It has come as no surprise to me that Swansea are doing so well in their first season in the Championship.

They're good enough to make the play-offs and I certainly wouldn't rule out a top-six finish. They're difficult to beat, organised and are good in possession of the ball - with plenty of threat and plenty of aggression.

Swansea: looking good

However, they've had some dog's luck of late. They've got a few players out with cruciate knee ligament injuries, including the guy I would class as their star man, Ferrie Bodde.

I know Jason Scotland shot all the goals last year but Bodde was absolutely sensational. He's out for the rest of the season and the impact of that is being felt.

They're on a remarkable run of eight league draws in a row, but perhaps four or five of them would have been wins if they'd had Bodde's added quality, class and goal threat. How the other players react to his absence will dictate the rest of their season.

It will be interesting to see what Roberto Martinez does in the transfer window and whether or not he can get a few more bodies in (no pun intended).

United nations

They will break the league record if they get their ninth draw in a row on Saturday and if nothing else that run shows how competitive and difficult to beat they are.

They don't concede many goals. I'm very impressed with the leadership qualities of their uncompromising centre-half Garry Monk and also the holding midfielder Darren Pratley who gives them some steel in midfield.

There's a bit of a "united nations" at Swansea and the one man who encapsulates that is a guy called Scotland, who plays for a Welsh club in the English league - but he's from Trinidad & Tobago!

We all saw what Jason Scotland did last year and we've seen a few glimpses of it this season. Maybe his game has suffered a little bit because Swansea are very patient and like to keep the ball, but he is more suited to a direct approach. However, he's still got nine goals this season so it is still working for him.

Top boss

Roberto Martinez has been a breath of fresh air. He's a very laid back guy, but he's also quite intense in that he wants to talk about football all of the time. He is always learning, always asking questions and always watching matches from all levels from all over the world.

Leading Swansea to the League One title by 10 points in his first season was no mean feat and his managerial record so far is outstanding.

Of his 101 games in charge of Swansea, he has won 52, drawn 30 and lost just 19. His win ratio is above 50 per cent, which is incredible when you consider 26 of those games have been in the Championship with a newly-promoted side.

He has got a lot of foreign players, but it shows that it can work if you have the right blend and the right attitude. His analytical approach had built a good system that suits his players and he can be very proud of the job he's done. I just think they need two more players to compensate for the injuries and they'll be fine.

Welsh race

We're going to see a race between them and Cardiff to become the first Welsh Premier League club.

Cardiff are probably ahead in terms of progress, but Swansea are hot on their heels. It's a flip of a coin to say who will get there first and I'm sure both Dave Jones and Roberto want that honour.

They'll both be keen to get one over their bitter rivals - and that could act as a carrot to both teams and will push them forwards.

Clarets clash

I'm expecting a good game when Swansea travel to Burnley on Saturday and I expect the Clarets to put their cup loss to Spurs to one side because they have a very experienced side.

Wade Elliott has caught the eye with his old-fashioned wing play and Martin Paterson has justified his price tag with 15 goals. Furthermore 'The Beast' Brian Jensen has had a renaissance in goal and has been the star of their Carling Cup run.

They are up in fifth with Swansea in 11th, but there's not that much between these two teams. I think it's going to be a very good and close game - hopefully with goals.

It could be a cold day up on that gantry so I'm hoping the football will warm the cockles of my heart!

Peter answers your questions...

To send Peter a question on the Football League, send an email to skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below...

CLARK ON COURSE
Peter, Quite simple really, I just have to ask you for your thoughts on Huddersfield's gamble on Lee Clark as manager, but with an incredibly able backroom staff behind him. I for one am really excited with this appointment, and I've seen a few fans of other clubs comment that they wish their club had made such an innovative appointment. It makes me proud to be a Huddersfield fan. Sam Hughes
PETER SAYS: I agree it will be a good appointment. He's served his apprenticeship at other clubs and he'll feel his opportunity has come at the right time. I played around the corner for their arch rivals Bradford, but even I can see Huddersfield is a tremendous club with huge possibilities. I know people who haven't had the best of times there, but they don't speak poorly of the place. Andy Ritchie, for example, says it's a fantastic club.

Huddersfield is a sleeping giant which needs to be reignited and this appointment has already caught the imagination of the fans. He has brought in a backroom staff with legends like Terry McDermott who brings an aura with them. Lee might not have much money to spend, but he's well connected and might be able to get few loan players in.

MIDLANDS MANAGERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND
Happy New Year Peter. What do you make of Forest appointing Billy Davies? I'm worried that if things don't start well then his Derby connections might cause unrest among the fans. Thanks. Lee, Nottingham.
PETER SAYS: I think it's a good appointment for Forest. Billy is always very thorough in his preparation and when he was at Derby and Preston those sides were very difficult to beat. But you could be right Lee. If there are negative results, his previous connections might come back to haunt him - but if the team is winning then the Forest fans will soon forget he was at their arch rivals.

It's interesting for that part of the country that Nigel Clough should go to Derby this week. I didn't think he wanted to leave his comfort zone at Burton, where he ran things from top to bottom and had a chance of promotion this year. But not only is he hungry enough to test himself at a higher level, but he has taken the one job we all expected he'd never take because he will be in direct contrast with his dad's success.

I played with Nigel for England U21s and he was always quiet and unassuming, but he has a world of knowledge. If he listened to his father he probably knows all there is to know about man management, but I'm sure he'll do this job in his own quiet, understated way. I hope both Forest and Derby can turn things around with their new managers. With no ideas of grandeur it will be interesting to see if they can consolidate in the Championship.

AND FINALLY...
I tipped Fabian Delph of Leeds as my one to watch in 2009 and it was interesting to see how this 19-year-old was trying to drive his side on in their very ordinary display against Leicester. Despite all of the experience in that side, he was the one laying down the gauntlet and he then scored a sublime goal in the victory over Stockport.

Simon Grayson's most important bit of business in the transfer window will be trying to keep hold of him. Manchester United have been linked, but I'd rather see him go to somewhere like Fulham or Middlesbrough for the development of his career as he needs to play games. He's got an abundance of talent and he has that edge that Wayne Rooney and Alan Smith had when they burst onto the scene as youngsters. He isn't fazed by big stadiums, he feels he deserves to stand alongside the best players and he has the belief to go a long way. If Leeds want to push up the league they need to keep hold of him so it'll be interesting to see what happens in January.

back to top