Why FA attention over Oli McBurnie was wrong

Going to support your football team is one of the most joyous events for any fan. So, why should a professional footballer be treated any differently?

That's the question that has been asked consistently ever since Sheffield United's Oli McBurnie was "reminded" of his responsibilities by the FA following his appearance on camera allegedly making an obscene gesture whilst watching Swansea City. McBurnie, of course, spent four years with the Swans before moving to Premier League promoted side Sheffield United.

Oli McBurnie pictured here in the Swansea crowd against Cardiff.

Hardly an anomaly

It was derby day for the Swans against their bitterest rivals Cardiff City on January 12 and the 23-year-old striker was in the crowd following Sheffield United's 1-0 victory over West Ham the previous Friday. The Leeds-born forward had scored that game and was clearly just wanting to stand and support his team.

It's hardly an aberration for the Scottish international to be pictured amongst the Swansea crowd, having also been pictured watching the Swans against QPR earlier in the season. Plus, the gesture which McBurnie was seen to be making is commonplace around football grounds up and down the country.

So, why has the FA moved to warn him?

Well, of course, the FA needs to always appear above-board and McBurnie's responsibilities as a professional footballer means he is constantly in the public eye. That, in itself, almost forces footballers to be on their best behaviour, especially when there are cameras watching their every move.

But, critics consistently bemoan footballers as living their own lives and that they are far too detached from ordinary fans. McBurnie proved that footballers are, on the whole, just normal people wanting to support their teams. Is that such a crime?

What we like to see (minus the gesture)

Naturally, the gesture cannot be defended, but the fact that McBurnie had travelled to South Wales on his weekend off shows just how much the Swansea club means to him. If every footballer that supported a side did that then football may well be a happier place altogether.

McBurnie's gesture isn't exactly pretty.

The footballer loves it and the fans next to him love it even more. The chance to mingle with one of their former heroes cannot be underestimated and it's this kind of interaction that spectators love to see. Everyone gets carried away with gestures, but punishing players in this regard just shows how out of touch those at the top really are.

Big Match Preview: Stoke City vs Swansea City

Swansea City travel to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium in this round 29 Championship clash.

Previous form and league position
Both sides go into this one in reasonable runs of form with Stoke not having lost in three games and Swansea with no loss in four. Their league positions, however, could not be more different as the Welsh side sit just one place and one point outside the top six whilst the Potters lie four points above the drop zone in 21st.

Previous head-to-head
Swansea do not have a good record against Stoke with just one win in their last five meetings. The Swans also failed to beat Stoke at home earlier on in the season, going down 2-1.

Scott Hogan was the hero for Stoke in the two sides' last meeting in October 2019.

Odds and Best Bet
Surprisingly, despite both sides' positions in the Championship table, Stoke are 11/10 favourites on Unibet with a draw at 13/5 on William Hill. A Swansea victory, meanwhile, is 14/5 on William Hill which will surely attract a number of flutters.

Joint top-scorer for Stoke with six, Sam Vokes, is 5/1 to score first on Unibet as is fellow striker Scott Hogan. Sam Clucas also has six goals for the Potters this season and is 21/2 on the same site to break the deadlock. Tyrese Campbell at 13/5 to score anytime and 13/2 to score first on Unibet looks inviting too given his five goals in nine games have helped Stoke move out of the relegation zone.

Swansea's starlet Rhian Brewster already has one goal to his name and he has odds of a remarkable 21/2 to score first and an even more impressive 19/4 to score anytime with Andre Ayew at 10/1 to net first and 7/2 to score anytime on Bet365.

Surely, a Swansea victory at 14/5 on William Hill and Rhian Brewster to score first at 21/2 on Unibet are bargains waiting to happen.

Rhian Brewster celebrates scoring on his debut for Swansea.

Where the Game Will Be Won
For Swansea, it will be whether they can repeat the free-flowing football produced against Wigan last weekend. Their two goals - scored by Brewster and Ayew - were down to extremely exciting and skilful football and boss Steve Cooper will certainly be hoping for more of the same.

Campbell is Stoke's dangerman, but also look out for midfielder and ex-Swansea man Clucas who can certainly ping a pass or two as well finish expertly.

It's remarkable really that both sides have scored the same amount of goals (34) despite their respective positions in the league, but a goal may be enough for either side - especially as Stoke hunt for their third consecutive clean sheet under Michael O'Neill.

Final Thoughts
Swansea will surely be too good for a Stoke side that is clinging on to Championship life by the skin of its teeth. Both sides have been in reasonable form, but if the Welsh side want to earn promotion, games like this need to end up in victories. Though a resurgent Stoke will have something to say about that.

How Swansea's January transfer window has been shaping up so far

Wind the clock back to this time last year and Swansea were in a pickle; the loss of Wilfried Bony, Tom Carroll and Jefferson Montero without replacements hit the club hard, and, it could have been even worse had Daniel James and Leroy Fer completed their respective would-be moves.

