Premier League Preview 2011-12: Swansea City

Best title odds: 10,000 /1 - Bet365
Best odds to stay up: 13/8 - WilliamHill
Last season: 3rd (Championship) Promoted via play-offs
Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Good news:

A classic rags to riches story. Back in 2002-03 The Swans spent much of the season rooted rock bottom of the football league, and on the verge of going out of business. Now they have reached the top flight for the first time since 1983. The top scorer last season was winger Scott Sinclair who bagged 24 in all competitions. The powers at be realise that they can’t be so reliant on a wide man for all the end product in the Premier League. In come Championship hotshots Danny Graham from Watford and Leroy Lita from Boro. They scored 39 between them last season.

Bad news:

The cynics will say that the new purchases are nothing more than good early preparation for life back in the Championship in 2013-14. Dorus De Vries played in goal for every game in the last two years, keeping his fair share of clean sheets, but has now signed for Wolves on a free transfer. Former Benfica third-choice stopper Jose Moreira has been bought to fill the void; it’s not a good position to be holding auditions in when you arrive to face the big boys.

Remember when:

Brian Flynn guided the side to safety in 2003 when relegation to the Conference, if not extinction, loomed large? Probably not, but Swans fans will, and they’ll still be pinching themselves when they make their Premier League bow against Manchester City.

Verdict:

Of course it will be tough, but they will always hold the honour of having been the first Welsh side to play in the ‘English’ Premier League. That will stick in the throat of Cardiff City fans. Destined to be dubbed ‘this season’s Blackpool,’ that should be worn as a badge of honour. They are regarded as entertaining but having conceded 16 goals less than Norwich last term, they can still defend a bit. That said, the lack of top flight experience and nous will surely be telling over 38 matches.

Prediction: 20th