Huw confirms interest in Tom Ince

Swans supremo Huw Jenkins admits he's likely to speak with Blackpool regarding Tom Ince

Seems there is something in this after all! Talking to the Daily Mail (urgh), Jenkins had this to say regarding the likelihood he'll be contacting Blackpool regarding the availability of Tom Ince:

"He is a very good young player and one we looked at in the summer - I would say it is likely that we will be talking to Blackpool again. I know their chairman, Karl Oyston, and when the time is right we will make contact and see what can be done."  

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9032706/?

It's now a waiting game to see if Ince actually fancies a move to South Wales, or whether we'll be gazumped by a suitor with deeper pockets. Let's hope he fancies football over fiscal flatulence. 

For a look at how he compares to Nathan Dyer & Wayne Routledge based on this season's performance, check out a piece I did the other day full of lovely statistics:

http://www.theswanseaway.co.uk/2013/11/a-profile-of-swans-target-thomas-ince.html

Would you like to see Tom Ince brought in? How much should we be looking to pay for him? Would you rather see someone else brought in? If so, who would you pick? Get involved using the new MatchChat tool directly below every piece!

Huw Jenkins "League within a league talk not good enough"

Swansea chairman keen for Swans to show more ambition than has been evident in recent times

Some very interesting comments from Swans' supremo Huw Jenkins have emerged which don't seem to sit well with certain things Michael Laudrup has repeatedly stated during his tenure in SA1.

'We have to make sure whoever comes in to manage, coach and play for us in the future, they can't be talking about different levels of leagues within a league - to me, that is complete failure. 

'When I hear some of our players and staff talking [about aiming for fourty points] now it really upsets me that they can actually think like that, because you are more or less conceding a third of the games you play in before you start, and that's the biggest challenge I've got, to make sure that turns around and that everybody working with the club believes if we keep doing things differently, we can compete, irrespective of the size of the club or budgets.'

http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=337941#ixzz2jrGaQ1Ih

Over the last few years we've become used to talk of how there's a "league within a league" in the Premiership, and as recently as the buildup to the Southampton game Laudrup seemed keen to enforce the idea that, aside from the sides traditionally expected to finish in the top six or seven in the league, the rest of the Premiership are doing battle for the remaining thirteen places:

'I like the team [Saints] they have. They are a team who can be in the top ten. Those spots - eight, nine and ten — are the maximum we can go for. 

'There are the big sides, the Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton. That's seven. In my opinion, the rest of us play for eighth position and down.' 

http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=337941#ixzz2jrHKt500

Up until recently it appeared that the club had no problem with this kind of talk, but it appears Huw has become frustrated and given our performances going back, well, a while, I can't really blame him. We've shown we can beat anyone on our day and surely that goes against the "league within a league" theory?

Southampton are a good example of how unbridled ambition can result in unheralded results. Their fixture list has been kind so far, but in the three "big games" they've had so far, they've managed a draw at United, a win at Liverpool while Spurs sneaked a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane. Given all three games were played away from St Mary's, that shows the level of confidence that's coursing through the players on the South coast, and there's no reason the Swans can't be playing with the same level of verve and gusto.

Personally, I do agree that there are certain teams who, on paper, we can't afford to compete with but the more I look at comments of that ilk the more I think they must be in some way undermining to the team's confidence. Sure, we can't expect to finish above certain teams, but we've got some very talented footballers in the squad and, as Huw has said, we can't afford to be writing off a proportion of our games before a ball is kicked.

It seems Huw and Laudrup could be set for a chat regarding the manager's comments to the media, if it hasn't happened already. With a struggling Stoke side up next in the league (Sunday - KO: 16:10PM, Liberty Stadium) we should hopefully get back to winning ways, and that should draw some attention away from comments of this nature. After all, no-one questions you when you're winning right?

It will be very interesting to see if the Dane comes out with the "league within a league" stuff again, though...

Swansea announce signature of Jose Canas, and state there's plenty of transfer funds available for further signings

Swans break silence on alleged dispute over summer spending, while midfielder Canas will sign on July 1st when transfer window opens

So, finally some response from the club, and it's typical Huw. 

“Myself, the manager and our recruitment staff are all agreed on the quality of players we would like to sign to help us remain competitive in the Barclays Premier League. We are continuing to work behind the scenes, in private wherever and whenever we can, to strengthen our squad.  

“For that reason it’s disappointing that I have to respond to the speculation of unrest at the club after the fantastic season we have had. There are substantial funds available to strengthen our squad over the summer while we are also in the privileged position, because of the way we’ve managed our finances over the years, that we do not need to sell anyone to fund those new recruits.  

“It goes without saying that some of our targets will sign for other clubs for different reasons. But that’s the same for every club. The important thing, and a factor that has always been vitally important for us, is that we sign players who want to play for Swansea City for footballing reasons. If not, then we move on to the next target.  I think most people will agree that it is a policy that has served this football club, and more importantly our fans, well over the last decade.  

“It is true that I have not sat down with our manager since the last game of the season against Fulham, but that’s because we have both been away on holidays at different times. It doesn’t mean we haven’t spoken because I’ve had numerous conversations with Michael over the phone and there's been no difference of opinion on our original transfer targets.  

“We have built up a strong reputation over the last few years at Swansea and I believe we have gone about our business in the right way. We have to remain strong for the sake of our supporters and make sure this proud reputation is protected at all costs.  

“A lot of hard work has been done to try and maintain and improve on the incredible journey we have had over the last 10 years. That work will continue.’’  Huw Jenkins

Quite. After watching the current board lead the Swans from the foot of the football league to the biggest league in world football, it's hard to doubt them, yet still some do. Whenever rumours arise, people always seem to want to snipe at people who have previously enjoyed untarnished reputations - but hey, it sells papers right? For me, I have absolute, unmitigated faith in the Swans' owners, and have no doubt that at all times they act in the best interests of the club.

The idea that after 10 years of prudently (and successfully) running a football club they're suddenly going to make decisions to the detriment of the club is laughable and to be honest, rather insulting. Other football clubs may have leeway with their finances, but then other football clubs aren't run as well as the Swans; but don't let that fool you into thinking that the Swans (or Huw) are "tight" when it comes to the transfer market. Two £5million signings last year showed the Swans weren't afraid to pay out if they thought the price was right, and when you compare that to the likes of Arsenal (who are sitting on £150million) you can hardly say the Swans' board have been reluctant to spend.

There's always politics between a manager and his board, and I understand that at most clubs it's not uncommon for the manager to go to the board in the hope of some extra cash, or a bit more money for wages, but the Swans don't operate like that. They have a budget, and that's it. Don't like it? Close the door quietly on the way out please. It's not a secret, and I find it hard to believe that it's come as a surprise to Laudrup that Huw will refuse to move on the club's financial position.

Canas agrees terms with Swansea City, and will join up with the squad on July 1st 

Canas in action against Barca.

