Swansea City: Three hopes, one fear

KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Botti Biabi of Swansea City during the Checkatrade.com Trophy match between AFC Wimbledon and Swansea City at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on August 30, 2016 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

The summer of 2016 was the summer of Welsh football. Can Swansea City continue the good vibrations?

Anyone with a television and at least a modicum of interest in football fell in love with Welsh football this summer during the European Championship. The Dragons’ supporters and the play of the likes of Gareth Bale, Ashley Williams, and Joe Allen made Wales the darlings of international football. But with the Euros over and the Premier League up and running again attention in Welsh football goes back to Swansea City.

Can the Swans build on the summer of work laid in by the national team and really turn Welsh football into a powerhouse?

There are a lot of things to like about Swansea entering the 2016-2017 campaign. With new owner Jason Levien (who is a co-owner of Major League Soccer’s D.C. United) and manager Francesco Guidolin the Swans appear to have an identity and a plan.

Although the club lost Williams and Andre Ayew in the offseason, management showed their interest in long-term development by re-signing Gylfi Sigurdsson and Nathan Dyer. The hope is that under new management and additional revenue that the Swans can make the move to a top ten Premier League club. But the fear is that the loss of Ayew and Williams might be too much for the Welsh side.

So rather than going addyman books to read up on the side join us here at Playing for 90 to look at the three hopes and one fear of Swansea City.

Next: Hope #1: That Borja Baston can replace Andre Ayew.