Premier League Half-Term Reports: Swans bid to best the rest

Team Name: Swansea

Current Premier League position: 5th

Giddy highs: Their league position

Ever since their opening-day win over Manchester United, Swansea have been riding a wave of optimism.

Garry Monk has continued the excellent playing style that’s scratched into the club’s walls and their results have been impressive. The only two losses they have suffered in the top flight have come against teams above them in the table.

Crushing lows: Are yet to come

Such a fast start is all well and good, but it’s important not to get too carried away. Swansea face Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal and Manchester City in consecutive matches in late October and only the Gunners will be making the trip to Wales in that time.

That stretch will be a real test of the Swans’ durability this season.

Shining Star: Nathan Dyer

You know you’ve made a good start to the league campaign when there’s genuine anger that you’re not in the England squad and Andros Townsend (the country’s hero not so long ago) is.

That’s the situation Dyer finds himself in this term after leading Swansea’s scoring charts with three top-flight goals.

Gylfi Sigurdsson gets an honourable mention for going toe-to-toe with Cesc Fabregas in the assist stakes, but he was always expected to thrive back at the Liberty Stadium.

Biggest Disappointment: Jonjo Shelvey

Perhaps the one drawback from bringing the Icelandic midfielder back to Wales is that it’s stunted Shelvey’s growth in the team.

The former Liverpool man has scored one and assisted none of Swansea’s Premier League goals this term and only leads the team in bookings gained as he adapts to no longer being the focal point of the Jacks’ midfield.

Best bet for the rest of the season: Betting without the big seven @ 11/2

Grade: A

Final Thoughts:

The start Swansea have made this term is only bettered by Southampton’s story in its ability to warm the heart.

Like the Saints last season though, Monk’s men will soon be slipping down the table as the big boys cross their path. How they bounce back against the league’s lesser lights will determine their season’s script.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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