I found it quite amusing that on the official club website the quote above was tacked on to the announcement regarding Canas' signature. Very Swans. It's been all but confirmed for a while now that the Spaniard is heading to South Wales, and he will join up with his fellow countrymen Pablo Hernandez, Angel Rangel, Michu & Chico Flores when the transfer window opens.

A did a statistical profile of him a while ago (click here to view it) and I described him as a hairier, taller version of Leon Britton who likes to put himself about a bit, and if that turns out to be true he's just the player we need. He helped Betis get to the Europa League playoff places so he could well have been enjoying European football in Spain next year, however he's opted to sign for the Swans and that further reinforces what Huw has said regarding players who want to play for us. 

When you consider Canas' agent's comments regarding him knocking back bigger offers from other clubs in favour of a transfer to SA1 it seems he really does fancy it here, and why not? European football, plenty of Spanish faces and an attacking brand of football - there's plenty going for the club when it comes to raiding the Spanish market. Let's just hope it doesn't come at the expense of local talent, although the investment in Landore and Fairwood would indicate a successful youth system is very much a part of the Swans' long term vision.

Bienvenido, Jose! Bueno suerte!

The Swans get behind Swansea's bid to be the 2017 UK City of Culture

Chairman Huw Jenkins gives his stamp of approval to city's bid for accolade

A bit of a feelgood story this one, and one I'm all for. I didn't realise how much of a fledgling designation the UK City of Culture is - I was guilty of confusing it with the European City of Culture (Liverpool were given this title in 2009), however the UK version has only been running for one year.

Inaugurated last year, the first ever recipient of the title was Derry-Londonderry. 14 cities applied, with four being shortlisted, before the Northern Irish city was awarded the accolade. With the next UK City of Culture to be named for 2017, and with a long list of applicants, the brains behind Swansea's bid will do well to fight off the competition and secure the prize.

If they're successful, we could see events run by Sony, Channel 4, the BBC, the UK Film Council, the Museum Association, and the Heritage Lottery Fund to name but a few. It would certainly be nice to see a range of culturally diverse events taking place on our doorstep, and would no doubt aid the regeneration that the council and Welsh Assembly have pumped so much money into in recent times.

Swansea Council's cabinet member for regeneration, Nick Bradley, thinks the support of the Swans (as well as the Ospreys) has helped put Swansea "on the map", and that landing the 2017 title could help fend off bids from other cities like Aberdeen, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Leicester & Hull. Yes, Hull.

"The Swans and the Ospreys have done a terrific job in raising Swansea Bay's profile across the world, but landing UK City of Culture 2017 status would further help put our home region on the international map and attract more investment in future." Nick Bradley

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins also looks at this positively. Realistically anything which serves to highlight the region, the football club or both will help spread the club's fanbase, and there's little surprise he's keen to add his weight to the bid (as was his Ospreys counterpart). He had this to say when questioned about Swansea being named the 2017 UK City of Culture:

"Our community defines our culture. We are a part of their day to day lives and they of ours, and our stadium sits right in the middle of the region, bridging east and west and bringing people together. We will put the full weight of the club behind the bid to help our shared culture grow and flourish across Swansea Bay." Huw Jenkins

He sounds keen doesn't he? Realistically, with all the speculation in the press over the last week he was probably glad to be given a chance to comment on something else. Much like me to be honest - it's been a bit slow in terms of Swans news (if you choose to disregard the "Laudrup discontent" rumours) so it's been difficult finding topics for discussion over the last few days.

Hopefully in the next few days we'll see some transfer activity start to heat up. Rumours we're growing close to signing Spanish flyer Diego Capel are intensifying, and from what I've seen of him I'd have no problem with the Swans singing him - especially at the £4.5million price I've heard mooted.

On that note, I think I've just stumbled onto a topic for tomorrow. Coming soon; a profile on Diego Capel.

"Rift" over transfer kitty - pure speculation?

Is anyone else growing increasingly tired of the constant speculation surrounding Michael Laudrup, which seems to be mainly driven by the Evening Post? The problem is that given almost all of the quotes we are reading are invariably taken out of context, it's hard to actually discern what the hell is going on at the Liberty.

At the moment I'm choosing to stay positive. If you ask any manager "what would happen if you don't get sufficient funds to invest in the squad?" they're likely to respond with something akin to "well if that was the case, I'd have to assess the situation and see what the best options are", and in truth that's the only quote which seems to have driven the current wave of conjecture regarding Laudrup's transfer kitty this summer.

I thought an interesting exercise would be to strip away all of the journalism surrounding the quotes, and see what we're left with. Who knows, maybe we're worried about nothing. Here are as many as I could find:

Laudrup's agent - Bayram Tutumlu;

“Michael Laudrup, just now, is very happy at Swansea City. Of course Michael has had offers from elsewhere. Other teams can wait one or two years. We know Michael is going to train the big teams but this is not the moment. 

“Michael doesn't think about other teams because he promised to the players and the fans he wants to stay in Swansea. When we expanded the contract of Michael Laudrup, we spoke with the board and the chairman that they're going to make a really good team for Michael. 

“A good team is no problem. If they don't have the possibility of making a good team, I don't know what can happen. Michael needs good players. We don't want to have the same experience as Newcastle for example. He told the board and the chairman that [Swansea] need a very good squad this year.”

Huw Jenkins:

"It's been a long season and when the time is right we will sit down with Michael to talk more about next season in a professional manner"

Before...

"I will not comment on this story."

Huw had previously gone on a charm offensive;

“I think it’s important what we’ve done with Michael. We’ve touched on players staying here and it’s the same with Michael. He wants to stay here so it wasn’t a difficult discussion to renew his contract. 

“He wants to stay here and test himself with new challenges in the Europa League and the Premier League. With Roberto and Brendan moving on, we’ve showed that we’ve been doing things in a good way. 

“We’ve enhanced many managers’ careers over recent years and I think we’ve provided Michael with that lift and stability to raise his profile.”

Michael Laudrup

From the BBC;

"Unless we find a couple of hundred million pounds I think last season we achieved nearly the maximum we can in terms of the table. There are always things you can improve, but there are not many higher positions we can look at. 

"Even consolidating is going to be very difficult. Some of the teams below us this season will invest heavily; West Ham, Newcastle, Aston Villa. 

"They are huge clubs who want to take the place where we are right now."

 From Skysports;

"I wanted to stay because the club said they were going to strengthen their team. Of course we need to do that, but I'm sure they will keep their word about that, and then I want to stay for the fans and also for some of the players - they came for me so I can't just leave them after one season. 

"We don't have so much money compared to the rest of the teams so we have to do it like that [shop clever], but we'll have to strengthen our team just to try to keep where we are right now, consolidate as a mid-team, because there are a lot of teams, bigger clubs, below us who will spend big money. 

"We've already seen West Ham with Andy Carroll, I think Newcastle and others will do the same so we'll have to be very good in the transfer market to compete."

