The Swansea City Summer Shopping List

There have been no sightings of Torres, Gerrard or Aguero dining at Rossi's yet this summer, because new signings for Swansea City won't be at the forefront of attention until a new manager is secured.

That patient wait until he is announced has overshadowed the fact that this is the post-season and Swansea need to replenish their squad.

It's hard to speculate on whether the new manager will play a similar 4-3-3 system or whether he will switch to a totally different style. This makes writing a 'what do we need' blog a little tricky at this stage, but, for now, this is my opinion on what should be considered for the shopping list.

Note: I've asked the #TwitterJacks their views on who should be signed (or loaned). If you don't know what a #TwitterJack is, the Oxford English Dictionary describes it as:

#TwitterJack
(noun: a Jack what is on Twitter) 

Shopping List 

Centre-back 
First on the list is quite clearly a new centre-back. It's the essential one - much more crucial than signing Sigurdsson in reality.

It's currently unlikely that Steven Caulker will return from Spurs on another loan deal. Not impossible, just very unlikely. Swansea are bare in the centre-back spots at the moment, with only Ashley Williams really able to do the job week-in week-out. Garry Monk is certainly able to step in when needed - he showed it last season - but he also showed he is slowing down a little, and I don't think he has the legs for a full season as a starting Premier League centre-back.

Ideal ForzaSwansea signing which certainly won't happen: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

Other, more realistic options: Christian Kum (ADO Den Haag), Ömer Toprak (Bayer Leverkusen), Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (Heerenveen), Steven Caulker (Spurs - naturally a very popular choice with the #TwitterJacks)

Left/Right-back
This is less vital than bringing in a new centre-back, but if Angel Rangel or Neil Taylor (or both!) take a knock or are ruled out for a few games, things become a little worrying. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Alan Tate start a few games - he deserves it - but, like Monk, he doesn't have the legs and consistent quality that is needed in the Premier League. Jazz Richards is also an option, but not established enough for me yet and uninspiring at times.

Swansea need someone strong, fast and comfortable with the ball at his feet, with the ability to make those essential overlapping runs. Not Fede Bessone.

Ideal ForzaSwansea signing which certainly won't happen: Christian Maggio (Napoli)

Other, more realistic options: Sam Ricketts (Bolton), Adam Henley (Blackburn), Fabio (Manchester United), Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace)

Winger 
This is more of a 'if-we-have-time-and-money-at-the-end-of-the-summer' kind of signing because Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Wayne Routledge all have the ability to play well enough in the Premier League. However, they all displayed moments of poor form last season - sometimes simultaneously - so another winger to mix things up and provide options if things become stale would be ideal. But, as I said, the new manager will be after others before this position.

Ideal ForzaSwansea signing which certainly won't happen: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

Other, more realistic options: Thomas Ince (Blackpool), Vaclav Pilar (Wolfsburg), Matt Jarvis (Wolves)

Striker
Danny Graham's work ethic is superb and his first season with the Swans produced 12 Premier League goals after a nervous start. While he is certainly one to keep hold of, someone a little more confident - someone who can put them away consistently - should also be on the shopping list. Maybe to start ahead of Graham, or even with him if we see a formation change.

Leroy Lita is strong and keen, but is lacking when it's at his feet. I've warmed a little to Luke Moore, but he has never made me say 'wow - you know what we need is another few Luke Moore's at this club'. Though both Lita and Moore have had their moments of brilliance (vs Blackburn and vs Man City respectively), if Graham became injured, I wouldn't be confident that these two could do the job.

Ideal ForzaSwansea signing which certainly won't happen: Fabio Borini (Parma/Roma)
Other, more realistic options: Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham), Yakubu (Blackburn), Marvin Emnes (Middlesbrough) Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield), Nelson Oliveira (S.L. Benfica), David Lafata (FK Baumit Jablonec)


Attacking Midfield?
I'm not sure about this area. I know Br**an R****rs was ready to break the transfer records with his £7million signing of Sigurdsson, but attacking midfield is an area that Swansea, possibly, already have the talent in.

Let's look at Stephen Dobbie one last time. We've all noticed he has, so far, been unable to make his mark on the Premier League and seems much more comfortable in the Championship. However, any permanent loan to Blackpool seems off until the new manager is sorted for Swansea. Maybe give him a final chance in the first part of next season? It's a gamble which might just pay off (and a gamble I'm sure Ian Holloway would take if he was in charge!).

Andrea Orlandi is another who impressed during his very limited time on the field last season. It could've just been a one off, but Orlandi is one player I'd like to see in the pre-season games against the American sides and could well be the answer to the tricky central problem?

Ideal ForzaSwansea signing which certainly won't happen: Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid)
Other, more realistic options: Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Jens Toornstra (ADO Den Haag), Rasmus Elm (AZ Alkmaar)


Your opinions are always welcome - just add them in the comments box below, or get in touch on Twitter (now you know what a #TwitterJack is) via @ForzaSwansea.
 

The Swansea City Vindaloo: Hard to digest

So much changes over a week during the post-season/pre-season/void, especially when you combine the search for a manager and a handful of new players. It's hard to keep up. Some are able to; some are not, and ultimately crack under the pressure of trying to take in all the rumours, gossip, chatter and inevitable sightings of José Mourinho and Paulo Sousa at Morgan's Hotel.

Let's at least try to digest some of the past week with Swansea City with a Pepto Bismol-coated blog post.

Most recently - who saw Brendan Rodgers' open letter to the Evening Post? It was heart-warming. Well, not really. In fact, it was as you might have expected and can be summed up like this:

Thanks. Mission. Legacy. Thanks. Love Swansea. Thanks. Forever a Jack. (Wait... what?)

Don't get me wrong - he didn't have to do it, nobody forced him. In a way, it's better than nothing. I guess he felt it would be nice to explain himself. But, as one enjoyable tweeter wrote after reading it: “The Rodgers letter; a bit like your wife leaving you and then sending you a letter to say how good you were.”

It's also very similar to the Martinez open letter, written just before he nabbed a few players for Wigan.

Anyway, I'll be mentioning the new Liverpool manager as little as I can now, because Swansea City must move forward! The Swans need a manager, back room staff, players and a new focus for next season.

Before I leap into possible new managers, it's worth mentioning that the Sigurdsson move is off. Two weeks ago he was about to have a medical and sign, then... he wasn't. Sigurdsson is one of the best loanees to have worn the Swansea shirt in recent years, but he certainly was not the sole reason Swansea survived last season. Yes, he scored vital goals and created reassuring chances, but to be honest, maybe the massive price tag would've seen him do a Torres/Carroll and flop? Who knows. Maybe Liverpool will find out.

Besides, Swansea are not lacking midfielders and at least the new manager will have £7million to spend on a different player or two.

Moving on, and Swansea are without a manager in case you hadn't noticed.

There has been nothing in the way of concrete moves so far - a few talks here and there, a few rumours - but nothing that justifies the bookmakers suspending bets. Huw Jenkins has recently been holidaying, so to expect a new manager by now may be a little premature. Reports says that the club are expecting to have the new man (or at least a good idea of who he will be) within the next week.

Good. Though it shouldn't be a rushed decision, it needs to happen sooner rather than later. The existing players (not to mention the eventual new recruits) need a good enough chunk of pre-season to 'gel' and decide what the best strategy is for survival come August.

We've seen several names thrown by the media and fans alike – some shrugged off easily, some sticking. The names we've heard the most of seem to be Michael Laudrup, Graham Jones, Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Holloway. Not to dwell on these too much (there are plenty of others who can give pages of why it may, or may not happen), let's quickly look at them.

First up is Graham Jones, who saw the bookmakers halt bets at one stage last week. In fact there was a small window when even I was certain he would be announced. It seems that Jones initially decided against it, but the press has recently reported he is back in the running, after a second bid will be made by the club.

Jones clearly knows the club and the style of football well, and would be welcomed back by a number of senior players, but does not have first hand experience of being a sole manager. While it could be another Brendan Rodgers in the making, I feel someone with a little more managerial experience would be better.

Michael Laudrup's odds have recently fallen from around 22/1 (when I put my £1 on him), to 8/11 where he currently stands as favourite. Hell of a player and has the managerial experience, as well as a similar style to what Swansea have been impressing everyone with over the last few years. According to the Mail, he is keen to take over and would welcome interest. Watch this space.

Dennis Bergkamp was another big name associated with Swansea. His odds fell rapidly within the last week, but it has come to nothing so far (nothing new there then). He has experience as the assistant manager at Ajax, but is he holding out for the Arsenal job. His odds are back at 12/1 - don't rule him out, but don't bet your life (or £100) on it.

Finally in my little round-up is Ian Holloway. I would say Holloway is one of my favourite choices. He's a colourful character and knows how to play attractive, attacking football. He's done well with Blackpool over the last few seasons and there's no reason he wouldn't continue his success with Swansea.

Some say, under Holloway, the defence wouldn't be up to scratch, but providing Swansea can keep Williams, Taylor and Rangel, and add another one or two solid defenders to the list, I think there is little to worry about. However, Blackpool say there has been no formal approach. He's currently third favourite after Laudrup and Jones. It's another 'watch this space' I think.

Right, that's quite enough from me. I'll be back soon with a post about the new players we need to get in. Let's hope a manager is sorted by then.

(I fear as soon as I click 'publish', this blog will already be out of date...)

Rodgers gone: In nobody we trust.

So, what's been happening with Swansea City? The new home kit is expected to be released soon... some of the players have played for Wales in America... there are vacancies in the Liberty Stadium ticket office. Oh, and...

BRENDAN RODGERS HAS LEFT THE CLUB TO JOIN LIVERPOOL. 

