Sunday 2 October 2016

All change at ForzaSwansea!

Good evening Swans fans!

I bring you news of some changes! Firstly, rest assured ForzaSwansea is staying put - it's just me that's going away.

It's been an absolute pleasure to create, edit and write for this website over the past six years (that's right, SIX years!).

I started this blog back in 2010 to chart the activity of Swansea City, just as Brendan Rodgers was settling in. Little did I know that it was to become the season the club would dramatically rise to the top flight! I followed the Swans as they took their first steps in the Premier League, their brief but exciting European tour, charted the rise and fall of both Michael Laudrup and Garry Monk, and a lot more in between.

I even won the title of Best Sports Blog in Wales at the Wales Blog Awards 2012, and wrote two books about the Swans (in 2014 and 2015). A fantastic journey that wouldn't have been possible if I was writing about a boring club.

However in the last year or two I haven't been able to dedicate the time this website deserves, thanks to other projects eating up my waking day. So I've made the decision to pass the reigns to a new group of bloggers, who have assured me that the blog will remain focused on the Swans.

The change will take place over the next few days, but make sure you keep coming back for the usual Swans news and check out the archive from the last six years.

I'm still writing about the Swans for Yahoo! Sport and am sure I have another book in me somewhere... For now, you can keep in touch with me on Twitter.

Keep visiting ForzaSwansea and keep following the Swans!

Forza Swansea!

Chris Carra
2 October, 2016

Friday 2 September 2016

Swansea Till I Die - Old Radio Show, New Home!

It's been a long time since I posted on Forza Swansea, but it's only because the majority of my Swans writing now takes place on Yahoo! Sport these days. Make sure to follow me on Twitter for updates on my newest articles.

But I also wanted to mention that the well-loved radio show Swansea Till I Die is back after a brief absence. The show is currently live on Monday evenings at 6pm on 1386AM, although is podcasted soon after and available for download.

It features myself, Matt Barroccu, Mark Beevers and Ben Charles, as well as the usual callers from across the globe. Good old fashioned Swans chat - perfect for venting frustrations on the Swans (and there certainly seem to be a few around at the moment!).

Make sure to check out the official #STiD Facebook and Twitter pages for more updates and episode news. The first episode can be found here.

Cheers!

Chris

Friday 12 February 2016

Swansea City vs Southampton: Preview

Right - let's make sure we win this one.

I say that because in the last two Swansea City matches, points have been thrown away due to bad defending. As I outlined in my post earlier this week, we need to ensure we defend corners properly (i.e. no sticking Leon Britton on Graziano Pelle) and score more than one goal (because one is rarely enough).


The Swans take on Southampton at the Liberty this Saturday (3pm) - looking for a little redemption after the 3-1 thrashing at St Mary's back in September.

The good news for Swansea is Ki Sung Yueng is likely to play after recovering from the concussion he suffered in the 1-1 draw against West Brom. While he's not been in the best form this season, it's always handy to have him as an option.

In fact, it's as strong a team as we've had for a while with no injury worries - Francesco Guidolin has a good selection of players to choose from in all areas. I don't think any Swans fan is worrying about Guidolin's choices regardless. He seems to be on the ball, and going for another unbeaten game (although hopefully a win this time).

Thankfully Gylfi Sigurdsson is finally back in form and will look for a third goal in three consecutive games, while new boy Alberto Paloschi will be desperate to get on the scoresheet. With Ayew also fit and available, it's unlikely we'll see much more of Bafetimbi Gomis.

Meanwhile, Southampton will probably wear their away kit which looks surprisingly similar to Swansea's this season. Let's hope it brings them as bad luck as it has done Swansea tomorrow!

Unfortunately Soton keeper Fraser Forster is in top form, and looking for a sixth consecutive clean sheet in tomorrow's game. They will miss Victor Wanyama though, who is suspended for five matches after his third red card of the season!

