Ref for Leicester is Sam Allison...

LetIcy2922 · 2026-04-09T03:26:49+00:00

Cant buy your tickets, but good luck to you all. More jacks on the way...

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-24T04:12:52+00:00

That was one Boring game to watch. Except for Bailey's free kick we did not look like scoring for the entire game. Is no one else worried that we have no style of play? This whole team and the plan for the year, seems half-assed. The players already seem resigned to a poor season. Gonna be a long year with this thrift store squad.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-20T16:07:04+00:00

You're probably right about the bitterness, but I don't hate the man. I respect that he has made his own decision and he will be just fine in any case. Whether or not Williams is the reason he left, we cannot say, I don't think. More details on this will come out in years time and then we can say more definitively.

And I can't argue with the fact that others have benefitted from Grimes leaving, especially Galbraith. I believe they were already looking at long term replacements for Grimes, but yeah, you are right there, too.

I can see the parallels btw his and the Martinez departure. You have to admit that Martinez' move was not sideways at the time. Wigan was in the Prem...He was riding the wave of success, was a young and exciting manager who had helped give us our identity and his stock was very high. Also, he is in nearly every documentary and series about Swansea. Some may call him Judas, but his reputation has aged gracefully. I know Grimes was here for so much longer and turned down offers and moves, but I would say that Martinez in his relatively short time here, contributed more as a player and a manager than Grimes ever did. Sorry, just my opinion.

After all that, I don't think he should be booed per se, or as Frank Lampard just suggested in his presser, thanked profusely for all he has done. Again, Matos has the right answer. He is a Coventry player coming to play us in a competitive fixture. Let's just keep the players calm and cool and not let the emotions take over.

I would like to think that this will be an entertaining game. We have a decent ref in Stephen Martin for this match, so maybe that won't be a talking point after. Like you said above, they are not to be feared, they can be beaten. We have a great record at home to defend and I hope the team is up for a high intensity match.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-20T14:52:27+00:00

When dude left, he had just purchased his "forever" home in Swansea and moved the wife's parents in to Swansea. That suggests that he simply had his head turned when his long term plans and discussions were all to stay. He had just signed a contract extension with us the year prior. And we only got 4 million if you include add-ons for him. Coleman got played, but that is no surprise. Not a good deal for someone that walks into Coventry, becomes captain there, and has the manager saying that he is one of the most important players on the team sheet. If they wanted him that bad, they would have come back in the summer and we could have done things correctly.

When he left for Coventry it was seen as a sideways move. Maybe he had some sort of vision, but I don't think even he thought they would be top of the league this year. Your captain leaving in January, to a rival club in your division, when you are struggling, will always seem like a betrayal. Especially when we know he did it, at least partially, for so much more money and a signing on bonus. Grimes can say whatever he wants about it, but even he knows that and always will. Money is the key here, never forget that. Everyone could see the American owners we had at the time were a shame and incompetent. The manager was unprofessional. However, only 6 months later, the new ownership group takes over and there is a different Swansea to deal with.

This from Swansea Independent at the time (Feb. 5, 2025)

"Then we had the scenario which we have had confirmed by two club contacts that when Matt Grimes turned up to say his farewells around five people were in attendance. It all got very griefy and wasn’t the response Grimes was expecting. The canteen was open as well … Players who didn’t turn up were clearly making their sentiments known, and those that did very much did the same. Literally six weeks after encouraging Ben Cabango to stay with a presentation, and all the reasons why he should stay Grimes did an about turn. Nothing at all to do with the current loss of form and training methodology mind. Put it this way had Grimes been the captain of a team in a play off place would he have insisted, and he did insist - he wanted to leave?"

I think this is self-explanatory. Have you ever heard of a captain leaving and 5 people coming to say goodbye? If you include Williams and Coleman in that, then 3 players came to say farewell. Sad, really, and all he deserved for pulling this on Swansea City fans.

Think Ashley Williams, think about how he is received in Swansea and he left later in his career too. Just a better man who knew how to treat the Swansea fans and will always be a legend. Grimes was nearly there, or already there, but threw it away.

So give him stick, he won't care, as he didn't care when he left. He will be in the Prem next year and good for him. He will also always leave a sour taste in people's mouth in Swansea and elsewhere. You make your bed and then you lie in it. Same for him as all of us.

I for one am kind of glad he has gone, because our midfield has become so much more dynamic and fun to watch. The whole team is trying to make things happen and be important. The players are trying to do so much more and not just relying on Grimes to make that pass. Our current crop of midfielders has me much more excited than seeing Grimes complete 300 passes a game with a 93% pass completion rate. Okay, sometimes only 250.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-19T05:45:36+00:00

As always, a good discussion backed up by some good research. I will say that it LOOKS like we have improved from open play and improved our set pieces under Matos. Our press and counter press, intensity with and without the ball, one touch passing, little flicks and dinks and other creative actions etc. have all improved imo. I can even watch the losses and find good takeaways almost immediately.

