Make no doubts about it Swansea City fans will turn up in their thousands again tonight (QPR 7:45pm) With the season honeymoon over as well as a lot of the talking, three points are required. This is the first of two winnable home games.

We heard from Alan Sheehan yesterday and despite the fact the Swans are just on one point more than they were at this stage last season under Luke Williams he remains confident. On his selections he states, “We have had a couple of days on the training pitch and we’re nearly up to full strength. A few guys have niggles, obviously Manuel (Benson) missed the game the other day with a tight hamstring and so we'll have to have a look at that. Then Zeidane and one or two more just picked up little bumps so we’ll make a decision ahead of the game. It’s a three-game week which is always challenging, but our first focus is on this game against QPR.”

Manuel Benson has seen little game time this season, unfortunately for him and as it stands he has yet to display his real assets that he became renowned for before his injuries over the past eighteen months. The other factor which we are finding annoying is this utter nonsense that we hear from people like ‘Oh he’s a number ten not an eight’ or ‘He should be in the six role not in an eight’ Absolute nonsense and if this is in Sheehan’s mind when selecting his team then we straight away restrict and dilute the players available. It seems to us that this crazy perception of what a player can do or where they should do it has gone too far. It is restricting thinking, football isn’t an exact art and it most certainly shouldn’t be mulled over in such a scientific way that creativity is stifled. Yes players have preferred or specialist positions and of course modern football likes to have these options, but if our wingers can switch in a game then there’s flexibility surely within midfield.

We’ve spoken about this many times when putting together reports, we are seeing nothing better than last season as it stands. The Swans have scored ten goals in ten games putting them fourth bottom in the goal scoring table. Sheehan also highlighted what we all know, "Level of performance, I think we still need to get to a place where we're more consistent in games and we want to create more chances. But look, there's a lot of areas to improve on and we are still in a half-decent position. We've got no divine right to win every game but we have to respect that we know we can go up another level. I think everybody is aware of that."

Well, this morning the Swans are in fourteenth, a loss tonight could see Sheehan’s side drop at least another place dependent on how Watford fare against the Baggies this evening or indeed Wrexham v Oxford United. That isn’t a half decent position as Sheehan states. Obviously win tonight and there’s a possibility of moving Preston from tenth spot, but goals will have to be scored, three would do it. We have to be fully behind the team, and of course with Norwich City coming up again at home this Saturday (3pm) it would be a huge lift if six points could be secured. And pressure would most certainly be taken off the head coach.

That’s what we all really want.

However, it seems selections still haunt him, “I think there’s some players within the squad that would potentially not be in a place to do like three ninety minutes. (In a week) I think it would be very challenging, but no I think we focus on this game, one game at a time right now” He will be dealing with scientific data on players fitness to make his selections - and the outcomes of fitness tests and mental attitude evaluation will be looked at this week. Muscular endurance we have been told in the past is a keen area that the Swans focus on as well as strength tests, glutes and hamstrings always a priority. Of course this scientific data is an area that helps Sheehan’s selections, and in that he mentioned Zeidane Inoussa is carrying a knock. Obviously on the Southampton game which somehow ended 0-0 Sheehan criticised the attacking aspect of the game, and rightly so, even mentioning you could play that game a number of times and end up losing it.

Last nights results again displayed a Championship that is really unpredictable. Charlton winning at Ipswich a stand out result. They are now in fifth place. Sheffield United made it two wins on the bang too.

TOP

BOTTOM

We can expect some changes IF Sheehan is to be believed. He’s pulled the wool a few times this season. Either way no matter who he goes with it has to be effective. He admits his side needs to be more creative and be aware of opportunities they are either not seeing or taking. He is right again, awareness has been an issue this season both positional and seeing openings that haven’t been taken. These are the games that have to be won if Swansea City want to be taken seriously this season.

It’s as simple as that.

Artwork and diagrams Swansea Indeoendent

Swansea City Polls