Yes, it's official.

It had been speculated for a while, so can we be too shocked? However, Rodger's constant comments, reassuring us that he would not leave, that Swansea was the place for him - it does make it a surprising decision.

Firstly, I fully appreciate his situation. He is a young manager with a great record of success over the past few years. Liverpool is a big club (albeit one struggling a little at the moment), and Rodgers has seen his chance to manage that big club. I accept the situation.

I also recognise what he has done for Swansea: taking them from a mid-Championship team to a mid-Premier League team in just two seasons. His style of football is fantastic and he's brought some superb players to the club.

While I wish him no specific ills, I can't really say I wish him all the best. Or much of the best for that matter.

Whatever spin he puts on his departure (e.g. wiping away the tears), he won't be remembered as highly as he could have been. If he made this move two years down the line he could have gone to a bigger club, and we'd have probably respected him for it.

Hell - I'd have probably respected him more if he didn't try to reassure everyone with false statements of intent. 

Let's look at a select few quotes taken from newspapers just a few months ago:

"If I felt in my own mind that I was going to be leaving, I wouldn't have signed the new deal"
"But I want to complete the job here and, unless the club tell me otherwise, I am very, very happy here."
"I don't know where else I could go and be as happy as I am at Swansea City."
"Hopefully I can see out the contract I have just signed."
"My focus is purely on Swansea City, and on building what we have done here."
"I get the opportunity to manage this club the way I want to do it”
"I've learnt my lesson in my career (at Reading), and that was a defining moment for me.”
"My family love it here in Wales. I'm 39 years of age and I hope to be in the game for a long time, but for now my concentration is with Swansea City." 

Blah, blah, blah and so on.

It was all technically lies... Maybe he meant it back then. Back two months ago.

The whole 'Elvis for Brendan' thing seems a little silly now.

So, most of us are understandably angry at the moment, especially with news that three backroom staff will leave with him. I'm assuming our anger will swell over the summer - as, inevitably, Gylfi Sigurdsson refuses to sign a contract, or Rodgers starts peeling players away from the club. I can't see Joe Allen, Ashley Williams, Michel Vorm leaving, but Scott Sinclair? Nathan Dyer? I'd hate to see it, but you can't help feel something else is on its way to ruin our summer!

The opportunity for Mr Rodgers is a big one, I'll admit. But it's the wrong one for him. I know that a few years later and the Liverpool job may not be there - this may be the only chance he has to manage Liverpool. But who the hell wants that job!?

If he likes a challenge he's found it, that's for sure! If the Liverpool fans were happy to get rid of “King Kenny”, a supposed Anfield legend, how will they accept Brendan Rodgers?

So far, looking at the forums, listening to Liverpool radio stations and, of course, Twitter, the response is mixed, with more emphasis on the 'no ambition in signing Brendan Rodgers' angle from many Liverpool fans. He's off on the wrong foot already.

Even if they are ready to accept him, how much time will he get? He will need time to find his feet - to develop a style of play around the current team - which may take a while.

But Liverpool want Champions League football. They want to win the Premier League. They want all of this NOW. There is no “a few years down the line”. He'll struggle to win over the fans I fee.

So, Swansea - the team we really care about - are left with a massive hole to fill. It's by no means the end of the world. But it is a major setback for a summer where a little tinkering was required, rather than a complete change.

Who is going to fill that hole? There are a number of names being thrown around: Holloway, Di Canio, Zola, Solskjaer, Laudrup, Poyet... Monk.

Monk is an interesting one - he's committed to the Swans, he knows the club, he knows the style of play. However, he's inexperienced as a manager, so is not the answer... yet.

I don't understand those who are desperate to see Roberto Martinez back. While I like Martinez as a manager, the way he left Swansea is much the same way as Rodgers has done. You know he'd jump into the role, stay another few years, then move along when another big club comes calling. Anyway, he has supposedly confirmed his loyalty to Wigan (but what does loyalty mean in footballing terms these days?). 

No, Martinez is not the answer.

Whoever comes in, we just hope it's the right guy to keep the club moving forward. Swansea City have the footballing philosophy in place, they have the money, they have the board and the full support of the fans. I am positive the Swans will remain in the Premier League after next season. They just need the manager to make sure of it.

30th May 2011 – One Year On: Where are they now?

I remember it like it was yesterday. But it wasn't. It was a year ago.

Yes, one year ago today (or yesterday if you are reading this tomorrow), Swansea City walked out onto that Wembley field to take on Reading in the Championship play-off final in front of 40,000 excited Swans fans (and a few Reading fans). Swansea won and then it was all a blur!

A year on and plenty has changed. However, before I spend the summer writing about hopes for next season, I felt it necessary to focus a blog post on the starting eleven who battled hard in that incredible game.

Where are they now? How was the past year for them? Let's have a look.

Dorus De Vries 
The departure of the likeable keeper was the biggest shock of last summer, and left a bad taste in the mouths of many Swans fans. He moved to Wolves "to be able to find [his] true potential" - potential that was left bottled up on the bench as Wolves spent most of the season in the relegation zone, finally sent back to the Championship in May. He made only his second Premier League start against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium in an odd 4-4 draw, and was jeered a number of times by the Swans fans. He'll spend next season in the Championship, probably on the bench. Sorry Dorus, but it wasn't our choice.

Angel Rangel 
Rangel had a good first season in the Premier League. He didn't make the headlines, and generally took a little longer than others to settle into the big league, but was eventually able to replicate his strong defending and pacey wing-back role in the big time. Always one of the first on anyone's team sheet. He had a few poor moments, notably his mistake which gifted Man United the only goal in the game at the Liberty. Still, we all love Rangel.

Garry Monk 
The iconic centre-back captained the Swans in that memorable play-off final and deservedly lifted the trophy. However, Monk played a lesser role throughout last season thanks to the inclusion of Steven Caulker at centre-back. Mind you, he still started 14 games, and played his part in the clean-sheet victories over Fulham, West Brom and Stoke. His career is not over yet, though it is starting to wind up. Much of it is summed up in his published autobiography, Loud, Proud and Positive (available from all good book shops or the internet I assume!).

Ashley Williams
Williams had a huge season for the club, starting all 37 Premier League games and all three cup matches, captaining the squad through much of it. There has been little in the way of struggling with the step up, as Williams kept world-class strikers quiet for many games. Always the first name on the team sheet and will take the captain role again next season.

Alan Tate 
I always forget Tate was playing in that play-off final, instead of the banned Neil Taylor. Unfortunately for Tate, his now infamous golf buggy incident ruled him out for much of the season with a broken leg. He eventually made a comeback and, while never making the pundits drool, gave his all, as he always does for Swansea City. He was subbed-on for the last few minutes of the game against his former club at Old Trafford, and deserved every last note of “we all dream of a team of Alan Tate's”.

Leon Britton 
Britton has become Swansea City's unlikely poster boy this season, being dubbed the Xavi of South Wales, and totting up some impressive passing statistics. He's been a vital part in the midfield engine and I predict the same next season. Why not check out my detailed article that I wrote for the Sabotage Times earlier in the season, centring on the rise of Leon Britton.

Joe Allen 
Allen established himself well in the Premier League and was a vital ball winner in the centre of the field. Overall he looked much more developed and less prone to frustrating mistakes (although he has picked up a few cards during the season). He was also able to contribute with the goal scoring – four this season, doubling his tally from last year.

Stephen Dobbie
His play created the second goal, then he scored the third for Swansea in the play-off final, but Dobbie just never got started in the Premier League. He had his chances to make an impact, but in his eight appearances (two starting, the rest as a sub) he looked a shadow of his Championship days. In March he rejoined Blackpool on loan, where he, albeit unsuccessfully, helped them in the battle for promotion. He may well stay with Blackpool next season, though will always be fondly remembered by Swans fans. 

Nathan Dyer 
His slippery dancing won the penalty which led to the first goal in the play-off final. He had a great start of the 11/12 season, emulating his Championship form in the early days against the likes of Man City and Arsenal though saw his role swapped with Wayne Routledge occasionally in the latter stages. The most important thing seems to be his ability in front of goal has improved – he scored six in total, and is looking much more the finished package.

Scott Sinclair 
Last season's poster boy scored an incredible hat-trick in the final. However, some may say that final was the last great game he had for the Swansea after losing a lot of form this season. While it is true he hasn't had the same impact down the wing as last season, he is a solid player and his composure from the penalty spot is still highly desirable. He's still the club's second highest goal scorer after Danny Graham, with eight goals this season. I reckon he has had his second season syndrome, and will shine again come August.

Fabio Borini 
Probably the most successful ex-Swansea striker and member of that play-off winning team. Borini left immediately, to head to his home nation of Italy to join Parma, though he spent most of the season with Roma. His fine Serie A performances saw Cesare Prandelli hand the youngster his debut appearance for the Italian national squad and he's off to Poland this summer to (hopefully, for me anyway) take Italy to glory! Forza Borini! Forza Swansea!

Swansea City: Hello Sigurdsson? Goodbye Tate? Stay there Dobbie?

It's been just under two weeks since Swansea City last took to the field. Brendan Rodgers has barely opened his bottle of SPF 30 and the summer rumours, links and signings are already in full flow.

Too many rumours begin and end on Twitter and, with no attribution, it's barely worth taking notice of most of them. However, some may have legs...

Let's briefly catch up with what's been going on:

Gylfi Sigurdsson
I began writing several posts on Sigurdsson, but as soon as I went to publish them we heard of another twist in the story. It seems Huw Jenkins is opening his wallet wide to grab the Icelandic midfielder, who played such a key role in the latter stages of the season. He filled the centre of the pitch nicely, netting many goals in style for the Swans, so it's no wonder everyone wants him to stay on.

