An occasional series of open discussions with opposition fans. They can say what they like about Chelsea and I promise not to be rude back to them.

Number 4: The Blues v The Blues

Meet Bill, aka Jasper and a hundred other names. He won’t tell me how old he is and won’t say when he became a City fan. But he just couldn’t stop when it came to other stuff…

Why Birmingham City?
One name – Trevor Francis. He is a Brummie legend, God knows how many goals he scored for us, but I know it was over 100, better than one goal every three games. I just loved his eye for goal, when you saw him run into the penalty area you know there would be a chance on the end of it. He didn’t always score, in fact I remember him missing two absolute sitters in one match, but he was always there, always working, always, always working for the side.

When did you start supporting Birmingham City?
I was a teenager. That’d probably make me a latecomer to the game, but honestly I wasn’t particularly interested in soccer until secondary school. Then I found I had a bit of a knack for booting holy crap out of the ball and I played as a defender and took the free kicks. I enjoyed it, yes – you get sort of addicted don’t you? Then I went to a live game and Bang!

Which Game?
Villa at home, believe it or not. We lost 0-2. But the tension, the noise, the missed chances. I’m pretty certain we dominated the game but I loved it even though we lost.

What was the first game you remember?
That one, if you mean live – losing to Villa. I’ve got used to it [losing to Aston Villa] over time, but it makes beating ‘em even sweeter. I can’t remember any others really.

At some point I must have started watching Match of the Day and The Big Match on Sunday lunchtimes. I loved Brian Moore, and they used to cover the Birmingham derbies pretty regularly. Not as often as the London derbies though, which was a bit annoying when they clashed, but – hey, what was the question again?

What memory of Birmingham City will you still remember when your memory has finally faded and you are old and senile?
This season’s European expeditions, I can afford it now – just! Such pride to see your team competing in Europe. You lot have become blasé about it – not that I’m criticising, but you have, like Man U and Arsenal and whatever. The squad you’ve got you should be qualifying most of the time, but it aint a right, mate, no, not at all, and that’s what I think fans of the so-called top four don’t appreciate.

If you had to pick your favourite Birmingham City player of all time, who would it be?
The great Trevor, King Trev. I was gutted when they sold him, though a million quid seemed a lot of money then. I guess it was, but going to Forest made it worse. I seem to remember we were struggling and looked doomed at the time, so it probably looked like a good move to him.
Fair play to him, it was his goals that really got us into the First Division in the first place, so it seemed sort of, well, acceptable. Didn’t make it any easier to swallow though.

Back to the present day – who is your favourite player at the moment?
Stephen Carr, Mr Motivator. And Zigic – Mr Creator!

How did you cope with relegation?
I got drunk then went home and sat there flicking through some old programmes. I’ve some dating back as far back as the 70’s. I didn’t cope very well though; I never do with that sort of thing.

How do you view your performance so far this season?
Patchy, but more than acceptable really. I didn’t think we’d keep the players we’ve kept, I didn’t think we’d get the players we got in last summer, I didn’t think they’d gel as they have, I didn’t think we would bounce straight back up either, but that’s not such a pipedream.

And how do you see the rest of your season going this time around?
Surprisingly, we look like we are strong enough to at least push for a play-off place. Southampton and the Hammers have got promotion pretty much sewn up, barring something like administration or a total collapse.

What gives me hope though is our home record, unbeaten so far where it matters, and we’ve got Hull next week. That worries me though. I can’t see them scoring more than once, but then again the boys may have their heads turned by Chelsea next weekend, so I can see us maybe losing 0-1. Hopefully not, though, I’d settle for a draw.

And how are you going to fare at Stamford Bridge on Saturday?
I can’t see us getting anything at all, just keep the score down.

You think I meant that didn’t you? Ha ha, no I think we can win. Yes, genuinely! Chelsea are poor at the back, if JT is still out we can score at least one.

You have one of the best strikers in the world going through a crisis, which means he’s still one of the best strikers in the top half of the table. The problem is you don’t have an attacking midfield. Even Mata is struggling to create anything these days and the rest are a waste of space, going forward.

Not too bad defensive midfield-wise, but how can you expect to win when you have one creative player and no wingers. May as well play with a cardboard cut-out up front and hammer the balls up to him in the hope they bounce off and go in.

