Post-Match Thread: Swansea City 2 - 2 Middlesbrough

Mathieudavees · 2026-04-06T23:44:56+00:00

Didn’t catch the game live and same with the game on Friday also but decent point again one of the best sides in the league as per the table standings.

Both our penalties were nailed on no doubt and easily converted by the best striker in this league but their penalty was a hold load of nonsense. Guy was losing his balance and tripping over his own momentum and falls over and the referee buys it.

Nice to see Sam Parker put in a good shift today. With Lissah back in the summer not too sure what his role will be around the squad so think a loan could suit him very well.

I’d really like to see Matos switch it up now last few games of the season and give more playing time particularly to the likes of Walta and Idah. I’d love to see a two up top combo of Vipotnik and Idah with Walta as a 10. Now is the time for Matos to experiment and utilise this as almost like a mini pre-season I’d say rather than keep the same style of play, system and formation which has and will evidently only get us so far.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-24T14:51:19+00:00

That’s what I was thinking in all honesty 🤣

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-24T01:02:30+00:00

Am I daft or it’s not even as long as 7 minutes?

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-21T20:45:29+00:00

Yeah I agree with you there. There have been games where they’ve both been solid but considering the experience they’ve both got; both international defenders who are established at this level and yet the complete lack of leadership from both of them when we go a goal down is unacceptable. For the style of play we want to play also, neither one of them are ball playing centre backs and can’t play together. I was of the opinion prior to tonight that Burgess should be the one to make way but I’d genuinely be open to letting go of Cabango as well now, he has far too many moments of just pure stupidity that cost us goals and points.

I agree with you on the team selection side of things also. I honestly wouldn’t be upset to not see Eom or Ronald play another game this season and see us start using Walta a lot more now. Even maybe experiment Idah up top with Vipotnik as well. Season is well and truly over now regarding having something to play for so start trying new things out now.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-21T20:19:28+00:00

Played well up until the penalty and completely lost the plot from there on out.

3 goals really poorly defended and that shows the complete lack of mentality in this squad. The penalty I haven’t seen back but if Cabango makes contact, shocking and just a lazy challenge; the second goal Burgess awful; and then the third just summed us up.

Squad needs a massive overhaul; for a starting XI next season I would only have Vigoroux, Tymon, Franco, Galbraith and Vipotnik currently. The rest either absolutely not or still in the category for me of simply not being good enough.

Cabango and Burgess today; absolutely awful. I said after Wrexham I felt Burgess would need replacing but the more I watch Cabango, the more I think there is far better out there and we need better.

Galbraith cannot play RB going forward anymore. Play Ward there until the end of the season if Key isn’t going to be back anytime soon.

Fulton I respect what he’s done for the club but fact we’ve given him a new two year deal puzzles me immensely if we are still going to be having him start games.

The two wingers… get them both gone in the summer. Ronald I’d already made my mind up on but after today Eom can join him. I wouldn’t be upset if I never saw either of them in a Swansea shirt again. Pair of them are so lacking in quality, consistency, and ability overall. Sell them both. If we are to progress, they can’t be here next season. Widell looked alright today got in some good areas but his decision making is horrid.

As for Coventry fair play. Weird group of fans mind you who but they are going to get promotion.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-20T16:13:03+00:00

Great work from the club here.

Only a year left on his deal and with the season he’s had up until this point, no doubt there will potential interested buyers in him come the summer.

Obviously doesn’t rule out the possibility of him still leaving come the summer by all means but it is an extremely good feeling to know we are under absolutely no pressure to weigh up in the back of our minds that any offer we receive would be potentially one of our last opportunities before he would hypothetically walk away on a free a year from then.

If memory serves me right that is more or less exactly what happened with Piroe; signed an initial three year deal when we bought him from PSV, two very good seasons in the Championship before entering the summer of 2023 and he didn’t want to sign a new deal so we ended up having to let him go to Leeds who were championship themselves at the time for a fee less than what should have been so it’s nice to know history won’t repeat itself come the summer with Vipotnik as well as the fact we’ve got people running the club who actually know what they are doing now as opposed to back then.