The latest news seems to be that Swansea have agreed a £7.2million fee with Hoffenheim after Huw Jenkins flew to Germany. Sigurdsson must now agree personal terms and decide if he wants to make the switch permanently.

Let us hope it's all sorted soon and £7.2million is the limit. Though he is clearly a quality player, the whole budget shouldn't be spent on one man. You never know - he may have his own bout of 'second-season syndrome'! But I'm almost certain that won't happen. A decision is coming soon though; an announcement we all anticipate highly.

Tate and Monk Released?! 
No... at least I don't think so. But I bring this up as I recently overheard someone say 'I don't believe they've released Tate and Monk from their contracts!'. Thankfully a quick internet search proved it to be another nothing rumour, and rightly so.

While they are struggling in the Premier League they should never be forced out, for two reasons: one being Swansea are severely lacking defenders at the moment. If Taylor and Rangel take a knock, it's Tate who will step in. We don't even have the luxury of two fresh, young centre-backs at the moment with the departure of Caulker, so Monk is currently first choice along with Williams.

The other reason should be obvious - they are Swansea City. Despite being somewhat past their prime, both Monk and Tate are key figures to have on the bench, in the dressing room and, when it's called for, on the field. I'm sure they'd take pay cuts if needs be, but to be released just like that? No!

Stephen Dobbie
Still on the Swans books, but will he play again? Watching the play-off semi-finals it was clear to see why the Blackpool fans love him. His touch, his vision... he is the complete player. For the Championship. Yes, I fear Dobbie is a very good Championship player and that is his limit.

Is it worth keeping him? With the probable signing of Sigurdsson, Dobbie is even less likely to start for Swansea next season, so I think now is the time to let him go (for a nice lump sum of course - £1million is the current price tag). Naturally, he won't be forgotten easily, after what he did for the team in the promotion winning season, but I think most would be happier to see him make the switch to Blackpool permanently.

Marvin Emnes 
Swansea were linked with Marvin Emnes last week, but that little rumour did the rounds and died. Like Dobbie he seems to be a fantastic Championship player and will always be remembered for his goal against Cardiff, but I can't confidently say he'd make an impact on the Premier League.

Rodgers to Liverpool 
He wasn't first choice for the Liverpool job and didn't want to upset the Swans players and supporters, so his decision not to get involved with talks was clever and ultimately the correct choice.

And the rest...
Rodgers to Roma, Emile Heskey to Swansea, Allen to Liverpool for £3million - none of these are happening! I can't decide which one is the most absurd and which I dislike the sound of the most...

Goodbye 2011/12: a brief reflection

From crashing back to reality with the hammering from Man City in August, to the comfortable win over Liverpool on Sunday, it's been one hell of a debut season for Swansea City!

The months since the Premier League new boys walked out at the Etihad have been incredibly memorable. The first win against West Brom; taking points from games against Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea; Alan Tate and his golf buggy; incredible possession stats; and the 3-1 loss to Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup (…yeah, scrap that last one).

This season has shown the world what Swansea City are all about. The pundits and bookies said the club would rejoin Cardiff in the Championship if they tried to replicate the pass-and-move style in the Premier League - how wrong they were.

Over the months we've seen some real talent join the club: Michel Vorm, Wayne Routledge, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Steven Caulker - vital players in the survival campaign. They won't all stay, but they'll be welcomed back any time! Some players joined and didn't make much of an impact, like Josh McEachran and the incredible return of Fede Bessone.

We've also said our goodbyes to some such as Craig Beattie, and two gingers, Ryan Harley and Shaun MacDonald, while Stephen Dobbie made a loan move (again) to Blackpool (again) where he helped them secure a place in the play-off final (again).

Swansea had their ups and downs on the field, from the deserved victories against Man City and Arsenal, to never being able to win against Wolves (even when it looked certain!). Low periods of form did become a worry at times, but the Swans never looked like being dragged into a relegation battle, with 17th being the lowest place all season, after the second game.

Despite that well-deserved win against Liverpool, Swansea ended the season with a poor spell - winning just one in eight and losing four in a row. Had they been a little more clinical in the final third, scoring just one or two goals where it mattered, Swansea could easily have finished in the top ten.

Having said that, finishing too high in the first season might not be desirable as it could set unrealistic ambitions for next time.

No, this season will be remembered as a highly positive campaign. 11th place was more than any of us predicted and to do it in such style and with limited resources has gained the club followers from across the globe.

So, what can we expect next season?

Some are already using the clichéd 'second season syndrome' when looking ahead, but this seems to be coming from the same people who said we'd see Elvis sooner than we'd see Swansea survive... and we all know what happened there.

In their 100th season as a football club, Swansea will no longer have the 'new boy' tag and many fans will expect to better the 11th place finish. Maybe a place in Europe? Maybe that's a bit too ambitious for now, especially with a squad lacking depth. I'm sure we'd all take another season of survival!

I will explore the ambitions, targets and how it'll be done over the next few weeks, but for now enjoy the summer Swans fans - you've earned it!

Swansea City vs Liverpool: Farewells from Graceland

It's May already?!

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that the Premier League had a shiny gloss of untried anticipation about it? Now we're all old pros, having stood face-to-face with the giants, showing planet football that Swansea aren't just making up the numbers.

We've seen so much this season, and I'll capture those memories in an upcoming blog post. But for now it's a look ahead to Swansea's final game: at home to Liverpool.

Brendan Rodgers has already ensured that the stadium will have a party atmosphere about it, with his request for fans to wear Elvis costumes on Sunday. This is, of course, to highlight Swansea's silencing of the critics who said there would be more chance of seeing the fat man (not Michael Chopra...) reappear than Swansea surviving the Premier League.

Though Swansea's dreams of finishing in the top ten have all but gone, along with the other dream of finishing above Liverpool, the most important dream of league survival was the only one that needed to come true. And it did.

So this game shouldn't matter.

But it does. It's the last chance for the East Stand to shout and sing, showing the club their appreciation for the season gone by. It's also the chance for the players to show the fans a final good performance, because the Swans fans really have played that 12^th man role all season. Everyone deserves a good game.

Liverpool are eighth in the table after giving Chelsea a good thrashing on Tuesday night, and they have nothing to lose on Sunday either, except dignity; something they have already lost in bucket-loads this season. They'll be coming down to Graceland with intentions to claw a little back, ending their damp season on a high.

I don't expect much in the shape of a team overhaul from Brendan Rodgers – Liverpool are still a good footballing force, so the inclusion of weaker fringe players will probably wait until those pre-season friendlies in America. On Sunday it should be the same eleven we've seen so much of this season. However, I wouldn't mind seeing Orlandi get a run around again, if he can shake off his injury. He intrigued in his last match...

This could also be the last game we see Steven Caulker and Gylfi Sigurdsson in Swansea City white, depending on their intentions during the summer. Hopefully they will stay, but if not this will be their farewell game.

Having a final bet of the season? Put it all on Swansea! 12/5 with the bookies, and well worth a gamble. The Elvis stunt is bound to create a 13^th, 14^th and 15^th man for the Swans, spurring them on for that final win to round off a memorable season.

It's also worth sticking a pound on 4-4. You never know.

I'll be back with my season reviews, player report cards and next season previews over the next few weeks – until then, Forza Swansea!

Swansea City vs Man United: The brief, sketchy preview

The trip to Manchester is the penultimate match for Swansea City this season and the chance to cause another real upset in this unpredictable league.

Man United quite possibly threw away their chance at a 20th league title after that lacklustre, tired performance against their rivals on Monday night, but are still tipped to destroy Swansea on Sunday.

However I am optimistic. Perhaps I shouldn't be, with Swansea winning just one in their last seven games and with odds of 12/1 to win this one, but I feel we're still in for one more Swansea City shock before the season is through.

The Swans are safe. They have nothing to lose, and nothing more to gain (the top ten spot is probably just out of reach unless other results go the right way). The Sky cameras will be on, Swansea are clear underdogs and Man United, who are also slightly out of form, will be playing with desperation. Call me a silly sausage, but I feel this has 'upset' written all over it!

Who does Brendan Rodgers pick then? The 3-4-3 worked well to an extent last week, giving Swansea a much stronger attacking threat, but leave three at the back and the Swans will surely be torn apart by Rooney and co. No, it'll be much the same as we've seen all season – 4-5-1 or thereabouts.

I'd like to see Orlandi take part again, after an effective first half last week. Possibly in the place of Leon Britton, maybe even Gylfi Sigurdsson – two players who might have been figured out a little by the opposition.

Alan Tate is expecting to make a return for this game against his former club. However, if Angel Rangel is fit, I don't think many will see Tate starting the game. He may come on at the end, depending on how things are going, similar to Mark Gower getting a little run-around against his former team at Spurs.

Whatever team Rodgers picks for this game, be sure that Sir Alex (...Ferguson) (...you knew who I meant) will field a younger Man United team, a much different side from the bunch who lost to Man City. Good news for Swansea as Jonny Evans and Danny Welbeck are unlikely to feature due to injuries, but we may see the return of Antonio Valencia and Javier Hernandez to the starting line-up.

Betting on the game? Swansea, as mentioned, are around 12/1 to win, and 6/1 to draw. A decent bet to cover may be 'Swansea to win or draw' which is priced at 4/1. It's hard to call a score on this one – I wouldn't bet against 4-4 (at 350/1) if I'm honest, but a more realistic 3-1 to Man United may be wiser (9/1).

Either way, it should be a great final away game for Swansea before a sure win against Liverpool the following week!

