After being relegated from the Premier League, Swansea City supporters have been forced to reckon with the fact that the team need not concern itself with the top flight for now.
However, the Premier League is still plenty of fun to watch (especially if Cardiff City struggle as many pundits are predicting), and is more than worth keeping an eye on.
At the top of the league once again is Manchester City, who have destroyed their opponents in the early stages of the league this season.
Unsurprisingly, William Hill Premier League betting odds have them as the favourite to take the league for a second consecutive campaign. And given how well they’ve played to start the season, there is no doubt that the team could very well end up with their second straight 100 point campaign.
Of course, Swansea supporters will be keeping a close eye on Everton as teams still look to make player transactions during the loan window.
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The team has stated that they are still interested in Mo Bešić, who is no stranger to Championship football and could be an asset for the Swans as they look to make their stay in England’s second division a short one.
Although given the Swans, let’s say prudent way of spending money, the wages for such a player could prove a big obstacle.
Elsewhere, Chelsea have impressed early, while Manchester United and Arsenal have seen different managerial issues lead them astray. For Arsenal, that issue is the integration of new boss Unai Emery into the fold as he looks to get his team’s line-up and tactics right over the coming weeks. United, meanwhile, are in their third year of Jose Mourinho as manager, which never seems to work out well for teams.
At the other end of the table, the early season signs don’t look good for Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City or West Ham United – whom have flirted with relegation the last two seasons.
The reason any of this matters to supporters of Swansea City is the fact that the team has, in the view of former manager Garry Monk, stated their expectation of making their stay in the Championship only a season long one.
Of course, the expectation to only be in the Championship for a year is a great mentality for any club to have, although it isn’t one that is unique to the Swans.
Realistically, seasoned Swansea fans see this season as a season of transition for the club as a whole and a quick return to the Premier League – in terms of the current squad in particular – isn’t really on the agenda.
Whether or not Swansea can manage to dig themselves out in their first year since the drop will remain to be seen, but if the first four games are anything to go by, then the team is potentially right in the mix in terms of teams that could, with some decent loan acquisitions, make a promotion play-off spot.
Only time will tell of course, but with the Swans remaining unbeaten in the Championship so far, they have certainly made a far better start than many predicted they would.