Could Swansea be dragged into the relegation zone?

Swansea interim boss Garry Monk will be under pressure after his side lost 2-1 at home to fellow strugglers West Brom on Saturday

Swansea suffered a very disappointing 2-1 home defeat against fellow Premier League strugglers West Brom on Saturday.

Last season was one of achievement for Swansea City, as the Swans claimed the Capital One Cup and their boss was linked with a move to some of Europe’s biggest clubs. However, this season has been a different story.

Disappointing

The Welsh side endured a disappointing start to the season, which eventually saw the exit of highly-rated boss Michael Laudrup.

There were rumblings that the Dane was not happy at the club in the summer, but Laudrup stayed in Wales, despite interest from elsewhere.

The Swans Europa League campaign seemed to be a distraction to the players early in the season. Laudrup lauded the competition and talked about doing well in Europe’s second tier competition. The Swans have done reasonable well in the competition, but lost focus in the Premier League.

New boss

Swansea decided to appoint club stalwart Garry Monk as the team’s interim boss in February. The 35-year-old has no managerial experience, but the Swans board have put their faith in the man that has been at Swansea for the last decade.

Monk’s appointment has apparently been met with the approval of the Swansea players. However, the popular Monk has had a difficult transition from player to boss.

Monk has claimed just one win as the Swans boss and has been working under constant speculation he will be replaced, with the latest rumour being that Dutch legend Ronald Koeman will take over the manager’s job in the summer. Monk needs results and quickly.

Dangerous

Swansea’s poor form in recent months has left the Welsh side very close to the relegation zone. The Swans are four points clear of 18^th place Sunderland, who have two games in-hand of the Swans. At the moment the Swans are living life dangerously, especially considering some of their remaining fixtures.

Some of the teams at the bottom picked-up vital points yesterday to make the battle at the bottom even closer than in previous weeks. In fact bottom of the table Fulham are now just five points behind the 14^th placed Swans.

Difficult

Although the Swans destiny is in their own hands with games against other teams near the bottom of the table, Swansea now have consecutive away games at title challengers Arsenal and sixth place Everton in the next ten days.

Arsenal have suffered just one defeat in the Premier League at home this season which came on the opening day of the campaign. Everton have also only lost once at home in the Premier League this season and have won the last seven games in all competitions at Goodison Park.

The prospects of the Swans picking up points at either the Emirates Stadium or Goodison Park is not great, so it could get very nervous for everybody connected with the Welsh club in the next ten days.

Missed

Spanish star Michu was one of the revelations of last season in the Premier League. However, this season the former-Rayo Vallecano ace has spent much of the campaign on the sidelines through injury and has scored just two goals in the Premier League.

Michu is without doubt the star player in the Swansea team and any team misses a player of his quality, never mind a team like Swansea who do not have a host of star players available to them. Michu has been out of action since December 22^nd and he has been badly missed.

He made his return as a substitute in the West Brom defeat and if the Swans are to climb away from the relegation zone then they will need Michu to be at his best for the remainder of the campaign.

Good enough

Swansea have proven in the past few seasons that they have enough quality within their squad to survive in the top-flight. The Swans really need to hit form now and secure their place in the top-flight.

Garry Monk’s future as Swansea boss depends on the Swans staying in the Premier League. If they do get relegated then all the hard work that has gone on in recent years will have gone to waste.

Could Swansea be dragged into the relegation zone?