Swansea City 4 - 4 Wolves: "The Sloppy Swan - a cautionary tale”

I'm not sure what result Mr Rodgers was hoping for when he put his new look 3-4-3 side out against Wolves. I guess it wasn't 4-4. Still, safety was basically secure, so trying something new was worth a go...wasn't it?

If you saw the game, you know what happened and can miss out the following paragraph (unless you want to relive the horror...):

Kick-off. 22 seconds and Orlandi heads past de Vries. 1-0! Allen makes it two within four minutes. 2-0! Dyer grabs the third. 3-0! Game over! No, Wolves claw one back through Fletcher. 3-1. Graham puts the game to bed with Swansea's fourth. 4-1! Or does he? Jarvis soon makes it 4-2. Half time! Restart, Edwards makes it 4-3. A comeback is on. Nope it's already here - Jarvis makes it 4-4. Wolves should really go onto win the game, but it ends 4-4.

A thriller - Amazing. Entertaining. Annoying. Frustrating. Sloppy.

From 3-0 up in 15 minutes to 4-4 at the final whistle. Swansea haven't really self-imploded like this all season... not since... well, that game against Wolves in October.

In a match they were expected to win quite easily, Swansea could have done just that. Not many teams who are already relegated find the will and energy to stage a come back. But Wolves had nothing to lose and, sensing a vulnerable Swansea defence, come back they did.

The formation certainly contributed to Swansea both scoring and conceding those total six goals in the first half. The additional man in midfield gave the Swans plenty to work with. Orlandi, that extra man, really put in a good display and scored the quickest Premier League goal this season, before he was subbed at half time. It's a shame he wasn't on in the second half as you feel Swansea might have clung onto that lead.

It was Swansea's defence that lost it today. Very sloppy from all involved. Having three at the back in the first half saw too much pressure when Wolves decided that they actually wanted to come away with something. Bringing on Taylor should have made things more solid, but Caulker was forced to play as a makeshift right back. This wasn't the reason for the draw though – letting Wolves score even one goal was too much of an error.

Some have put Swansea's unravelling down to tired legs and tired minds, but we must remember Wolves have played the same amount of games. It's no excuse really.

The result means Swansea drop a place to 12th, where the win might have propelled them to 9th. I think a dream top ten finish is now out of the question. A shame, but survival was more than anyone hoped at the start of the season.

A few positives to end this blog post:

• Swansea scored four goals 
• Andrea Orlandi looks to be a decent player again 
• Swansea recorded the quickest Premier League goal this season
• De Vries didn't have a great game (or save a penalty like I predicted)
• We witnessed Terry Connor smiling. It was heart-warming.

See you in Manchester!

Swansea City vs Bolton: Now, back to the top ten!

That dreaded fifth defeat in a row didn't come last week thankfully, as Swansea comfortably beat Blackburn 3-0. This Saturday sees the Swans take on relegation strugglers Bolton in the Reebok Stadium.

Now, I thought 40 was the magic number of points needed to mathematically stay afloat in the Premier League pond, but others, including Brendan Rodgers, are insisting on another win to be sure. I guess this isn't a bad thing; we wouldn't want him to come out and say “yep, we're done for points this season - Gower will start in goals on Saturday, with an injured Alan Tate up-front, just for a laugh!”.

No, Rodgers wants to be sure, and a win on Saturday will guarantee Swansea are safe.

However, winning the game against Bolton would be another stepping stone to, what should be, Swansea's next achievable goal: finishing in the top ten. It would be a real triumphant end to a season already filled with a variety of memorable accomplishments for the little club from South Wales.

Four games left. Two are very winnable. One is certainly drawable, if not winnable too (the Liverpool game). If results don't go well for other teams around the Swans in the table, that tenth place finish is there for the taking.

So - Bolton. Joe Allen, Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham all scored in October as Swansea beat Bolton 3-1 in the Liberty Stadium.

Bolton have a few on the injury list including Stuart Holden, Ricardo Gardner and Tyrone Mears along with Fabrice Muamba, who is recovering well it seems, after his collapse a few weeks ago. This encouraging news will ensure Bolton have nothing on their minds except winning.

Swansea will also come up against Darren Pratley for the second time this season. I don't see much reason to boo him, though I assume he may get a jeer or two from the odd few travelling Jacks. Not as many as I anticipate Dorus de Vries will receive next week... but that's another blog post entirely!

Looking at Swansea and, apart from Alan Tate's fresh calf injury ruling him out, they have a full squad to choose from (minus long term absentees Kemy Agustien and, of course, Ferrie Bodde). The Swans squad, as usual, picks itself. Vorm; Rangel, Williams, Caulker, Taylor; Dyer, Allen, Sigurdsson, Britton, Sinclair; Graham. I can't see Routledge forcing his way back into the starting squad this week.

As you are aware, Bolton are in the bottom three (18th), which don't make them nice opposition at this time of the year. They have slightly more to play for than Swansea and have the home crowd behind them. It's a dangerous mix for the Swans, who do stutter on the road.

My prediction then is a 2-2 draw (priced at 11/1 on PaddyPower). It's been a while since I've predicted 2-2, but I just have that feeling. If Swansea concentrate though, the win is well within them, so add another goal onto that for 3-2 (at 25/1). For your information, Darren Pratley to score and Bolton to win is priced at 13/2 – maybe worth covering, just in case.

Swansea City vs Blackburn Rovers: five in a row?

Before a quick look forward to the Blackburn game, let's rewind to that one against QPR.

I've been relatively quiet about the farce on Wednesday evening. Many others have been very vocal. Some fans seem to be panicking, some seem to be angry and some seem to be angry that others are angry. It's all very confusing. What is pretty straightforward however, is that Swansea were very, very poor (compared to recent standards) and must get, at the very least, a point on Saturday. A loss will not do.

Before I start complaining about the drought of wins (or even goals) to celebrate, let's remember that this is still the debut Premier League season. Perhaps most of us (the team included) have jumped ahead of ourselves - enjoying the 'Swanselona' nicknames and superb passing/possession stats a little too much.

It's great to see, but Swansea are not Barcelona. The Swans are still a smallish club and even finishing 17th this season will be a good achievement (albeit a little damp considering the club had graced the top ten a few weeks ago).

So, looking ahead to Saturday and that single point needed to thrust Swansea into supposed mathematical safety is still at large. Unfortunately, playing a team like Blackburn, currently in the relegation zone, proves harder at this stage as they have so much to play for. Blackburn, too, have lost four in a row and know another loss will just increase the pressure.

That point we crave will not come easily. Lest we forget, Blackburn did a number on the Swans back in December (4-2) with Yakubu smashing them in from anywhere he chose. While I doubt it'll be the same scoreline this time around, even a team facing relegation can be a big threat (need I refer to QPR again?).

Who will start then? Rodgers has a full strength team (minus Kemy Agustien) to chose from, but it's the same eleven we are likely to see again in the Liberty Stadium this Saturday, as the quality of the reserves is not that inspiring at the moment. I do think Nathan Dyer needs to start after Wayne Routledge has shown some inconsistency recently after a few very good games, and looks to be lacking confidence.

Generally, the team need to keep on going about what they've been doing so well for the last few months, but with more confidence and a little enjoyment. Yes, it's hard to play with confidence and a smile when you're out of form, but if you dwell on it, it could become the start of a downwards fall that may see Cardiff welcome us back to the Championship next season.

Okay, that is an extreme example. If Swansea win on Saturday, safety is technically guaranteed. This should have happened a few weeks back, but it wouldn't be Swansea City without some unpredictable results and some nervous moments, would it!

It's hard to predict a score for this one. Swansea are favourites with the bookies (at evens or thereabouts), despite poor form, though the Liberty Stadium crowd will play a big part in lifting the team. I think Swansea will win, and will say 2-0 (at 9/1).

The Review: Swansea City 0 – 2 Newcastle United

Losing 2-0 to Newcastle makes it three losses in a row for Swansea – the first time this season. With the precious safety point still required, is now the time to panic?

... No, it's not. Swansea remain 11th in the table, but with every team below them having a game in hand, and some with two, it's not a comfortable time.

As we've regularly seen this season, Swansea were able to out-pass a good team all day long. In the first half Swansea put together 466 passes to Newcastle's 81, but the visitors still managed to get a goal and Swansea's good passing record became, as one tweeter mentioned, irrelevant.

Another statistic that pundits and fans love to bring up is possession. Swansea again dominated possession and at one point had 82% of it. Then Newcastle scored another.

This will have to be put down to a bad day where little went right. There is nothing wrong with Swansea's playing style, and the shots taken – such as those from Sigurdsson and Allen – certainly tested Krul, but the need for someone who can score goals on demand is something to look into this summer.

Changes were made to the starting line-up, with Brendan Rodgers opting for Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer together, as I called in my match preview. However I don't think many would've called Luke Moore kicking off today. He's never been a favourite of mine, but I've given him a chance. Off the bench he always seems to prove me wrong, with a number of inspired flicks and, of course, the goal against Man City. Yet when he starts a game he lacks invention or energy. I was pleased to see him make way for Danny Graham in the second half.

At the same time that Moore went off for Graham, Scott Sinclair took the field for Dyer, however I'm not convinced that that swap was the best choice – Routledge was not having his most effective game, while Dyer was creating things here and there. Unless it was tactical in the sense that Dyer needed a rest for Wednesday or had picked up an injury, I feel Rodgers made a rare mistake.

Newcastle were well set-up, took everything Swansea threw at them and then took their chances (actually less shots on target than the home team) to win the game. It's a surprise, but I can see Newcastle getting that Champions League spot next season with the likes of Cisse in the squad.

