Swansea City

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After an eye-catching transfer window and an unbeaten run of games, we asked you for your thoughts on Swansea City's ambitions for the rest of the season.

Is a top-six finish a must this season? Or is it about building for the long-term with a view to returning to the Premier League further down the line?

Here is a selection of your responses.

Tom: "The most important thing is to move forwards. The ownership has shown some intent - what we have been howling for for years from the stands. The most important step is always the next one and let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Gareth: "We've got work to do, we have to give the manager a chance to find our starting XI. I'm positive but let's not put pressure on. The players know their strengths and weaknesses but my only criticism is that team is better than I think they realise. Don't take your eyes off the prize guys."

Simon: "Very positive start from the Swans considering that we have thirteen new signings. Sheehan has an excellent method to improve players - very clear with Vipotnik and Ronald."

Clare: "Top six is within reach with this squad but we must keep going for 90 mins to win the game and not take our foot of the gas like against Hull. Dropped points like Saturday could be vital at the end of the season."

Nigel: "Staying cool for more than 90 mins is critical to Swansea. How many games were either lost or drawn by losing a goal in extra time?"

Wayne: "Top half is probably about the best we will get unless more of the team start scoring. After the last few seasons where we have had to suffer dreadful football, this would be a good result for the season ahead."

Zeke: "Hopefully the Swans will see some sense this year and not sack our manager half-way through the season. If we do that then top six could be a strong possibility."

Richard: "People are getting carried away with predicting the Swans will be in the playoffs. I think a top half finish is more realistic."

Freddy: "Finishing in the top six isn't a must as long as we can sustain progress into next season - but we do have to challenge. We haven't done so since Cooper left, and the squad is better than it's been at any time since then."

Leon: "It's not a bad start to a season, but even if we finish 8th or 7th that will be a good season in my eyes. I think it will be too early for us to get promoted - give it a few years."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Wales striker Ian Walsh has questioned why Alan Sheehan subbed in-form Zan Vipotnik as Swansea City threw away the chance of victory against Hull City.

Vipotnik had impressed after continuing his scoring streak in the Championship encounter with the Tigers.

But, despite four goals in four games – and another score for Slovenia in midweek - Vipotnik made way for new £6m signing Adam Idah after 60 minutes.

Swansea went on to concede late in injury-time, and speaking after the 2-2 draw on Feast of Football Phone In, ex-Swans frontman Walsh said: "He's had so much stick for not scoring enough goals, but he's got four in four and an international goal.

"Yes, you've signed someone (Idah) for a lot of money, but you've scored a great goal and if that was me I'd be crying into my beer after the game and saying 'Gaffer, why are you bringing me off, I'm playing at my best?'

"When you're scoring goals you want to be on that field of play to get another.

"Whether you play (Vipotnik and Idah) together I don't know; they would have to completely change their shape so it would be unlikely.

"But I've said it before, it can be nightmare playing as a striker for Swansea because you can be so isolated, but (Vipotnik's) on fire at the moment so keep that fire burning, don't push it out."

Sheehan – who has been criticised by fans for his changes during the Hull game – said Vipotnik's international duty for Slovenia meant his withdrawal was always planned.

But Walsh said Swansea and Sheehan's priority should have been "to win the game on the day" after calling the result two points dropped.

Image source, BBC Sport

Swansea City suffered late frustration as they were pegged back by Hull City deep into added time to ensure the Championship contest between the sides ended 2-2 at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Despite the setback, Alan Sheehan's side still sit on the cusp of the play-off places at the early stage of the season following what was an impressive summer transfer window.

So is a top-six finish a must this season? Or is it about building for the long-term with a view to returning to the Premier League further down the line?

Have your say here!

Swansea City head coach Alan Sheehan on his side's 2-2 draw with Hull City in the Championship.

Match report: Hull score last-gasp leveller to deny Swansea

Owain Gwynedd Griffith
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It was a dramatic finish in South Wales, with John Egan's 97th-minute equaliser securing a deserved point for Hull at Swansea.

The Tigers, who haven't won away since 5 April, could have easily given up but showed unusual tenacity for a side struggling on the road.

It was also written in the stars that Ollie McBurnie, the former Swans hero, would score against his former club - and he did for a second time. The first came in 2023 for Sheffield United.

Swansea will feel disappointed as they controlled large parts of the game and held the lead until so late.

That said, Swans fans will feel that they've got a squad that can push for the top six.

Malick Yalcouye, the 19 year-old on loan from Brighton, showed his potential as he started instead of injured Marko Stamenic.

Sitting in midfield, he looked to drive forward with the ball at his feet, with pace and strength, on each occasion possible.

He provided the assist for Zan Vipotnick's opening goal and was at the centre of the attack that lead to Ronald's score.

