So, to end the season, myself and the Forza Swansea bloggers are answering a few questions to round it all up, including the best and worst games, goals and players!
Q1) What was Swansea's best game this season?
Jules Price: For me the best game would be the draw at the Emirates Stadium. Bony's headed goal was sublime, underlining his increasing confidence. What was so pleasing was how the Swans were able to put up a solid resistance for most of the game against an Arsenal side that were completely dominating the match.
Alec Johnson: It has to be Cardiff at the Liberty - beating your fierce rivals so comfortably with so much at stake. The six point swing was crucial for momentum and it could have gone horribly wrong had we lost.
Gavin Tucker: It has to be my trip to the Mestalla and our 3-0 annihilation of Valencia. Perhaps it didn't have the historical significance of a play-off match or cup final but it's up there with my all time favourite game. Quite possibly the best away trip ever.
Jacob Cristobal: It's a tie between these two: September 16, 2013 against Liverpool. You have to look back with a sense of humour and appreciate that Jonjo Shelvey was MOTM for both sides - that's special talent right there. And February 27, 2014 against Napoli. All Swansea fans should be damn proud of their Europa League campaign. To be 35 minutes away from the Round of 16 is nothing to scoff at.
Chris Carra: The Cardiff game was of course superb, but I enjoyed the penultimate home game against Aston Villa. It secured safety in the league with four good goals, and the players did it with the drive that had been missing for much of the season.
Probably the worst game... |
Q2) What about the worst game?
AJ: West Brom at home was the most frustrating. The manner of the defeat turned the majority of our supporters into predicting certain relegation. We rolled over and let them tickle our soft centre in a must not lose game.
GT: West Ham away was my lowest point of the season, as I'm sure it was for many. The apparent lack of preparation and so many simple errors... Chico. There was just nothing positive to take from that performance.
JC: That would be November 3, 2013 against Cardiff. One, it came on at some ungodly hour here in the US (time zone differential) and two, losing to rivals just stinks.
CC: I'm agreeing with Jacob and probably thousands of other Swans fans - the Cardiff loss was terrible. No fight from anyone and Cardiff deserved their one moment of glory.
Q3) Apart from Bony, who was the stand-out Swansea player?
JP: Pablo Hernandez. He had an average season but the increase in his
confidence and match performances were evident to see once Garry Monk
was installed as the manager. Without doubt he seemed a much happier
player in the centre of midfield.
AJ: Jonjo Shelvey. I was one of the excited few when he arrived last July. A genuine Steven Gerrard type that doesn't exist at many clubs. He's scored key goals at key times - Fulham away, Villa at home and, of course, the two against the scousers.
GT: I really want to say Wayne Routledge, but I'll go with
Jonjo Shelvey - he still needs some refinement but his potential is clear. Lately everyone has raved about Everton's Ross Barkley but if you look at the stats over the season Jonjo has scored as
many in less games, assisted more, created more key chances, passed,
shot and tackled more successfully. Get him on the plane to Rio Roy!
JC: Jordi Amat - who I had as the player to watch this season. Simply put he should always be starting over Chico.
CC: Jonjo Shelvey would also do it for me. He wasn't everyone's first choice when he arrived, but showed exactly what he is capable of!
Q4) For you, what was Swansea's goal of the season?
JP: I think the De Guzman goal at the Mestalla was an incredible piece of
skill in front of a very large crowd and an even bigger European
television audience watching. Even the home fans were stunned.
AJ: A few ways to look at it! The biggest relief was West Brom away when Pablo scored the second in front of us in the away end - we knew we had our first three points of the season after two nasty defeats. The most celebrated was Nathan Dyer's header against Cardiff, while the sexiest was de Guzman's against Norwich: Bony's back heel to set up the delicate chip from our Canadian Filipino Dutch international!
GT: You can't really look much further than THAT goal by
Shelvey, but there were many others I loved. Ben Davies' laser guided
left foot volley away to West Brom is probably my next choice.
JC: I'm going with Jonathan de Guzman's brilliant free kick in Valencia.
CC: The first goal against Cardiff in February was brilliant - Hernandez's cutting pass through to Routledge who took it superbly.
Q5) With Swansea not in it for obvious reasons, who will you be supporting in the World Cup? And who's going to win it?
JP: South Korea or Ivory Coast for the Swansea connections. Probably South
Korea as I enjoyed watching them play during the 2002 World Cup. I also went to watch them play against
Japan during the Olympic Games at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and
they play some attractive technical football.
AJ: The Ivory Coast - it's a long shot, but you never know. We made a promise to our next door neighbour [Bony - who lives next to Alec] that we would back him in Brazil and you never let the beast down with a promise!
GT: I'll be supporting the Ivory Coast and our human
battleship Wilfried Bony (150/1 for tournament top goal scorer!). I
think Brazil would be the safest bet to win but there are so
many excellent players and teams it's hard to say. I just can't believe
Tiendalli didn't get a call up!
JC: The United States and I'll consider it impressive if they get out of the
group. The winners will be Argentina as this is where Lionel Messi
shows why he is the best in the world.
CC: ITALIA! Of course I am supporting Italy and I reckon they are in with a good shout! I do have a bet on Ivory Coast too though - not just for Bony, but their team is full of potential match winners. Should be a great tournament!
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Many thanks to the bloggers for their answers. We'll be back soon! In the meantime, like us on Facebook or follow me on Twitter for updates.
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