So, what are we looking at here? It all seems centred around the transfer budget, and it appears that assurances were given when Laudrup signed his new contract that he'd be given ample funds to improve the squad. If there was a number mentioned, you'd have to hope the Swans honour that (and I have no doubt they would) whereas if there wasn't, it's possibly been a case where the two parties have distinctly different perceptions of "ample funds".

One thing bothers me with this story though - who exactly is suggesting the Swans aren't willing to stump up in the transfer market this summer? There's been the vague rumour that the Swans are interested in Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, but that we won't (or can't) meet the asking price, but in truth I'm still not comfortable about signing a £10 or £11million pound striker - more for the contract demands that would surely come with such a player. No doubt the board will play hard-ball, but you'd be hard pushed to find an £11million pound striker who'll accept less than £40kpw.

Aside from that, there's been no indication the board have reneged on any kind of agreed transfer fund, and given that the transfer window is closed and Laudrup is currently on holiday it seems hard to fathom just why there is a constant stream of speculation coming out of SA1. I'll reserve judgement for now, but if it turns out this was just newspaper speculation it'll have severely marred the relationship between the local rag and the club, and it may be that we see reduced press access as a result. That may not be a bad thing to be honest.

Personally, while I'm a sucker for a good quote I still don't think there's anything in this. Whatever the issue is, I find it very hard to believe that it can't be resolved in an amicable manner, and that Laudrup will be backed in the transfer market as well as the club can afford, without jeopardising it's financial footing one iota.

And that's the way it should be.

Swansea announce record profit - what does the dividend payment actually mean?

Announcement that Swans will be paying out dividends to shareholders splits opinion amongst some fans

The announcement yesterday that the Swans had made a £15.9million profit (after tax & interest) for the six months leading to November 30th 2012 came as no surprise to anyone familiar with how the Swansea hierarchy do things. Prudence has long been the byword in these parts, and the board continue to seek out the best deal for Swansea City at every corner, in an attempt to maximise the opportunities continued Premier League involvement provides.


One aspect of the statement which seems to have split some fans though is the announcement that for the first time a £1million dividend is to be paid out to shareholders. I'm going to set my stall out early and say I have absolutely no problem whatsoever in the Swans directors being paid a dividend at this stage. As stated by Huw Jenkins, dividends are (as far as the taxman goes) the most cost-effective way of rewarding staff, and the club have been open and honest whenever money has been doled out. Given the makeup of the club's ownership, it's likely the dividend will be broken up as follows;

Name	Stake	Likely dividend
Mr & Mrs Martin Morgan	22.50%	£225,000.00
Brian Katzen	20.00%	£200,000.00
Swansea City Supporters Trust	20.00%	£200,000.00
Huw Jenkins	12.50%	£125,000.00
Robert Davies	10.00%	£100,000.00

The statement last night posted by the Swans Supporters' Trust showed they will receive £199,999 - so where that extra quid went is anyone's guess. Given the Swans history of financial dealings, maybe it paid for the envelope in which the dividend was delivered! The trust have indicated they will hang onto the money until, hopefully, they can increase their stake in the club - which seems like a very sensible attitude to take. While looking for information for this blog I came across an article posted on the Birmingham Supporters' Trust site which labelled the Swans as a "benchmark" which other clubs should aspire to - definitely worth a read:  http://www.bluestrust.org/2013/01/the-benchmark-swansea-city/.

David Conn from the Guardian and a small section of the Swansea support seem unhappy that some money is being taken out of the club, but considering the board of directors worked for free until last year (if my memory serves correctly - finding info related to the statement where that was detailed seems impossible!), and the shareholders have, before now, never taken anything back from the Swans, I'd say it's only fair they've been rewarded for their hard work over the years. It's likely that any of the Swans first XI will make more in one year than any of the shareholders have just been paid - and when you consider the dividend could be considered payment for ten years of work it becomes an even smaller figure.

A friend sent me a link to an article from October 2010 showing how much chief executives were earning at clubs up and down the country. Given that all of the relative figures are likely to have risen substantially in the three years which have elapsed since the article was published, the dividend payments made to the Swansea shareholders really do seem inconsequential amounts for a Premier League club. See the list below for more detail, but as an example Ivan Gazidis of Arsenal received £2.1million for the year 2011/12 - more than double the dividend paid out to the ENTIRE Swansea board, and I very much doubt Gazidis has ever put his hand in his own pocket to help out the club he works for.

Obviously, it's not nice to see money leaving the club, but few could argue that the board don't deserve some kind of renumeration. Huw Jenkins had to watch as his construction company went under (no doubt increased Swans-related commitments had an impact on his running of his business), and Leigh Dineen famously stated he'd had to re-mortgage his house to raise the funds necessary to buy shares when the opportunity first arose. These are not fabulously wealthy people; these are people who have worked tirelessly over a decade to secure a sound future for the football club we all love - and if they don't deserve to be rewarded then who does? 

Given that the announcement was for "interim financial results" up to November 30th '12 (with a full report due at the end of the tax year in April), it's likely the Swans will end up posting a record profit for this tax year - as revenue accrued from the cup run and the sale of Danny Graham won't have been included in these figures. It'll be interesting to see if dividends become a regular occurrence, or whether it was viewed as a one-off reward for the board's hard work, but for now I can honestly say I've no problem with the payments whatsoever, especially considering 20% of it is essentially being retained by the club. 

Carry on the good work, chaps!

Laudrup signs new Swansea contract!

South Wales rejoices as legendary Dane commits immediate future to Swansea City.

Great news, ladies and gentlemen, that we've all been quietly hoping will materialise, but possibly did not expect given Laudrup's burgeoning reputation as a manager, and general standing in the world game. It's flabbergasting that the Real Madrid fans' favourite choice to succeed Jose Mourinho has, seemingly, completely ruled that out (for the time being at least) in favour of continuing to work in South Wales. It's possible we've found the perfect man for the job - his prior achievements as a player, he says, placate any immediate need to manage one of the "elite" clubs in Europe, and that gives the Swans precious time where Laudrup can continue to build on the good work started by Roberto Martinez way back when. 

Here's looking at you, kid.

“We’ve started something this season that I want to continue. I know there has been a lot of speculation, but I’ve always said that I am happy here and I never had any doubts I would stay. I am delighted to sign the new deal and I’m already really looking forward to next season. I hope there will be some very exciting things happening with the team and with the club in Europe.’’ 

“I don’t think anyone could have imagined at the start of the season that things would have gone this well. I think everyone expected us to have a difficult year after the loss of the manager and four key players . I kept hearing the words ‘second-season syndrome’, but that hasn’t happened because the players here have done a fantastic job.  We haven’t finished yet though because we know there is still a lot left to do this season. Once that’s complete then we will look to continue on the same road next season and keep pushing the club forward. 

