Swansea City kick off their debut Premier League season at Manchester City tonight. The Swans have been written off as whipping boys this season and one of the favourites for relegation.
However the people who are predicting the Swans demise might just get a big surprise come May.
Tough
Swansea have turned the English Premier League into the British Premier League just by their sheer presence.
Their first game is a tough one and so is the league but I believe they have what it takes to survive in the cruel world of the English top flight.
Praise
I saw a lot Swansea City last season and praised them in my editorials for the way they play the game. A lot of people who are predicting that the Swans will go down probably didn’t see many of their games last season. If they did then they would know that they are not just a one trick pony.
Style
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers is very much a part of the new breed of British manager. These young up and coming managers like Rodgers and Paul Lambert, have seen how the continent sides play and mixed that philosophy with the grit of English players.
Rodgers has assembled a team of players who are comfortable with the ball and like to keep possession. It may be harder to keep possession in the Premier League but as the old saying goes if the opposition haven’t got the ball they can’t score.
Swansea’s style over the past few seasons has been very pretty on the eye. Last season was different though the club played the best football in the league and were unlucky not to get promoted automatically.
Tight
Over the past few seasons Swansea have been building a team capable of getting promoted and that has started from the back. Unfortunately they have lost long-term keeper Dorus De Vries but have kept the back four which helped them to promotion last season.
Their backline were one of the best in the English second tier last season and in Alan Tate they have a good defensive leader. If Premier League teams think they will be easy to break down they’ll have to think again.
Goalscorer
Swansea have had a problem of not having a prolific goalscoring in recent seasons. Winger Scott Sinclair scored 24 goals last season but they needed a striker to chip in a similar amount as well. Swans boss Brendan Rodgers has moved to solve that problem by bringing in striker Danny Graham from Watford.
The striker like Sinclair, scored 24 goals in last seasons Championship. The Premier League is harder to score in than the Championship but Graham looks ready for the challenge of the big time. Graham could be the key to Swansea success this season.
Sinclair
Another man who will be vital to Swansea this season is the aforementioned Scott Sinclair. The former-Chelsea ace will be out to prove that the Blues made a mistake by selling him. He arrived at Chelsea from Bristol Rovers with a big reputation.
However he never really got a chance at Stamford Bridge and was sent out on loan to numerous clubs, before making the move to Wales. He seems to have enjoyed his time with Swansea and will get his reward for all his hard work last season with a chance to impress in the Premier League.
Stadium
Swansea’s Liberty Stadium seems like a superb arena for Premier League football. I’m sure the Swansea fans will be making themselves heard when all the big boys come to town. It definitely won’t be an easy place to go.
Survival
Swansea’s first aim is to stay in the Premier League this season and then build from there in the following seasons. There are lots of teams in the Premier League that look vulnerable to relegation and Swansea may just surprise a few people this season.
Can Swansea survive in the Premier League?
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