Swansea City: Why a Top 10 Finish Is a Distinct Possibility
Swansea City: Why a Top 10 Finish Is a Distinct Possibility
Quickly becoming everyone's favourite team to watch, Swansea City have been a real breath of fresh air in this year's Premier League.
Currently sitting in 10th place, the Swans could conceivably make a top half finish a reality with a good run of results as the season reaches the business end.
Here's a quick list of why they have been so successful in their first season in the top flight.
Excellent Home Form
The Liberty Stadium has been the toughest place to go for many teams this season.
With only one defeat and seven conceded in twelve matches, the Swansea fans have been treated to some great results at home this campaign—including draws with Spurs and Chelsea and a 3-2 win over Arsenal.
Their away form has been less than impressive, but if they continue their great home form they will be half way to bagging their place in the top half.
Brendan Rodgers
Since joining the Swans in 2010, the Northern Irishman has implanted his footballing philosophy within his players.
A fluid, passing style of play has won over many neutrals and led to some people calling them 'the Barcelona of British football'.
With a team of players who adhere to this mentality, and are never fazed or belittled by the 'bigger teams', Rodgers' way of playing has been the highlight of many fans', neutral or otherwise, season so far.
Never have they wavered from this outlook, even when hosting the champions Manchester United or travelling to league leaders Manchester City, and Rodgers deserves all the plaudits going his way.
Having just signed a new three-and-a-half year contract, it looks like he is in it for the long haul.
Upcoming Fixtures
Up until the end of April, Swansea only really have two games which they will have little chance of getting all three points—City at home and Tottenham away.
These matches aside, they have home ties with Norwich, Everton, Blackburn, Wolves and Newcastle, all of which are winnable.
Travelling to Stoke, Wigan, Fulham, QPR and Bolton are also all matches that Brendan Rodgers' team will be hoping to gain maximum points from.
Football matches are never as straight forward as they seem though—as anyone who has ever put a line on at the bookies will tell you.
The coming months will be a real test of the Swans' metal and their determination to break into the top 10 at the first time of asking.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
The loan signing of Icelandic midfielder Sigurdsson is a shrewd piece of business by Brendan Rodgers.
On loan until the end of the season from German club 1899 Hoffenheim, the midfielder was a part of the Reading youth system in 2006 when Rodgers was the academy manager.
In his four appearances for the Swans so far, he has three assists and one goal and could really make the difference in the centre of the park against the more creative oppositions.
Michel Vorm
The Dutchman has been arguably the best keeper in the Premier League this season.
He joined the Swans in the summer from Dutch Eredivisie side FC Utrecht for a reported fee of around £1.5m.
Compare that with the £18m Manchester United spent on David De Gea and there is no comparison.
Great reflexes, excellent distribution and solid in the air, he has instantly become a fan favourite at the Liberty Stadium.
Rumours have it that Spurs may look to sign the keeper as a long-term replacement for 40-year-old Brad Friedel, but Vorm has rubbished these suggestions and looks set to stay for the foreseeable future.
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