Rob Davies
This summer seems to have gone quicker than the usual off season thanks to Euro 2024 and the Olympics but there’s nothing like the start of a football season to get the excitement brewing for fans.
Swans fans can only hope that it will be a better showing than last season during a turbulent campaign which saw almost as many managers as home wins and a defence leakier than a sieve in a storm.
And whilst the transfer business is far from concluded with Luke Williams hoping for four more new faces through the door by the time September arrives, all four new faces that have come in so far will play a part at Middlesbrough today.
Zan Vipotnik will start from the bench giving Liam Cullen the chance to start and he will be joined in the eleven by Eom-Ji Sung, Gonzalo Franco and Lawrence Vigouroux, the goalkeeper signed from Burnley.
Ronald has been touch and go as to whether he will be fit enough to feature from the start having missed the back end of pre-season but the signings suggest he will definitely be involved in some shape or form.
Azeem Abdulai will hope to retain his place in the eleven and go into central midfield at the expense of Jay Fulton but history tells us that the Scot will somehow still retain his place as a favourite of all managers in recent history.
The definite absentees for the trip to the North East are Josh Ginnelly, who is still some way off sadly, Aimar Govea and Sam Parker.
The Championship got under way last night with Blackburn defeating Derby County 4-2 and Sheffield United comfortably seeing off Preston at Deepdale thanks to a Freddie Woodman howler.
Williams will hope that the Swans can get at least three points on the board before the visit of Cardiff City in gameweek 3 – we all know the pressure that brings if the team has had a slow start…
To check out the pre-game – and in game – match discussion, join in with Jackharris’ excellent match day thread.
Matchday prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Swansea City
Come on you Swans!
