2015-16 Premier League Season Preview: Swansea City
Welcome to theScore's 2015-16 preview of Swansea City. Transfer dealings, lineup projections, and everything else you need to know about the club's upcoming campaign.
Swansea City
When Swansea City made its way into the Premier League back in 2011, this little club that could took the English top flight by storm. The team was dubbed "Swancelona" and Leon Britton its Xavi, pulling the strings in midfield as this side showed off some fabulous, flowing football. In the years since, Swansea has become somewhat of a force to be reckoned with.
They are, perhaps, the most dangerous side in the Premier League. Underestimate Swansea City, and you might be on the receiving end of a giant-killing tale told for years to come. Overthink things against the Swans at Liberty Stadium, and they can run circles around you. Swansea, a Welsh outfit, shows a whole lot of English teams how football can be played: beautifully.
Swansea isn't content just finishing in the top 10 of the Premier League, though. This is a team with European ambitions. The club will be aiming for a fifth- or sixth-place finish this season, which comes with a coveted Europa League spot. But does Swansea City have what it takes to ramp it up one more notch in order to get there?
2014-15 Season
| Record (Points) | Finish | Goals For | Goals Against | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-8-14 (56) | 8th | 46 | 49 | Wilfried Bony (9) |
Trophies Won: None
Swansea had a year to remember last season, recording a historic eighth-place finish in 2014-15. Swansea started the season off with a bang, beating Manchester United 2-1, then replicated the feat on the return leg in February. Swansea also took on and defeated Arsenal on both occasions, and was rewarded for it with a new table record for these Premier League underdogs.
Consistency was the key for Swansea, and it remained a consistent threat throughout the year. The team also benefited from a large spread of goal scorers; rather than having one key striker, the group scored goals together. It's what made the loss of Wilfried Bony to Manchester City so easy to overcome, too. Bony had recorded nine goals for Swansea before swapping over to Manchester City, but Swansea didn't skip a beat. Instead, midfielder Ki Sung-yueng stepped up and scored eight goals of his own to keep Swansea rolling along.
Key Arrivals
While Eder will play as direct competition for Bafetimbi Gomis, the Portuguese forward will most likely be used off the bench as a relief option, as games wind down. However, the acquisition of Ayew is an interesting one. He's fast enough to cause trouble, but he also offers a lot of physicality and stamina. Ayew is the kind of player that was built tough. He can head the ball well, has a massive leap and also boasts strong ball control and handling skills. Ayew will most certainly start over Nathan Dyer on the wing for Swansea, and might just be a surprise standout in the Premier League this season.
Key Departures
- Alan Tate (Released)
- Gerhard Tremmel (Released)
- Jazz Richards (Fulham)
Projected Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Lukasz Fabianski; Angel Rangel, Federico Fernandez, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor; Ki Sung-yueng, Jonjo Shelvey, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Ayew, Jefferson Montero; Bafetimbi Gomis
Swansea's best asset has always been its shape, movement, and passing acumen, and that's exactly what manager Garry Monk will be stressing this season. However, there are a couple more characteristics this team now boasts. The tricky feet of Montero opens up space, while Gomis is a big body with a strong physical presence in the box. Finally, Ayew offers speed in abundance on the wing. These weapons make Swansea a more dangerous side than ever before with an even deeper bench in 2015-16.
Player To Watch: Gylfi Sigurdsson
Sigurdsson might just be the most underrated midfielder in the Premier League. He can score goals, create assists and scoring chances for his teammates, and has the vision and passing skills to carve apart opposition sides. It's a wonder that he hasn't been picked up yet by one of the bigger teams in England, but Swansea City won't mind at all. This attacking midfielder has given Swansea the kind of versatility needed to be giant killers on a regular basis.
Keep One Eye On: Jefferson Montero
Three Questions
- Will Eder replace Gomis as Swansea's starting striker?
- Can Dyer keep his spot over newcomer Ayew?
- Can Swansea finish higher this season and capture a spot in Europe?
Trivial Matters
- Manager: Garry Monk
- Nickname: The Swans
- Stadium: Liberty Stadium