The Optimism Rises

Optimism Rises Ahead Of The New Season

I have to say that I have been impressed this summer with the signings that we have taken on board and also the fact that there is no pressing of the panic button at the moment at the Vetch. We have sat back, been patient and are prepared to wait for the man that we want because we believe he is the right man.

Compare that to last summer when we had a host of signings in the early part of the summer but, on reflection, did we just pick up the first people that showed an interest in the club and were put off by anyone that said no.

I can safely say that had someone said to me "We’ll sign Lee Trundle" at the end of last season I would have said they were dreaming. I always believed that we had a chance with the likes of Martinez and Britton because they were here last season but didn’t feel we could add the names of the likes of Trundle to the squad.

No-one can doubt that Flynn is replacing the players that we have lost with players of a better quality. Simple example is for last season read Steve Watkin, for this read Lee Trundle. I know which one of those two names suggests we may see a few goals next season which, after all, is one of the biggest parts of the game!

I still have a few concerns that we need some strength in depth within the squad but you don’t have to have Flynn’s experience in football to realise that. I look at the eleven people that will probably make our starting line-up come August 9 and I see a side that I think will win a lot of games. If we can then get the cover to add to that as the injuries and suspensions take their toll, then you have a side that will be able to sustain runs and, as we saw last season, not losing can become a habit once you do it. Successful teams are the ones that keep pulling results out of the bag even when they have lost key players in their side.

I think we are almost certain to see two loan players in the squad come the start of the season and also a couple of permanent signings to boot as well. A goalkeeper and defender are essential to us as permanent players I believe and possibly the addition of a Midfielder and further Striker on loan and I’ll take that for the start of the season.

I think it only natural that there is also caution amongst element of the support this summer after all the Great Escape is still only just two months ago but at the same time I would like to think that that episode is buried firmly in the past and will never rear it’s ugly head again.

It’s difficult to find too many negatives in the club at all at the moment. Letting Peter Owen go was a surprise and the Evening Post was certainly amazed by it but I’m happy to trust the judgement of the board on it. Peter did a good job on the Official Site, some of it in impossible situations (Petty etc) and I am sure we will hear from him again at some time and no doubt you’ll see him in and around the Vetch on matchdays. Member of staff he maybe no more but he will remain a fan – you all know what happens when that is in your blood!

The signings have been very good this summer and with just over four weeks to go Flynn can feel very satisfied with what he has done so far and I hope that feeling continues as he finishes his summer re-building. Once August 9 gets here, how the team looks on paper is not the most important thing but how the team performs on the pitch that matters.

Every summer I will always lump a tenner each way on the Swans getting promotion, I have done since I was about 17. That’s called blind loyalty I think. It’s become my annual tradition same as for many Swansea fans and I can never stop just in case one year we make promotion and I have no money riding on it.

It’s only ever paid off twice, could this season complete the hat-trick on that one and at 33/1 what a nice hat-trick it would be!

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