Swansea City-My Team

It is now the 4th season that i have been in charge of Swansea, we have had a mixed time. 1st Season after struggling to make any signings due to my budget of 90k we finished 10th. Then after a ridiculous bid of 800k from Notts County for Dobbie. I started to build a team who could challenge.

Notable signing in the 2nd season were

Jordan Rhodes- earned a call up to the England squad before i was promoted

Luke Young-free

Steven Taylor-free

El Hadji Diouf- free A young senegalese winger with a bright future

Charlie Mulgrew-free, what a signing he has turned out to be, a dead ball specialist, chipped in with 6 goals and 12 assists in his first season with me.

After a decent start my team slipped off the pace in the second season finishing 3rd and reaching the playoffs. But a great performance in the playoffs and goals from Craig Beattie and Jordan Rhodes saw me gain promotion.

So third season already looked a difficult ask for a squad that had not changed a huge amount from its 1st season finishing 10th in the championship.

Notable signings

Ben Watson-350k i though i needed to strengthen things in the middle Wigan went down so got him at a bargain price

Johnny Howson-300k out of contract so saw him as a prospect.

Michael Owen- free was surprised to see him accept my contract, thought he would save my club, he was nearly always injured but did grab a few important goals.

January

Ryan Shawcross-£1.5 million had to strengthen a leaky defence as i was only 3 points outside of relegation

Ze Eduardo-55k- A young Brazilian i had tried to sign earlier in season 1, who had now been capped, looks quality but yet to deliver.

After grinding out a few important results i found myself in 7th place come the end of the season a full 12 pionts clear of relegation a surprising performance.

So going into the 4th season i had a healthy financial status but not much money for transfer , for a squad that clearly needed strengthening. Free transfer were the call and i got a few good-uns

Frees

Samir Nasri

Franco Di Santo

John O Shea

Signings

Burdisso-1.7 million and a few regen youngsters

So after 6 games i have won 5, beating Arsenal 2-0 away from home this is my team, i play the default 4-1-3-2 formation.

Gk-De Vries- Now rated as a 5 star keeper, probably only good for 2 more seasons but has come on a lot

Dr-John O Shea- needed a right back and he left Utd on a free, still has competition form and ageing Luke Young and an average Rangel.

Dl-Charlie Mulgrew- Free transfer from Aberdeen would highly reccomend for any club outside of the premiership in the 1st season

Dc- Nicolas Burdisso- Experienced and solid, has some competition from and ageing Kroldrup and will be replaced by Ian Barr in a few seasons

Dc- Ryan Shawcross- Poor first season but looks rejuvenated in the 2nd, Has competition from Ashley Williams a decent CB and Welsh captain.

Dmc- Ze Eduardo- Brazil international with great attributes, didn't perform in the 1st season, has Competition from Bodde

MC- Samie Nasri- Enough said

Mc- Darren Pratley- my captain and mr consistent for 4 seasons, Being pushed by Leon Britton

Mc-Ben Watson- Looks a new player but is being pushed for his position by Johnny Howson

Fc- Jordan Rhodes- England international, doesn't score that many but always performs

Fc- Franco Di Santo- Argentina international- always scored against me, bags of potential, Pushed for his place by Craig Beattie who is starting to look quality.

Hope the season continues the way it strted.