Swansea (h); The Preview

Andy – Graham Potter worked miracles in Scandinavia and looked to be an excellent appointment last summer. From the outside, given the financial situation and the resultant turmoil behind the scenes, he seems to have proven what an astute appointment he was. What’s the view on the terraces?

Steven – He’s done a brilliant job considering everything that’s been thrown at him. Sixteen players have left since the summer, with only five coming in so it’s fair to say the job has been very challenging.

However, we’re playing far better football than the last couple of years and we have a young side that has a lot of potential. Potter can’t do much more I would say and I hope he’s here long term.

It seems that having been so successful at playing a certain way, you kind of lost your identity in the Premier League and from there it all went wrong. Can you pinpoint a moment, where you went from being a model club, to it all starting to unravel?

The football went away from our philosophy under Garry Monk. We had a chance to bring Brendan Rodgers back in the summer of 2016 and foolishly kept Francesco Guidolin instead. Then the takeover happened and since then we are a completely different club.

The American’s don’t seem interested in what’s best for the club and just want to sell everyone at any price. Things will probably get worse in the summer.

Talking of selling players, top work annoying Leeds with Dan James, although I would presume the player himself was left a bit disgruntled?

I think so, can’t blame him really. The whole thing was absurd anyway. Selling him should have been a last resort. Loaning him was embarrassing. We were only going to get 750k up front, then the same in June and 7.5 million if they bought him in the summer. Derisory in every sense, we should not have even considered it. Fortunately, he hasn’t let it get to him and has played well since that whole debacle.

Is he the star turn of this Swansea side then? Excluding Leroy Fer obviously *rolled eyes*

Yeah that’s fair, when he gets the ball you think something might happen. The other one is Oli McBurnie our top scorer.

Fer’s injured at the moment. He’s infuriatingly inconsistent, he’s out of contract in the summer so he won’t be here next year.

If there is a winner from all you’ve gone through, it seems to be McBurnie as he seems to have really benefited from an extended run in the team.

The Championship being the Championship you’re only 8 points off the play-offs and 14 clear of relegation, but with games running out, is there any chance you’re donning the flip-flops already?

It’s done him no harm at all. He excelled at Barnsley last season so we were hopeful he would do the same for us and to his credit he has.

I think it’s too early to say that yet, however we face you and West Brom in the next two games. If they go badly then we’re completely out of contention so the flip flops may then come out, but I hope not…

What are you expecting from Friday’s game? I think it would be fair to say we see this as a big opportunity to put some daylight between us and Leeds and (more crucially) Sheffield United in 3rd…

I think it’ll be tough, I’m not hopeful to be honest. You put us to the sword last time we met and that is still fresh in the memory. Plus, in the last away game at Sheffield Wednesday we were 3 down at half time. If I was offered a point I’d be delighted with that.

The fixture at the Liberty was where many City fans started to believe, especially as it came hot on the heels of a similar demolition of Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Where do you think the game will be won and lost?

In our box I would say, the consistent clean sheets earlier in the season are a distant memory. They’ve been few and far between since you visited our place. If we defend well then we could get something, if not we’ll lose comfortably

We’ve been deadly at home, scoring 3 almost as standard so that bodes well. How do you think this season will finish up for both clubs, and the promotion/relegation battles to come?

I think you’ll go up with Leeds. Not sure about playoffs but think Sheffield United, West Brom and Middlesbrough will likely end up in the top six with the other spot up for grabs.

At the other end I think Ipswich and Bolton are gone, Rotherham probably favourites for the other spot.
For Swansea I said 13th at start of season and I’ll stick with that

I tend to agree, although I fancy Sheffield United over Leeds at the moment.

Let’s finish with a specific prediction for Friday. I’m going to go for the comfortable home win, we have already agreed is absolutely fine by you (thanks). Buendia will open the scoring with a free-kick, before Pukki and late substitute Jordan Rhodes wrap the game up in the final 20 minutes. You?

I’m not sure on the scorers but I think it’ll be 2-0 to you, although I hope I’m wrong…