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da wazamba： After 73% possession and 21 shots on goal, it takes a special kind of failure to manage only two shots on target and absolutely no goals. It was a failure of Louis van Gaal proportions, and one which, despite the point the take from the game, cements Swansea’s place in the bottom three on Christmas day. Despite all of their fancy football in the middle of the park, the Liberty Stadium outfit are seemingly unable to breach their opposition’s goal during games. It’s unclear as to whether the system isn’t working, or the players are suffering a complete lack of confidence. However, what is clear, is that club lack the firepower to lift them out of this relegation scrap at the moment. For West Ham, the injury crisis has seen the East London side deliver a different kind of performance. Their away form has often been marvelled this term, taking scalps at Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal already under Slaven Bilic. Unfortunately for the Hammers, key injuries to the likes of Dimitri Payet, Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini have severely depleted the options available in recent weeks. Still, they were solid enough and may have nabbed a result in the dying embers of the game, though a draw may have been they could hope for considering the utter domination of the ball Swansea had. Here are FIVE things we learned during Swansea 0-0 West Ham.
SWANS LACK CUTTING EDGE
Today showed us that, even though Swansea look like a technically proficient team who are adept at passing the ball around with aplomb, they lack that most important of characteristics: a cutting edge.
We all know that if you don’t score, you won’t win, and without a cutting edge, stats live we’ve seen from Swansea today are a certainty. With all the possession, they managed almost double West Ham’s shot count, but with only two on target, it’s the lack of a real cutting edge that means they don’t get into the positions necessary to get their shots on target.
Or maybe they’re just terrible at shooting….
GOMIS LACKS FIGHT
Before today’s game, Bafetimbi Gomis had scored four goals in his first 10 shots in the Premier League this season, starting like a house on fire and propelling Swansea to victory. But then he managed just one goal from his next 21 shots as his form slid off the radar and into the doldrums.
Today’s game showed that he’s not at all up for the fight.
Swansea will now have to face the reality that they find themselves in a relegation scrap, and in order to get out of that, you need players who can score goals. And whilst Gomis has proven that he can score goals for Swansea, his lack of fight is worrying. After all, a relegation battle is a street fight, and if you’re not up for it, you’re going down. Literally.
WILLIAMS BACK TO HIS BEST
In stark contrast to his failing teammate at the other end of the pitch, Ashley Williams was truly stoic. The Welshman proved he can still be the beating heart of this Swansea team, putting out fires all over the shop with his stunning ability to read the game.
There were no last-ditch tackles, more a tactical nous to be marvelled. When Nikica Jelavic was through on goal, the Welsh captain stood his ground and proved an immovable object when many would have dived and left the goal at the Croat’s mercy.
ANTONIO WORTH THE WAIT
Ok, so it wasn’t a vintage winger performance where he dazzled the Swansea defence or turned them inside. However, Michail Antonio proved what a good player he is on a rainy miserable night in South Wales. The former Nottingham Forest man has had to bide his time from the sidelines, but an injury to Victor Moses was afforded him a starting berth.
The 25-year old was everywhere this evening, marauding up and down the right flank to bomb forward, as well as taking his defensive duties very seriously. If he can add some the creativity he showed in the Championship to his game, he’s some prospect.
REFS CAN BE CONNED
Unfortunately for the home side, they were denied a goal by James Collins’ hand, and a penalty by referee Lee Mason. The Welsh defender appeared to block Ki’s effort on goal with his hand, whether it was on purpose or not, as the ball sailed over the bar with just the ‘keeper or not.
Either way, a clear goalscoring chance was blocked by the use of his hand. The defender then held his head, think Rivaldo vs Turkey in 2002, rolling around on the floor to divert attention from his felony and playact his way out of trouble.
It’s a shame for Swansea, with goals at such a premium for the side at the present moment.