Looks like we both have tough games this weekend. Man City look on fire against Newcastle tonight, who fair play are doing their best to shoot themselves in the foot. You are going to have to get much tighter than you did last Saturday (as we will have to as well).
Yep, and only Man City next!!! No problems there then. BUT, that is why we wanted to get to the Prem, to play the likes of the Mancs, and big London and Liverpool clubs and the Swans again. That is what it is all about and I will enjoy every minute win, lose or draw.
Seen us beat Man City twice at home in my time. Will it be 3 out of 3? In a word 'no' but let's hope the team can give the fans something to be positive about for the rest of the season.
Great post Blue - that is exactly how I feel! After two seasons some are talking of the Swans as an 'established' PL team and all this talk about an expected top ten finish is worrying me. We have to earn the right to be top ten all over again this season - starting from nil points just like all the other teams. I agree that we have probably the best squad I have ever seen at Swansea, but there are no guarantees and Man Utd proved again that you can match a team during a PL game but still come away heavy losers because of moments of brilliance. It has amazed me how some sections of the media were writing Man U off - they will still be challenging for the title at the business end of the season. Where Swansea and Cardiff will be no one can predict, and just because we were amongst the 'mini-league' behind the top 6 last season has little bearing on this one - we will need to do it all over again, and it will probably be harder this year. I am quietly confident, but that confidence could evaporate if we go on a bad run so I take nothing for granted. But I will be determined to enjoy the ride again whatever happens and yes, I did enjoy the Man U game - even though I was disappointed at the result - I feel quite privileged to watch the likes of Van Persie in their pomp and, like you, that is why I wanted the Swans to get into the Premier League. So enjoy the season, however it pans out, because you will be watching some of the best players in the world, week in week out, and it doesn't get much better than that!
I think we need to be honest here. Swans Tottenham A 0points WBA A 0points Liverpool H 0points C. Palace A 1 point Arsenal H 0 points Total 1 point If Arsenal get the 2 players they are said to be after that 1 point might be lost. Cardiff Man City H 0points Everton H 3points Hull A 1point Tottenham H 0points Fulham A 1point total 5points Everton, Hull & Fulham are there for the taking could be 9 points if Everton sell to Man United and we get a new player or two.
Don't mention bets on here mate - you might get Phil bottling it again. He's already run for the hills when I offered to take up his bet that you were bound to finish above us. He offered me odds and when I took him up, he disappeared like a rat up a drainpipe. Looking at the respective opposition, you should pick up more points than us this first half dozen games as we're the new kids on the block finding our feet. I reckon if you're still in Europe after a dozen Prem games have passed and we can get our noses in front, it'll be a lot closer come the end of the season than many think.
I think DPJ was offering 500/1 to Sparkey. Give me 10% of that and I'll have 10p on us. ( Used to work for Jack Browns so I never bet more than 10p )
Neutral perspective on the above games .. without necessarily predicting the scores - instead by the opposition teams Tottenham - much changed side and now almost certain to be without Mr Bale - weren't overly convincing against Palace at the weekend needing a penalty to score - probably not a bad time for either of you to be playing them - suspect they will be much stronger come the end of the season. Swans could well pick something up in London and I think Cardiff could well turn them over at home - neither game a foregone conclusion in favor of Spurs IMHO. West Brom - average at best at the weekend. Anelka and Long looked to be getting in each others way (Vydra is excellent but may still have to wait for a starting berth) - actually wouldn' be surpised to see them involved in the relegation dogfight this seaon. Laudrup must surely be targetting this as a 3 point away day. Liverpool - Swans had considerable success against them last season and they will be without Suarez. Still nowhere near as good as Man United. Stoke found holes in their defence last week and with better finishing (which the Swans have) would have come away with a point. I see the Swans at least getting a drw but actually think there is a very good chance of a home win. Crystal Palace - every game is going to be a struggle because they just don't have the quality - should be another on Laudrup's 3 point away day list. Arsenal - arguably the hardest to predict - the Swans had some good results against them last season are now arguably a stronger side whilst Arsenal currently have problems - Bony and Michu will cause them problems without doubt. Swans to get something out of the game. Man City - for me he best squad in the PL - will be difficultto get anything (Kompany being out will help) Everton - the OP seems to be writing Everton off somewhat - they dominated away at Norwich for long periods last weekend and are very dangerous going forward. Mirelles much underrated IMHO. Think Cardiff can get something out of the game but this would not be a 'home banker' IMHO. Hull away - got to be looking for something from this game. Hull have made a couple of good signings in Huddlestone and Livermore but were all over the place at the back for the first 35 minutes on Sunday. Partly depends on how fast their new signings take to gel - but a god time to be playing them IMHO. Spurs - see above Fulham - strong at home (and Berbatov very dangerous if not policed tightly) but still an average and 'older' team. This is winnable and a game (along with Hull) that Malky must be targeting 3 points from.
Your the one that wouldn't take up the odds I gave you, you yellow belly old git!.................. please log in to view this image
Betting is a mugs game end of. The Swans will finish higher than Cardiff because they're a better team. No disrespect, I hope you don't get relegated but life goes in cycles and at the moment we are better than you. We have finished higher in the league standings for the last 3 seasons, who knows in 10 years time it might be the other way around, it's just life that's all
Sad to say but Swansea are light years ahead of us at the moment. They have survived and have the financial clout to survive and even prosper. For us it will be a struggle. West Ham were one of the sides I thought we could get a point from but we were nowhere near good enough. As to the far future it boils down to survival for a couple of seasons so that sufficient revenue is generated to continually improve the team. The problem here is that everyone else is also improving so the divide between the established Premiership sides and the Premiership also rans grows ever wider. If - and a it's a big if - we survive for 5 years or so then we may overtake Swansea but I wouldn't bet money on it. Of course we have better crowds, greater revenue potential and at present a billionaire in charge on whom much depends. But whether these facts combined guarantee that we rise above Swansea is anybody's guess. For the present - and the foreseeable future - Swansea will be well ahead of us I fear. Their European excursions have been a positive rather than negative as they were match fit from the get go. Any team can get thrashed by MU so I don't think that match is indicative of Europe affecting performance although it could have an affect later on by which time they will be well ahead of us. On a separate point there is no point getting into a slanging match with Swansea supporters as that will more or less guarantee that we will have egg on our faces come the end of the season. Sorry to be so negative but that is how I see things although I think we might have just enough to survive.
Whoops makes a good point that the divide between the established Premiership sides and the sides that get promoted will be more difficult to overcome season on season. The priority in the 1st season survival at all costs - hence the number of manager changes around January time. My personal view is that you will be OK although its early days yet and we need to take stock around end Sept. Just enjoy it
Dreyfus - let's get one thing straight pal - it was Phil who came over here gobbing his chops off taunting Cardiff posters to take up his bet that we would finish below you. When I actually took him up on it, you didn't see him for dust - he ran back to your board like a rabbit. Yes, betting is a mug's game and one in which I don't indulge, but this was only a bit of fun and a one off between posters. Just unfortunate that when confronted by someone who took up his forum challenge, Phil either had no balls for it, or should have been prepared to admit that he was wrong. What do you say Phil - are you a bottler or just prick waving again, eh?.........
Come on now Bob no need to be touchy. All 3 promoted sides are favourites in the betting to be relegated, they always are but it doesn't make the bookies right.