With QPR on Wednesday, Swansea have five days to look at what happened then prepare for what should be an easier game. Having said that, it's never straightforward playing a relegation-battling team is it?

Swansea City vs Newcastle United: That Friday feeling!

Many people love a Friday night – it's the highlight of their week, with too much booze, dirty nightclubs and even dirtier kebabs. I am not one of those many. I usually tend to sit in quietly, waiting for Saturday to come and, with it, football.

This week however I need not wait so long, for Swansea are gracing the biggest footballing stage this Friday when they take on Newcastle United at the Liberty Stadium.

With that Friday feeling (© Cadbury Crunchie 1980...), this match is set to be an exciting game between two teams that have proved a lot this season. Swansea have proved they are no longer just Championship material, and Newcastle have shrugged off mid-table predictions and are level on points with Chelsea and pushing for a Champions League place next season.

Both will want to, again, prove critics wrong this weekend.

With three games in eight days, Brendan Rodgers may choose to rest a few players, knowing Swansea are more likely to get something more from QPR (Wednesday) and Blackburn (next Saturday) than Newcastle, though I'd be surprised if Steven Caulker didn't start after missing last week against Spurs.

I predict Nathan Dyer will start this one to give Wayne Routledge a rest, though an interesting move would be to leave Scott Sinclair on the bench and start Routledge and Dyer together. Sinclair is more in need of some relaxing bench time than Routledge and it may do his wavy form some good.

Swansea are coming off two defeats in two games they were actually expected to get little out of, so while confidence won't be that low, they'll want to avoid three losses in a row, especially at home. Out to stop the Swans picking up that precious 40th point this season, is Newcastle; a team Swansea haven't beat since 1980.

As I have done for the past few weeks, I've asked an opposition blogger in the know to fill us in on their team, their opinions of Swansea and their vital score prediction! Take it away John from Coming Home Newcastle (a great Toon fan blog at SBNation.com)

I'd love to say that, coming off an impressive three-game winning streak, I'm full of confidence heading across the border into Liberty Stadium on Friday morning, but, unfortunately, this has all the makings of a "trap game" for Newcastle.

That being said, I do believe that Newcastle are the stronger side, and we're riding a hot streak where Swansea appear to be hitting a skid (thus, the "trap"). Newcastle's attack has come alive recently behind Alan Pardew's implementation of the 4-3-3, outscoring opponents 5-1 in those two games, with Papiss Cisse netting four on his own.

Hatem Ben Arfa finally seems to have found a spot from which he can be effective, and even though the back line has been decimated with the injuries of Steven Taylor and captain Fabricio Colocinni, James Perch and Mike Williamson have been stout in their stead. Overall, Newcastle has looked sharp, on point, and deadly in the attack in recent weeks.

If Swansea were to attack a weakness, I believe it'd be most effective for them to hammer the middle early and see if we'll give, and if we don't, then use the speed and experience on the wings to drive the attack. With the 4-3-3, we've had to play far more compact than usual. Sinclair, Dyer, and Newcastle old boy Wayne Routledge could have monster games on the flank. I'm not ashamed to admit that Newcastle will have their hands completely full with Nathan Dyer.

All that said, I still think we'll leave Wales with three points after a barn burner: 3-2 NUFC.

So, some positive stuff from John, but he is wary of the threat that Swansea present.

In the meeting at St James Park back in December, Swansea held the home side to a 0-0 draw, but I feel there'll be goals this time around.

With the bookies, Swansea are favourites at 7/5 on PaddyPower. I'm going with a 1-1 draw (at 5/1), which wouldn't be a bad result for Swansea all things considered. Saying that, it's a home game and the East Stand will surely have sunk eight pints of lager each, so the noise levels will be immense, which could encourage Swans to get that extra one. 2-1 to Swansea is at 15/2. John's prediction of 3-2 to Newcastle is at 30/1.

So let's hope all Swans fans will end Friday night drinking themselves into a frenzy in celebration at Premier League safety!

Swansea vs Spurs: Safety matches (… take two)

Things didn't quite pan out as Swansea had hoped when taking on a stubborn Everton last Saturday. The 2-0 loss goes to show that... well, Swansea can't win them all (I think, deep down, we already knew that).

Onto Sunday and Swansea City, with accompanying Jack Army, will travel the simple journey to London to play a not-so-simple match against Harry Redknapp's side (hopefully not soon to be Brendan Rodgers' side as the media like to suggest!).

Swansea shared the points with Spurs at the Liberty Stadium back in December in a thrilling encounter that felt more like a win for Swansea. So we know it's not an impossible task – when you beat Man City, nothing seems an impossible task I guess – but we do know it'll be a tough one.

There are two key changes to the Swans squad this weekend, the first being a big blow in not having Spurs loanee Steven Caulker available, due to the terms of his loan. Garry Monk should slip back into the squad and do an equally fine job, but there'll be aspects of Caulker's game we will miss, especially in the air.

A more positive change is the return of Nathan Dyer after his three-match suspension. He'll be fit, fresh and dying for a game, but would his inclusion mean a place on the bench for Wayne Routledge? Routledge has been superb recently with three assists in the last two games that Swansea have won and it would be harsh to drop him. The other option is to leave out Scott Sinclair who hasn't had the greatest of seasons so far. However, I feel it's more likely that Routledge will sit this one out.

Spurs are currently fourth in the Premier League table and are looking likely to play Champions League football next season, despite a recent dip in form (they have failed to win in their last four league matches).

Aaron Lennon is likely to make and appearance after four matches out with a hamstring injury, which will be a boost to the home side, but they're likely to miss Ledley King and long-term absentees Michael Dawson and Heurelho Gomes.

This week we're lucky to have insight from top Spurs writer Dan Fitch from tottenhamblog.com, who kindly donated thoughts from a Spurs perspective:

Swansea gave us one of our toughest games this season, when we drew 1-1 at the Liberty Stadium. I knew that Swansea had a reputation for playing attractive possession football in the lower divisions, but I've been astonished at how successful it's proved in the top flight. Most promoted teams who try to play good football go straight down, but Swansea seem to have a tough core and defend well.

It's been great to see how Steven Caulker has done at Swansea and although I don't agree with the rule that on-loan players can't play against the club that owns them, I hope you miss him on Sunday. After a difficult time, we've maybe turned a corner with our results against Chelsea and Bolton. I'm expecting us to create loads of chances, miss most of them and struggle to a 1-0 win.

Despite Swansea having the option of Dyer back and Premier League survival all but guaranteed, I can't confidently predict a win for Swansea down to the inconsistency on the road. I'm feeling a repeat of December could be in store though, so I'll predict an entertaining 1-1 (at 7/1 on PaddyPower). Dan's prediction of a 1-0 win to Spurs is at 5/1.

Whatever the score, it's a game bringing two enjoyable footballing sides together in front of the Sky Sports cameras (no need for dodgy Greek cable hook-ups this weekend then!). As both Swansea and Spurs sit in first and second in the Premier League Fair Play table respectively, we can expect a clean, positive game with a lively atmosphere (which, I suspect, will be even better if Swansea win!)

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Check out my preview for UniBet.com, where I go head to head with a Spurs fan to give my take on Sunday's game.

Swansea City vs Everton: Safety matches!

The notion of “safety” in the Premier League seems a little irrelevant when Swansea City comfortably hold eighth position in the table.

Even so, the mathematicians among you (which, I suspect, is not that many) will want the added feeling of security that 40 points will bring and a win in Saturday's game against Everton will push Swansea into the desired “safe” zone.

The current team is looking more and more comfortable each week. I can't see much being changed this Saturday - the old cliché reads 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. (Other clichés I enjoy include: 'stubborn as a mule', 'tip of the iceberg' and 'start from scratch' - all have probably featured heavily in this blog over the years.)

Nathan Dyer will be serving the last of his three-match ban for his red card at Wigan, leaving Wayne Routledge to once again fill in on the right wing. I guess “fill in” undermines him slightly as he's done so much more than just fill a hole. While arguably less skilful and certainly less speedy than Dyer, Routledge's delivery into the box has been superb and it's something that is definitely leading to goals.

Gylfi Sigurdsson is having an inspired few weeks and I wouldn't bet against him getting another goal or two in the game against Everton. He's certainly the player to permanently fill the Dobbie-role (now on loan to Blackpool until the end of the season) – if Swansea can raise the funds to sign him.

Ashley Williams is still not a certainty to start after missing out at Fulham due to sickness last weekend. We hope he returns, but I'm sure Monk would relish another starting appearance (and probably deserves it).

Before we get too caught up in getting the fourth win in a row, lest we forget Everton are still a “big” team. Despite now being below the Swans in the table (tenth), they're consistently a top-ten side and boast a number of impressive players and a good manager in Moyes.

Everton took all three points from Swansea in Goodison Park at Christmas time with a 1-0 win, but were unable to overtake the Swans in the table on Wednesday, when they lost 1-0 to Arsenal. In fact the Arsenal game marked the third in a row without a win, so they'll see Swansea as a route back to winning ways. I'm sure they'll be wary though – I don't think any team now feels Swansea is an easy three points, especially at the Liberty Stadium.

But who am I to analyse Everton? In a ForzaSwansea first, I've allowed another blogger to grace my blog. Here's some great analysis from Nic, writer at top Everton blog The Executioner's Bong:

Brendan Rodgers has rightly been lauded for the way Swansea have lightened up the top flight. The best thing about your style is that it shows you don’t have to play the direct, dour percentage football adopted by other sides that have come up.