Yet, 2020 has seen the Swans resurge; Rhian Brewster, Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi have added some much-needed impetus to the Welsh side. Hopeful of achieving promotion in his first season with the Swans, Steve Cooper has acted rather than reacted to what could have been a problem.

Marc Guehi celebrating his loan move.

Promotion a real possibility

After losing sight of the play-offs for a spell in November, Swansea sit just one point and one place outside the top six - and they have a game in hand on sixth-placed Preston. And, with the new additions as well as the playing and coaching staff and the fans, all talking about promotion, there is a real feel-good attitude around the Liberty Stadium at present. That mid-season blip has long gone and the Welsh side look in good shape to mount another assault on the Premier League.

Though there is still time until the January transfer window ends, Cooper, chairman Trevor Birch and head of recruitment Andy Scott, must be given a pat on the back for the way they have identified the issues within the squad and rectified them in a short space of time.

It was Cooper's relationship with Brewster that influenced the latter to join and he has already scored on his Swansea debut whilst on-loan Chelsea duo Gallagher and Guehi have added some steel to the midfield and defence respectively.

Rhian Brewster celebrates his debut goal.

Are the Swans finished there for their recruitment?

It's unlikely that Cooper will add any more loan signings to his squad with six already in the Swansea ranks - one more than the limit that can be included on match days. But, that still hasn't stopped the rumour mill from ticking over.

Lorient starlet Julien Ponceau continues to be linked with the Swans with the Welsh club having held discussions with the youngster. That's as far as it has gone so far though. Meanwhile, non-league striker Ronald Sobowale - cousin of Bayern Munich's David Alaba - has been rumoured also, but the chances of Swansea doing any last-minute business seems unlikely.

What about outgoings?

Well, that seems to be where the action is likely to be in the remaining days. Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Genclerbirligi - Turkey) and Kristoffer Peterson (Utrecht - the Netherlands) have already departed the Liberty Stadium. Though Peterson's exit led to a chorus of groans, the Swede had scored just once in 11 appearances.

Kristoffer Nordfeldt has moved to Turkish side Genclerbirligi.

Bersant Celina continues to be linked to a move away with Brighton said to be on his radar as does Andre Ayew, but neither have been the subject of bids and keeping hold of the duo could well be the difference between earning promotion and enduring another year in the second tier.

Post-Match Review - Swansea City vs Blackburn Rovers

Ben Cabango made his full league debut

Swansea still haven't won in six games, but they came close against Blackburn as Danny Graham's opener was cancelled out by Andre Ayew as the two sides fought hard for a 1-1 draw.

Switching things up
Swans head coach Steve Cooper made four changes from the side that was comprehensively beaten by West Brom last weekend with Ben Cabango making his full league debut alongside Tom Carroll, Bersant Celina and Jake Bidwell.


The Welsh side, however, seemed to pick up where they left off against the Baggies, conceding in the fourth minute to a Danny Graham effort. The tension around the Liberty Stadium was palpable as Cooper's men looked to be staring defeat in the face yet again. But, an Andre Ayew header from a Matt Grimes cross in the tenth minute settled the team and the crowd.

Major improvement
In fact, Swansea showed a vast improvement from their demolition at West Brom, with Ayew in particular causing the visitors all sorts of problems. Carroll's red card 12 minutes into the second-half stemmed the Swans' momentum, but Bradley Dack soon followed Carroll for an early bath ten minutes later.

Cooper's men ended the game with 57% possession and 14 shots to Blackburn's 8. This must have given the former England youth boss confidence that his side can turn things around in the Championship.

Controversy
But, what didn't please Cooper was the performance of referee Jeremy Simpson. Incandescent, Cooper blasted Simpson, stating that he should be dropped to the conference. The Swansea boss labelled Simpson's decision not to award a second-half penalty for handball by Rovers' Dack as a "massive error."

Referee Jeremy Simpson came in for some criticism in the 1-1 draw

The list of Cooper's issues didn't stop there though as he referred to Carroll's and Dack's second yellow cards as "mistakes" and also wanted a penalty for a foul on Sam Surridge as Swansea tried to force a winner late on.

Positives
Ghanian Ayew led from the front and seemed to be on a one-man mission to help his side get the three points at the Liberty Stadium. With the worst home record in the Championship's top 17, a loss would have been catastrophic, but the Swans plugged away with Ayew - who is currently looking far too impressive for the second tier - at the helm.

Connor Roberts enjoyed some great runs forward and was a rock at the back when necessary whilst captain Matt Grimes kept the Swans ticking - even after receiving a whack that saw Dack sent off.

Striker Surridge made some superb runs in-behind, but failed to hit the net.

What to Work On
Surridge could do with adding another few goals to his name if he wants to keep his place as does Celina. Again, defensive frailties were on show though with Mike van der Hoorn enduring a nervy first-half and Jake Bidwell getting caught out for Blackburn's goal.

However, it was a much improved performance and there were plenty of positives for Cooper to take into the weekend's game against Middlesbrough. A draw might not have been enough to stop the vultures circling at SA1, but it certainly lifted spirits.

Big Match Preview - Swansea City vs Blackburn Rovers

Swansea City host Blackburn Rovers at the Liberty Stadium in this round 21 Championship clash.