That’s a bit harsh isn’t it?
True though. Would a team play Wimbledon style long ball if it had eleven Messi’s? No. Would a team play short passing intricate Barcelona style football with not a single creative player? No. Face it, at the moment, you may be transition, I can’t argue with that, but you are crap. Ok, very poor. A dire combination of over-the-hill players who can turn it on one game in ten and young inexperienced players who do the same. The result is a mess.

Are you going to the game?
Watching on telly. A few pints, fish and chips before the game and settle down to the game. Mark my words, we will be the headline makers come Final Score!

Have you ever been to Stamford Bridge?
Last season actually. A night match at the end of last season and we let you win 3-1. Ha ha, no we threw it away, Chelsea deserved it.
I remember your right back falling over the ball before crossing for Chelsea to score really early on. Poor defending. Then Kalou scored a great goal, went past two defenders before scoring a 20 yarder. Excellent, but not good defending again.

We got a penalty to add a bit of respectability towards the end of the game, and maybe we should have a first half penalty too, but all in all it was a fair result I think, no complaints.

What do you think of our new manager, Andre Villas-Boas?
Jury’s out, isn’t it? Obviously when he has the players he wants, he is good. He’s proved that at Porto. But at the moment – I don’t know. Has Chelsea’s slump coincided with Roberto Di Matteo’s arrival? It seems to me it might.

But Villas Boas has got a tough job there. I said Chelsea were a mix of too old and too young. That’s not his fault though, that’s a result of previous managers and a board that thinks it can have success just by throwing money at it. You can’t.

I don’t blame AVB for the position you’re in. In my opinion, finishing fourth would be an over-achievement for Chelsea. This mix of too old and too young – the club shouldn’t have allowed that situation to happen in Ancelotti’s last season, but the club itself – maybe I mean the owner and the directors – are too greedy. They want it all and they want it now.

The too-young players means you can/t realistically play more of your youngsters and hope to win, but they’re the only players you have who can replace the over-the-hill players. Catch 22. As I said, not AVB’s fault, he’s got to make the best of mismanagement and – purely off the top of my head – maybe a lack of sensible forward planning by the directors.

Personally, I’d get shot of half the team in the summer, bring in those players the manager wants and then give him to January. If you are still playing poorly, get rid, but at least give him the opportunity to remove the shackles of player-power and old-age before judging him.

What is your prediction for Chelsea this season?
Fifth. Maybe fourth – not because of Chelsea, but because I can see Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle, Spurs failing to stick the pace– especially Spurs if they know Harry is leaving in the summer.

If there was one player from Chelsea you could have for free….
John Terry, just for this season. He would be the difference between taking part in the play offs and winning them.

Club or Country?
Club all the way.

Prediction time! Automatic promotion to the Premiership?
That’s not an easy prediction. Let’s just say, play-off place. Chris Hughton does a brilliant job, but I’m not sure we can stop the top two. But Cardiff, Reading, Blackpool, Hull – nah, none of them are unbeatable. I hope so anyway, we’ve got Hull next week.

We did some rebuilding in the summer, lots in and out and it looks like its beginning to pay off.

Your prediction for the top four for the Premiership this season is?
As it stands to be honest: that’s City, United, Spurs and Arsenal. The only doubt there is Spurs in my opinion.

FA Cup?
Spurs. Birmingham to lose to Spurs in the semi-final!

Champions League?
No one apart from Barca.

Five star dining at an upmarket restaurant, or bacon, egg and chips at a greasy spoon?
I’m a brummie mate. Greasy breakfast, three times a day.

Politics? Religion? Or shouldn’t I ask?
Left wing, and agnostic. I think it’s important to say what you are, what you stand for. I don’t like this “I’m not telling you my politics, it’s my business”, it’s not just my business because my politics could affect everyone else in the community and the country. Wait, I feel a rant coming on, ha ha. I’ll shutup now!

Well, thank you for being so… er, bluntly honest.
That’s ok, thanks for giving me the opportunity to mouth off! It probably sounds like I don’t like Chelsea very much.

Truth is, I do. They’ve always had charisma in my opinion. It just annoys me to see a club in a piss-poor position because of impatience and it annoys me more that your manager appears to be the scapegoat in all this. He’s been shackled by the club and its recent history and by players who won’t put in the effort, seems that way to me at least. I hope they turn it round. After the FA Cup game though.

An occasional series of open discussions with opposition fans. They can say what they like about Chelsea and I promise not to be rude back to them.

Number 3:  Toffee Time

Why Everton?