Against a side who keeps the ball like you guys do there is perhaps a plan A and Plan B. ‘Plan A’ is to let you have the ball, conserve energy by only pressing when you approach 20 yards from our goal. Plan B is to stop you playing from the back. Given the small squad and the vital cup replay on Tuesday I’d doubt very much if Moyes would adopt an energy sapping tactic like Plan B and will instead adopt Plan A and look to stand off, narrow the passing angles to Swansea’s defenders and push them to play longer.

Moyes will certainly shuffle his pack for this one given the Arsenal game last night and the cup game next Tuesday. I’d expect Stracquilarsi, Anichebe and perhaps Gueye to get run outs given they all have good energy as we will probably spend a lot of time not in possession. Pienaar is cup tied for Tuesday so will probably start also. I’d imagine Cahill, Jelavic and possibly Drenthe will all be rested.

Our goal scoring record on the road is awful – less than one per game – so you probably only need the one goal to win it!

With that in mind, let's move to some bets! If you're planning to place a wager on the match, a few to cover are listed below:

Swansea are favourites at 5/4 so would be a good inclusion in any accumulator you have going this weekend. 'Sigurdsson to score first' is at 13/2 and probably worth covering as he is the man on fire at the moment.

My score prediction is 2-1 to Swansea, which is priced at 15/2. Nic says just one goal could win it for Swansea, and 1-0 to the home side is at 11/2 (all odds from PaddyPower)!

Thanks again to Nic and be sure to check out The Executioner's Bong for more analysis!

Swansea City in Europe!

Swansea? In Europe? Yes, I recall being laughed out of various forums/blogs at the beginning of the season for suggesting that Swansea City may end up in Europe. I was talking optimistically of course, and actually meant “it may happen in a few years”.

But it could well be a reality next season. While it's highly doubtful (yet not impossible) that Swansea will qualify for the Europa League next season by table position, they have another route.

As we speak (well, as I type and you read a few hours later) Swansea sit second in the Premier League Fair Play Table, just below Spurs. As you might be aware, Swansea were leading the race for first up until a few weeks ago.

But there is ample opportunity to claim top spot again, and you can help with this.

The Fair Play competition is not just about red and yellow cards gained, it covers many aspects of promoting the "beautiful game", including positive play, respect towards opponents, respect towards the referee and – where you come in – behaviour of the public.

The full details of how the Fair Play scores are calculated can be found here.

The rules are basically encouraging the public to "verbally support their team in acceptable form" (I think Hymns and Arias has helped Swansea to no end this season!) and to also “covert recognition of outstanding play by the opponents”, which means applauding when, say, Heskey scores an overhead kick.

Teams can be deducted points for “persistent foul and abusive language”, “persistent abuse of the officials’ decisions” and “aggressive and threatening conduct towards opposing fans.”

So think carefully next time you decide to remind the referee he is a wanker (even though he may well seem it).

At the end of May, even if Swansea don't top the Fair Play table, they may be able to gain access to Europe depending on who is above them (if it's Man United, Spurs, etc, chances are they will already have a spot, so Swansea will automatically qualify).

There is another league controlling entry to the Europa League however, so this will all be obsolete if the English Premier League does not finish in the top three of the overall country league (it's getting confusing now). As it stands the EPL would not be given a fair play place as it sits eighth in the league.

Here is a little more reading on the subject, along with the current table – definitely something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

So how will Swansea fare in Europe? There are negatives such as squad size and a dent in finances to balance the prestige of playing with the likes of Napoli, Udinese, Bayer Leverkusen, Levante, and so on, but we'll cover that if Swansea do get there!

Remember to check me out on Twitter @ForzaSwansea for blog updates and general Swans discussion!

Swansea vs Wigan: Not must-win but must-not-lose

With the Wigan game on the way this Saturday it has just occurred to me that I've not heard any Swans fan - online or otherwise - mention “getting one over on Martinez”.

It's actually refreshing to concentrate on the game in the wider scheme of things instead of it being headlined as a match to show the former boss what he's been missing.

Chances are he already knows what he's missing!

Despite a more mature approach to this game by the fans - a sign of how far Swansea have come this season - the same question is there for a different reason: is this a must-win game?

I put this question out on Twitter last week and the response was mixed. Some say it is, some say it isn't. Some don't know. Perhaps the best response was: “It's not a must-win game, but it is a must-not-lose game”, a statement I very much agree with (thanks to @twm88 for that).

While a win is certainly desired (when is it not?) a draw would do fine. A loss on the other hand would make it three in a row and a meagre four points in seven games - not a good confidence boost before the Man City game next weekend. In fact, Swansea don't have the easiest set of games in the coming weeks with an away trip to Fulham, followed by Everton (home) and Spurs (away) soon after. You can see why it could be seen as a must-win game to some.

The good news for Swansea is Michel Vorm is likely to be back between the posts. Unfortunately Gerhard Tremmel - despite the polite words from the team - played a big part in the Stoke loss. He didn't ooze confidence during that 90 minutes. I'm aware he was called in at short notice, but a second keeper is probably the most likely reserve to be needed at short notice. It's a little bit 'Catch-22' - he needs more game time for confidence, but the game time he gets is not boosting his confidence (for the record, I haven't read 'Catch-22' so I may or may not know what I am talking about).

A regrettable loss is Kemy Agustien - out again following ankle surgery, which is something likely to keep him sidelined for a few weeks. Elsewhere Joe Allen and Ashley Williams should both feature after playing in the Wales international on Wednesday. The Swans set-up should be similar to that against Stoke, though I'd still like to see Routledge start and Sinclair come on later.

Saturday's game will be refereed by Andre Marriner. I found this article on a Wigan fan site outlining why he is likely to be booed by the Latics fans. Makes interesting side-reading.

As for bets this week I am holding off on any correct score prediction as my last few have been well off the mark and I don't want anyone to follow my lame guesses and waste money (like I do). However, Swansea to win the match is 2/1 (PaddyPower) and I think that is one bet my money will be on this Saturday afternoon.

So, while it's not officially a must-win game, let's hope for it. Otherwise things start getting a little uncomfortable. Also - it'll be nice to get one up on Martinez!

Remember to check me out on Twitter @ForzaSwansea for blog updates and general Swans discussion!

Swansea vs Stoke: something to do with pottery?

As you may be able to tell I was unable to come up with an original title with a good play on words for the Swansea vs Stoke (aka Potters) game. You could say... coming up with a title has... driven me potty! Boom.

So, shit introductions aside and Swansea City are back playing this weekend following what has essentially been two weeks off. They're playing away, they're playing Stoke and they're playing for the win.

Whereas Swansea's last international flight was a week ago, returning from a relaxing break in Tenerife, Stoke's last flight was probably this morning after retuning from their 1-0 Europa-League-exiting defeat to Valencia last night. Swansea, despite having to travel to the Britannia Stadium, should have a more relaxed air about them.

They'll need it after their last match. The game against Norwich was the first in a long time that Swansea visibly lacked composure. Yes, it's been put to bed now, but Stoke will surely have taken note of it and will know that to win, all they must do is ruffle Swansea's usual cool, calm game.

Stoke, as everyone is quick to point out, are very heavy handed. They have the height and physical advantage and have as much to play for as the Swans (both teams on 30 points at the moment). The Swans, as many more will be equally quick to point out, can out-pass Stoke all day long. In fact they've done so already this season, winning 2-0 in the Liberty against them in October.

A win on Sunday would probably see Swansea hold onto 11th place in the table – not a bad position. If things don't go as planned and they lose, Swansea could well fall to 15th. While that wouldn't necessarily be a dire situation, it's certainly the wrong end of the table to be finishing the weekend in, especially ahead of the upcoming game against Man City.

We can be thankful that there are no testing injury worries for Brendan Rodgers, so he has much to chose from. On Sunday I'd go with:

Vorm,
Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor
Dyer, Britton, Allen, Agustien, Routledge
Graham

Kemy Agustien and Joe Allen were both missed in the Norwich game, but need to be included this time: Allen for his ball winning and Agustien just for his size and physical nature. However, there is news that Agustien has picked up a knock in training – if that's the case and he's sitting this one out, Sigurdsson is certainly the man to bring in. On the wing, I'd start Routledge for a change as Sinclair seems slightly off form (though he'd be a great sub to bring on to add speed when legs get tired). The rest goes without saying.

Onto predictions: I see a Swansea away win. 1-0. I think that ends this blog post.

Five things to do when the Swans aren't playing

Ah... another one of those weekends coming up.

That's right, Swansea don't play again until next Sunday, leaving us with over two weeks of clock watching. We are currently one week in to our two week void, and Saturday will really drag unless you have something to fill the hole.

So here are a few suggestions of things you can do to avoid boredom this Saturday:

1. Do the essential things you've put off because of the Swans
This is boring but it makes sense. While there is no score to check or stadium to be at, do all the things you've been meaning to do - household chores, spending time with family or washing the cat. Why not wander into Swansea City centre and remind yourself just how irritating it is on a Saturday? While there, stroll past Nandos and look for any Swans players inside eating over-priced chicken.

2. Watch football
While the Premier league is taking a little break, there is no reason you should deny yourself football watching or listening – many other games are being played this Saturday:

Why not give some much needed support to a local Welsh Premier League club by popping down to the Gnoll (Neath v Prestatyn 14:30) or Stebonheath Park (Llanelli v TNS 15:00). If it's something bigger you're after, the FA Cup sees Chelsea v Birmingham (12:30) and the all Premier League clash of Sunderland v Arsenal (17:15). Why not check out our neighbours (a nice reminder of our Championship years...), with Ipswich v Cardiff at 15:00? Plenty of football to be getting on with!