Previous form and league position
With Swansea's 100% away record coming to an end in a 5-1 thrashing by West Brom, the Welsh side will be aiming to get back on the horse after just two wins in ten games. Blackburn, meanwhile, are on a four-match winning run and now sit just above (10th) the Swans (11th) on points difference in the table.

Swansea appeared hapless against promotion hopefuls West Brom.

Whilst Tony Mowbray's men will be looking to add their fifth win in succession, Swansea are in a rut - they haven't won in five games - and are looking over their shoulder, just 13 points ahead of the relegation zone.

Previous head-to-head
Surprisingly, these two sides have met just twice in the league since 2012 and only four times since 1984. The last two meetings have seen the Swans come out 3-1 winners (October 2018) with a 2-2 draw in the most recent fixture (May 2019).

Predicted line-ups
Swansea
Formation - 4-2-3-1
Team - Woodman; Roberts, Wilmot, van der Hoorn, Naughton; Fulton, Grimes; Ayew, Byers, Dier; Surridge
Out - Celina (Doubtful), Garrick (Injured), John (Injured), Mulder (Injured), Rodon (Injured), Routledge (Injured).

Blackburn
Formation - 4-2-3-1
Team - Walton; Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Downing; Travis, Evans; Armstrong, Dack, Rothwell; Graham
Out - Butterworth (Injured), Cunningham (Injured), Davenport (Injured), Gladwin (Injured), Grayson (Injured), Hart (Injured), Samuel (Injured), Williams (Injured).

Odds and Best Bet
Swansea are well-placed to win at 1.25/1 on Unibet, whilst a draw is 2.5/1 and a Blackburn victory 2.25/1.

Andrew Ayew, Borja Baston and Sam Surridge all have six goals for the Swans in the 2019/20 Championship season so far with the trio 8.5/1, 4.5/1 and 6.5/1 to score first on Unibet and bet365 respectively.

Bradley Dack is quite clearly the threat for Rovers, with his 10 goals in the Championship six more than nearest Blackburn contender Adam Armstrong. Despite this, Dack is priced at an inviting 8/1 to score first on sportsbet with striker Danny Graham - who has scored just once in the league - at 7/1.

A draw and Bradley Dack to score first surely look the most tantalising offers.

Bradley Dack is a tremendous threat for Rovers.

Where the Game Will Be Won
If Tony Mowbray names an unchanged side for Rovers, it will see Lewis Travis partner Corry Evans in the heart of the Blackburn midfield. When that duo have played together, Rovers have won a remarkable 10 games from a possible 13.

Swansea need to watch out for Dack too; the Welsh side have failed to record a clean sheet in the league since late October whilst Blackburn are hunting for their second in succession with Dack having scored four in his last four.

The injury to Joe Rodon at the back for Swansea has derailed Steve Cooper's great start to the season and Rovers will be licking their lips at the frailties on show in Swansea's 5-1 reversal at West Brom last weekend.

Final Thoughts
Cooper's men need to desperately find some inspiration from somewhere; a losing mentality is incredibly difficult to get out of, and, with Rovers in a rampant mood recently, the visitors could well inflict further pain on the Welsh side with Cooper limping into the January transfer window.

Blackburn to at least get a draw.

Swansea's unbeaten away record ends in dismal fashion. What next?

Before last weekend, Swansea were the only side in the Championship boasting a 100% away record. Fast forward to Sunday evening and the Swans were licking their wounds after promotion-favourites West Brom heaped more misery on the Welsh side with a 5-1 drubbing.

Swansea have won just twice in ten games, falling out of the play-off spots and down to 11th in the process.

The contrast between the two sides could not have been starker as the Baggies taught Swansea a footballing lesson.

A Sam Surridge goal six minutes before half-time made it 2-1 before a Hal Robson-Kanu goal on 44 minutes restored West Brom's two-goal lead. Two further goals from the home side in the second-half, aided with some horrendous defensive lapses from the Swans, restored the Baggies' place at the top of the Championship.

That position could have been filled by Swansea a few months ago, but, after going on an eight-match winning run at the start of the season, Steve Cooper's men have failed to win in five games and with just three wins in 15 games, the pressure is on at the Liberty Stadium to pick up performances or risk dropping further down the table.

Of course, the injury to Joe Rodon hasn't helped at the back and that frailty was all too apparent at the Hawthorns with Ben Wilmot and Mike van der Hoorn experiencing horror shows. In fact, only Sam Surridge appeared to cause West Brom any trouble - a feature which Cooper will want to address ahead of the busy Christmas schedule.

Livewire Bersant Celina hasn't played in recent weeks with George Byers preferred to support lone striker Sam Surridge, but recent results may influence Cooper to change things.

Swansea host Blackburn Rovers tonight and it will be interesting to see if Cooper changes things or sticks with the same side that was battered by West Brom. Plus, with the January transfer window just round the corner, there may well be some new blood required.

What do Swansea need in January to reignite promotion hopes?

Swansea's recent run of results of two draws and one loss have highlighted just how competitive the second tier of British football is.