Despite their clean-sheet heroes, I still feel either Sigurdsson or Paloschi will find a way through. But so too may Pelle or Long... So my prediction - I feel this could well be another 1-1!

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Swansea City 1-1 [The Other Team]: Twice

Even though we have finally seen some respite from the bleak results we witnessed back in December and January - mainly thanks to the arrival of Francesco Guidolin - Swansea have managed to throw away four important points in the last two matches.

In the game against West Brom at the start of February we saw the Swans take the deserved lead through the quick feet of Gylfi Sigurdsson in the 64th minute. They then held on for 25 tough minutes until injury time when Saloman Rondon fired in from close range after a chaotic corner. 1-1.

In the end, a disappointing draw - but at least one point and some confidence to take into the next game.

This was against Crystal Palace at the Liberty the following week, when we saw Sigurdsson once again score the deserved opener in the first half, only for Scott Dann to equalise after the Swans failed to defend a corner... again. Another 1-1.

When you look at both games it's definitely a case of four points dropped.

More annoyingly for me, I had Swansea to win on my Saturday accumulator both times - the West Brom game in particular would have seen me win a couple of hundred quid! I should have cashed out when they were ahead - taken my money and run.

(I'm aware I have broken my main rule this season - never bet on Swansea).

But I guess we can't dwell too much. Both games extended the run of unbeaten matches to four, and both showed a drastically improved Swansea City.

However there are two lessons we can take from this. Firstly, the players have to work on defending set pieces. How many times this season have we seen a goalmouth scramble following a corner? Or the tallest opposition player being marked by Leon Britton? Too many. It's a fundamental flaw, and needs to be addressed.

Secondly - one goal is not enough! This should be obvious, but these days nursing a 1-0 lead is a dangerous game to play. I mean, look at Liverpool on the weekend - 2-0 to 2-2 within a few minutes. Swansea have to start scoring a couple of early goals, then holding onto them.

That's where the points will come from.

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Waterstones Signing - Saturday, 28th November

Hello all you slightly glum Swans fans,

I hope you've managed to catch some of my recent ForzaSwansea posts on Yahoo! Sport (follow me on Twitter as I announce all the new posts there).

Just a quick note to say I'm signing copies of both the Swansea City Miscellany and Swansea City's Greatest Games in Swansea Waterstones this Saturday morning. If you're looking for a Christmas gift for your Swans-loving dad, mum, brother, sister, uncle or best mate, the Miscellany is a great stocking filler!

And if you have bought a copy beforehand and want me to sign it, just bring it down and say hello.

I'll be there from 11am - hope to see you there!

Cheers, Chris

Friday 6 November 2015

Chris on 'Swansea Till I Die' - Friday 6th November

Just a quick note to say that I will be presenting Swansea Sound's 'Swansea Till I Die' show between 6-7pm tonight (GMT). With me in the studio will be Ben Charles and Mark Beevers.


If you're in the Swansea area, tune in via 1170MW, or - for those of you around the world - you can catch it live online.

It should be a great show! We'll be discussing the Arsenal match, looking forward to the game against Norwich tomorrow, and talking everything else to do with the Swans.

I'd love to hear from YOU, so get in touch this evening with your views on 01792 893031 or tweet @SwanseaSound.

Saturday 31 October 2015

Forza Swansea - New Posts (October)

You may recall my last blog post I told you that I would be blogging mainly for Yahoo! Sport this season.

So here's a quick round up of what I've been up to, in case you missed them...

In my most recent article I argue why the season is actually going to plan despite the lack of wins.

An earlier article saw me ask the intriguing question: was Brendan Rodgers Swansea City's greatest ever manager?

Then I wrote another piece about the managers of Swansea - looking at whether the gaffers of the last five years have all suffered the Swansea City curse after leaving the club.

Keep checking back for new posts or follow me on Twitter, where I will announce the new articles as they arrive.

Cheers!