2016-17 fan predictions: Swansea City
By Steven Carroll, Swansea City fan
What are your feelings ahead of the new season?
Quite apprehensive at this stage. I felt we needed to strengthen after an underwhelming campaign in 2015-16. As of yet this hasn’t happened.
Are you satisfied with your club’s transfer business this summer?
As I’ve alluded to above, we haven’t done much business yet. We’ve signed a back-up ’keeper on a free, a midfielder who was here last season on loan, a back-up centre-back for £2million and Fernando Llorente, who is currently our only striker. Going out are Alberto Paloschi, Eder and Bafetimbi Gomis – none of them are great losses but Andre Ayew will be missed, even if he didn’t entirely suit our style. Ashley Williams is off to Everton, which is more bad news. We need to do more business ASAP.
How is your team likely to line up?
At this stage it’ll probably be Fabianski, Rangel, Amat, Fernandez, Taylor, Cork, Fer, Barrow, Sigurdsson, Montero, Llorente in a 4-2-3-1. The other option is a 4-4-2 diamond, but I hope not as it didn’t work last season.
Have you got the right man in charge?
Not convinced. Results were good when he took over last season but we were awful in a few games and some of those we won were against under-strength sides, including yourselves. I personally would not have appointed him but hopefully he will do well.
What do you expect from Liverpool this season?
An improvement on last year. Klopp will have had a full pre-season with the players and managed to bed in his new signings after getting a lot of business done early. I would expect Liverpool to push for the top four.
If you could have one Liverpool player in your team, who would it be?
He left to join Stoke a few weeks ago! Of the current squad, probably Coutinho. There’s a lot of good players but not a standout name as in the days of Suarez.
Top four (in order)?
Manchester City
Manchester United
Arsenal
Tottenham
Relegated?
Hull look doomed due to doing no business other than selling Mo Diame. Burnley have also failed to make any significant signings and look very vulnerable. The final place is tricky to call, but Watford struggled in the second half of last season so they must be in danger.
Who will be the surprise package?
Not sure it’ll be a year for surprises, more a year where normal order is resumed. But I think Middlesbrough could secure a place in mid-table – they’ve made some good signings this summer.
What is your one wish for the season?
To win the FA Cup. We’ve won the League Cup so it’d be great to tick that off the list, and that place in Europe would be great too!