As a Scouser, what’s the choice? Tranmere? I used to go to watch them play sometimes, but when you’re a kid you want a bit more razzamatazz don’t you? You want to see the big names play. I still go to Tranmere sometimes now, I went last season and enjoyed it. There’s a nice atmosphere down Prenton Road way.

What about Liverpool?

There’s no need to swear!  Anyway, what about Liverpool?

Okay, when did you start supporting Everton?

I was 8 when I knew I was Evertonian. I’d been to a couple of games, but then one day something changed in me: the shape of the stands, (do you remember the arc behind the goal?), the sounds, the smells, the colour of the grass, they all contributed. I knew Goodison was my place.

What was the first game you remember?

I don’t know, I think I remember the 66 Cup Final, but maybe that’s wishful thinking, but I honestly don’t know which game I went to first. May not even have been Everton.

What’s with Everton’s nickname, The Toffees?

Something to do with a Toffee Shop near Goodison Park which sold Everton mints. That was way back, 1900 or 1901. Since then, the name Toffeemen or the Toffees has stuck.

What memory of Everton will you still remember when your memory has finally faded and you are old and senile?

What do you mean “when”…? The 1984 Cup Final has always stayed with me, especially Andy Gray’s goal. He got there a split second before the keeper and headed it out of his hands almost! That was after Sharps quick turn and shot, lovely goal. The atmosphere was terrific – even if I was watching it on a telly in Bolton of all places.

The goalkeeper that day was our ex, Steve Sherwood. Anyway, if you had to pick your favourite Everton player of all time, who would it be?

You’d probably like me to pick Pat Nevin wouldn’t you? But no, it’s Kevin Ratcliffe. Fast, strong, a great tackler – imagine John Terry with pace. I loved him. It helped he played in a great side, too.

Back to the present day – who is your favourite player at the moment?

I’ve really got a soft spot for the young guns coming through, Jackie Rodwell and so on, so your people better keep your hands off. But I’d go for Marouane Fellaini, just ahead of Tim Cahill. If we can keep him – hell, we’ve really got to keep him – he will be a lynchpin at the middle of the park.

He took a while to settle here I think, judging by his performances, but moving back to defensive mid has improved his game and his control. Brilliant, in all honesty he can play anywhere, but I fear he may going walkies soon. Bill Kenwright’s really got to pull something out of the hat again to keep him. Fingers crossed.

Are there any off-field issues are facing Everton at the moment?

I suppose you are asking that because of your Pitch Owners situation. Don’t you trust the big Russian then? Anyway, apart from the everlasting finance problems facing us, nothing really. I’d like to get a rich billionaire in to give us loadsamoney, but to be honest I’m happy with old Bill Kenwright.

Everton have become renowned for their ability to compete at Premiership level without having Premiership finances. How do you manage this?

Yes, times have changed havent they? Forty years ago we were running with best of them but now we’ve been left behind by the influence of tv money and foreign owners. It’s hard. But a bleedin great youth system and a superb manager mean that we might have our odd scare during the season, call it a flirtation with relegation, but we generally finish well in the top half of the table. I’m convinced there are only five teams better than Everton at the moment, and maybe three or four more who are on a par.

How do you view your performance so far this season?

Patchy, but injuries and loss of players have played a big part. Early days yet though I think.

And how do you see your season going this time around?

Like I said I’m convinced there are five teams better than Everton, and maybe three or four more who are on a par so with a bit of luck we could be competing for Europe come next May. In all honesty though, I think 8^th would be a good finish – but Moyesy and Kenwright have pulled signings out of the bag for us before, so come January we may just get a player or two to give us that added push and make Europe more than just a dream. It’s certainly possible.

And how are you going to fare at Stamford Bridge on Saturday?

We’ve got the knack of getting something from your people, so I’m quietly confident of at least a point. Then again I saw your back four earlier in the season and even John Terry looks to be losing it, they were all over the place sometimes, so there’s a bit of me thinks we can come away with a win. Last minute header – there’s a prediction for you, Everton win 2-1.

Are you going to the game?

Just try to keep me away!

Have you ever been to Stamford Bridge?

I’m a lucky omen for David Moyes I think. I’ve been three times in the last – what? – four or five years or so, and we’ve never lost.  I used to go a few times a season when I lived in London – I was in Uni down there. Saw a few good players then – Colin Pates – did I see him play alongside Mickey Droy? That’s what I remember anyway. Fillery too. But generally you had a crap side then. Think I saw them draw against Wigan or Grimsby in a midweek Cup match in 1978/79, dire game. Has that bought back any memories for you?