 “We will be aiming for another great year – and I want to be part of it. I know rumours and speculation are all part of the game. It’s been happening a lot with our players as well recently, but I see that as a positive thing because it means they must be doing well.’’ Michael Laudrup on why he's renewed his contract.

It seems that what every Swans fan hoped was the case is actually occurring. We may have found a manager who will, for the time being at least, buck the trend of Swans managers leaving for the first head-turning offer, but it obviously remains to be seen how long (if the Swans continue to improve under Laudrup) it'll be before concrete interest materialises. For all of Laudrup's and Swansea's posturing, it seems unlikely that any firm interest in the Dane has been lodged, given his relatively recent arrival at the club, and with Laudrup clearly a thinker any offer that came in would no doubt be weighed carefully for it's merits before being dealt with accordingly.

Another aspect of a manager (or player, actually) renewing a contract is that if that person does eventually leave, then the club are likely to receive substantially more in terms of compensation/transfer fees. When Brendan Rodgers extended his contract, it was discussed that a new contract in the face of interest from elsewhere can be seen as a sign of respect to the club, in that the player or manager in question appreciates that while they've been good for the club, the club has been good for them. Most certainly true in both Rodgers' and Laudrup's cases, it's no doubt something that has crossed the mind of most Swansea fans but hopefully it's something we won't have to deal with for a while yet.

I won't be alone in feeling cautiously optimistic that Laudrup will remain in South Wales for a while yet. All season he's been making the right sounds about wanting to build a football club, and not needing to start at the very top level, but it seems he's just put his money where his mouth is. Realistically, so far it's gone just about as well as it possibly could have, and with the Dane committed for another two years we can now look forward to more exciting times for Swansea City.

Angel Rangel pens contract extension

Rangel signs new deal which ties him to the club until 2016

Breaking news this morning is that Swansea's rampaging right back Angel Rangel has just put pen to paper on a new extended contract. Angel is the latest in a series of Swansea players to tie their futures to the club, which must surely be an easier decision than a few years ago. Remember when Fulham wanted Rangel, and he threw a bit of a wobbly? That must seem as long ago to him as it does to us. When we were playing Fulham in the FA Cup a few years ago, surely not even the most optimistic Swansea fan could have envisaged the heights the Swans would rise to in the near future, and it's easy enough to have your head turned by PL interest, but it seems Rangel is ultimately grateful to Huw for putting his foot down and keeping the man from Tarragona in South Wales.

Such is the extent of the Spaniard's acclimatisation that he now feels like a Welshman, and the twang to his English when interviewed is of a satisfyingly Welsh orientation. Here's what he had to say when announcing he'd signed a new contract;

"I arrived in 2007 and I've already have six excellent years at Swansea. I am settled here, I am enjoying my football, I have married a Welsh girl and I'm building a house in Swansea — I feel like a Welshman now. I am very happy here on a personal and professional level. My new contract will take me up to nine years here, and who knows what will happen after that. I'm already doing my coaching badges, so I am interested in that — if that could be at Swansea, then that would be great, but I'm not trying to think too much about what I'll do after my playing days are over because I'm concentrating on doing what I can to help the club right now."

"It has been a great story for me since my debut at Oldham in League One. There was the promotion as champions in League One, then we did so well in building our reputation as a passing team in the Championship during a time when people said we couldn't do it. Then we got through the Play-Offs in the Championship against Reading, and that was an amazing achievement. After an incredible first season in the Premier League, people doubted we could do the same again or even stay up — but look at what we have accomplished already. 

"We are in the top half of the Premier League, we have 40 points already and we have a first major trophy for the club. What a story this is. We have shown what we can do in the Premier League, now we are looking forward to showing what we are capable of in Europe. It shows how well things are going here that so many of the squad have signed new contracts here. The club realise the players are doing a great job and the board and chairman are rewarding us for that. 

"We are getting better and better as a club."  Angel Rangel

The news, to me anyway, that Rangel is already working towards coaching qualifications, and is open to staying in South Wales beyond the termination of playing career, is welcomed with open arms. The Swans have shown time and time again over recent years that continuity is king if you want to build as a football club, and the more Swansea stalwarts we can retain, the better, as this could be key in helping the club maintain their current lofty status within the British game. The right-back is a great example to young players, his work rate in both defence and attack a true example to any player coming through the ranks; he charges around tirelessly, always putting his body on the line, and since Laudrup has put his stamp on the team Rangel seems to be playing some of his best football since the early days under Martinez. His forays into opposition territory have become both more numerous, and more effective, of late, and given that the Spaniard doesn't have a lightning turn of pace to lose it's possible he can maintain this level of performance for a number of years yet.

I tried to find a video of the goal he scored away at Doncaster right at the death a couple of years ago, but sadly it doesn't seem to be online any more. Shame, as it is a brilliant goal. For those who haven't seen it, it's the 90th minute with the Swans 1-0 down, and Kemy Augustien pings a 50 yard ball left to right deep into the opposition penalty area. Rangel, unbelievably, finds himself as the Swans most advanced player, and after taking an exquisite first touch over his shoulder under pressure from a defender, buries a half volley into the roof of the net with his second, saving a point for the Swans. I remember thinking that this was our right-back, and if he was capable of doing that he's alright by me for some time yet. That still stands, and Rangel deserves a new deal as much as anyone else in the Swansea squad.

If anyone does know of that video online, please feel free to link to it in the comment section...

Ashley Williams to Arsenal, Swans sign Beckham & more.

Swansea Bay captured at sunrise.

"Where's the sun come from!!!"

This was Swansea winger Wayne Routledge tweeting, of course, about the extended sunny spell we're currently enjoying in South Wales. I could be talking metaphorically, but I'm not - I've lost count of the amount of days we've had where no rain fell - it seems even the weather is smiling kindly on Swansea at present. 

Ashley Williams to Arsenal? 

One news item unlikely to make people smile, however, is the constant, and renewed, rumours of bids for Ashley Williams. Many national papers, including the Guardian and The Independent, both ran with the story that Arsene Wenger has picked Williams as the man to shore up the Gunners leaky defence, and all season Williams had been linked with a switch to Liverpool, to link up with former manager Brendan Rodgers and ex-Swan Joey Allen...and Colin Pascoe. Sorry Colin, almost forgot about you there. Williams is contracted until the summer of 2015, but the press seem to think £8million would be enough to secure his signature. 

I'm not so sure. The Swans have European football next season so the disparity in terms of what the Swans can offer, and what the "big clubs" can offer, is lessening. Swansea sold Allen for a very good price indeed, and Huw showed he's no pushover with the Scott Sinclair deal. The Danny Graham deal - while not ideally timed - is a good bit of business too, with a £1.5million profit on a player we purchased barely 18 months ago, and who clearly wanted out. I think to prise a centre-back away from the club that he's captain of, a club he's played through the divisions with and who he now has the possibility of leading out in Europe, will be a big ask. If it's Manchester United, Manchester City... ok, fair enough, but anyone else? There isn't one team below those two for me who I'd say are guaranteed Champions League football next year, and until a team can offer that they aren't offering anything, except a fatter contract, that the Swans couldn't also offer.

