The Club:
It has been something of a meteoric rise for the Welsh club, who looked dead and buried just eight years ago. But with a new injection of money, the new Liberty Stadium a shining beacon of optimism, and being dubbed the Barcelona of the Championship last season, things are definitely looking up for Swansea City. They will pit their footballing wits against the best in the country this season, a totally different kettle of fish from life in the Championship. Swansea City Premier League betting does have the Swans down as favourites to get relegation this season, but do they have more to offer than that? Can their brand of football be a breath of fresh air in England’s top flight?
Players/Manager:
After fighting their way into the Premier League through the Championship play offs, Swansea have looked to bolster their squad and have landed winger Wayne Routledge from Newcastle. This is an interesting move, as Routledge was with QPR last season on loan in their Championship winning season. Routledge was Swansea City’s second signing in a week, as they plumped for Leroy Lita as well to enforce the attack. Routledge will bring some good Premier League experience to Swansea, as he has played for Tottenham, Fulham and Villa before. His exploits on the wing last season for QPR was a revelation for the club and has won him a lot of plaudits. Swansea did try to get Fulham keeper David Stockdale, because their main man between the sticks from last season has moved on to Wolves this season. They didn’t get Stockdale, but got a guy from Benfica to fill in, who doesn’t yet seem really Premier League capable. They need to sort out a starting goalie quickly or else all of their hard work from last season is going to rapidly be undone in the top flight. The Swans look have landed Michel Vorm, a Dutch international to fill the empty starting goalkeeper spot. Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers knows that he has big task on his hands, but one of the main things which he instilled at the club last year was attractive football. Arguably, Swansea were the best passing, natural footballing side in the Championship. They play with quite a bit of flair, and know where the goal is, and they won many friends with their approach to the game. Their slick passing game was too much for most of the Championship, but Rodgers will know that he is going to have to adapt a little bit, and not be afraid to mix it up in taking the direct route, in order to survive dog fights which will inevitably come with Premier League survival. Swansea have lost players, like Pratley and De Vries exiting the Liberty Stadium, but at least the managed to hang on to Neil Taylor at the Back. Swansea though really do need to bring experience at the back or else they are going to struggle. Having brought in Danny Graham as well to fetch goals, Swansea should be fine going forward. Big question marks for Rodgers to sort out at the back though. Loan deals of experienced players would fit the bill perfectly for the Swans.
Last Season:
Played the best football in the Championship last year and deserved their place in the Premier League based on that. Still, they look the most vulnerable of the three teams this year in taking chances to stay up.
2011/12 Swansea City Premier League Betting Odds Projection:
Is a Swan dive on the cards? Well, Swansea are a team of two halves really. They have major weaknesses, major problems at the back but after being dubbed the Barcelona of the Championship last year, they do have big potential in going forward. Of course, this is a huge step up in level, and they will need more than fancy passing to survive. They will need some grit and a high degree of stoicism at the back, when they need to fight for all they are worth. It has been a huge success story for the Welsh side over the last eight years, so now they just have to focus on survival. They are confident, they are confident that their brand of football which has served them so well is going to keep their Premier League status. They may well have a rude awakening on the opening day of the season, when they have to travel to Eastlands to face Manchester City and they will need more than first day enthusiasm to get through that. That will be the Swans real first test and they have a steep learning curve. Truthfully, unless they get in some more experience to the back line then the Swans are going to struggle defensively. You have to ask yourself the question as to whether or not the midfield are going to be able to maintain enough possession and pressure in a game to compensate for defensive weakness. It does not look as if they have that ability in the squad at the moment, so you really are expecting them to be really happy with a finish that is a few places above relegation. Will the Swans be able to adapt? Brendan Rogers has been a revelation as manager for them, but can they make the Liberty Stadium a place where opposing teams are not going to want to come to? They have to take as many points as they can at home, even if means playing a more direct style. There will be struggles on the road.
Finishing Position: Threat of Relegation
Premier League Relegation Odds:
4/7 at Bet365
First Three Fixtures
August 15th: Manchester City v Swansea City
August 20th: Swansea City v Wigan
August 27th: Swansea v Sunderland