3. Have a few games on the PS3/Xbox/Wii
This could be smashing people on MW3 (or, like I do, hide and hope no-one finds me), soaking up the scenery in Uncharted 3 or, most apt, a few hours on FIFA 12! Whether you're amazing or shit (basically whether you choose Barcelona or Barnet) it kills a few hours and gives you that Saturday feeling (minus the singing and the over-priced pints). Start a new FIFA campaign as the Swans – it may not be as satisfying this season because there is no Premier League promotion to battle for, but try getting into Europe! I believe in you.

4. Play some football
Scrape the mud off your T90's, down a Lucozade and take to a field of your own! Try getting some friends together for a 5-a-side match in one of Swansea's many (well... two) five-a-side centres, or take a ball down the park and run like Dyer, score like Graham and fall over like Tate.

5. Go to the Liberty Stadium
If all else fails and you just can't keep away, wander through Hafod, buy a KFC and sit on a curb outside the stadium and quietly meditate. For that extra special feeling, buy the DVD of Swansea vs. Arsenal from the club shop and watch on a portable DVD player.

Thanks to @chippie77, @1matthewburgess and @kennyb0y for their suggestions on Twitter – feel free to leave any more in the comments section below or tweet me: @ForzaSwansea!

Roll on next week!

Swansea 2 – 3 Norwich: a game best forgotten

It's not often a team will out-Swansea Swansea. I expect it to happen when Swansea eventually make it to the Champions League and play Barcelona, but I didn't expect it yesterday against Norwich.

I had heard a few Swans fans were a little pessimistic before the match, but I honestly couldn't see it going any other way than three points to the home side. Yet Norwich came out and really did a number on the Swans and deserved their win. They had us sussed from start to finish.

So who didn't turn up? Literally Joe Allen, but he was injured so it's forgiveable. I can't say I was overly impressed with his replacement – Josh McEachran was a little too weak in an area that needs strength. Leon Britton needed someone more physical next to him and unfortunately McEachran didn't offer it. It's a shame Kemy Agustien was also injured as it might have been a different game with a stronger ball winner in the middle.

Angel Rangel was uncharacteristically disappointing. Too many times we saw a Norwich goal-scoring opportunity come from an attacker in too much space on that left wing. The rest of the back four all had a poor game in my eyes, although Steven Caulker showed some attacking talent with a few decent headed attempts at the other end.

Neil Taylor scoring a second consecutive home own goal was just bad luck, but own goals are only scored when there is pressure on the defence – and there was plenty of pressure on the defence yesterday! Elsewhere, Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair weren't allowed their usual space which resulted in both being rightly subbed.

On a positive note, Leon Britton, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Michel Vorm had decent games, but the performance by the whole team was very under-par.

The Liberty is a hard place for visitors to score (we actually have to go back to 2009 – Paulo Sousa reign – for the last time three away goals were scored there), but Swansea lacked the composure, style and accurate passing we have been spoilt with so regularly this season.

The worrying thing is that there doesn't seem to be a plan B for these situations. It's good for football that Swansea won't just hoof it long up the field, even when under pressure, but what can they do when their Barcelona-esque passing isn't an option?

The bench offered little in the way of impact subs – Mark Gower is fine to float a few balls into the area, and is a nice player to air-out when ahead, but he's no game changer. The introduction of Leroy Lita and Wayne Routledge seemed more out of desperation than a well thought out plan.

Let's get this right – Swansea will secure safety this season. I'm confident. At risk of jinxing it, there are too many other teams that are destined for the Championship and I can't see Swansea being one of them. But to continue and grow in the Premier League, Swansea need more of an idea of what to do if they aren't allowed to play their usual game.

It would be nice to see this experimented after safety is secured. It would be interesting to try a new formation or a new system. This experimentation could end up ruining a game for the Swans, but it would be worth it for a clearer idea of what is needed when teams come looking for trouble.

Swansea 1 – 1 Chelsea: an honest look at the game.

As I'm sure many will have said as they poured from the stadium last night: had Chelsea scored first and Swansea equalised (a la Spurs) it would be a scoreline worth celebrating. However, last night's point is acceptable to be annoyed at. As I see it, it is two points dropped.

As many others will have said: to be disappointed with a draw against Chelsea really shows Swansea have come a long way. Yes it does, but that fact doesn't make the disappointment any easier.

Looking at the match, and the evening in general, it was quite entertaining. The first half saw the typical Swansea set-up and the slick pass-and-move philosophy. Swansea could well have taken the lead at the 15-minute mark when three beautiful open-goal opportunities presented themselves, but it was not to be.

The pressure did pay off when Scott Sinclair took a blind swing at a bouncing ball and it dipped and floated past Petr Cech. A deserved 1-0 to the Swans.

Second half was a different game. Swansea's passing was way off the mark, with one too many loose passes and aimless runs. I had a feeling it wouldn't end 1-0 and I was right. It's just so cruel that the equaliser came in the 93rd minute from an own goal! The own goal won't be remembered though – Taylor had a good night and didn't deserve it. But Chelsea's goal looked imminent during the last 20 minutes.

I think a turning point was bringing on Luke Moore for Scott Sinclair. Apart from the goal, Sinclair didn't have an outstanding night, so a sub was a decent call. Bringing on Moore wasn't. He just doesn't do the running of Sinclair and never seems that interested in defending. I'd have brought on Routledge or even Richards if they wanted to close the game up. Ultimately Moore let Bosingwa through and there came the goal.

Moore and his lackadaisical approach aside and it was a decent team performance: Dyer didn't seem as composed as usual, but frustrated the hell out of the Chelsea midfield towards the end. Ashley Williams put in a good man-of-the-match performance, while Caulker mopped up a lot of loose ball at the back. Leon Britton was busy as usual and Kemy Agustien seemed to have a positive impact when coming on.

The referee was terrible in the second half generally, though he did issue the yellow cards and eventually send off Ashley Cole, so he got something right.

We can't blame the referee though. Swansea let Chelsea keep possession and territory in the second half and that led to the goal. The now famous “Swansea Triangle” was rarely seen in the latter stages. The skill is always there, but the composure and concentration is the thing that tends to transform three points into the single one with Swansea.

Still, it's a point...

Onto West Brom on Saturday, where there's now just a little more pressure to get the away win.

Swansea vs Chelsea: a small preview

After a wonderful start to the year, with two away wins and that game against Arsenal, the last week has seen Swansea lose to Sunderland (where at least a point was deserved), and dumped out of the FA Cup by Bolton.

So I don't know why I feel so confident that the Swans can take at least a point ahead of tomorrow, when Chelsea make their way to the Liberty Stadium.

We all remember what happened last September in Stamford Bridge – Swansea put in a proud performance, but failed to stop four goals going in, despite being a man up for much of the game. However, Swansea have grown through the season and are so much more confident now.

In a blog previewing Chelsea it's just too easy to mention the ongoing incapability of Fernando Torres... but I'm going to anyway. He's failed to score for a total of over 15 hours of football. There I said it. Interestingly, his last league goal came against Swansea back in September. I think I'd take another goal from him if he is willing to get sent off again. (I think he would take another sending off just to score!)

Despite the suffering Spaniard, lest we forget that Chelsea are fourth in the table and have oodles of talent. Thankfully, a handful of that talent is unavailable: Ramires - who scored two against the Swans last time - is out for a few weeks and John Obi Mikel and John Terry are also both out injured. Elsewhere Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are away for the African Nations Cup, while Frank Lampard is doubtful due to a calf strain.

For the Swans, Alan Tate is back and ready for selection (though I can't see him starting), while the likes of Sinclair and Britton, and (apart from the last 25 minutes) Graham and Dyer were rested on Saturday, so should be fresh. Josh McEachran is ineligible due to terms of his loan.

It's very close in the middle of the table and a win would see Swansea overtake four teams and finish Tuesday in ninth. A loss isn't going to change much tomorrow.

Prediction time: it's not going to be a 4-1 type scoreline again, even if Swansea do lose. With the home fans behind them and the knowledge that they can beat the bigger teams, a draw is not unlikely. I'm going to say... 2-2 (around 13/1 if you're up for a bet).

Let's end the month as we started it!

Rodgers out!

Get him out! Bring back Sousa! What's Rodgers ever done for this club? While we're at it, lets get rid of Sinclair too!

I am, of course, being ironic. Or am I...? (Yes I am.)

The loud thud at the end of the loss to Sunderland was the sound of Swansea falling back to Earth after the euphoric victory against Arsenal.

I was a little surprised – I expected no less than a draw, especially with high team confidence and a decent run of recent away form. However, two classy goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner ensured Swansea were not even picking up one point, in a match where they actually deserved to.

Possession and passing were high as usual (64% possession for the travelling Swans), but they seemed flat near goal and were unable to put away any chances. Swansea had four attempts on target - Sunderland had just two and both went in.

During the match, I tweeted on Twitter (where else?):

Swansea frustrating in the final third as usual. Creating all the chances, but can't get anything from them.

I had a little stick from this, saying I was negative and my use of 'as usual' was way out of line, but I stand by it.

Swansea are usually frustrating in the final third. Think of all the possession and passing close to the box, but the opportunities that go wide, go over or don't actually go near the goal at all. Recently we've seen a little more cutting-edge from the players, but I think I'm right in saying they are frustrating to watch at times!

I'm not a negative person when writing about the Swans – a shameless plug for my recent article on the Sabotage Times will prove I am sometimes over optimistic when it comes to the future of the club.

However true you believe or don't believe the "frustrating in the final third" statement to be, there is no reason to vent your feelings against the players via social networking (yeah, it's happened again).

I'm not really listening to what's been happening – I don't follow any of the Swansea players on Twitter (or any footballers or "celebrities" for that matter), so I am not “in” on the conversation, but have noticed a number of mentions that someone or other is abusing some player about something he did in the match.