 It remains to be seen if any concrete offers arrive in the summer, but I'd be very surprised to see Ashley Williams leave the Liberty stadium for less than £10million. Captain, leader, cup winner and club favourite, he would leave an enormous gap which would instantly need filling - let's imagine he does depart this summer, who would we sign? Do we promote from within? Darnel Situ came with rave reviews when we signed him but the limited reports I've heard about him playing for our development side don't indicate he's the answer (at least any time soon), but there is one other option in the form of switching Ben Davies to centre-back to accommodate the returning Neil Taylor. Davies has shown he's good in the air, has good composure for a man his age and isn't afraid of a tackle (averaging 2.3 completed tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 4.9 clearances per match) however his lack of experience, when coupled with the loss of Williams', could mean the Swans end up looking very shaky at the back. I'm sure however that if Ash does depart, he'll do so with a successor lined up, and with the full blessing of everyone at Swansea City. 

"Swansea City signed Beckham"

Ki Sung-Yeung. More gifts than a baby Jesus.

Now there's a headline we haven't seen before. Ok, so I'm paraphrasing a tad - this is the news that Ki Sung-Yeung has been likened (by his Korean fans) to David Beckham. Some fans have taken to following him around the country to watch him play, such is the adulation lavished on him by fans. It's long been professed that South Korea, amongst other Asian countries, are football mad, but to see it displayed in such an unlikely place as Swansea really drives the point home. In the pitcture to the right you can see Ki standing beside just some of the gifts he receives from Korean fans, and it's now at the point where he's had to employ a press secretary. I don't even think the club had a press secretary back in the day - it was probably just whoever drew the short straw!

One of the fans who tries to get to see Ki as much as possible is masters graduate Rachel Hur, who lives in London:

"He is such a big star we follow him around the country and watch his games. I have followed him since he was playing for Seoul and first got into the national team and was hailed a bright new star.  

"I think that people had huge aspirations for him and I'm delighted that he has succeeded them. At the moment Park Ji-Sung is a legend but Ki is the rising young star, he's going to be the new Korean David Beckham. 

"His popularity is absolutely nationwide and he has a bright future ahead. It's exciting to meet him and get his autograph, he's such a super star in Korea. In Korea he would get absolutely mobbed in the street."

As I mentioned in a previous blog - the marketing opportunities offered by having a player of Ki's standing playing for the club are massive. If the club aren't already looking at organising a tour, or at the very least a promotional exercise, then they're missing a trick. In Ki Sung-Yeung, and especially given our European qualification, Swansea have an opportunity to massively expand our commercial operations, and with the Swans' track record in learning as they go improving by the day, there's no reason to think there aren't already talks afoot to maximise this opportunity. My father and brother now live in Thailand, and a quick check of Google Maps tells me (I did this with a string held beside the "scale" part of the map - it wouldn't let me check the miles - I assume something to do with China being in the way, and them being scared about people calculating distances near their territory) it's about 2000 miles from Pattaya to Korea. Swans on tour? That could be an interesting experience...

Swansea v Newcastle - Proof that just because you play the same system, it doesn't mean you play the same way.

Swansea show why they deserved maiden trophy victory.

Almost exactly a week after Swansea put the finishing touches to their Wembley demolition of Bradford City, they had, realistically, a much tougher obstacle to overcome in the form of a newly-resurgent Newcastle United. Much has been made of the Geordie's transfer policy of late, and Graham Carr in particular continues to spearhead a campaign which has so far produced gem after gem, and shows no sign of abating. 

Reading through some previews before the game, it was interesting to note that some Newcastle pundits and bloggers were predicting lineups with up to nine changes when compared with the XI that took to the field against Swansea in November. As it turned out there were indeed eight changes in personnel when compared with the counterpart fixture, but it was a case of different team, same result. A much changed, heavily French side took to the field against the Swans this time around, and from the word go they harried, harangued and pressed the Swansea players in a manner I haven't seen any other team achieve over the entirety of the ninety minutes.They were exceedingly physical at times, and sadly, I have to say I think some heavy challenges were the result of previous niggles going unpunished by young referee Craig Pawson. Taking charge of a Premier League game for the first time, Pawson's previous "big match" exploits came in the form of a Capital One Cup game between West Ham and Wigan, the League Two playoff final, and 12 Championship games, which to me doesn't sound like a particularly length or impressive CV. 

Yohan Cabaye. Suave. 

Normally, novice referee's are appointed to games where the top brass don't expect too many issues, but Newcastle are developing into a team who will, if allowed, push the boundaries of what is both acceptable, and safe. Tiote and, surprisingly for me at least, Cabaye, constantly niggled away at the Swansea midfield, leaving the foot in and nudging into people, culminating in Cabaye going straight through the back of Nathan Dyer (right in front of me) on the touchline. Dyer was facing the byline, doubtful knew that Cabaye was approaching, and the Frenchman clattered straight into him from behind at roughly knee level - poleaxing the diminutive winger but, miraculously, not seeming to cause major injury. Cabaye only received a yellow card for his sins, so was free to rejoin Tiote in the centre of the midfield. It should be noted that from where I sat it looked like Ben Davies got away with a shocking tackle too, but it was on the opposite side of the pitch from me so it was difficult to judge. He didn't pick up a card for that one, so it's possible he did, as he protested, take the ball first.

I don't want to take away from many aspects from Newcastle's game though. Their pressing was outstanding, and is, if you don't have a team littered with Rooney's and Aguero's, the most effective way of stifling a team who play like the Swans - however in the first half at least the Swans appeared to have all the answers to Newcastle's questions. Swansea's forward line of Michu, Pablo, Dyer and Routledge is currently rotating beautifully, even if, more often than not on this outing, the final pass eluded it's man. The Swansea full-backs, too, are enjoying more freedom of late. Ben Davies and, in particular I thought, Angel Rangel were outstanding. When Rangel loses possession there isn't a nanosecond before he's accelerating in an attempt to reclaim the ball - his work rate and passion for the cause is absolutely undoubted. He's clearly still enjoying himself in South Wales:

“Getting to 40 points with ten games to go is a fantastic achievement. The first target is always to stay in the league – which we haven’t mathematically achieved yet - and then it’s the top ten. It’s the 100th year of the club, and we’ve already won the first big trophy for Swansea, so to stay in the top ten, along with what we have already achieved, would be amazing, but we can’t relax – we want to see how far we can go.”  Angel Rangel 

Mostly token soundbites from Angel "He feeds who he wants" Rangel there, but all positive - looking to push on while still keeping our feet firmly grounded in the knowledge that, for a few few years at least, any top-ten finish would still be classed as "punching above our weight".

Rangel : “I thought we played well in the first 30 minutes, while they dominated more in the second half, but we took our chance and Luke did very well to finish it. Luke is a good pro and player. You can see in training that he is ready to play and take his chance. He came off the bench and he certainly did that.” 

