I'm surprised (well I'm not) that the media haven't picked up on how good a position you are in the league but then again I guess they're too busy focussing on the cup final this month (good luck). What league position would you be happy with come the end of the season given where you are now? I have bolded that bit as I'm sure you're very pleased with your current position and exceeded your expectations from the beginning of the season already (correct me if I'm mistaken). you're currently 7th place and 5 points behind my team Everton in 6th and 7 points off Arsenal. Have you played twice against Arsenal in the league this season or is the game at the Liberty still to come? Sadly, I think that we are catchable in our current dip of form even though I think we will get back on track (but there's no certainties in football is there?) and if you do still have to play Arsenal then that gap goes down to 4 points which I think is a realistic difference to turn around. 4th is probably to far away (11 points). TL;DR - Do you think you can catch Everton or Arsenal in the league? or possibly even higher?
I think most of us would have taken 17th before the season started, but given the position we're in now I'd expect us to finish top 10 at worse. We do still have Arsenal to come next month, in fact I think Everton are the only team above us who we haven't got to play again, so some tough games to come. I think this season has shown us that anything is possible under Laudrup though, so I think we may have another one or two big scalps in the bag. Top 10 would be good, where we are now would be brilliant, any higher would be unbelievable Jeff
We have got some tough games ahead, but without the fear of relegation we can play more freely and hopfully pick up some big scalps. I would love to finish 6th or better to equal/beat our best ever position. Realistically though I will stick my neck out and say we will finish 8th
Thankfully we don't have to play you again, our bogey team! Sure, possible that 5th or 6th could happen but you wont see much Swansea money on that. If you had offered us a Wembley final and 37 points in Feb we would have bit your hand off, we just wanted to prove the doubters wrong and survive. Any improvement on last years finish will be more than enough for most Jacks, but would really really really like to finish above Brent'an Rodgers This weekend is actually a massive game as to where we can end up (the old 6 pointer!), and to be truthful I think we have been good value and justify 7th. I have seen nothing from the teams below us (so far) to fear. Time will tell, but the centenary year is already a success, its up to the players to now make it a fairytale.
It's an interesting point Shogs. As above I'd have been happy just to survive with Brenda at the helm. Once Laudrup was appointed and got that 5-0 QPR result I felt somewhat more confident! I'd take 7th now and a cup win, we could end up finishing 6th would be an european place anyway but so long as we win the cup I'd take anything outside of relegation with europe to come. I think it was late October (Liverpool cup win) when I really started to think that we truly deserved to be where we are rather than 'being lucky'. I know that was a cup game but coupled with previous form I was positive. Laudrup has something that Brenda has never had; a plan B (and plan C and plan D...). He's brought better players in, worked to probably the smallest Premiership budget and made a team that should now be expecting to finish top half at least. we were all worrying about 2nd season syndrome but honestly this year has been far more enjoyable rather than nail biting like last year. So what about everton Shogs? Where do you see yourselves finishing? I really hope everton get 4th spot but I have a feeling Spurs will be too strong this year. Can you do it?
Also I think we could get 18 more points based on the remaining fixtures, which would be a good haul with the amount of top sides we have to face.
It would be a fabulous season for us if we can win the League Cup and finish in the top 10. Where we are now (7th) is possibly as good as it's going to get but you never can tell with us. We could go on a great run and grab 6th place because we're capable of it but, more realistically, I'm thinking two or three places below that. Of course, without being pessimistic, if we suffer a post cup final hangover, for whatever reason, a bad run could drop us well into the lower half of the table. I would have grabbed that at the beginning of the season but, because we have performed so well, I would now be disappointed at least not to finish top 10. Mind you, there's also the not inconsiderable Michael Laudrup factor. This guy is everything I ever wanted in a manager and he never ceases to amaze me. I wouldn't put it past him to push us into the top 6 but we would need a lot of luck and quite a few results going for us to do that. Still, it's nice to dream.
5th or 6th with a cup final victory. It would require a great run from us and loss of form on the part of other clubs to finish any higher.
Thanks for the responses, it sounds like good times are ahead (and on the go now) at Swansea. However I do think it would be difficult for anyone to break into that top 5 of teams at the moment. Laudrup is doing a great job though and to think he could put you 4 points ahead of the team your last manager left you for! and a cup final too. I do wish you the best for the rest of the season, you're a well run club with a promising manager and a lot of good little players and some exceptional ones too. Out of the teams below you then I can only see Liverpool with a realistic chance of finishing higher than you, 8th at worst I think. No doubting Laudrup's success and tactical adaptability throughout this season, you only have to look at your cup tie at Stamford bridge and the league match at Goodison Park this season to see that. Though I'm sure we might be pretty close to Swansea on the smallest premiership budget I think Spurs too mate, got a lot of optimism about the cup this year though (cue us going out tomorrow) which I'd take over 4th any day. Getting back into Europe would be a success given its been 3 years since we were last in Europe.
I really like Everton and Moyes. I shouldn't 'cos the buggers always beat us but you've got admire them this season, fair play.
Its been ten years since Moyes has been with Everton (there a bouts) and to be fair he's done wonders with & for them .Bill Kenwright has had his problems with the supporters but has shown what can be achieved with a very good manger but a limited budget .
If only the Everton board could provide Moyes with a £20-£30million transfer kitty each summer then top 4 would be almost guarenteed each season in my opinion as he has done wonders with such a limited budget. Overall he could possibly be the best manager in the league, its just unfortunate that the only managers who seem to be acknowledged with Manager of the year etc are those will tens of millions to spend each season. Wouldn't suprise me if he took control of the reigns at Man Utd one day, although I think that Utd are moulding Giggsy for the top job when SAF retires.
