2012/2013: 9th
Transfer(s) In: Wilfried Bony (Vitesse Arnhem, £12 Million), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool, £6 Million), Jonathan De Guzman (Villareal, Loan), Jordi Amat (Espanyol, £2 Million), Jernade Meade (Free Agent, Free), Alejandro Pozuelo (Real Betis, Free), Jose Canas (Real Betis, Free), Alvaro Vasquez (Getafe, Loan)
Transfer(s) Out: Kemy Augustien (Brighton, Free), Kyle Bartley (Birmingham: Loan), Dwight Tiendalli, Luke Moore (Released)
Transfers Review:
Swansea, after a silverware-winning season last campaign, have made several signings that will not look out of place on the Europa League stage. The headline making signing came in the form of Wilfried Bony, with the Ivorian costing the best part of £12 Million. However, he seems an excellent player, and with a goalscoring record that many would have envied last season, albeit in Holland, he seems appropriate qualified to succeed in the Premier League. The addition of Jonjo Shelvey is also an impressive one, as he was once tipped to be Liverpool's next talismanic central midfielder. He will only get better with age, and at 22, he has plenty of time to improve! Once again, Michael Laudrup has used his knowledge of the Spanish game to attract several La Liga signings, with the likes of Amat, Pozuelo and Canas all following the Dane from Spain. If they perform anything like Michu managed, they will all be huge successes in South Wales.
If we consider my predictions in my Swansea season review post from a couple of months ago, I suggested that Swansea most needed a central midfielder and a striker in order to press on from their excellent season last time around. Looking at their signings, Wilfried Bony and Jonjo Shelvey are exactly both of those things. Whilst they may not be the exact people that I recommended, I do feel some aspect of pleasure that the positions were correct.
Another important aspect to Swansea's summer is that they have not allowed many of their key players from last season to leave. After such a successful season, managing to keep hold of 20 goal Michu would have been a struggle this time around. However, the Dane has kept both Williams and Michu, giving the Swans a strong backbone to the squad this campaign.
Pre-Season:
Due to their involvement in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, thanks to their Capital One Cup victory last year, Swansea have been unable to take part in an extensive pre-season campaign. However, this may actually be an advantage, as they have been able to take part in competitive matches before the start of the league season. The only real test of the Swans on their early pre-season tour of the UK was against recently relegated Reading. A fantastic performance from Bony, laying on goals for Shelvey and Pablo Hernandez, after Michu had opened the scoring, meant that Swansea won the game 3-0.
And so to the qualifying round of the Europa League campaign, in which the Swans were drawn against Swedish side Malmo. The first leg of the tie was where Bony really made the £12 Million look a reasonable fee. After Michu opened the scoring ten minutes before the break, the Ivorian stole the show with two quick goals after half time. New boy Pozuelo then rounded off the night to make the scoreline a comfortable 4-0 lead going into the return leg. Having changed almost the entire squad for the trip to Sweden, the Swans were unable to build upon the lead, instead settling for 0-0 draw, taking them through 4-0 on aggregate and setting them up nicely for the visit of Manchester United on Saturday.
Key Players:
In Ashley Williams, the Swans have one of the most sought after defenders in the land. With Arsenal and Liverpool both reportedly interested in the Welsh centre-back, Swansea have done well to retain his services at the Liberty. His pace and reading of the play make him a fantastic defender, and a natural leader on and off the field. Last season represented an all time high for the young defender, and I am certain that he will consolidate his status as one of the best in the Premier League this time around.
Pablo Hernandez is another one that I could see shine this campaign. After a hit and miss second half to the season last year, the Spaniard has real potential to be an excellent winger, as his performances at Valencia show. If he can build upon his strength, he will fit into the Premier League well, and I am certain that he will become the chief outlet for goals.
Key Fixture Dates:
31/08/2013: West Brom vs Swansea
16/09/2013: Swansea vs Liverpool
03/11/2013: Cardiff vs Swansea
21/12/2013: Swansea vs Everton
08/02/2014: Swansea vs Cardiff
22/02/2014: Liverpool vs Swansea
15/03/2014: Swansea vs West Brom
22/03/2014: Everton vs Swansea
Top Goalscorer:
After his £12 Million move from Vitesse, Wilfried Bony has hit the ground running, and I expect him to continue this form into the Premier League season. However, as they already have a proven goalscorer in Michu at the club, Bony may have to wait his turn for the top goalscorer position this year. The Spaniard was impressive last year, with his creativity, anticipation and finishing attributes all at an outstanding level. I expect both to score well into the teens, but I feel that Michu will just edge it this season.
Prediction:
Many sides seem to have a problem with balancing success in Europe with success domestically, with their league form suffering. Newcastle last year would be an excellent example of this, with the Magpies struggling to stay in the league after an outstanding 5th place finish the year before. For Swansea, I think this will not be as large an issue. This season they will not be looking upwards in the league, but more to consolidate the position they got last year, a safe top table finish. This, with the squad that they have, is totally achievable. Europe may be an adventure, and one I think they will do well in, but domestic form is essential.
Swansea City 2013/2014: 8th
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