book them a slot on North Pier.
 |
| ??? |
Inside at last. To be fair, before kick off Swans make loads of noise. Why is 16th vs 14th like this? Have I missed something? Have 12 of the top 13 gone bust this morning and no one told me? I don't think so. It just seems everyone is up for it. Fair enough. More of this sort of thing.
Not enough teams make noise prior to the game these days. It's like when you had to get there early to get a decent spot on a terrace so people just sung stuff for 20 minutes because there was nowt else on really. It's all a bit lively. I like it. To think someone will ring 606 tonight and moan that being 4th in the Premier League is rubbish. Just fucking sing and make something out of you twat is what I'd reply if I was presenting. Maybe that's why I'm not. I can't think of any other reason.
Swansea are as loud as anyone we've had here this year aside from Coventry. I'm enjoying the edge to the atmosphere. We're just going to wait for kick off before we start making any noise. It's not cool to be early to a party.
--
Gaz goes round everyone for a hug. Cos that's what Gaz is like these days. All peace and love and stuff like that.
The main man then has a lovely early touch for Bowler. Jimmy shows he's not rusty by stunning a clever ball to James who earns a corner. Charlie Kirk goes to take. Let's see if he's any good at these cos no fucker else is. We'll break it down with some top level analysis.
1) Beats the first man!
2) It doesn't loop into the keepers hands!
3) Hang on... there's Madine...
4) Gary has time to set himself and... YES!
It's a ridiculously simple goal and it's unbelievable that Madine has found so much space at the far post. For a big and not very mobile man, Madine is practically a stage illusionist in the way he moves at corners. Now you see him. Now you don't. Puff of smoke, Gary appears with a swish of a cape... Goal!
Jimmy wins everything for a bit. Kev tidies anything up that Jimmy doesn't clear. Not much happens.
Swansea put a cross in. Grimmy and Jimmy collide. Jimmy is hurt enough to have to remove the topknot and let his hair hang loose. Everyone chants for Grimmy but... WHY DO WE NEVER SING JIMMY'S NAME? ...
Hilarity as someone tries to climb over the wall into the away concourse. They flash one across the face of goal as the madcap antics play out. Shortly after, Grimmy tips one over.
We've looked tidy but now look penned in. They've got the ball all the time. To be honest, they' don't look like doing much with it, but it's a concern none the less. Finally, Stewart nicks it. Gaz spins and curves a delight of a through ball with the outside of his foot. This boy can play. Kirk runs onto it, and drives it at the keeper when he might have picked a corner.
Kirk takes a short corner. He gets it back, stands it up... Gaz leaps. Close again... Madine is really enjoying having someone in the side who can get it where he wants it.
Gaz wins a flick on. We win it in midfield. I shout Stewart to play it wide... It goes through middle as Kev is better at football than me and Bowler is right though. In the form he's in, this is 2-0 every day... Josh sets him self, fires it and it's surely a goal!
It's not.
The ball flashes wide. Bowler looks heartbroken. I clap loudly as I can't abide him looking sad. A man near me calls him a 'stupid cunt' instead. Not in an affectionate way. Sometimes people make me wonder. They really do. The North comes to the rescue by singing his name. That's better.
---
Swansea are as loud as anyone we've had here this year aside from Coventry. I'm enjoying the edge to the atmosphere. We're just going to wait for kick off before we start making any noise. It's not cool to be early to a party.
--
Gaz goes round everyone for a hug. Cos that's what Gaz is like these days. All peace and love and stuff like that.
The main man then has a lovely early touch for Bowler. Jimmy shows he's not rusty by stunning a clever ball to James who earns a corner. Charlie Kirk goes to take. Let's see if he's any good at these cos no fucker else is. We'll break it down with some top level analysis.
1) Beats the first man!
2) It doesn't loop into the keepers hands!
3) Hang on... there's Madine...
4) Gary has time to set himself and... YES!
It's a ridiculously simple goal and it's unbelievable that Madine has found so much space at the far post. For a big and not very mobile man, Madine is practically a stage illusionist in the way he moves at corners. Now you see him. Now you don't. Puff of smoke, Gary appears with a swish of a cape... Goal!
Jimmy wins everything for a bit. Kev tidies anything up that Jimmy doesn't clear. Not much happens.
Swansea put a cross in. Grimmy and Jimmy collide. Jimmy is hurt enough to have to remove the topknot and let his hair hang loose. Everyone chants for Grimmy but... WHY DO WE NEVER SING JIMMY'S NAME? ...
Hilarity as someone tries to climb over the wall into the away concourse. They flash one across the face of goal as the madcap antics play out. Shortly after, Grimmy tips one over.
We've looked tidy but now look penned in. They've got the ball all the time. To be honest, they' don't look like doing much with it, but it's a concern none the less. Finally, Stewart nicks it. Gaz spins and curves a delight of a through ball with the outside of his foot. This boy can play. Kirk runs onto it, and drives it at the keeper when he might have picked a corner.
Kirk takes a short corner. He gets it back, stands it up... Gaz leaps. Close again... Madine is really enjoying having someone in the side who can get it where he wants it.
Gaz wins a flick on. We win it in midfield. I shout Stewart to play it wide... It goes through middle as Kev is better at football than me and Bowler is right though. In the form he's in, this is 2-0 every day... Josh sets him self, fires it and it's surely a goal!
