2017-18 fan season preview: Swansea

What are your feelings ahead of the new season?

Mixed. We ended last season in decent form and finished 15th, higher than I expect anyone dared wish for, but the season itself was a slog. I have my own column in the matchday programme and I won’t lie, sometimes finding content was tough. It would have been so easy to be negative about what was happening on and off the field. There were genuine fears that it would be our Premier League swansong and everyone will want to avoid that for the new campaign.

Unfortunately, we’ve had another summer of uncertainty over a key player. Last year it was Ashley Williams, this year Gylfi Sigurdsson. Strangely, it’s Everton, your immediate neighbours, who are involved again. I think Williams’ loss was instrumental in destabilising us at the start of last season and if Sigurdsson goes it’ll do the same this season too. He was huge for us – many believe he kept us in the top flight. If he does go at this late stage it will mean there’s very little time to bring someone else in and finding someone of his calibre will be virtually impossible. There’s been speculation over a return for Wilfried Bony, but I can’t say that fills me with excitement. I’m never sure that going back works, though I’d be happy to be proved wrong. For me, Sigurdsson must stay if we’re to avoid another shaky start to our campaign – and worse, months of tension and fear, because that’s what happens when you’re scrapping for points week in, week out.

How pleased have you been with your transfer business to date?

This close to the start of the new season, I would have to say not very. For the reasons already outlined, I think we’ve been ‘forced’ to wait on another club making decisions which may not be in our interests. If we’d sold early and had the money in the bank (the club are apparently holding out for £50million), we could have spent it wisely on the right replacement(s). Now, there is no time. The fear for me is if we lose our talisman at this stage, we’ll be scrambling around for a replacement and we’re very unlikely to get someone suitable. I think that would be disastrous.

We’ve brought in Tammy Abraham on loan from Chelsea and he looks a very decent prospect, although unproven in the Premier League, and he’s going to need to get goals if Sigurdsson goes, so there’ll be no honeymoon period, which is a difficult ask of an inexperienced teenager. We’ve also sent Borja Baston out on loan and Bafetimbi Gomis has signed for Galatasaray.

We spent £11million on midfielder Roque Mesa, who came from Las Palmas. He plays in the same position as Leon Britton. I can’t see our veteran captain not starting this season, nor do I see them both in the same XI, although that could happen.

How is your team likely to line up?

I can’t imagine it being much different to last season. Lukasz Fabianski is our undisputed first-choice ‘keeper; in central defence Alfie Mawson and Federico Fernandez formed an impressive partnership with Martin Olsson and Kyle Naughton at left and right-back; Leroy Fer, Leon Britton and Tom Carroll in midfield with some combination of Tammy Abraham, Jordan Ayew, Fernando Llorente (currently injured but definitely NOT going to Chelsea, she says crossing fingers and toes), and Sigurdsson up front. (PLEASE!)

Who will be your most important player?

I hope it’s Sigurdsson. I feel it was last season and if he stays I don’t think that will change. If he goes, then probably our captain, Leon Britton. There was a lot of emphasis placed on him at the tail end of last season. He’s probably coming to the end of his career and had been largely overlooked until Paul Clement brought him back into the side when our position was critical. He’s a genuine bloke with a love for the club and he’d been under-utilised by the two previous managers. But, in true Brits style, he kept working hard, and was ready to do the job when it mattered. It can’t have been easy being sidelined for so long, but he was a true pro, and stepped up when he got the nod. His contribution was vital last season – and I have a feeling it will be again.

Who is the unsung hero in your squad?

Defender Angel Rangel. He’s been with us for a decade and he and his family are very much part of the fabric of Swansea City. He’s well respected among the club’s hierarchy and the fans for his contribution during his time with us. He’s definitely a ‘Mr Dependable’, and they’re vitally important to a club like ours. I get the impression that he’s good at helping the new lads to settle in as well as supporting everyone else, be they players or coaches, or backroom staff. And he’s not just a significant influence at the club, he’s a man who understands what it means to be part of a community, the need for compassion and concern for others. A few winters ago, he and his wife drove around the city handing out sandwiches to the homeless. You wouldn’t find many Premier League footballers doing that.

What do you expect from Liverpool this season?

I think this season will be Jürgen Klopp’s big test. He’s definitely won over the masses in terms of his passion for the game and his honesty. He presents himself as very down to earth, which makes him likeable and makes fans relate to him, but the question is, can he bring in silverware and make a real push for the title? This is the season to prove his calibre and cement his place as a great manager. I’m expecting you to have a good crack at the league this season and perhaps a trophy. Why not?

If you could have one Liverpool player in your team, who would it be?

If I was going to be predictable, any one of Coutinho, Salah, Mane, Firmino, obviously… But, I’m going to be a little left-field on this one and say new boy Dominic Solanke. He’s young, hungry to impress and get first-team football, and I really like the look of him.

Top four (in order)?

Manchester City
Chelsea
Liverpool
Manchester United

Relegated?

Brighton
Burnley
Huddersfield

Surprise package?

I think Bournemouth are the ones to watch this season. They finished well (in ninth place) and it’s their manager Eddie Howe’s 40th birthday in November and as the youngest manager in the Premier League he’ll want to mark it in style. He’s already achieved an enormous amount of success with his side and I admire him for that. I think he has the makings of a great manager and this could be his defining season.

I also think the signing of Jermain Defoe will prove to be significant for the Cherries. He’s had a tough, emotional time because of his involvement with Bradley Lowery, the young Sunderland fan who died of cancer, and this move will probably be good for him for a host of footballing and personal reasons. He’s got a three-year deal, which says to me that this will be his last club. He’s returning to a place he made a big impact on as a teenager, scoring 10 goals in 10 games (which remains a club record), and at 34 he’s still keen to prove himself. I think he and Howe will prove to be a good combination.

What is your biggest wish for the season?

That we stay up, preferably without a repeat of the relegation drama.