Ki's goal against Chelsea shows Swansea what they're missing

Cultured Korean is fast becoming a fan favourite on Wearside, but will he fancy returning to SA1?

In one of my least favourite pieces of transfer wheeling and dealing over the last few years, we let Korean international midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng join Sunderland on a season long loan. As various statistic based articles I put together towards the end of last season will attest to, I'm a massive fan of Ki and firmly believe he should be retained for next season - regardless of how much Sunderland may want to retain him.

Since Poyet took over from the tyrannical Paolo Di Canio at Sunderland, he's been effusive in his praise for the on-loan Swansea player and I'm sure I saw one quite describe him as "the best player at the club". Despite operating in a defensive role since moving south from Celtic, he's been moved forward in the last few matches with almost immediate results. He has the technique, vision and composure to be a massive success at attacking midfield, and Sunderland look set to reap the rewards of having the confidence to play him in a more advanced role.

I was bleating for all of last season that he should be played ahead of two defensive midfielders, but I seemed to be on my own with that one. Hopefully though, now that he's got a chance to make a name for himself further forward that'll see him return to SA1 both confident in, and noted for his prowess in the final third. As this video attests to, he's got a cannon with both feet and given the chance he can score goals.

One thing I am growing concerned about is whether Ki will want to stick around in SA1 come summertime. Rumours of a falling out with Laudrup remain unconfirmed, however it seems he fell dramatically out of favour last season, and with one year left on his contract (by the time his loan deal ends, anyway) a bid from Sunderland will no doubt tempt the Swansea powers that be. Huw indicated Ki would still be a Swansea player next season when questioned at a fans' event a few months ago, and I'm clinging to that as I feel that, long term, the man signed from Celtic could replace Leon Britton. In the meantime though, I'm quite happy to see him swanning forward and scoring from all over the shop.

Another factor will be the growing affection flowing between player and fans in the North East. Last night he went a LONG way in securing his status as a "fans favourite" by scoring the winner against Chelsea in the League Cup quarter final, in the 118th minute no less (see the video below - great finish). This came after another ex-Swan - Fabio Borini - had levelled things up in the 88th minute after Lee Cattermole's OG had put Chelsea in front. 

Feats like these endear players to local fanbases, and if we're not careful Ki might decide he doesn't fancy sticking around in South Wales after all. If that does indeed end up being the case, we'll have lost a very, very good football player indeed. 

Pablo & Davies available for the weekend, Ash still injured while Ki is ineligible to play against parent club

Swansea still sweating on fitness of skipper, but should have a number of players returning to the squad for Sunderland game this Saturday

We're almost through this long, drawn out international period. Well, there's still the small matter of Belgium vs Wales tonight, but with Neil Taylor likely to be the only current Swansea player on show (excluding Jazz Richards who's on loan at Huddersfield) we can be forgiven for casting our eyes forward to the weekend.

Pablo Hernandez has been sidelined since before we played Valencia with a hamstring injury, but has been in full training for a little while now and should be available, while Ben Davies is rumoured to have recovered from his own hamstring strain suffered at Southampton. If he's ok in training this week he may well be in the team on Saturday.

Elsewhere, De Guzman should have also recovered from his own injury problems by the weekend after picking up a groin strain which saw him ruled out of international duty for Holland, and Garry Monk is returning to training today after he injured his knee in the Capital One Cup defeat to Birmingham.

One player who looks set to continue watching from the sidelines though (for the time being at least) is Ashley Williams. The imperious Swansea skipper played through the pain barrier against Crystal Palace but we haven't seen him since, and despite not officially being ruled out it's unlikely the club will recall him to the team if there's any risk attached. Get well soon Ash, you're missed. Big time. 

With Sunderland looking to turn their season around, new manager Gus Poyet has already spoken of his determination to return from the Liberty with all three points. 

'It's a big contrast. We have a few problems. We have changed a manager and we have got a new group of players, but at 3pm, it's 11 v 11, one referee, two linesmen. It's about what you do in those two hours. 

'It doesn't matter what's happened before. Swansea are in a better balanced position, yes they are, it's true, but that doesn't mean that they are going to win. 

'We will go there to win. We need to win football games. We cannot go to places looking to get just one point.' Gus Poyet

http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=335461#ixzz2hmHhDyaP

Saturday's match against Sunderland has the potential to be a cracker. They need a win to turn their season around, while Swansea are looking for their first home win since we beat Newcastle in the aftermath of our Capital One Cup win - some eight home games ago.