And, currently in danger of dropping out of the Championship play-offs, the Swans certainly need some new impetus in the New Year. But, in which positions?

Six time-capped England Under-21s international and loanee star Freddie Woodman is excelling in goal. No wonder then that his parent club Newcastle United did not allow the youngster to permanently leave and tied him to a contract until the end of 2021.

In defence it's another story; the injury to Mike van der Hoorn in Swansea's draw at Huddersfield affected the Swans greatly. And, despite youngster Ben Cabango coming in for some high praise on his first league appearance, the injury opened up a can of worms.

Joe Rodon has already been sidelined for months with an ankle injury and van der Hoorn's sidelining has highlighted the defensive frailties within the squad. Cabango has stepped in admirably, but being thrust into the limelight in a pivotal part of the season as the Christmas period approaches, is probably not what boss Steve Cooper had in mind.

Swansea have no issues on the right or left side of defence wiith Kyle Naughton and Connor Roberts rotating marvelously on the right and Jake Bidwell and Declan John performing admirably on the left.

Last year, the absence of Leroy Fer meant that Swansea lacked that engine-type player, the one that thrives playing in the gruelling Championship. And, since his transfer to Feyenoord, the Welsh club are perhaps missing the "hard man" in midfield.

One thing is certain, though, Cooper is blessed with wingers and strikers. Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge, Kristoffer Peterson, Jordon Garrick, Bersant Celina and even Andre Ayew have all tinkered in the wide positions in 2019. Plus, Celina, Yan Dhanda, George Byers and Aldo Kalulu have excelled in the "playmaker" role.

Ayew and Borja Baston have been superb up front too; the duo have been involved in 17 goals in the Championship so far with back-up Sam Surridge scoring five himself. Whilst Swansea have been linked with other forwards, it would not be a disaster if Cooper continued with the same frontmen.

So, the goalkeeper issue seems to have been sorted and with widemen and forwards in abundance, Swansea have a tremendous basis from which to mount their Premier League charge. A defender and midfielder are perhaps, however, imperative if the Swans want to reach the top tier, two seasons after falling into the Championship.

Swansea set for six-way battle for Australian ace

With the January transfer window rapidly approaching, clubs are on the hunt for new recruits that can steer them towards promotion or survival. Luckily for Swansea, the Welsh side are in the first bracket and they have set their sights towards Livingston striker Lyndon Dykes.

Who is he? Well, Lyndon Dykes is an Australian-born forward. His footballing career has so far taken him to Scotland to Australia and back again with the powerful forward finally settling at the Scottish Championship club Queen of the South in 2016 where he netted ten times in 86 league appearances and nine times in 31 cup appearances.

His form precipitated a move to Scottish Premiership club Livingston in January 2019 - an agreement in which Dykes would be loaned back to the Dumfries club to end the 2018-19 season at Palmerston Park, scoring a further three goals in 15 appearances.

Since moving to Livingston, the striker has netted five times and registered two assists in 14 appearances, including one in the West Lothian's side's famous victory over Celtic in October. Despite the attention of many English and Welsh clubs, Dykes signed a new contract with Livingston in September until the end of the 2022 season.

But, in football, contracts can often mean little and Dykes is now subject to a huge amount of rumour surrounding his future. And, it's claimed that Livingston may choose to cash in in January when the transfer window re-opens.

South Wales seems to be on red alert as Swansea's main rivals Cardiff also appear to be monitoring the 24-year-old. But these two are not alone either as six Championship clubs are believed to be keen on making a move, with Middlesbrough, Bristol City, Derby and Blackburn among Dykes' suitors.

Though able to play in a number of positions in the final third, mainly as the main striker, he has also operated on either wing and in the no.10 role.

Dykes sporting silver hair

Yet, it's his disciplinary record that may deter some clubs. He has already accumulated five yellow cards this term, and was sent of in Livingston’s 3-1 defeat to Rangers in September.

It's not yet clear just how much cash it would take to prise the striker from Scotland to join a club in England or Wales, but for the time being, he is certainly one to look out for ahead of January with Swansea said to be keen on a player that throws up memories of an 'old school no.9'. 

Standing at 6ft 2ins and with the physique that rugby players would be proud of, the Australian powerhouse possesses fearsome aerial strength and hold up play that allows him to bully his opponents. He would surely fit in in the second tier of English football, it just remains to be seen who wants him the most.

Daniel James transfer to Leeds United "not right" according to Huw Jenkins

It was one of the biggest transfer sagas in not only Swansea's recent history, but the whole of the 2019 January transfer market.

James pictured with a Leeds United shirt before his transfer fell through at the 11th hour.

But, despite having completed a medical at Leeds United ahead of a loan move until the end of the 2018/19 campaign - which would have been made permanent had Leeds gained promotion - Daniel James and Leeds were left high and dry by Swans chairman Huw Jenkins.

Jenkins - who left his job as Swansea chairman just two days after the transfer following 17 years at the club - appeared willing to sign the deal off until the last minute, ignoring phone calls from an increasingly frustrated Elland Road office.

