Opposition view vs Swansea (Away)

Editor Lloyd Reddin has travelled along the internet airways this week to Wales to interview Vital Swansea editor Kevin Elphwick ahead of Stoke`s trip to the Liberty Stadium. He was asked for his pre-match thoughts and season expectations.

1. Europa League! Love it or loath it?

I’ve enjoyed the experience and it’s been an incredible achievement for Laudrup and his players to qualify for the Europa League. Our performances were looking more than convincing early on in the competition but since the 3-0 win at Valencia, we’ve struggled to keep the momentum going in Group A. Also, our performances in the League haven’t been good enough recently either, but I’m not buying into the Europa League being to blame for that.


2. Your thoughts on ‘league within leagues’?

Our chairman Huw Jenkins said recently that he didn’t like his staff talking about it and I agree. You can’t say in the media and have all the players hearing that 8th is the best we can finish. Southampton are proving at the moment that talk of Leagues within a League is rubbish. You have to have ambition and believe you can go in every game and win.


3. Wilfried Bony! A player we were linked with and now your record signing, How do you feel about him?

He hasn’t set the world alight, but it’s early days yet, and I’m going to give him a chance. Hopefully he can develop into a top Premier League striker but so far he has struggled to adjust from the Dutch top flight, and so far the Premier League has proved to be quick a pace for him.


4. What are your expectations for this season?

After last season’s 9th place finish, many pundits have finally got rid of us as one of their relegation favourites with many tipping us to improve further. It’s not going to happen I don’t think and anything around mid-table down to 14th would be decent.


5. What are your views on your manager?

Michael Laudrup has been superb for us. He’s taken a bit of criticism recently but we don’t like losing against Cardiff City and he’s been blamed a bit for not getting the players ‘fired up’ for the big derby game. We’ve lacked some desire lately and it’s his biggest test since he’s been here as he needs to lift the players and get us playing quicker and sharper attacking football, as the goals are beginning to dry up.


6. Who is your danger man?

With Michu out, it’s difficult to say considering our recent performances and lack of goals. Pozuelo could be the one to watch as he’ll likely replace Michu and be our creative man in midfield.


7. What would you say your strengths are as a team?

We’re generally quite organised as a group, and defensively quite sound as we haven’t been conceding a lot of goals lately. Of course, our passing and possession is even better than last season according to the stats so we limit the chances teams have to score against us.


8. What would you say your weaknesses are as a team?

We don’t score when we’re on top in games and we’re struggling to break down defensive teams. We generally dominate the majority of games we play, but we miss chances and allow teams to score against the run of play.


9. Which player (s) do you fear from the Stoke City side?

Your goalkeeper!!


10. Is there any Stoke players you would like to add to your squad?

I have to say, it’s not an obvious one for me, as your players are generally suited to a totally different style of play to us, but if I had to pick one it would be one of your no-nonsense centre backs.


11. How do you think Stoke will do this season?

You’ll do well to stay up, especially under Mark Hughes who’s hardly the best manager out there.


12. Yours thoughts on Mark Hughes?

I’ve never rated him as a manager myself, and like many others, as soon as we saw his appointment as replacement for Pulis, I feared he would take you down this year.


13. What is your likely line-up for the match?

Tremmel, Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies, Britton, Shelvey, Pozuelo, Dyer, Routledge, Bony.


14. Finally, what`s your score prediction for the match?

It’s a difficult one. I don’t like hearing that you’re 7 games without a win, as we have a tendancy to help clubs end their poor runs! It’s going to be a low scoring game, and maybe it could be the odd goal to decide it. So 1-0 to the home side!

Thanks to Kevin for taking time out to answer our questions.