It's not.
The ball flashes wide. Bowler looks heartbroken. I clap loudly as I can't abide him looking sad. A man near me calls him a 'stupid cunt' instead. Not in an affectionate way. Sometimes people make me wonder. They really do. The North comes to the rescue by singing his name. That's better.
---
It's been a bit of grind but we've made chances. Swansea haven't really made anything.
---
Connolly gets a foot in. Kev slides it forward. Bowler cuts inside running as he does, as if it's the easiest thing in the world and then slaps it into the side netting at the near post. He's not phased. Go again. Football is fun.
Swansea put together 4 really slow attacks. They're foiled by their
a) own poor final ball (twice)
b) Jimmy with a delightful cushioned touch and clearance
c) Marvin with a terrific Marvin block.
Gaz gets wrestled. Gaz gets robbed of a throw. Gaz screams for a pen as Stewart dinks it to where he would have been had he not been on the floor. We're louder now and Swansea are struggling to be heard.
We get a pair of corners. Bowler goes deep and the ball is taken off Madine's head at the far post. Kirk goes short, gets it back and he hits Marvin who heads it up and over.
Reece James has done ok today. His passing has been much better and a terrific slide challenge leaves a great line on the pitch.
Grimmy times coming out to perfection. Swansea still have a lot of possession. They try another through ball, Grimmy throws himself at feet again and comes up clutching the football. We need a bit of pace. We're looking a bit predictable and conceding possession higher than I'd like.
The ball goes out of play but we've got another comedy lino so he just watches it as if he doesn't realise it's his job to point out that sort of thing.
We're hit a very long ball. Gaz just needs to look at their defence and they go a bit shaky. We have a sideways passing spectacular where at least three players could shoot but don't. Swansea race up the pitch and shoot just wide. Change it!
b) Jimmy with a delightful cushioned touch and clearance
c) Marvin with a terrific Marvin block.
Gaz gets wrestled. Gaz gets robbed of a throw. Gaz screams for a pen as Stewart dinks it to where he would have been had he not been on the floor. We're louder now and Swansea are struggling to be heard.
We get a pair of corners. Bowler goes deep and the ball is taken off Madine's head at the far post. Kirk goes short, gets it back and he hits Marvin who heads it up and over.
Reece James has done ok today. His passing has been much better and a terrific slide challenge leaves a great line on the pitch.
Grimmy times coming out to perfection. Swansea still have a lot of possession. They try another through ball, Grimmy throws himself at feet again and comes up clutching the football. We need a bit of pace. We're looking a bit predictable and conceding possession higher than I'd like.
The ball goes out of play but we've got another comedy lino so he just watches it as if he doesn't realise it's his job to point out that sort of thing.
We're hit a very long ball. Gaz just needs to look at their defence and they go a bit shaky. We have a sideways passing spectacular where at least three players could shoot but don't. Swansea race up the pitch and shoot just wide. Change it!
Critch brings on Lavery and CJ which is exactly what I hoped he would do. Gaz and Kirk go and sit on the bench to relive their goal. Swansea have it on the left. A cross. A downward header that spits off the pitch and bounces over the top. The ref gives a corner although I'm not sure if Grimshaw made a wonder save or not. The corner comes to nothing.
CJ hunts down a loose pass. He belts away up the left, going wide, waiting. What's he waiting for? It turns out, it's Josh Bowler, drifting in and picking up on CJ's lovely pull back but lashing his first time hit inches wide... It just won't go in for him today. I don't mind, he can use up his bad luck before we need a goal from him.
That's it. There was injury time and theoretically, tension, but it felt weirdly untense. Last week was a dramatic 1-0 win, but this felt as routine as it a 1-0 win where they have a lot of possession and a decent late chance can feel.
---
Strangely, I've not mentioned the name of Dujon Sterling despite the fact he was really good, getting forward as well as defending solidly. I thought Husband was absolutely superb. He just loves defending and he's got a lovely touch and timing. One moment late on, they knocked a rare long ball, Jimmy was one on one and he just trotted over, won the header, tidied it up and it was like they'd never had a sniff. For a player who has been out injured for ages and wasn't even supposed to play today, he was terrific.
To be fair, Marvin is always good and he really was again today. A late challenge where he got a whack was the last of several terrific interceptions in a dominant performance. Connolly also did nothing wrong and stepped out the back 3 well adding to midfield and showing a willingness to deliver the ball. I'm really starting to like him and he looked happy where he played today.
Kev and Kenny both played well. We certainly don't lack bite and both of them used the ball well, with Stewart particularly quick witted in his passing. Kirk impressed me today. He's not a whippet and I suspect he'll frustrate sometimes, but he's good at one touch stuff and his delivery was really nice. It's easy to see how he racked up the assists for Crewe. He seems quick thinking if not fleet footed.
Suddenly, it seems we're looking upwards with a bit of interest. It seems ridiculous. If we can get something on Tuesday, it would leave us looking at a potentially very exciting run in and at side with Keshi Anderson back in it. The fact we're even thinking about that is absurd. It's already been a terrific season and the moment we start expecting is the moment the bubble bursts. Sheffield United were, despite losing to us, one of the few sides that have actually impressed me this year. They have a lot to play for.
The pressure is all theirs.
We can just make another good noise and see what happens.
Onward!
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