It was after 2pm when the call came granting James permission to start a medical at Leeds United on deadline-day and make good his transfer from Swansea City. In fact, the winger arrived in Yorkshire as early as possible, having driven all the way from Wales to sign on the dotted line.

The 22-year-old winger was identified as a winger that could help propel Leeds back into the Premier League after a 15-year absence. And, in the Leeds United documentary Take Us Home - which shows United's 2018/19 campaign under Marcelo Bielsa - James was actually pictured holding up a Leeds shirt with both the player and club believing the transfer was all-but completed.

United had attempted to get their man in the days before, but Swansea's board had remained resilient. What began as a £5m up-front offer from United became a loan to the end of this season with a commitment from Leeds to sign James for a fee in excess of £5m if they won promotion from the Championship.

In fact, a loan fee was necessary to bring negotiations to a close. Having agreed to it, Leeds finally felt their man would come through the door.

James passed a medical in good time at Thorp Arch - Leeds' training complex - and was driven to Elland Road around 6pm on deadline-day to complete the paperwork and go through the process of media interviews and photographs.

But Leeds were met with silence with two hours to go until the deadline. Complicating proceedings, Swansea's relegation had already seen the loss of players, but with the likes of Wilfried Bony, Jefferson Montero and Leroy Fer seemingly set for the exit on deadline day, Jenkins pulled the plug on James' departure, fearing mutiny from the Swansea faithful.

And, he has now explained why.

“I communicated with everybody at Leeds on the phone, back and forth, and I am sure they put Dan on to me as well.

“They were all trying to convince us to do the deal but I just felt from a club’s point of view, based on value and based on Graham’s (Potter) success, it wasn’t right.

"I thought, second half of the season, as it proved, he’d have a big impact for the club. Dan was just coming into his own.

"I did give Dan my views. He had no guarantee of going straight into the Leeds team, and the uncertainty over whether they would buy him or not is not a good thing for a young player. Take all that into account and there was only one decision to be made. Thankfully, it worked out well for the football club and for Dan.”

James returned to Swansea unhappy, but continued to ply his trade in Wales before Manchester United came in for him in the summer, paying £15m, rising to £18m with add-ons applied.

That, of course, benefitted Swansea to a much greater extent than letting James leave for one of their promotion rivals for a third of that price.

And, with pace to burn and a willingness to attack, James has already enamoured himself to the Old Trafford faithful.

The curious case of Barrie McKay

Barrie McKay - the seemingly forgotten man at Swansea.

The Scottish international was one of former boss Graham Potter's six summer signings in 2018 and went on to feature in 31 of the Swans' games last season. But, under new head coach Steve Cooper, McKay has made just three appearances and all of these have been in the Carabao Cup. Even then, the winger has appeared for only a combined 120 minutes.

So, what's happened to the former Rangers flyer?

The 24-year-old hasn't been included in a match-day squad since the 2-1 defeat to Watford in the Carabao Cup back in September while his only appearance in an 18-man Championship squad was when he was an unused substitute for the opening day win against Hull City.

Even though the Scot performed decently under Potter - including a superb goal away at Bolton as well as a number of important assists - McKay is far from a loved footballer at the Liberty Stadium with Cooper at the helm.

Though regularly played out of position at Swansea with Bersant Celina favoured in the No.10 role, McKay has come in for stick from a swathe of the Swansea faithful.

The former Nottingham Forest winger should have been well on his way to staking a claim for a wing position with the departures of Daniel James, Luciano Narsingh and Jefferson Montero in the summer, but, he has instead become even more of a peripheral figure at the Liberty Stadium as the Swans hit promotion form in the first part of the 2019/20 campaign.

McKay has seen his route to the first team blocked by the return of Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer to the side, both of whom have been impressive in recent weeks whilst the previously outcast Andre Ayew and Celina have been found operating in wide roles also.

Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge have performed well for Swansea.

In fact, McKay has found himself even further down the pecking order with the likes of Aldo Kalulu and Kristoffer Peterson getting more game time as the season progresses. And, even when Celina has played out on the left, George Byers and Yan Dhanda have been preferred to McKay in the central role behind the lone striker.

With options appearing increasingly limited at the Liberty Stadium, the Scot cuts an ever-depressing figure. Though contracted until summer 2021, McKay is surely likely to leave if he doesn't get a chance, especially when considering he has even been relegated to the Under-23s of late.

It's sad to see the decline of a talented footballer, but sometimes players just don't fit at certain clubs. McKay's quandary seems exactly that.

Former boss Paulo Sousa believes he was the one that harnessed the Premier League dream

In a bizarre turn of events, former Swansea head coach Paulo Sousa has hit out at the club's "very poor" facilities and claims he was the man that made Brendan Rodgers' Premier League achievement possible.

The Portuguese head coach - who is now in charge of French Ligue 1 side Bordeaux - guided the Swans to within a whisker of the play-offs during the 2009-10 Championship season, but the Welsh dream collapsed on the final day as a draw against Doncaster Rovers meant that Blackpool leapfrogged Swansea into the final play-off spot in sixth.