Drawing what the Hull defenders must have believed to be a foul that the referee had whistled for but hadn't as they stood like statues, Zeidane Inoussa crossed, Ronald tapped in unopposed.

Yalcouye will have a big part to play in Swansea's season.

Image source, Getty Images

There was a knowing look from Sergej Jakirovic when the Hull City boss was asked about Zan Vipotnik's sharp finish in the Tigers' draw at Swansea City on Saturday.

Bosnian Jakirovic, 48, coached a host of clubs before moving to Humberside this summer.

Among his former employers are Slovenian side Maribor, where he worked in 2020 with a young Vipotnik.

And Jakirovic says the 23-year-old, who is in easily his best run of form since moving to Swansea in 2024, is a player who will score goals if given the chances.

"He was my player when he was 18 years old," Jakirovic said.

"I'm very glad that he has developed to become a national team player with Slovenia. That's very good.

"He's a goalscorer who is very dangerous in the box. Maybe on the pitch he is not so, but he is a fox in the box.

"If you lose him for one second he will score the goal. That is his quality."

Image source, Getty Images

Vipotnik put Swansea in front against Hull, drilling the ball low into the net after buying himself a yard of space in the penalty area.

Alan Sheehan was ultimately left frustrated after John Egan's 97th-minute goal earned Hull a 2-2 draw, but Vipotnik's form is great news for the Swansea head coach.

Vipotnik managed seven goals last season, his first in English football. Despite an injury in pre-season he has moved up a level at the start of this campaign, having scored four goals in his past four matches – and netted for Slovenia during the international break.

Vipotnik must keep on delivering in order to keep his place, with Liam Cullen and £6m signing Adam Idah beginning on the bench against Hull.

The hope for Sheehan will be that the increased competition will help ensure Vipotnik continues to fire.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Alan Sheehan insists his targets have not changed despite Swansea City's "good business" in the summer transfer window.

Swansea return to action after the international break against Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST) with three new faces available for the first time.

Striker Adam Idah and loan signings Manuel Benson (pictured below) and Ishe Samuels-Smith have further bolstered a squad which now features 12 summer recruits in total plus Melker Widell, who linked up with Swansea in June having signed for the club last January.

Swansea spent more money over the summer than in any other window since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

As a result, their squad looks more balanced than it has at any point in recent memory – yet Sheehan says his outlook remains the same.

"I understand people talk about where you want to get to, but ultimately you've got to find a way of picking up points along the way," the Swansea head coach said.

Image source, Getty Images

"My expectations haven't changed really. I think it's clear we want to be a competitive team in the top half of the division, so that doesn't really change.

"Putting a timescale on success is impossible. We just want to keep getting better all the time."

Sheehan said "we can all agree" Swansea are "making progress as a football club" after a positive end to last season, a bright start to this campaign and what looks a successful transfer window.

But he added: "We're nowhere near where we want to get to.

"We've got something to chase, but we've got some incredibly difficult games coming up."

Hull come to Wales having won one and lost two of their four league games so far under new boss Sergej Jakirovic.

Oli McBurnie could lead the line for Hull having scored twice in five appearances since joining the Tigers in the summer, when former team Swansea were among a host of clubs interested in signing him.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Wales international Iwan Roberts believes Adam Idah has the tools to shine at Swansea City – if the striker can realise his potential.

Norwich City great Roberts presented Idah with his shirt when he made his Canaries debut as a teenager during the 2019-20 season.

He feels Idah has developed since his days at Carrow Road, but says there is more to come from the Republic of Ireland player.

"I look at him and he's got everything - he's powerful, he's a big boy, he's pacy, he can score goals," Roberts told the Feast of Football podcast.

"I don't think he realises what he has got. If he can get a bit more fire in his belly, a bit more hard work and a bit more desire, I think he can be a great signing for Swansea - and I think Swansea fans will take to him."

Image source, Getty Images

Idah scored 17 goals in 119 appearances – 31 of which were league starts – after coming through the ranks at Norwich.

He then managed 29 club goals in 18 months as a Celtic player.

Roberts says Idah faced an unenviable task for much of his time at Norwich.

"He was only a young lad when he joined Norwich. He was behind Teemu Pukki (pictured with Idah above) and he took a bit of stick," Roberts added.

"When he got the opportunity fans said 'he's not like Pukki'. Well of course he's not because Pukki was unbelievable for Norwich.

"He is by no means the finished article but I do think Swansea have got a good one there."

Having signed for Celtic for an initial £6m, Idah could make his Swans debut against Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Swansea City will be seeking to continue their good form and host a Hull City side who have won just one of their last five games across all competitions on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Swans have lost just one game so far this season, away from home at league leaders Middlesborough whereas Hull have been beaten in their last two league games conceding seven goals in the process.