It's fair to say that the Swans controlled the first half almost completely - lots of one-twos and neat interplay doing everything but providing the final pass as the Swans looked to open the scoring. Michu seemed to muscle a defender fairly and go through on goal, but referee Pawson adjudged him to have acted illegally so that one never happened, and then ten minutes later a few quick Swansea passes led to first, Ben Davies getting munched late and second, Swansea again breaking clean through on goal. Clearly no advantage there, so the referee called it back again. Ashley Williams had a chance in front of a seemingly open goal, but it bounced up awkwardly and his improvised volley was a scuffed affair, and the ball drifted agonisingly towards the net before being cleared by a Newcastle player on the line. Half time, and 0-0 was perhaps slightly harsh on Swansea who had fashioned a couple of decent chances whilst having to deal with intense Toon pressure throughout. 

Luke Moore. Happy camper.

The second half started and almost immediately Alan Pardew's men managed to get more of a stranglehold on the game. They had a decent twenty/twenty-five minute spell of possession but, in reality, the best they could muster was a couple of drives from distance (admittedly tasty with one cracking the woodwork after an excellent touch from Vorm) and a decent cross from the left which sadly (for Newcastle) no-one could connect with. And so, the scene was set for Luke Moore. Almost a year since his last league goal for the Swans (THAT goal against Manchester City) he again, essentially, repeated the feat. Drafted into the fray with less than ten minutes remaining, you'd expect it to be a fun experience as you'd be full of energy and able to completely tear around harassing a tiring defence - but in truth he didn't really do that, and I don't think anyone expected him to. He does, however, possess a decent first touch and seems to be developing a knack of scoring important goals - and this was no exception. Taking advantage of a defensive mix-up, Moore was simply in the right place at the right time, throwing a couple of dummies in for good measure before his shot was actually blocked, the subsequent deflection guiding the ball past the wrong-footed keeper and into the back of the net. 

The goal came with roughly five minutes remaining, and in truth it left Newcastle with no real hope. It came at a point when the Swans had taken control of the game back off Newcastle, and were in the ascendancy, knocking the ball around well and finding space, and Ki almost made an immediate impact off the bench - his header from a corner being cleared off the line. This was a game against two separate Newcastle teams. One who have a clearly excellent work ethic, an understanding of their roles within the team, and the footballing ability to back it all up, and one who, sadly, seemed to be intent on time-wasting from minute one. The goalkeeper Elliot was one of the main culprits, labouring over any action all game, and when Moussa Sissoko went down on 80 minutes Ashley Williams was clearly unhappy with what he deemed to be time-wasting, and the two squared up in a "I've got the best stare and the biggest chest" competition before being separated and given what was probably a fairly patronising talking to by the ref. 

Sissoko had gone down after bursting into the right channel before hooking a shot to the left of goal in what was, in reality, Newcastle's last real effort on goal. If Sissoko was play-acting in an attempt to gain unfair advantage, he got his just desserts minutes later when Moore's fumbled effort crept in. Not pretty, but nobody cared and the Swans can now reflect on having picked up 40 points with 10 league games still to play. 

Freudian Slip?

On a final note, has anyone else watched the full post-match press conference yet? Laudrup was fending off the usual mundane questions, but something he said made my ears prick up. When talking about how we've got the current top five teams in the league yet to play, he moved on to say:

"...we've got some difficult away games; Wigan, fighting for their lives, West Brom... they can still get into Europe - they have the same points we have." Michael Laudrup

I'm no psychologist, however I do know we finished damn near where West Brom finished last year, and see no reason why we shouldn't be aiming as high as our Midlands counterparts - especially given this season's exploits. We all know it's unlikely, and it would likely involve winning most of our remaining games, but it seems Michael Laudrup has one eye on a very lofty league finish indeed.

Jenkins confident on Laudrup stay, Leon still hoping for an England call-up and a round up of the day's news.

Laudrup to pen contract extension?

First up today is the news that Huw Jenkins is confident he can persuade Michael Laudrup to sign a new extended contract. Laudrup currently has just over 12 months remaining on his current deal, and rumours are he's expected to add at least a 12 month extension: 

"I think he will be here and he's stated he would honour his contract. As far I'm aware it's not an issue, but I think Michael's agent has already commented that talks are on-going. Next summer his current two-year deal finishes and we've got a period of time to make sure we have more security on that.  

"It's something over the next few weeks we'll have to speed up a bit and talk a bit further." Huw Jenkins

Chris Coleman, meanwhile, has been in the press commenting on how, even if the Great Dane does have his head turned, the Swans will be alright.

"Hopefully they don't lose him, but I'm sure they'll get by. When a club does as well as Swansea City has done, you're going to pick out the best players, the manager...plus if they do lose Michael Laudrup - I hope they don't and I'm not saying they will - Swansea will be clever in who they appoint." 

"They've done it all along since they lost Roberto Martinez. They've always replaced one manager with another similar style." Chris Coleman

Surely it is only a matter of time before Swansea chance upon a manager who is genuinely more interested in building a club in his own visage, than in quickly working his way to one of the more "prestigious" jobs in world football? In picking Laudrup, who can look back at his career safe in the knowledge there is very little he's already achieved (as a player, anyway), the Swans may finally have found that man. He's remarked a few times that he wants the opportunity to mould a club, and that at Real, for example, you can finish 2nd and be sacked. With this current Swansea team seemingly capable of pushing on even further, and with no reason to doubt the new-found attractiveness of the club for new signings, there is reason to be confident that Laudrup will be here for at least another year. Whether he's still here for the extra year he's rumoured to be putting pen to paper on is another matter, so let's deal with that when it comes to it.

Leon still holding out hope of England call-up.

There aren't many players in the world who can say they finished a season as the most accurate passer on the entire continent, yet haven't played for their national team. The England team's failure throughout my lifetime seems to revolve around picking players for their reputations, as the top brass at the FA know the media would have a field day if certain big £100kpw+ names were left out in favour of players such as Leon. 

Leon Britton. Happy. 

“You never give up hope of playing for your country. All I have got to do is concentrate on playing well for Swansea and if something was to ever come up it would be a dream come true. 

"It is out of your hands really. Leon Osman has been playing in the Premier League since he came through the ranks, which is a lot longer than myself. I don’t know him but the England manager has shown he will pick someone whether he is 17, like ­Raheem ­Sterling of Liverpool, or 31 like Leon. 

“Last season Fabio Capello came down to see a game. ­Stuart Pearce watched a training session and said he was keeping an eye on me and a ­couple of other players. But I haven’t heard anything since.”     Leon Britton                                                        

The irony is that, in my opinion, by playing someone like Leon you would then be able to get away with a more frivolous team selection. Leon's discipline is so total that he gives the rest of the team the freedom to play, safe in the knowledge that if they're ever in trouble, then can ping the ball at Leon from any direction and the chances are he'll control it immediately before finding a team-mate with an accurate pass. That's not hyperbole, that's statistics. Players like Carrick know they're expected to hit Hollywood passes as well as "keeping the midfield ticking over", but in positioning Britton at the base of any midfield, I believe you make the sum of parts greater.