Sousa had initially travelled to UK shores in 2008 to become QPR boss after a stint as assistant coach of the Portuguese national side, but a less-than ceremonious end to his stint in White City and Roberto Martinez' departure to Wigan opened the door for Sousa to join the Welsh club.

Sousa departed Swansea in July 2010 to take up the vacant managerial position at Leicester City, but won just one game from nine in charge and was sacked nearly three months later.

Whilst Sousa's England career nosedived, Swansea reached the promised-land of the Premier League the year after under Brendan Rodgers. A seven-year stay in the top tier followed with the club currently rebuilding for another charge.

But, despite Sousa failing at the final hurdle in his only year in charge at the Liberty Stadium, the Portuguese has insisted he was the one that changed things for the better.



"Huw Jenkins realised that my type of football and my knowledge of the English league during the months I was at QPR were enough to be the right coach to continue the ideas he had in mind to reach the best results with Swansea." Sousa stated.

"And they were the best results, at the time, of the last 27 years. We were one point away from the play-offs, and then, with a little more investment and the improvement of all the game processes, it ended up happening with Brendan Rodgers."

Though Swansea's rise to the Premier League bankrolled the ability to create a new state-of-the art facility at Fairwood as well as the club's now-lauded youth system, that hasn't always been the case and Sousa was quick to point that out.

"Swansea’s facilities were very poor at the time. We had a training ground that, when it rained — and it rains almost every day there — would get flooded and we would go to an indoor of maybe 40 by 60 metres, with synthetic grass from the first generations."

Whether or not Sousa's comments are well-founded, Swansea were a fourth-tier side in danger of relegation to the Conference six years before the Portuguese took over. That kind of history must have been known before Sousa took the job. Perhaps it's just bitterness that Rodgers completed what Sousa could not.

Swansea in the race for Liverpool starlet Rhian Brewster

Reports suggest that Swansea City are among a number of clubs tracking Liverpool ace Rhian Brewster.

A possible loan signing is on the cards, but the Swans are facing competition from Crystal Palace, Bristol City and clubs in Germany.



The 19-year-old burst onto the scene at the Under-17s World Cup in 2017, scoring eight times to be crowned the competition's top-scorer as England took home the title in impressive fashion.

Though other clubs are reportedly interested in Dagenham-born Brewster, Swansea's links with Liverpool may well tip the balance in the Welsh club's favour.

Head coach Steve Cooper - a former Liverpool Academy Coach - steered England to Under-17 World Cup success with Brewster performing superbly under his guidance.



Assistant Mike Marsh also has links to Merseyside having won the FA Cup in a playing period of six years at Anfield.

Highly-rated at Anfield, Brewster signed a five-year contract with the Reds in July 2018, despite being injured with an ankle ligament injury, and made his senior debut in their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over MK Dons in September.

A full 90 minutes in Liverpool's classic 5-5 draw and penalty success against Arsenal highlighted the faith boss Jurgen Klopp has in the youngster, despite the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah in front of him.

 But, in regular league games, as Klopp attempts to steer Liverpool to their 19th English title, Brewster has found opportunities hard to come by which isn't exactly surprising considering the triumvirate mentioned above.

For boss Cooper, Brewster would add a goalscoring threat, with the club having sold Oli McBurnie to Sheffield United in the summer. Sam Surridge has come in on a season-long loan, scoring five goals in the season so far, but Brewster would add another dimension and experience of being in a Champions League-winning environment.



Cooper also has Andre Ayew and Borja Baston to call on up-front and the pair have 11 goals between them in the Championship, so Cooper is not exactly desperate for another forward. And, Liverpool would surely ensure that Brewster heads for a club that will guarantee the youngster game time, something which, with three goalscoring forwards, may not be assured at Swansea.

Whether or not Cooper can ensure this remains to be seen, but who wouldn't want a breakthrough youngster from one of the top footballing sides in the world? If it can be done, the Swans could well cement their place in the play-off places at the right-end of the Championship table.

James’s transfer to Manchester United completes remarkable rise

After a below- par season for the Red Devils, which saw manager Jose Mourinho controversially sacked after a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield, club legend, and scorer in that famous Champions League final in the Nou Camp in 1999, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, took the reigns as caretaker manager and form drastically improved.



After an impressive comeback at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League, his appointment was made permanent but since then United’s form has dipped drastically and they slumped to an underwhelming sixth place finish last season following some pretty uninspiring performances; condemning themselves to a place in the Europa League for the 2019/20 season.

With the rebuilding now underway at Old Trafford as Ole tries to overhaul his squad, the Norwegian has been searching for young, quick and hungry players and it seems like the Swan’s Daniel James is very close to a move to Salford in what some may see as a remarkable rise for the Welsh international.

James has gone from failing to break into the Shrewsbury town squad and having his loan terminated to being destined to play for one the most successful clubs in world football.

The 21-year-old has already suffered disappointment and heartbreak in his short career with a move to Leeds United breaking down six months ago which bought public frustration from James. The attacker has also suffered a major personal loss with the tragic sudden death of his father Kevan James at the age of 60.