Too many! So, are you a closet Chelsea fan? Why don’t you man-up and come out of the closet?

No, I could never follow Chelsea, obviously. One of the reasons I used to go down to Chelsea is because I used to hate them and I couldn’t risk not being there when we took points off them!

If you hated Chelsea, why did you still go there?

Well, sort of love-hate relationship really. I admit I used to quite like Chelsea many years ago, especially when you used to beat that team from the common side of Stanley Park. You beat them 4-2 one year, don’t remember when, but Zola scored and Vialli too I think.

Mark Hughes came on at half-time when we were 0-2 down and changed that game.

Yes, and years before that I think you beat them 3-2 or 4-2 in the FA Cup. You had a pretty poor side, I think you may have been in the old second division then. I was living in London then, made me laugh out loud that result! Really wiped the smile off their faces. You got to respect Liverpool I suppose but even so it’s great when they lose.

Back to hating Chelsea though, that started when Abramovich took over. There was an arrogance then I think, too much splashing the cash, it turned the league upside down and when Mourinho came, everyone hated him, me included. What Chelsea fans called self-confidence most other people call arrogance. It certainly didn’t do much for Chelsea. Chelsea bought their first title, no doubt about it, until the money arrived you were nowhere, that was what I didn’t like.

Did you know that Chelsea had finished third the season before that?

Did they? Okay, perhaps “nowhere” is too strong then. But still, I don’t think anyone liked Chelsea. Then when Mourinho went, they started firing all their managers. They just weren’t behaving properly. Personally, I couldn’t stand anything about Chelsea until Ancelotti took over. He bought a bit of style, a bit of class.

What do you think of our new manager, Andre Villas-Boas?

Excellent. Stylish, classy, young. New ideas. I’d like to see him do well, because he has done well at Porto and for me he seems to combine the best bits of a couple of managers like Mourinho’s attention to detail, Ferguson’s motivation and so on. Don’t know whether he can make it in the Premiership, it’s a lot different to Portugal, but personally I think he will.

Your favourite Chelsea Everton game?

Anything recent – apart from that Final of course. Quickest ever goal though.

Don’t remind me. What is your prediction for Chelsea this season?

Third, but that will be good in what I see as a transition season. I like your peoples emphasis on younger players, I like it that you are beginning to use the younger players more. I also like the new attacking style – personally I don’t think it’s as gung-ho attacking as some people make out, but it’s certainly easier on the eye, and I do quite enjoy watching them now.

So, yes, third in the League, no cup wins though, sorry. Another empty season, but I think you will see improvement in style and flair as the season goes on.

If there was one player from Chelsea you could have for free….

Josh McEachran. Quite a phenomenon and he has his whole career in front of him. From what I’ve seen, in a year or two he’ll be as good as Lampard, Gerrard, only inexperience is holding him back. Hope he gets that this season and next.

Club or Country?

Both. A balance has to be struck, so yes, both.

Prediction time! Your prediction for the top three for the Premiership this season is?

Man City, Man U and Spurs. [Laughs] No, not really, I can’t see United sticking the pace, I don’t think their young players can keep this sort of form up. Ferguson will ensure they finish second of course, because much as I hate to say it, that man is a genius. It’s City for me all the way. Tidy coach, superb squad who must keep up the pressure now early on. Chelsea to finish third, but for me Chelsea and Manure will be a good five points or more behind City.

FA Cup?

Difficult one. An outsider, I think. What about a Championship team, to beat the likes of Blackburn or Wolves?

Champions League?

Barca. Who else. Chelsea? Nah, no chance. Another quarter final berth for your people. I’m not even considering Manure or Arsenal, they just haven’t got the squads.

Five star dining at an upmarket restaurant, or bacon, egg and chips at a greasy spoon?

Five star dining every time. I’ll take the bacon eggs and chips as breakfast and then the posh nosh in the evening. With a fine red. Or two. Or three.

Politics? Or shouldn’t I ask?

You shouldn’t ask, politics and football shouldn’t mix. But as you asked, I don’t really bother, but more to the left and being pushed further by this bunch of halfwits.

Last, but not least, because I enjoy asking this one: how does it feel to be above Arsenal in the table?

Not just above them, but above them AND with a game in hand. They have massively underperformed so far and losing Fabregas and Nasri isn’t really an excuse – even without them they should have done better. I admire their loyalty to Wenger, but there is a line when loyalty turns to stupidity, and I can see some Arsenal fans think the club have reached that point now.