Ashley Williams to Liverpool, Arsenal & Spurs?

Now, I'm still yet to see any actual meaningful quotes regarding this however it does seem to be gathering pace. I've been told on Twitter and elsewhere that Arsenal have had a scout at Swansea games five times in recent weeks, and generally in the near past whenever we've heard someone is after one of our leading lights, it's ended up with that player saying goodbye to South Wales. This may be different though. 

Swansea have raised the bar. In winning the League Cup, we can no longer be considered a "plucky upstart club" who are liable to lose all of their top players given time - we've got European football next year and there is absolutely no reason to believe the squad won't be strengthened in the summer. Everything points to a bigger, better Swansea City next season,  and wish Ashley Williams both team and international captain, it would surely have to be a head-turning offer before he'd consider leaving. How many trophies have the aforementioned history-laden triumvirate won between them this season? Oh yeah, that's right...

A reason (if you don't already need one) to stay away from The Sun.

For clarification, I mean the newspaper. I'd be disappointed to have to explain why we should all stay away from the giant fiery ball in the sky, although the level of intellect displayed by those at the red-top would indicate this would probably be news to them. I'll set the scene shall I? Picture this folks: A major competition final at the home of the sport - two teams - one hailing from the basement division (a feat not matched for over 50 years prior) and one playing in their first cup final ever. 80,000 fans cheering their team on, on what is undoubtedly, for most at least, the biggest sporting day out in their association with the club. The game itself was almost surreal, but ended in a 5-0 win.

Now, I'd say, one of those aspects should be heavily involved in any headline used about the day. What should NOT be used, is a negative sentence making out Nathan Dyer to be well, someone prone to a strop. Maybe these football journalists are too used to playing at Wembley and having the chance to score a hat-trick, or maybe they deliberately avoided giving any credit to either team - either way, it is atrocious journalism. I am of course, talking about their back-page headline in the wake of the final:

"CAPITAL SWAN STROP"

Well done guys, you really earned your corn that day. I can't ever remember paying money for the Sun, so I can't say I'm overly-familiar with the intricacies of their policy, but that really does smack of some kind of agenda. Maybe that's the conspiracy theorist in me shining through, I don't know. Either way, I'd hope their South Wales circulation dips a little as they continue to mark themselves out as purveyors of absolute dirge. 

Swansea put in planning application for Liberty alteration, a look ahead to the summer and more

What does League Cup success mean in terms of forward planning?

A story that is perhaps not a surprise to most of us, given the fact that the Swans have been considering expanding for a while now, but nonetheless an exciting one still, is the planned partial expansion of the West Stand. The opportunity to put more bums on seats will, obviously, provide increased cashflow from ticket sales but, for me anyway, it simply means I'll stand a much better chance of being able to get tickets to see the Swans play. Last year, myself and others struggled to get tickets due to the constant sell outs, and rumours of consortiums buying blocks of season tickets only to sell them on for certain games stung, although I'm sure everyone agrees that it was important for the Swans to sell so many season tickets. We couldn't have guaranteed the level of success we achieved last season, so I feel that while, for certain fans, it meant missing out on big games, the policy they employed was a sensible one.

Swansea City media day. More seats needed?

This first phase of development is mainly to comply with new Premier League broadcasting regulations which come into force next season, however it is well known the Swans aim to add roughly 12,000 seats to the current total, which will massively alleviate the ticketing issue. The mooted plans include a new glass fronted entrance set between two pillars bearing the logos of the stadium's home teams, an extra 705 seats for fans, and a press section on a new fourth-floor area, which will host up to 120 journalists. Given our potential Europa League exploits, this is possibly a good thing given the photos of our latest press day where journalists were sitting with their legs crossed on the floor due to, it seemed, a lack of chairs! This addition will not change the current bowl of the stadium, however any increase in fan capacity is a good thing at the moment.

Early doors

I've just checked the format for the 2013/2014 Europa League, and whether or not you think the fact it starts on the 2nd of August is a good thing lies, probably, with whether you're planning a fledgling European sojourn or not. I've got my fingers crossed for a cheeky trip to Portugal myself, how about you? So, we'll enter at the Third Qualifying Round stage, play games on the 2nd and 9th of August, before, if successful, playoff matches on the 23rd and 30th. Again, if we're successful, there's then a three week break before the group stages, which commence on the 29th of September. All in all, if we do get to the group stage we'll have played an extra 10 games before the end of the year.

As I mentioned previously after we were humbled by Liverpool (Six Days 'til Wembley), if we are to take the Europa League seriously we need a number of signings. Our second string showed, sadly, that they cannot cut the mustard and that we need reinforcements if we are going to be able to rotate without forfeiting a combative edge. By my count we've got 32 players in our current squad, and a further five out on loan, and that really is too many for a club our size if we want to improve the overall calibre of the players at Swansea's disposal. I'd say we need at least four players to come in and compete for first team places, starting with another striker as, no doubt, Michu will be unable to plough his lone furrow all over Europe without tiring. 

Laudrup on Madrid radar

Michael Laudup. Perfect hair.

This is the story that apparently when polled, 73% of Real Madrid fans indicated they would like Michael Laudrup to replace Jose Mourinho at the end of the season. In my opinion, these stories show how fickle football fans can be, as Laudrup has already managed in Spain, and there has previously been no clamour for  the former Real & Barcelona legend. As soon as the media (rightly or wrongly) proclaimed him as a successful dynamic manager on the back of his, and Swansea's success, there started a murmuring which has refused to abate, gathering pace to the point where he is now some bookmaker's favourite to take over. For his part, Laudrup has refused to be drawn on speculation, however when asked about it during the on-pitch celebrations, he didn't take the opportunity to completely rule it out, saying simply it's something [his contract] that will be sorted in the summer. 

His agent, at least, has made positive sounds; indicating that there will be a sitting down between Laudrup, himself, and (I imagine) Huw, so I and most Swansea fans remain optimistically hopeful that we will still have the European Cup winner at the helm next season. Laudrup has remarked previously "Why would I take the Madrid job? You can finish second and be sacked" so we have to hope that the opportunity to essentially build his own top-flight football club is too good to resist. Given the lack of debt, and complete freedom with which he has to operate, it's very possible he will choose to remain in SA1. For the time being, at least...

Some thoughts on the last few days

Swansea City - League Cup Champions

Drink that in, ladies and gentlemen. In Swansea City's 100 years of existence, at no point had a player, manager, fan or any other person connected with the club been able to say they had watched their team win a major trophy. If you are reading this, the chances are you witnessed the Swans humbling Bradford 5-0, and in doing so qualifying for the Europa League. This current Swansea side are soaring higher and further than any of their predecessors, and they're doing it in a manner which is seldom seen - through thorough planning and good honest hard work.

