Well done Swansea, another really good consistent season for you. Your midfield is particularly consistent and impressive. As a Saints fan, it is sad to see our season decline so much and a few weeks ago I would have never have thought you would catch us, however unfortunately we have been in free fall and it has taken a little of the gloss off our successful season. Teams like Swansea and ourselves have done so well with fairly small squads - hopefully we can both progress and hopefully have not reached an impenetrable ceiling.
I think we should always push that ceiling, it's what teams like Swansea and Southampton are all about, and long may it continue...........
Swansea City want Europa League place, says Angel Rangel Full-back Angel Rangel says Swansea City are targeting European qualification following their 1-0 Premier League win at Arsenal. Swansea moved to within a point of seventh-placed Southampton after Bafetimbi Gomis's late header secured victory at the Emirates. Finishing the season seventh could earn Europa League qualification if the Gunners win the FA Cup. "It would be great for the club to make it into the Europa League," he said. Manager Garry Monk said he is not scared of Swansea qualifying for the Europa League next season should they finish seventh and Arsenal beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final on 30 May. Swansea were beaten by Napoli in the Europa League's Round of 32 during the 2013-2014 season, after qualifying for the competition as Capital One Cup winners. Monk accepts he would need a bigger squad to deal with the extra European fixtures after the Swans struggled in the Premier League last season. But Spaniard Rangel says the players will do their utmost to ensure European football for the second time in three seasons. "It was tough last season but it was a good experience," Rangel added. "It's still difficult because you don't depend on yourself but we'll give it a go. "If we can get it, it will be great but if not we'll still be proud."
In an ideal world I would love it if we could finish 6th, you guys 7th, Spurs 8th, and Arsenal win the cup (would also mean that smug Sherwood not winning the cup nor getting into Europe). We had a brilliant first half or so of the season, and you've had a brilliant finish (as very as a brilliant start). In a world of big club dominance, I feel that we both deserve to come away with something to show for our seasons. And personally, seeing Cork playing in Europe would be a pleasure. I rate him so highly, and whilst I wouldn't want to exchange Morgan and Wanyama, it is impossible for me not to be found, and even a touch jealous, of Cork and Ki. I completely understand his reasons for leaving us though, even though ironically he'd have got a fair bit of game time with us since January had he stayed, as it has panned out. And of course they'd be the other personal benefit of seeing us finish above Pochettino. In fact, so long as Arsenal win the cup, then I wouldn't actually have any problems with you finishing 6th and us 7th - it would still be Europe, and it would still be finishing above Pochettino. Unfortunately, I'm struggling to see us not finishing 8th now. This Saturday is massive for us, pretty much a must win if we want top seven. But our poor form combined with having Gazzaniga in goal again (god that Forster injury has hurt us, and no doubt will continue to hurt us until he's back in six months or so) means that I'm not holding out too much hope of beating Villa, even though it is at home and it is 'only' Villa. A season is played over 38 games, involving more than 11 players per team. If you catch us and beat us to a European place, you'll have deserved it.
