Eyebrows were raised when former defender Garry Monk inherited the manager’s job at Swansea City following Michael Laudrup’s sacking in 2014 but few doubt the wisdom of that decision now.
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“I talked to the players all week about good teams backing up good performances with another”.
Sandwiched between those was the stupid sending-off of full-back Daryl Janmaat for two bookable offences, which left Newcastle playing with ten men for the closing stages of the first half and the entire second period. If you couldn’t figure out why Newcastle United lost today, then you may be blind. “That is probably the only lesson we learn here”.
Given the bulk of this crop of players last tasted an away victory in January – when John Carver led them to a 3-0 win at relegated Hull City – there are understandably traces of the type of performances which were the norm before McClaren arrived and it certainly showed in Wales.
“There are no positives for us to take”. “Just don’t do it. For example, Diego Costa at Chelsea…it’s the same”.
A trip to Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime is next up for McClaren’s squad.
Taylor revealed: “Daryl was absolutely devastated”.
“We came here believing we could win”. However, Monk felt they were clearly too harsh with their tackling and criticised the North East club after the match during post-match interviews with reporters.
“He has put himself about and is not shy”.
“Unfortunately Swansea played better than us and we have to accept that”.
McClaren said: “I don’t think we are capable of doing that”. It will be more competitive because of the amount of money that has been spent on other squads – not just the big boys but the teams that are going to be around us.
With Swansea coming forward at will, the system at least frustrated the Swans and, in theory, was supposed to see Aarons or Gabriel Obertan use their pace to break forward and try to nick something on the counter attack. I think the game was even up to then. We’d love one or two more but they’ve got to be the right ones and if they are, I’m sure we’ll be in the market for them.
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Gomis cooly rounded Tim Krul to set Swansea on their way against the Toon with Jonjo Shelvey’s superb assist rightly winning praise, but those moments were simply the finishing touches from an incredible 21 pass move which included all but three of the starting XI and began with goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