Observers from inside the Liberty comment that he is very professional for such a young age and the move to Old Tafford comes after James stared for the Swans last term despite what turned out to be a pretty uninspiring season.

The wideman first garnered national attention following the Swans FA cup run last term; a run that was eventually ended in by eventual winners Manchester City in a controversial game that saw the Swans beaten late on, despite being 2-0 up.

After the game, Man City boss Pep Guardiola, who is regarded as one of greatest managers in the world, heaped praise on the welsh international’s performance after he gave Argentina centre-back Otamendi a run for his money.

James finished the season with final stats of 6 goals and 7 assists in all competitions. 

The transfer fee is rumoured to be around £15 million pounds, plus £3 million in add ons, which can only be positive for the Swans financially, although they are losing a top- quality player who provided so much last campaign.

With World Cup winner Steve Cooper coming to take the reigns at the Liberty, and with Plymouth star Ruben Lameiras rumoured to be coming through the door on a free, the money now needs to be reinvested wisely so the Swans can replace James and rebuild as they attempt to achieve promotion back to England’s top flight at the second attempt next season.

James was also rumoured to be wanted by Monaco, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham so the Swans had a near- impossible job in keeping him in the Championship.

Swans join race for Portuguese ace Lameiras

Since the sale of Gylfi Sigurðsson to Everton in August 2017, for a club record fee of £40 million, Swansea have failed to replace the attacking prowess offered by the Iceland international who scored 27 goals in 106 games for the Swans after joining on a permanent transfer. 

The following season the Swans added Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches to the ranks in an attempt to fill the void; a player who starred in Portugal’s shock Euro 2016 win. This move didn’t work out however and the Swans were subsequently relegated to the Championship for the 2018/19 season in which they never really set the world alight, finishing in 10th place. 

With the recent transfer of Daniel James to Manchester United for a fee rumoured to be around £18 million, Swansea are in desperate need of an attacking outlet as they aim to improve on last season’s mid- table finish.

One player strongly rumoured to be heading to Wales is Lameiras, who is out of contract at Plymouth Argyle and is set to leave the Devon club after the Pilgrims suffered a disappointing season- being relegated back to League 2 after promotion in 2016/17.

Lameiras was a fan favourite a Home Park and the Swans are reportedly interested in bringing the tricky winger in on a free transfer to the Liberty, although Ligue 1 club Bordeaux are also said to be interested in the Portuguese wide man.

Lameiras was a rare highlight in a drab season for the Pilgrims, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists in 45 games in all competitions; he was also named the club’s Player of the Year. His impressive performances in League 1 last season drew attention from many top club scouts so it could be a big coup for the Swans.

Before transferring to Argyle in 2017, Lameiras was a Coventry City player after being released from Spurs. He spent two seasons with the Sky Blues where he enjoyed success-including an EFL Trophy win at Wembley in 2016-17- but he moved to Home Park after Coventry were relegated to the fourth tier in 2017.

Lameiras is a tricky winger who would provide pace and skill going forward and create chances. At 24 years old he has many years still ahead of him to improve and flourish. Lameiras is also a versatile player who has played across the midfield throughout his career. The Lisbon- born forward excels in the number 10 role, with his agility and pace, and could provide a good attacking option for the Swans for the upcoming 2019/20 Championship season.

With Steve Cooper set to be announced as new Swans boss, Lameiras’s quick feet and pace make him an ideal fit for the Swansea style of play the club want to revert to.

However, can the Portuguese adapt to the added pace and quality off the Championship compared to League 1 if he does enter the Liberty as the Swans first summer signing?

Lameiras comes strongly recommended by Tottenham’s long-standing and highly respected academy director John McDermott and he could be developed into a star, as the clips below from his last campaign reveal:

World Cup winner Cooper tipped for Swans job

After a 7 year stay in the Premier League, which even included a Europa League campaign, Swansea were relegated back to the Championship in the 2017/18 season.

Carlos Carvalhal left, and Graham Potter subsequently took the reigns for the 2018/19 Championship season as he looked to fire the Swans straight back to the Premier League. This wasn’t the case as Swansea finished in 10th place- never really challenging for the play-offs. The end of 2018/19 season saw Potter depart after less than a year in charge for the vacant Brighton job after Chris Hughton was sacked, despite keeping the seagulls in the Premier League for a second season running.

Now, Steve Cooper is the surprise favourite to take the Swans job for the upcoming 2019/20 season. Cooper was the manager of the World Cup winning England U17 side in India in 2017 where he was credited with getting the best out off players such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho who have recently played for the England senior team.

Cooper wants a chance at club management and, having been born in Pontypridd, the Swans job seems like it could prove to be the ideal fit for both parties.

Cooper came from nowhere to become favourite for the job after it seemed like Wales assistant manager Mark Bowen looked likely to take the hotseat owing to the fact that he’s a local lad from Neath, and a Swans fan from young, after watching them in the old Vetch field.

