Swansea v CD Leganés

K

keith margam

Vital Football Legend
Swansea v CD Leganés Sat 1 Aug 15:00

It’s the final friendly before the season starts with a Carabao Cup game at home to Birmingham sandwiched in between next Saturday.

Talking of friendlies, Birmingham have just beaten Barcelona on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time. Cardiff are playing AC Roma today. Just wonder why we couldn’t have attracted a top team to play in our only home friendly, no disrespect to CD Leganés.

However for the Swans faithful it’s a first chance to see the new signings and also the new home kit unveiled two days ago.

We eagerly await the team sheet to see if Vipotnik will play or is he being wrapped up in cotton wool ready for transfer.

Vitor Matos, fresh from signing his new contract extension, will be close to picking his preferred line-up for the season start.

With more ins and out’s expected in the next few weeks following the surprise transfer of Liam Cullen to Leicester yesterday, we are still looking for players to boost the squad, so an interesting time ahead.

A meagre crowd is expected with only the West Stand open.
 
I was there today, wasn’t the greatest game I’ve ever seen and it’s clear that we’re missing that Grimes/Galbraith profile in midfield but overall it was more positive than negative. Can definitely see Opoku getting a few this season and Just looked lively for the time he was on. Stamenic was excellent and Lissah probably the best player we had out there. Walta needs to be getting minutes, he’s capable of playing some brilliant passes which will make counter attacking a lot easier.

We are still yet to see real control of a game in possession but I’m slowly coming around to how we’re doing things under Matos. Our press was excellent, we’re going to be one of the fitter sides in the Championship this year.
 
sit_down_jack said:
I was there today, wasn’t the greatest game I’ve ever seen and it’s clear that we’re missing that Grimes/Galbraith profile in midfield but overall it was more positive than negative. Can definitely see Opoku getting a few this season and Just looked lively for the time he was on. Stamenic was excellent and Lissah probably the best player we had out there. Walta needs to be getting minutes, he’s capable of playing some brilliant passes which will make counter attacking a lot easier.

We are still yet to see real control of a game in possession but I’m slowly coming around to how we’re doing things under Matos. Our press was excellent, we’re going to be one of the fitter sides in the Championship this year.
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Well said. I really think burgess is in need of replacing urgently, this squad is far too good on the ball for his passing.

I still think Vipi over Idah, idah is too isolated to press two center halves by himself. Vipis goal output is going to be far more than the mistake caused by an Idah press.
 
Wasn't able to watch the match but alot of good reports on Lissah and new wingers. Burgess sounded like he once again, looks out of place?
 
Swans Jack said:
Wasn't able to watch the match but alot of good reports on Lissah and new wingers. Burgess sounded like he once again, looks out of place?
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Burgess did nothing wrong today and was good it’s just that he’ll never improve on the ball from where he is (as he shouldn’t, he is 30 after all!) it’s just his nature as a player but it will limit us in terms of being able to play out and build from the back.

I really appreciate what he does for us though, a monster in the air and his fitness record has been Grimes level so far, always available when you need him. I would like to see a pairing of him and Lissah at CB.
 
Swansea 1 (Opoku 43’) - CD Leganés 0

Lissah and Opoku impressed against decent opposition.

Two of Leganés best chances were against the Haywood/Parker centre-back partnership near the end.

Cabango and Welsh were out with illness.

Vipotnik finally got some game time.

Starting eleven -

Vigouroux, Key, Lissah, Burgess(c), Tymon, Stamenic

Yeo, Widell, Just, Opoku, Idah.

Substitutions -

46’ Widell, Yeo off - Walta, Eom on

63’ Opoku, Just off - Ronald, Fulton on

74’ Burgess, Stamenic, Idah off - Haywood, Inoussa, Vipotnik on

87’ Parker on for Lissah who had cramped up
 
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sit_down_jack said:
Burgess did nothing wrong today and was good it’s just that he’ll never improve on the ball from where he is (as he shouldn’t, he is 30 after all!) it’s just his nature as a player but it will limit us in terms of being able to play out and build from the back.

I really appreciate what he does for us though, a monster in the air and his fitness record has been Grimes level so far, always available when you need him. I would like to see a pairing of him and Lissah at CB.
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Personally think we'd be wasting Lissah's unique abilities if we just plonk him at center half. He's the perfect modern full back in the mold of a Nico O' Reilly. He can invert to CDM during buildup, he has enough pace to offer an overlap, he can withstand a heavy press comfortably, can slide in centrally without issues, he's a huge set piece threat, and i think most importantly for me, he can totally shut down a winger in 1on1 duels and force the opposing teams to become one dimensional.

Not to mention it would also mean starting Josh Key at RB. Give me Lissah+Cabango rather than Key+Lissah every day. The amount of times both cb's were sold down the river by opposition wingers having a piss easy time getting deliveries into the area was infuriating last season. Tymon i can accept as his offensive output more than made up for perhaps not being the best in shutting down crosses. But the Key experiment is far beyond played out. Happy enough letting him linger on the bench and carry out the role he had latter half of last year, coming on as a defensive winger/supporting wing back. But the definition of insanity is expecting different results from the same tired choices, he's not starting material in 2026. Made a bad defensive error today that went unpunished btw, just like last week in Austria that led to a goal. Doesn't nearly get enough flak considering the dogs abuse Ronald gets these days.
 
f1uke55 said:
Personally think we'd be wasting Lissah's unique abilities if we just plonk him at center half. He's the perfect modern full back in the mold of a Nico O' Reilly. He can invert to CDM during buildup, he has enough pace to offer an overlap, he can withstand a heavy press comfortably, can slide in centrally without issues, he's a huge set piece threat, and i think most importantly for me, he can totally shut down a winger in 1on1 duels and force the opposing teams to become one dimensional.