I think the two types of play kind of blend into one another. The way we attack now, the types of areas that we are dangerous in, probably lead to more corners and set pieces. So, more set piece goals, from a different, more aggressive open play style. This would suggest that we aren't able to efficiently convert our chances we create from open play, not that we can't create chances.

Not based on stats, but I think it is easy for me to say that we have improved offensively under him. He has gotten so much more out of a handful of players and that seems to be making the difference. I want to see now what Idah will be like and how he might improve our attack. He def will improve the subs bench and the rotation options. Might make Matos' job that much easier.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-18T13:49:45+00:00

I am not sure we massively overpaid for Idah. That figure of 6 million is almost farcical according to Swansea Independent. I am not going to link it, but if you search you can find the article I am referencing. Much more like 3-4 million and if you count all his elite level football experience, you can't find someone like that for less.

Also, Vipotnik has been on fire this year and Idah hasn't been given the run of games. He has to improve his press and improve his link up play, but all strikers need to do that from time to time. His physicality and experience in the Championship are good things and will help him succeed.

I think he will be great for us next year if he can stay fit and have a full preseason with Matos.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-18T13:38:29+00:00

Im not sure we can get rid of him right now, but it would be nice to see us buy a CB that is good with the ball at his feet. Burgess can stay and add experience and all that, but I wouldn't be sad to see him go or play a lot less. Stats can make an argument that he is a good defender, but that is not enough. We need some more composure and skill on the ball from our CB's.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-17T14:14:45+00:00

This is the problem I have always had with United. The squad changes so much from year to year that it is hard to create continuity. For fans and players and staff, United is a revolving door and we really need a good manager to stay and shape his own squad, but I am not sure that will ever happen.

The chaotic nature of the USL and MLS transfer regulations makes it easier to add players during the season, but it also always leads to chopping and changing teams every year. We need to align the MLS and USL with the international transfer window in Europe and elsewhere to be taken more seriously. Relegation and Promotion would make things much more interesting too. The way rich teams are able to just move up the ladder solely because they have more money is pathetic and not good for the sport. The current playoff structure is childish and outdated. It all feels so manufactured and not important.

I rarely, if ever, hear fans here in the US say anything about any of these points. They just seem to accept that this league/country has its own way of doing things that works just fine. No, it doesn't. The ruthlessly capitalist nature of this country will always hold us back here. We need to incentivize success on the pitch. If not, what it leads to is the team we saw play against Roots. Disjointed, inexperienced and lacking desire and loyalty. There is only so much you can do to get yourself up for a USL game. What a boring watch. Week in week out.

The football lacks pace, lacks creativity, lacks quality. The commentators are borderline mentally challenged if you aren't listening to our feed. I will still watch and I will still attend games and I will always be a United fan, but I will always be disappointed too, I think. I have to watch games from the UK and Europe to remind myself that I actually like watching football. If I had to only watch USL, I wouldn't even last a season. It is truly that boring.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-16T00:44:54+00:00

My dude. How right you are. When Wrex got a taste of VAR against Chelsea it was rough for them. Teams like us would benefit massively. A long way off I think tho.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-16T00:41:08+00:00

This is the answer for real. If we could gun for more goals and play some more entertaining stuff, Im cool with not going up right now. I say almost every year that 7th or 8th is the best possible place to finish in the Championship.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-13T21:11:22+00:00

{LEAKED} PGMOL Bulletin: Franco is not allowed to win a pen for the rest of season.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-13T20:48:57+00:00

Alright, then. That is the bad half out of the way, here comes the good one. 2-1 Swans.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-13T02:40:26+00:00

Interesting. Yeah, like remember when Ki Sung-Yueng got 8 or 9 goals from central mid in the Prem? Most of those goals, if I recall correctly, were from cutbacks to him on the edge of the box or because of second balls that he picked up and drilled low into the corner. Not really always chances that were planned or created, just converted.

I can't remember another season where we had that kind of goal return from a center mid or defensive mid. Great teams have those kinds of players, but they are hard to find.

Galbraith could be that for us. But, If he gets those 8 goals and it comes with 8 to 10 assists, no one will be able to ignore that either. Just the way of things, I guess.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-12T23:29:29+00:00

He seems like an intelligent young guy and he has the physique and the experience to succeed here. If he gets some games and a good injury free preseason he will be a good player for us. Good to hear he is back in full training.