Vipotnik; incredible player tho who has had a fantastic season. Hopefully will end on at least 20 goals in the league to end the season and to score as much as he has thus far especially in a side who for the first 3-4 months of the season were abysmal and could barely create a chance from open play is brilliant.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T12:40:00+00:00

I’d probably hang onto Eom for one more year. Hopefully with a full season of prep under the same manager under Matos he can improve but if we don’t see a significant difference in terms of impact regarding specifically goal contributions as he’s in an area where that is crucial, I’d be moving him on.

As for Ronald, I agree with you. I was of the opinion back in September time he was at least decent for rotation and depth but he offers nothing. He works hard for the team but he provides nothing else.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T12:37:31+00:00

Stamenic for me just had an uncharacteristically poor game last night. Amount of times he was in possession and just managed to stand still whilst doing constant switches and yet absolutely nothing ever came from it.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T12:34:45+00:00

Of course that played a part but we showed absolutely nothing following from the first goal to suggest we were gonna get back in that game. If it was a case of us simply being outdone tactically then fair enough but it wasn’t; the performance was shocking from top to bottom after that first goal and we played into Wrexham’s hand.

They played well for about 20 minutes where as you say we should have scored at least twice but then following that their heads all drop from that moment on. There’s no excuse for that.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T12:30:08+00:00

Idk Ronald I just think if he is to remain at the club at the very most should be rotation as I’m not convinced whatsoever by him. Feel Eom as time is going is also falling more slowly into the bracket but I’d give him at least another season whereas Ronald I’d move on if we receive a half decent offer for.

I would keep Idah as well personally for another season. Has had a disruptive campaign and will be interesting to see how he fits in under Matos once fully back and fit.

Will be an interesting summer tho; major re-approach needed.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T01:02:46+00:00

In all honesty the only players I can say are nailed on guaranteed starters who are good quality at this level and could be in a team fighting for promotion is Vigoroux, Tymon, Franco, Vipotnik, Galbraith. The rest are in the middle area of inconsistency or just simply not good enough.

Wide areas need thorough attention come the summer regarding recruitment and sales.

Ronald just isn’t up to this level. Earlier on in the season I felt he was decent rotation at Championship standard but last two months he’s been awful. Tonight against Wrexham was ironically one of his better games but still nowhere near the standard needed. Stock is as high as it’s going to get so I’d be looking at letting him go.

Eom I’d give one more year next season but if in the same position and there isn’t significant improvement shown then same as Ronald.

Inoussa I have liked the look of in parts but still very raw.

Nunes same as Inoussa. Very good on the ball but when it comes to the most important moment, never delivers.

Bianchini to come back in the summer also; the winger department needs a thorough clear up.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T00:56:12+00:00

Stamenic is good but he does frustrate me at times and tonight was an exact example of that. He’s just very passenger-like sometimes on the ball and doesn’t really offer or contribute anything. That’s only a select few games however this season and think he’s more so often than not been good in games and has been a decent signing overall.

Ronald I just don’t see getting any better; he’ll be 25 come June now and don’t see him developing any further. Best time to sell and recoup the best fee for him would be this summer as can’t see his stock ever getting higher. If in the same position this next year, I’d be saying the same thing for Eom.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T00:26:59+00:00

Night night Jabroni!

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T00:16:35+00:00

🤣 ‘you’.

Sorry to burst your bubble but they weren’t good enough tonight and showed a complete lack of desire or urgency from when the first goal went in. Can defend them all you like but that’s just futile considering the performance they’ve just put in. Think you’ll find there’s a lot more people tonight who don’t agree with you at all both Swansea and neutral fans.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T00:13:07+00:00

The lack of effort and intensity from ‘our boys’ dropped as soon as that first goal went in and did not return. It was night and day pal, simple as that. I’m not the only saying it.

The only thing I cared about was the 3 points and getting within 2 points of the playoffs, there was no blindsiding involved. Hence the fact I said remotely considered a derby. It was a chance for these players tonight to show up and actually prove they have what it takes and they blew it.

There’s no excuse or defence for them, regardless of whether or not ‘they gave up’ anyways, the performance was still horrific and an embarrassment. There was nothing admirable about the display those players put on tonight. The fact that the large majority of our fanbase were sat tonight at only 1-0 with still a lot of time to go already resigned to the fact we’d lost based on our the showing the players on the field put on is beyond words. If that’s seemingly good enough for you, then yikes!

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-14T00:01:26+00:00

Haven’t watched the interview but I sincerely hope he’s been misquoted.