Not to mention it would also mean starting Josh Key at RB. Give me Lissah+Cabango rather than Key+Lissah every day. The amount of times both cb's were sold down the river by opposition wingers having a piss easy time getting deliveries into the area was infuriating last season. Tymon i can accept as his offensive output more than made up for perhaps not being the best in shutting down crosses. But the Key experiment is far beyond played out. Happy enough letting him linger on the bench and carry out the role he had latter half of last year, coming on as a defensive winger/supporting wing back. But the definition of insanity is expecting different results from the same tired choices, he's not starting material in 2026. Made a bad defensive error today that went unpunished btw, just like last week in Austria that led to a goal. Doesn't nearly get enough flak considering the dogs abuse Ronald gets these days.
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yeah I've not seen enough of Lissah to judge but it does sound like he'd be far more effective as a full back as he'd be useful in far more areas of the pitch. As you say he can get forward or even come inside as an inverted full back. Being excellent on the ball allows for far more versatility.

The full back role in the modern is far more advanced compared to years ago. Years ago you might say he'd be wasted at full back.

Key is lacking in defensive ability (Tymon too) - Key has always looked far better in the opposition's half but he's no winger either.
 
VitalSwansea said:
yeah I've not seen enough of Lissah to judge but it does sound like he'd be far more effective as a full back as he'd be useful in far more areas of the pitch. As you say he can get forward or even come inside as an inverted full back. Being excellent on the ball allows for far more versatility.

The full back role in the modern is far more advanced compared to years ago. Years ago you might say he'd be wasted at full back.

Key is lacking in defensive ability (Tymon too) - Key has always looked far better in the opposition's half but he's no winger either.
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Both Key & Tymon were bought in to play wingback in a 3cb system under the man who shall not be named. They were never really a fit for being in a back 4 together from the get go. Credit to Tymon as he's improved emphatically to a point where he's probably a plus contributor defensively now. Although i still think as good as he was last year he's guilty of standing off wingers a little too much at times and inviting players to run at us in dangerous areas.

Which is why i'm so pro Lissah there. Having a player who's first thought is to close down space, push higher up the pitch and to physically overwhelm and pocket that winger and force the ball backwards will make everybody else in that defence better by default. Can't remember the last time we had a full back who can excel in duels to his level.
 
sit_down_jack said:
I was there today, wasn’t the greatest game I’ve ever seen and it’s clear that we’re missing that Grimes/Galbraith profile in midfield but overall it was more positive than negative. Can definitely see Opoku getting a few this season and Just looked lively for the time he was on. Stamenic was excellent and Lissah probably the best player we had out there. Walta needs to be getting minutes, he’s capable of playing some brilliant passes which will make counter attacking a lot easier.

We are still yet to see real control of a game in possession but I’m slowly coming around to how we’re doing things under Matos. Our press was excellent, we’re going to be one of the fitter sides in the Championship this year.
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Galbraith was never the controlling centre mid Grimes was, good though he was.
 
f1uke55 said:
Personally think we'd be wasting Lissah's unique abilities if we just plonk him at center half. He's the perfect modern full back in the mold of a Nico O' Reilly. He can invert to CDM during buildup, he has enough pace to offer an overlap, he can withstand a heavy press comfortably, can slide in centrally without issues, he's a huge set piece threat, and i think most importantly for me, he can totally shut down a winger in 1on1 duels and force the opposing teams to become one dimensional.

Not to mention it would also mean starting Josh Key at RB. Give me Lissah+Cabango rather than Key+Lissah every day. The amount of times both cb's were sold down the river by opposition wingers having a piss easy time getting deliveries into the area was infuriating last season. Tymon i can accept as his offensive output more than made up for perhaps not being the best in shutting down crosses. But the Key experiment is far beyond played out. Happy enough letting him linger on the bench and carry out the role he had latter half of last year, coming on as a defensive winger/supporting wing back. But the definition of insanity is expecting different results from the same tired choices, he's not starting material in 2026. Made a bad defensive error today that went unpunished btw, just like last week in Austria that led to a goal. Doesn't nearly get enough flak considering the dogs abuse Ronald gets these days.
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"plonk him at centre half" - christ.

Technical ability at the back is absolutely massive. He's not played more than a few games at cdm in his youth career or senior, moving him there just as he's getting into our first team at cb, would be lunacy.
 
Gaaareth_90 said:
"plonk him at centre half" - christ.

Technical ability at the back is absolutely massive. He's not played more than a few games at cdm in his youth career or senior, moving him there just as he's getting into our first team at cb, would be lunacy.
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Where did i suggest starting him as a cdm? All i said is he's shown in his locker his whole spell up north that he can adapt to how a lot of premier league full backs play now whilst in possession. His versatility can be utilised more at right back throughout a game than it can at cb.
 
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