[theo_luddite]

The Swansea.com Stadium
On the banks of the River Tawe
Abertawe
Welsh Wales, isn't it?
SA1 2FA

Kick-off 15:00 UK Time
Saturday 25/09/21

Town have one of their longest away trips of the season, all the way down the Welsh Wales valleys to Swansea.
Or along the M4, if you prefer, is a bit quicker but not quite as scenic, especially that bit by Port Talbot steel works.

The Swans stadium (you might have noticed) has a new name.



Swansea.com is an investment company that owns about 5% of the Swans shares and have been involved with the club for a fair old number of years, going back to when they nearly went bust, oooh, ages ago.
That was 2002, when they stayed in the league by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season in a match against Hull City.
They once owned north of 20% of the club's shares, but when Swansea were sold to a bunch of Yanks they grabbed 5% to keep a seat on the board.

Liberty, who held the original naming rights, are a property company and have nothing to do with the ladies sanitary stuff of the same name that was often the butt of visiting supporters jokes.

The stadium is still shared with The Ospreys RU team.

How to get there and all that other good stuff? It's all in here, they might get the new name on their website soon too.

On the tellybox

Not showing anywhere at the moment other than iPlayer and Swans TV.

There's no pay on the day by the way so if you haven't got your ticket(s) already, don't bother travelling tomorrow.

I'm not sure why this is happening this season, unless it's something to do with Covid protocols.
Can anyone enlighten us, or me in particular?
We had to hold some tickets back when we were in the Prima Donna League for walk-ups.
That's the only Kwik Kwiz question for this week.

Coaches are also sold out.

Latest news

As reported elsewhere ....
LOB has signed a new contract.       
https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/septembe...-contract/

Former Swans boss Mini Cooper has rocked up at Forest, for a fee, and former Town player (on loan from Man U) Danny Drinkwater has signed for Reading on loan from Chelski.
I know Reading are on a Derby style transfer embargo for breaking FFP rules but how are they signing players on sky high Prima Donna League wages even if they are on loan?
The Prima Donna clubs must be massively subsidising their wages. If I didn't answer my own question that is the second only Kwik Kwiz question for this week. 

Out Injured/Suspended/Isolating

Rhodes and Pipa - still on long term sick pay. How are they surviving on just £96.35/week?  (Kwik Kwiz Q3 ??? )

Back training but not oven ready/Back in the frame

Everyone is available according to Careless on Radio Local  - so does Careless have more toys to play with this weekend than a rich kid at Christmas?
Well according to the Unexamined (or Yorkshire Live) Aarons, Schofield and Grant are still not ready to go just yet.
I must listen to that presser at the bottom of the page again.

Last time out

We came 2nd and looked very ordinary doing it against a Forest side that hadn't won a game until they played us.
Why does this sound so familiar?


The Swans lost 2-0 at Brighton in the EFL Cup in midweek, however they snatched a 3-3 draw at Luton from the jaws of defeat last weekend.
All 6 goals went into the same net. Talk about a game of 2 halves.




Tables & Form

Swansea have only won once in 8 attempts, at Brizzle City. They've drawn 3 and lost 1 of their 4 home fixtures so far.
Currently "starring in goals" for the Swans is Ben Hamer. Jamie Paterson, is also likely to play in midfield.
The Swans were 4th bottom after last weekend's results, however Direby's points deduction has pushed more or less everyone in the bottom half of the division up a place.

Last season they finished 4th, having been in the top 6 for most of the season, but blew an automatic promotion spot with a poor run of form.
After 36 games they were 2nd, following a win at Luton to round off a run of 17 games with 13 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats.
Those defeats were against Town and Brizzle, hyowever they only won two of their final 10 games, losing 4 on the bounce.
They beat Barnsalee in the play-off's before losing 1-0 to Brentford in the Final.
Mini Cooper threw his toys out of the pram and decided he didn't want to be in charge any more.
Strangely, The Swans kept him on the books so they could demand a compensation fee, that the Tricky Trees have apparently paid.





Musical Interlude

A very brief interlude this week. I wanted to get the fred out before kick-off. 

Badfinger are one the best known (to me) bands from these here parts, here's a montage of a few of their well known hits, and a few of somebody else's.



and a full version of two of them





Ins and Outs

In addition to these five, The Swans also forked out another £1m on Joël Piroe, a centre forward from PSV Eindhoven.


Who's banging 'em in

Only 3 of 'em so far, one of 'em appears to be a good investment tho'. 
With 7 for and 11 against in the league - they can score a bagful (see Luton), but let in two bagsful in the process.



They can't all win (can they?)

West Brom v QPR, Blackburn v Cardiff are the main games where teams above and around us can take points off each other this weekend.



We've played 'em before

Town have a good recent record against The Swans in most divisions, except the two games in the Prima Donna League.
We did the double against them last season when they were pushing for promotion again and we were barely pushing anything other than what seemed like a right load of sh!t uphill.
Injuries maybe didn't help us.



Next up?

Blackburn at home on Tuesday night

Pressers
Careless on Radio Local

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09ww079

A brief translation from the Esperanto
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/foo...n-21663284

The view from the Bridge over the River Tawe

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one, theo.

I will get my headphones on and listen to Badfinger later.

Didn't realise they'd made such a bad start to the season. After last week, doesn't fill you with confidence, does it?

[Lord Snooty]

Coventry going top of the league.

---

Karlan Grant scores for the Baggies. It's gone down as an own goal.
This is getting ridiculous now.

[ritchiebaby]

Then Grant scores a proper goal.

[Lord Snooty]

And knocks Coventry off the top. They were only there for quarter of an hour.

[theo_luddite]

Grant credited with both on the Beeb website. Fluham and Bornmuff can go top today.

[Lord Snooty]

Sky have given him it now as well.

[Lord Snooty]

Kwik Kwiz 1: I think it's probably to do with the police wanting to know how many away fans will be turning up.
Different police forces have different ideas of how to do stuff. Which in a way is a good idea or maybe a bad one.
At Bolton a few years ago, hundreds extra turned up on the day and fans were still queuing outside as the game went on.
Whichever way they go about it, someone will be unhappy. 

[jjamez]

I had half a mind to go, never been to Wales. Decided against it in the end. Well I never really looked into it in the end, not really a happy hunting spot for us, maybe next year

[theo_luddite]

Turton and Campbell replace Koroma and Ward in the starting line-up



Still waiting for Swans twatter team news

---

Swansea make 4 changes from Luton.
Ben Cabango, Jake Bidwell, Olivier Ntcham and Joel Piroe come into the starting line-up, while Ryan Bennett, Rhys Williams, Liam Walsh and Michael Obafemi drop out from the side that started at Kenilworth Road.

---

Kwik Kwiz 1: I think it's probably to do with the police wanting to know how many away fans will be turning up.
Different police forces have different ideas of how to do stuff. Which in a way is a good idea or maybe a bad one.
At Bolton a few years ago, hundreds extra turned up on the day and fans were still queuing outside as the game went on.
Whichever way they go about it, someone will be unhappy. 

Maybe but it's not just away supporters, home supporters can't make a last minute decision to go either, at least not to some games, but they can for others. Some clubs are doing it, some aren't.