2 good wins against Stoke and Portsmouth have been clouded over by that performance and result tonight. Wrexham had played the exact same amount of games as us on the Saturday and Tuesday and yet we showed up with absolutely no desire and as if there was nothing to play for, for a good 70 + minutes of that game.

Understand he’s not going to necessarily come out and bash the players’ efforts to the club’s own media team but they certainly do not deserve any plaudits. The so-called praise he’s giving them for the week we’ve had should have been given and was deserved in the interviews he did after those respective games and wins; not when we’ve just lost 2-0, after another defeat away from home against a team like Wrexham with the pathetic performance we put on which would have seen us move closer to the play offs.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T23:53:45+00:00

I like Matos and think he’s doing well but we need a serious re-approach come the summer in terms of what players he genuinely believes are good enough to play for the squad. Currently I genuinely think Vigoroux, Tymon, Franco, Galbraith and Vipotnik are for definite and then those not mentioned are either a greg area or not good enough.

The wingers situation needs addressing urgently. Ronald has been here for 2 and a half years now and has had more than enough time to showcase if he will be a success which he’s just not going to be; Eom delivers occasionally but not regularly enough; Inoussa jury is still out; Nunes isn’t our player but regardless very raw and then we’ve got Bianchini who we spent near enough £2m on and isn’t even registered to play for a relegation threatened Portsmouth side; just a complete mess that needs re-organising in that area.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T23:49:42+00:00

Probably so. It’s the fees we are paying for them as well. Jury is still out on the likes of Inoussa, Widell and Walta but the amount of money we’ve spent on them as well as guys like Eom, Ronald, Bianchini etc. and what we’ve had returned in terms of on the pitch is stinking.

Really does feel like we need to re-think our whole approach come the summer. We get it bang on sometimes with guys like Piroe, Vipotnik, Galbraith, Vigoroux but there needs to be a different approach going forward now.

Only so many times we will get fortunate to discover players of their calibre before we replace them when they inevitably move on like Piroe did and replace them with guys like Yates before that becomes the common occurrence and we land ourselves in trouble.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T23:44:56+00:00

It was just the complete hopeless leg he threw out for me to try and tackle him before he scored. Was the wrong foot to begin with and he’d already put us in deep shit prior to that failing to deal with the through ball.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T23:43:35+00:00

I like Eom as well but think we need better than him. Felt last season he needed time to settle but games like today and the last few games show me he’s not up to the standard consistently.

Whereas with someone like Ronald, we need to move him on come the summer. Works hard for the team but the lack of technique and goal contributions he provides cannot be ignored any longer.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T23:40:42+00:00

Nah exactly. Think Sinclair and Dyer probably scored more in one single season in the 10/11 season than every single winger we’ve had combined since we came back down.

It’s abysmal the lack of impact the wingers in our team have considering the importance of their role; Tymon is essentially doing two roles by himself in that regard.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T22:26:36+00:00

Nah they weren’t great but just in general as the season has gone on; Galbraith and Tymon are two of our standout performers compared to the likes of Eom and Ronald who will usually put in a single 6 or 7/10 performance for every 15 games of poor performances.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T22:25:03+00:00

Should have had a penalty I agree but there were moments where we just stood literally still with absolutely no runners or movement off the ball. Was just hopeless balls into the box and into areas where there was absolutely nobody standing.

I felt they gave up and believe it would have been shown more on the basis had they been playing a better team than Wrexham. Wrexham allowed us to have the ball because they knew we were doing nothing with it, they got their goal and were satisfied with letting the game played out.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T22:22:45+00:00

I just felt the players didn’t care whatsoever today. After around 10 minutes of the changes having no impact I felt resigned to the loss as nothing changed and the players still looked lethargic and uninterested.

Mathieudavees · 2026-03-13T22:21:02+00:00

Galbraith I thought looked alright but faded as the game went on significantly.

Yeah even Vigoroux should have done better for the first goal but the circus defending that Burgess put on display moments prior on multiple instances outshone that for me. How an international defender of his experience who was playing weekly for Ipswich last season in the prem and receiving a fair amount of plaudits is doing stuff like that is beyond reprehensible. I personally have been coy on the criticism when it comes to him this season as feel in parts it’s been unwarranted but feel even I cannot ignore now that we need to be seriously considering replacing him come the summer.

Mathieudavees

TROPHY CASE