A home win would boost the squad's confidence, and it's the first overtly "winnable" game we've had at the Liberty in the League this year. In the Europa League we've fared well - winning 4-0, 5-1 and 1-0, but in the league we've managed a draw and two losses - although our opponents in those games were Liverpool, Manchester United & Arsenal respectively.

I firmly believe if we were to deploy Leon Britton and Jose Canas at the base of a three-man midfield we'll out-pass any team in the league, and what's more we'll get more purchase through the middle of the park. Of late we've struggled to penetrate teams and Wilfried Bony has cut an isolated figure. Feed the bull, and he will score.

Whether Laudrup goes with such a formation is up for debate - if I was a betting man I'd wager he goes with Canas, Shelvey & Michu again - however this just hasn't looked efficient enough against quality opposition. While Sunderland aren't in the same weight-class as the teams who've visited South Wales so far, you can bet they'll be fired up for this one and will come flying out of the blocks. It's up to the Swans to get an early goal which would go a long way in dampening their enthusiastic attempts to impress their new manager.

One player who won't be featuring for Sunderland is Ki Sung-Yueng, on loan from the Swans and ineligible to play against his parent club. Speaking about how not playing on Saturday could affect his chances of selection for South Korea, Ki said it was "disappointing" he'd not be able to play against the Swans. I hope he means purely because it hinders his international chances!

“I can’t play against Swansea which is disappointing, but I hope the boys can play well. Hopefully I will be back in the team for the Newcastle game. I feel much better now after playing a few games.

“I think I’ll be stronger when we start again after the international games too. I’m pleased to be back in the Korea squad and I’m enjoying playing against some good teams.

“I haven’t been in the squad for a long time, so I’m trying my very best. We didn’t need to be very disappointed after Manchester United because we played well. The points will come for us if we play like that.” Ki Sung-Yueng

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ki-hoping-absence-swansea-wont-6186136? 

Personally I really hope Ki is back with us next year. He's got unfinished business, and sources at the club have indicated they expect the South Korean international to still be a Swansea City player next season. That being said, Gus Poyet likes to play good football and Ki is likely to have a lot more fun playing for the Uruguayan as opposed to fiery dictator Di Canio. I can't imagine Di Canio would have been too happy about the perceived "sideways passes" that people unfamiliar with possession football accuse Ki of making.

Hopefully Ki shows everyone what he can do this season. If he can smash in a few goals similar to the ones he scored for Celtic Swansea fans will be clamouring for him to return to SA1, as goals from midfield is something we've been lacking in recent times.

Ki Sung-Yueng to be Swansea City's stand out midfielder next year? You heard it here first.

Ki loaned to Sunderland - what's all that about?!

Korean midfielder is deemed surplus to requirements despite impressing last season

Now, anyone who's a regular visitor to the site will know I'm a big fan of Ki Sung-Yueng. The midfielder impressed me massively throughout last season, despite playing the entirety of it out of position as a defensive midfielder - finishing as the Premier League's most accurate passer to boot.

Let's put that into perspective - when Leon Britton finished his first PL season with the same accolade the national media jumped all over it - comparing him to Xavi and Iniesta. When the same feat was achieved a year later by a player new to the Premier League, his team and what's more the position he found himself playing in, it was only flagged up by his most loyal of fans and those with an interest in statistics. 

Something I've been banging on about for a week or two now is how Swansea aren't running the midfield like they used to, and I firmly believe this is because a number of times so far this season we've lined up without one of Leon or Ki at the base of our midfield, and I think we suffer as a result. I'm not saying it's impossible for us to adapt to playing without one of the two, just that at present I'd still prefer to see one or the other anchoring out midfield. They operate unlike any of the other midfielders we have in the squad, and the selfless nature of their respective games allows the team around them to flourish.

The game against West Brom yesterday was easily the best we've performed without either of the two in the team, and I am pretty confident as our new look midfield gels we'll continue to see an improvement in terms of ball retention and our possession game, but I can't help but feel that Ki can legitimately feel quite hard done by. For his part, Laudrup has stated the Korean has a future at the Swans despite moving on loan to Sunderland, and we do have an option to recall him in January if necessary, so we may yet see Ki featuring for us before the end of the season. 

I for one hope we haven't seen the last of a player who we broke our transfer record to sign for £5.5million. Good luck Ki - show us what you can do!