• Swansea have lost just one of their last six league games against Hull (W3 D2), winning two of the last three encounters (L1).

• Since a 2-0 victory in the Premier League in August 2016, Hull are winless in their last six league trips to Swansea City (D3 L3).

• Among current Championship sides, only Middlesbrough (32) have earned more points in the competition than Swansea since Alan Sheehan's first game in charge in February (31 – W9 D4 L4), winning six of their nine league games at home in that time (D2 L1).

• Hull have conceded seven goals in their last two league games (L2), just one fewer than in their previous nine matches in the Championship (8).

• No team's Championship games have seen fewer goals scored than Swansea this season (6 – F4 A2), with all four of their goals scored coming in the second half of games.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Marko Stamenic will miss Swansea City's Championship game against Hull City on Saturday with a groin problem.

But Swansea are optimistic the New Zealand international will not be sidelined for long by the issue, which he picked up in the win over Sheffield Wednesday 12 days ago.

Fellow midfielder Jay Fulton will also be missing against Hull with a groin injury suffered in last month's Carabao Cup win over Plymouth Argyle, while Ricardo Santos (knee) remains sidelined.

Stamenic has made a big impact since joining from Nottingham Forest last month, but may also be doubtful for next Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie against the Premier League club.

The 23-year-old flew to Australia last week to link up with the New Zealand squad only to return without playing because he was deemed unfit.

"Marko felt something in his groin at Sheffield Wednesday," head coach Alan Sheehan said.

"He's an honest guy so he travelled halfway round the world to pull out of training with New Zealand.

"We have had that scanned and he will definitely miss the weekend, which is disappointing as he has shown how important he is over the last couple of games."

Image source, PA Media

Adam Idah says he "had no thoughts of leaving Celtic" until Swansea City made a move for the Republic of Ireland striker.

Idah, 24, joined the Welsh club on transfer deadline day, after 18 months in Glasgow.

He initially joined Celtic on loan from Norwich City and formalised that move last summer in a £9.5m deal. After 29 goals in 76 appearances, Idah headed to Swansea for a reported initial £6m.

"It was a crazy week," Idah told told BBC Sport NI after scoring Republic of Ireland's late equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Hungary.

"I had no thoughts of leaving Celtic, but Swansea came in. It was a good project for me to go down to the Championship and restart.

"I loved my time at Celtic, I had some amazing memories, but it was probably time for me to move on and have a fresh start."

Read more

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Swansea City fans are looking forward with optimism after a busy summer transfer window.

While some influential figures have departed, such as Harry Darling, Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton, the Championship club have spent significant money on a number of signings and have not been forced into any sales.

In all, Swansea have brought in 12 new faces, four of whom are on loan.

Those incomings were:

• Manuel Benson (loan)

• Cameron Burgess

• Kaelan Casey (loan)

• Paul Farman

• Ethan Galbraith

• Adam Idah

• Zeidane Inoussa

• Ishe Samuels-Smith (loan)

• Ricardo Santos

• Marko Stamenic

• Bobby Wales

• Malick Yalcouye (loan)

Of all the summer arrivals at the Swansea.com Stadium, who do you think will have the biggest impact?

Rank them here

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea City are waiting to assess the fitness of Marko Stamenic after the midfielder flew to Australia for international duty only to be ruled out with injury.

Stamenic has made an impressive start to life at Swansea after joining from Nottingham Forest last month.

The 23-year-old played the full 90 minutes as Swansea beat Sheffield Wednesday last weekend before joining up with the New Zealand squad for a double-header against Australia.

But he has since left the All Whites' camp in Canberra with what has been reported to be an adductor problem.

The good news for Swansea, who return to Championship action against Hull City on Saturday, 13 September, is that Stamenic's problem was described as "minor" by New Zealand Football.

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea City goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux made his long-awaited Chile debut against Brazil in the early hours of Friday.

The 31-year-old has been regularly involved in Chile squads having first represented the country of his father at under-20 level.

After years of watching senior international action from the bench, Vigouroux played the full 90 minutes as they were beaten 3-0 at the Maracana.

Chelsea winger Estevao, West Ham's Lucas Paqueta and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes were on target for the home side, who also have a Swansea connection.

Former Swans boss Paul Clement is part of Brazil's coaching staff under Carlo Ancelotti, who he previously worked under at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

After spending all summer chasing a striker, the final day signing of Celtic frontman Adam Idah completed a productive transfer window for Swansea City.

With the dust settled after deadline, BBC Sport Wales' Carl Roberts and Chris Wathan discussed the transfer business at the Swansea.Com Stadium - and you can listen to the chat here.

To get the latest Swansea City news, interviews and analysis you can listen to the Swans feed on BBC Sounds. To find that just search Swansea City on BBC Sounds, or head here.

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