Swansea seemed the ideal job for Bowen and the fans would surely welcome him coming back to manage his boyhood club. He was the bookmaker’s favourite but is now out of the running along with former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet.

Coopers lack of experience and the fact he’s never managed a senior team are reasons why people are surprised he is favourite. However, the fact Cooper has got the best out of young players is said to work in his favour and it is hoped that if he does take the job that he can develop young players, which used to be a key part of what Swansea stand for.

Cooper was also the manager of Liverpool’s academy from 2008 to 2011, managing the likes of now treble- winning Raheem Sterling and Champions League winner Trent Alexander-Arnold. Coopers history with young players is impressive and he now fancy’s his first senior management job. Coopers England youngsters played fast, quick-flowing football in India, the style of football Swansea want to play.

Other candidates for the job include QPR caretaker manager John Eustace, Michael Appleton (who managed Oxford United when they shocked the Swans in the FA Cup 3rd round in 2016 beating them 3-2) is also a candidate. Cameron Toshack, a name infamous in welsh football is also in the running but Steve Cooper is the front runner with the bookmakers; being 1/5 on Paddy Power to take the vacant Swan’s job.

Ki Sung-yueng Joins Newcastle Following Swansea Departure

Following his departure from Swansea after failing to sign a new contract, South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yeung has joined Newcastle on two-year deal.

Joining back up with former teammate Jonjo Shelvey, the 29-year-old leaves after six seasons with the club and retains his own Premier League status after failing to help the Swans to do so.

He chose to move on from the club some time ago and will help provide Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle team with plenty more energy in the engine room.

He joins a growing list of Swansea players leaving the club, with Angel Rangel, Lukasz Fabianksi and Roque Mesa all having already departed, while club legend Leon Britton has moved upstairs to be a club ambassador.

It’s now going to take some work from Graham Potter to get the club ready for the new season, with the former Ostersunds manager already in discussions with a number of players as replacements.

We’ll of course bring you any signings as we get them...

Swansea Scouting Revamp As Potter Rings Changes

Swansea have confirmed that all their current scouting team have been relieved of their duties, with Graham Potter solely in charge of the club’s transfer strategy.

Potter is determined to put his own stamp on the club and has replaced Head of Recruitment Dave Leadbeater with Kyle Macauley, his former assistant manager at Ostersunds.

Leadbeater will be joined by Technical Recruitment scout Ian Henderson, his assistant Ian Roscrow and Bryan Flynn and Gerhard Tremmel who have all been shown the door.

The former two have been at the club since 2010 and 2012 respectively and had been a part of the furniture at the Liberty Stadium.

That has been torn up, with a statement from the club reading, “Graham will decide which areas of the team or squad need strengthening.

“Kyle will identify the key targets, research and study all the available information including scouting reports and data before providing a list to be pursued.”

It’s thought that list is already well underway with Potter having already identified a list of targets. He’ll first assess his players however before beginning business, but it’s certainly looking like it will be a busy pre-season ahead of life in the Championship.

World Cup Competition: Your chance to win a World Cup shirt or your choice

Bet and Skill are giving football fans the chance to win a World Cup kit of their choice to celebrate the 2018 World Cup.

The world has gone crazy for replica shirts this summer, with the Nigeria shirt selling out in minutes. Bet and Skill are giving the chance for fans to win one of 64 shirts on display this summer by answering one simple question.

It’s part of a much wider campaign for the brand, who have been offering World Cup tips and odds in the many months building up to the competition.

That will continue throughout the tournament, where they will also be unearthing the best World Cup betting promotions across the UK’s biggest bookmakers.

David at Bet & Skill said, “We’ve been building up to the World Cup for months and we’re excited run this competition and see fans really get behind their team.”

The competition closes on 14/07/2018 nd the winner will be contacted within seven days.

To win, fans need to head to the Bet & Skill website and answer the following question:

In which colour kit did England lift the World Cup trophy in 1966?


A. White

B. Blue

C. Red

You can view full details and enter the competition at: http://www.betandskill.com/join-the-strip-club-world-cup-competition/

Bet & Skill are one of the best betting affiliate sites in the country, offering the biggest odds and promotions from the nation’s favourite bookmakers.

Posting reviews on all major events across the football season, Bet & Skill are a one stop shop for all your sports betting needs.

West Ham Sign Fabianski In £7million Deal

West Ham have signed Swansea Player of the Year Lukasz Fabianski in a £7million deal.

The Polish international was seeking a move after the club’s relegation to the Championship and makes the move over to the London Stadium on a three-year deal.

The Swans had originally turned down a bid for the stopper, alongside another bid for Alfie Mawson, but it’s thought a higher bid managed to make the club succumb as they prepare for life in the second tier of English football.

Fabianski, who is currently at the World Cup with Poland, joined the Swans back in 2014 from Arsenal and went on to become a star player for the club, making 150 appearances across four seasons.

He was an ever-present and it’s no real surprise to see the 33-year-old leave following a fantastic season between the sticks at the Liberty.

Graham Potter will now have to search for a new number one, with only the Swede Kristoffer Nordfeldt and Erwin Mulder in the first team squad.