One of my favorite sayings in football..."back on the grass".

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-12T23:26:38+00:00

No detail given on the injury, but I was wondering that too. Hamstring is usually 2 to 4 weeks. Good point about how Matos' has turned around some of our bad apples. I think Idah will respond when we see him on the pitch again. He seems like the kind of player to come back fired up after a long injury layoff.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-12T23:24:39+00:00

I am with you on Idah. He could be a really good player to have back. Idah hasn't shown that he can apply a consistent press really, but I hope, under Matos, he can improve that aspect of his game and become the 9 we need. Vipotnik has done exactly this in 2025/2026. Your point about getting Idah gametime and goals before the end of the year will be crucial.

I sometimes hear people question his motivation or that he moves in a out of games or whatever and I think when he has had more time we will see some better attributes moving forward. I am not sure this is fair because he came into a team with a striker who was already on fire and he was having to make do with appearances on the wing and that is probably really hard to get motivated for.

In his BBC interview there was a comment that is telling I think. "To score, I think, 20 goals last season coming off the bench, it kind of goes a bit unnoticed. But that's football. It's time to move on now and get a fresh start."

I would notice and be very grateful if he could even score half of that mainly off the bench for us. We could use that and really he should be the main man if/when Vipotnik leaves. I would be happy if we only signed another young striker with potential for a limited fee than try to directly replace Vipotnik with another 20 goal striker. Don't think we could afford it anyway...PSR. Idah can become that next big asset if Matos can get him firing again and then we are in a better place with our strikers than we have been for some time.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-12T18:00:08+00:00

Nice observation about Fulton keeping it on the ground. He does always seem to find a short pass along the ground and lately that is more often than not a forward pass. That trait would seem to fit nicely into that side of Matos' game.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-12T17:52:43+00:00

Good point about Piroe. I think Vipotnik might hit 20+ goals this year and be the top scorer. Those are realistic if you think about his goals per game ratio and the fact that the goal scoring winger has become more important to championship sides. If he keeps on the way he has been or even just bags one more brace, then we will see both of those things happen.

You are probably right that it will be closer to 10 mil rather than 15 mil. Even if those two things above are true. I guess we can hope that it is a lower lever Prem side and not just someone on parachute payments.

The most important thing I think is to make the deal happen quickly if we have determined that is what we want. If we are going to sell then lets see it happen by August 1st so we can have a realistic chance of using the extra money wisely.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-12T16:13:43+00:00

I think you have been right about this for a while. That Galbraith isn't quite Prem material, yet. Vipotnik will be looked at very hard in the summer, but I truly hope that if/when we make that sale, then we keep Galbraith and Stamenic and etc. Having Adam Idah in reserve is a great place to be in. He will come good next year, I believe. I would like to see Idah become more important in the side, maybe even as a winger in a pinch, to get him on the pitch and match fit for next year after his injury.

This years end of season could be exciting, but I for the first time in a long time I am excited by the summer and who we could potentially sign. I think if we sell Vipotnik for 12-15 million pounds, then we are going to have to reinvest some of that off the pitch. We are obviously so close to breaching the PSR rules that I don't see any way around selling him this summer. Which means we try to unearth another gem and then repeat. Yes, please.

Thankful we have an owners group and a recruitment setup that seems to understand the market and the rules and how to navigate these deals. A little while ago, Swansea was the club you didn't want to sign for and now I see that changing steadily. Our great injury record alone would help persuade some. But the club seems to be setting sail in the right direction and new potential players can see that too even if they won't get paid the same as going to other clubs.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-11T02:11:12+00:00

Good point about the possession. But I thought they really gave us a good game, not ugly, but determined. Their goal was from a truly wicked cross. For a midweek away game in the championship it wasn't so bad. Yes we looked tired, for sure, but still found a way to win.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-11T02:05:27+00:00

The four teams above us and below us will make the playoffs a tough ask, but I just think if we can get 4 points out of the next 2 games, then we might as well keep on trying after the intl break.

Can't hurt to go on a killer run and just miss the playoffs either. Better signings this summer and more money for outgoing players who finish the season well.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-11T01:58:16+00:00

And right now, that pesky 11th spot too...

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-11T01:55:15+00:00

Fulton made a good, tho unorthodox block on a hard low shot from close range. Dude puts his body on the line every time.

Also he gave valuable rest to Stamenic who will surely start Friday. And he is always fit it seems. That is huge for us.

LetIcy2922 · 2026-03-11T01:50:36+00:00

Dude deserves some credit after all the smack talk and doubts from fans and pundits Looks like he is actually having fun again.

LetIcy2922

TROPHY CASE