No need. Yes, Scott Sinclair is not putting them away like he was last season. He knows that. It's a different game in the Premier League so that affects things. Maybe he's just having a dip in form. But abusing players? Save it for the bigger celebrities who feed off the abuse, or other fans who have a go.

This ends a short blog. See you next week for a build up to the Chelsea match – another “big one” I am confident the Swans will win!

Swansea vs Sunderland: A brief look at another winnable game!

While Sunderland have had a recent revival after replacing Steve Bruce with Martin O'Neill, I see Swansea winning this one.

Going against Swansea is the fact that they are travelling. We know how poor their general away form is, but recent wins against Aston Villa and Barnsley, combined with that historic win over Arsenal should see the Swans full of confidence.

We've seen it before with Swansea though – it could well be another Blackburn (losing 4-2 away) as they sometimes lose concentration when not surrounded by 18,000 supporters.

I'm thinking 2-1 to the Swans today (currently 12/1 on PaddyPower). That could be a little optimistic if I'm being honest, so if you're after a bet, try something on 1-1 (at 5/1). Nathan Dyer to score in another game? It's pushing it but he seems to be on a roll at the moment and at 9/2 it could well be worth a few pound.

More of my thoughts on this game and recent Swansea City fixtures are here at the RokerReport.com after I guest blogged there earlier this week. Check it out!

Swansea 3 – 2 Arsenal: All round complete

Well, well – Super Sunday truly lives up to its name if you happen to be a Swans fan!

An exciting and significant game, with goals from Scott Sinclair, Nathan Dyer and Danny Graham, cancelling out the two Arsenal scored (Van Persie and Walcott). It's significant in the sense that Arsenal are the first “big” team Swansea have taken three points from this season. Notice I said first – Chelsea are just around the corner.

So, what went right this Sunday?

The team selection worked. While the keeper, back four and striker usually write themselves, midfield is always a headache (albeit a good one). This time, the combo of Allen, Agustien and Britton worked well in the first half, with Dyer and Sinclair both well on form at the same time (for a change).

Dyer deserved the man of the match award – well-earned from the little winger after setting up the penalty and scoring a fine strike himself. It was the third game in a row in which he scored, meaning he is becoming more of a well-rounded player, combining dizzy runs and an abundance of speed with goals... finally. He'll be a target for a number of teams come the summer.

This kind of thing I felt was missing in the first half of the season: long shots. by anyone, not just Dyer. Walking every ball into the goal was never an option in this league. I'm not sure what has changed recently – a managerial decision or just more confidence – but long shots are being taken more frequently, with some being scored. Good.

At half time I felt Kemy Agustien was taken off a little prematurely – he was having a decent game. However, Gylfi Sigurdsson made an appearance and the decision paid off. Nice to see the Icelandicman (Icelandian? Ice... forget it) slot into the squad with ease. Midfield is surely well equipped now, especially with Josh McEachran on his way next week. Britton, Allen, Gower, Agustien, Orlandi, Sigurdsson, McEachran... as each game goes by, it is hard to see where Stephen Dobbie will fit in.

Captain Ashley Williams did well enough to quell most of the danger, though his passing was uncharacteristically sloppy at times and, though he looked dangerous going forward, his runs left a few gaps when the ball was intercepted. He did enough to have a good game though, as did the rest of defence.

Arsenal were decent. I personally don't mind them as a team (apart from when they consistently cock up my betting accumulators!) and there is plenty of talent in their ranks. I'm sure you'll agree when I say I wasn't comfortable with a one goal lead at 2-1 or at 3-2. It could have feasibly gone three ways with ten minutes left on the clock; thankfully it went the right way.

I'm not praising Arsenal too much – just enough to drill home the fact that it wouldn't be such a significant win if they were shit! I'm sure a number of those sitting in the home stands / corporate boxes only came to see Thierry Henry and team-mates grace our small city, yet left with a new found love for the Swans (or so you would hope).

So, Swansea start the week 10th in the table. With a winnable game against Sunderland on Saturday, the Swans are finally looking like the complete Premier League team.

Swansea City: Weekly thoughts

Time for a very brief Swansea City catch-up.


Dobbie + Lita + Cash = Maynard?

Rumours were confirmed earlier in the week that a 'cash and Dobbie' deal is on the table for Bristol City's Nicky Maynard.

Dobbie was so influential in Swansea's final championship season – a true fan favourite – but is he worth hanging onto? I guess if he never warms to the different game that is the Premier League, the answer is no. But I can't see this being it for Dobbie and the Swans. I feel he still has something to prove. His time is running out though, so he'd better shape up soon or he will be gone.

Lita is another who has been rumoured to be included in that deal, but it hasn't been confirmed by the club and seems a little unlikely. Dobbie AND Lita AND cash for one decent Championship player? I think not. Lita is one worth hanging onto for his clinical (albeit rare) goals and strength up front.

Nicky Maynard has scored eight goals for Bristol City this season, from 25 appearances. This is in the Championship mind you, and we all know the step up the player would have to take. Star boy in the Championship can mean nothing in the Premier League. Look at Danny Graham – last season's top scorer, but took a while to get going (though now, thankfully, he is putting away a few good goals).


Cotterill

The club needed a little exfoliation – scrubbing off the dead players and replenishing them with new, moister players (is it me, or is this blog turning a little erotic...?)

Are you really sad to see David Cotterill go? I can't say I'll give it much more than a shrug of the shoulders. The club have cancelled his contract by mutual consent, which I feel is fair enough. In the past few weeks there was chat of Cotterill moving to ADO Den Haag but it didn't happen.

He had a few good seasons with Swansea (along with a few terrible penalty misses), but in a midfield rammed with speed, accuracy and strength, he would never have made a starting line-up/bench/cup match line-up/cup-match bench, so he's essentially just dead wood. Cheers David, but it was unlikely to work.


Olympic Team

Brendan Rodgers has essentially given his blessing for Ashley Williams, Joe Allen, Neil Taylor and Steven Caulker to take part in Team GB after the players were shortlisted.

As Mr Rodgers says, it would disrupt pre-season and the start of the 2012/13 season, but if the players want to play in the Olympic squad, who are we to say no?

Frankly I couldn't give a shit about football at the Olympics - there are enough major tournaments to be a part of and it will easily be overshadowed by Euro 2012.

For the three Welshmen it may well be a once in a lifetime opportunity as Wales may not qualify for a major tournament in the next ten years. However, the players should be aware that they're club needs them more than Stuart Pearce, for a competition that... nobody really cares about.


Swansea vs Arsenal

Swansea can win the game on Sunday! Back in September the travelling Swans were unlucky not to grab a point at the Emirates (thanks to the rare mistake from Michel Vorm, who threw it at the heels of Angel Rangel, leaving Andrey Arshavin to slot in a fine strike). In fact, with a little more cutting-edge, a win wasn't that far out of reach for the Swans.

With the home crowd behind them, it's more likely this time around. Saying that, Arsenal have warmed as the season has progressed (currently 5th in the table) and may appear more dangerous this time.

The Arsenal legend that is Thierry Henry has returned to the club, and I expect to see him feature at the Liberty. We all know he is capable of scoring a few, so Williams and co will have to keep concentration up at the back. Going forward it's got to be Graham, Dyer and Routledge starting, with Sinclair coming off the bench later in the game.

I predict a cheeky, though well-earned, 2-1 victory to Swansea.

Swansea City 2 – 0 Aston Villa: Happy New Year!

Swansea marked the start of 2012 and the halfway point of the season with a slick performance and generally comfortable win against Aston Villa. A significant first away win in the Premier League, marking the halfway point in the season.

Swansea looked strong, fast and confident going forward, with goals from both starting wingers – Nathan Dyer early in the first half and Wayne Routledge early in the second.

In the 4th minute, Dyer pounced on a silly back flick from Stephen Warnock and, after a slight deflection, put the ball in the back on the net. Routledge had his in the 47th with a follow up to Danny Graham's post hit. A scrappy goal, but his first for the Swans: a long time coming and well deserved.

After recent weeks, Dyer seemed to be back to his old form and used his usual brand of high speed and skill to make a nuisance of himself against Villa's back line. The inclusion of Andrea Orlandi was quite a shock before the game, but he did enough to impress with some nice touches and a wonderful strike in the first half. Leon Britton and Kemy Agustien looked as strong as usual in the centre. Defensively Swansea were solid, with Angel Rangel, Neil Taylor and Stephen Caulker all injury free for a change and joined captain Ashley Williams in contributing to the clean-sheet.

A bigger plus for Swansea is that Aston Villa weren't actually that bad. Villa didn't back down after Dyer's early goal and kept attacking. They also had the most possession (57%), but a number of misplaced passes didn't help their cause, while they were unable to capitalise on any of their fourteen corners (compared to Swansea's no corners), incurring a fourth consecutive home defeat.

Though it's hard to pick out Swansea's negatives, there were a few. The game saw a few silly tackles, with Caulker, Agustien and Orlandi receiving yellow cards which could have been avoided. The final ball was also questionable at times – the hard work was always done well, but the final cross or shot was scuffed a little too often. It's still a concern that more aren't put away, but games like this will give the confidence needed to remedy this problem.

Kudos to the travelling Jacks who filled Villa Park with hymns, arias and confirmation that Swans will, indeed, tear you apart... again. Nathan Dyer rightly saluted you after his goal and you deserved it.

After this good win, Swansea start the year 11th in the Premier League. All eyes turn to the FA Cup match away against Barnsley on Saturday, before the second chance to get something from Arsenal, on the 15th January.