It's obviously been talked about at immense length in the media over the last few weeks, so I'll skip the hyperbole, but it's truly incredible how well the Swans have done since the current regime took charge. Immense credit must go to all who have helped mould the entity that is Swansea City into what it is today. Fiscally well run, 20% fan representation at board level, money in the bank and now the club's first major trophy (and impending European football) - it really is a story that is likely unsurpassed in modern football.

Swansea City celebrate their maiden major trophy win

With all of the mooted financial controls, it seems inevitable that the Swans will act as an unofficial blueprint for modern football clubs. Up and down the country, the people behind smaller clubs in League One or Two will rightly be thinking "If they can do it, why can't we?". All it's taken is sensible people in important positions, and a lot of hard work. If people love their football club enough, they'll put in the hours, and given patience and a plan of action you can get results. Continuity is key, and sadly it's becoming an increasingly rare commodity in professional football.

One of the more entrenched arguments is "there's always been money in the game" but to compare millionaire backers from times gone by - people who, generally, were pumping money into clubs as a labour of love, with billionaire foreign investors who ultimately, no matter what people say, expect a profit on their investment, is to deny the problem. Almost all of the clubs in our most illustrious league have backers who are fairly new to the game, and have financial motivation. The obvious comparison people draw is with Arsenal - who announced today they made a profit of over £10million in the last 6 months of last year - however given Arsene Wenger's continued refusal to spend any money, we don't really know if the board are as mean-fisted as their Welsh counterparts, however the end result is the same.

Football should be competitive no matter what level the game is played at, and over the last few years some fans, myself included, have become disillusioned with the modern game and its glamour, bling and glitz. In this age of superstar footballers, who earn more money before they are 20 than most of us will earn in our lifetimes, Swansea City stand up proudly as a bastion of sensibility. Long may it continue.

One Day 'Til Wembley...

Huw Jenkins looks back on how far the Swans have come since ousting Tony Petty.

Huw Jenkins greets Alan Tate & Garry Monk

‘It wasn’t like this when we played at the Vetch. At first [when Jenkins & Co took over] none of us were really directors, just a few people trying to stabilise the club. Don Keefe was an accountant, we had a solicitor, Steve Penny [still a director]. We just used whatever knowledge we had to keep the club going.’ 

‘I think the warmth created at the club when we were fighting for survival, plus the fact we are all fans, has helped us do what we have done since. The style worked for us - we choose managers who fit that mould, which in turn means we don’t have to go to huge expense by signing a different type of player every time we change manager.’  

‘We have learned from our experiences, we know you can’t always hold on to your manager or players — that’s a price of success. We are always looking at players and you assess other managers as well. We will always have a couple of ideas of what we might have to do. Looking at Michael, I personally think he will sign a new contract. I’m aware of what he is like as a person and if he is not comfortable  he will try something else.’ Huw Jenkins

Reasons to be cheerful indeed. Huw Jenkins has been quoted as saying he only took the post of chairman because "He was the only one dull enough to do it", but it can't possibly have worked out any better. The unassuming lifelong Swans fan from Skewen has steered the club right from day one - and what's more whenever there have been teething issues the club has always looked to address these immediately - despite protestations from some supporters who don't seem to understand that given the nature of the Swans' rise through the leagues, there will inevitably be problems while the behind-the-scenes aspects of the club catch up with our on-field exploits.

Fabrice Muamba.

A heart-warming story now, in that Fabrice Muamba will be presenting the Capital One Cup to the winning captain. Now I'm sure there's plenty that disagree, but I much prefer that than some royal family member who has no idea about either of the teams until they're fed titbits in the buildup to the ceremony. Muamba's story truly is amazing. He moved from then Zaire (now the DRC) at age 11 with his family to London, and ended up signing as an Arsenal scholar. He made his debut and played a handful of games before moving to Birmingham, on loan at first, but then it was made permanent for around £4.5million, before, two seasons later, moving on to Bolton in a deal worth around £5million.

The League Cup

On the 17th March 2012 Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a televised game for Bolton against Tottenham, and his heart stopped for, unbelievably, 78 minutes. He received countless shocks from a  defibrillator both on the pitch and in the ambulance, and, incredibly, by the 19th of March his heart was beating of it's own accord again, without medication. That is one strong guy. Sadly, after seeking medical advice, Muamba retired from professional football. He's featured in ITV's ACON coverage, and on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, but seems undecided on what to do next as of yet. One thing is for sure, he will undoubtedly get a fantastic reception from both Swansea and Bradford fans tomorrow at Wembley.

Lastly, another word on the centre-back debate that will rage until the team-sheet becomes public knowledge shortly before kick-off tomorrow. Both Kyle Bartley and Ashley Williams have been in the press talking about Bradford's aerial threat. Williams seems nonplussed:

"I have been hearing about set-pieces for about five years. From Roberto Martinez's time people said we couldn't defend them, then under Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rodgers people carried on saying it and it's the same now. 

"I think it probably stems from the fact that we haven't got the biggest of teams, and I think this season we have conceded more goals from set-pieces. That's a fact, but it's nothing we're going to worry about." 

"Even Barcelona can concede against anyone at a set-pieces, but whoever plays, we will be confident. We have got a good squad and I don't think it's going to be a problem."

Kyle Bartley's comments, however, have slightly more of a "Pick me!" ring to them (only natural given the circumstances):

Garry Monk: Will he miss out?

"Being 6ft 5ins, my physique and stature would help a lot at the centre of defence with Ash. They will be a long ball team who focus on corners and free-kicks and hopefully my style of play will help a lot there. I went to Sheffield United and spent a lot of time there playing week-in, week-out in the Championship. 

"A lot of the teams there play that style of football, and even playing at Arsenal a lot of the opposition would go long because they didn't want to play us at a passing game. It is a style of play that I'm used to."

The more I think about it the more sense it makes to play Bartley, but Monk must surely still have enough in his tank to see Bradford off? All the noises coming out of the Liberty now seem to indicate it will be Bartley who gets the nod, and if that is the case I only hope Laudrup sees fit to give Garry Monk a few minutes, irrespective of the result, to enjoy playing in a major cup final. 

I stumbled across the BBC article from 2004, when we announced the signings of Monk, Kevin Austin and Adrian Forbes. Monk had previously struggled for appearances at Southampton before making his move to South Wales in search of first team football - and the honesty of his comments from almost a decade ago resonate deeply:

"I like to play football on the floor and so I had no qualms about coming here. I've not had a settled season yet in my career. I'm 25 now and need to be playing regular football. That's the only way you can improve." Garry Monk

Monk's story truly is one to show any aspiring young footballer. If you work hard enough, it seems almost anything is still possible in this topsy-turvy world of football. From League Two to League Cup Final...and beyond?