But it’s where we are at the end of the season that counts, and above Arsenal would suit me fine then. Oh, and one last thing: Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. That’s Everton, mate, nothing but the best!

An occasional series of open discussions with opposition fans. They can say what they like about Chelsea and I promise not to be rude back to them.

Number 2:  Joking with a Jack

Introducing Noel “Once A Jack Always A Jack”, who has supported Swansea through thick and thin, man and boy for over forty years. He gives us his views on all things Swansea and Chelsea and also proves the rule that once you start a Welshman talking, there’s no stopping him…

First, congratulations on Swansea City achieving promotion to the Premiership. You did it the hard way, but you did it in some style…

Thank you! Last season produced some of the most amazing football and saw individual players show real potential. Any game that was being televised “live” seemed to bring out the best in us and from being tipped by the bookies as one of the teams to be relegated it was an even better season than anyone could have predicted!

Remember, it had been after our second successive close season in the Championship to have our manager “poached” off us – firstly Wigan took Roberto Martinez then Leicester took Paulo Sousa and all their back room staff too. So our 3rd season in the Championship saw us kicking off with our 3rd different manager – but what a revelation Brendan Rodgers turned out to be.

At one stage, automatic promotion seemed achievable, then it looked more and more like the dreaded play offs and a potential final at Wembley against Cardiff!

We duly got through a thrilling encounter with Forest (good side) drawing 0-0 away with our full back Taylor sent off in the 2nd minute. The home leg was exciting and we got through 3-1. Cardiff City, having also drawn 0-0 away at Reading faced the 2nd leg the next night knowing we were already there but lost 3-0 to send Reading to meet us at Wembley.

After that winning experience at Wembley, who wanted automatic promotion anyway? 3-0 up at half-time we just knew it wasn’t all over and Reading got it back to 3-2 before Scott Sinclair got his hat-trick to make it 4-2. Final score: 43,000 Swansea fans went delirious.

When did you start supporting Swansea?

Probably 1967/68 I think, I remember it cost 2 shillings (10p) to get in and it was the greatest thing ever!

Why Swansea?

Well, home town club etc and that famous saying “Once a Jack Always a Jack” makes you realise that supporting Swansea is an addiction!

What was the first game you remember?

Newport County – a local derby – at home

What memory of Swansea City will you still remember when your memory has finally faded and you are old and senile?

Apart from this year it is the first game in the old First Division at home to Leeds United. August 1981, a packed Vetch Field, about 3,000 from Leeds, lovely sunny day and we won 5–1!!!!! Jeremy Charles scored first, a hat trick from a truly great centre forward Bob Latchford and the most stunning individual goal from Alan Curtis. I still get goose bumps whenever I see it. What a feeling, what a noise, what a quiet away end… what a memory!

Chelsea and Swansea have a number of connections at the moment, not least your manager Brendan Rogers. What’s your opinion of him?

With a debut season like he just had it has to be admiration. His contacts have been amazing, his time at Chelsea with Mr Mourinho must have been an experience, but to listen to him speak is a refreshing change for a manager – whatever the result, no slagging the referee / linesman, no criticism of individuals in public – but the main thing is so much common sense.

And Scott Sinclair? Borini? Yves Ma Makalambay?

Scott Sinclair found himself a “home” or was it maybe the manager – either way coming here has brought the best out of him. A great season last year which saw him the calmest, coolest person at Wembley taking not only one penalty but two – and scoring them both!! What a man.

Fabio Borini, came on loan, showed great class and genius but not a 90 minute player from what we saw. What we did see was a lot from Chelsea training ground at set pieces. Would have loved to have got him for a season in the Premiership.

We didn’t see too much of the keeper Makalambay apart from cup games as Dorus de Vries was in such good form. Both have now left so we have 3 new keepers.

Frank Lampard – did you see him play during his loan spell at the Vetch?

Yes, certainly did! Would like to think he learned everything he knows from his time at Swansea but maybe we can’t claim that. [Can’t see why not, surely he couldn’t have learned much at Upton Park…? – Jehode]. It was easy to see that he was going to be a top player – hope he keeps a place in his heart for Swansea!

If you had to pick your favourite Swans player of all time, who would it be?

Alan Curtis springs instantly to mind – from my era – and from the time that we went from the old 4th Division all the way to the old 1st Division. Curt, along with Jeremy Charles and the late (great) Robbie James came through the ranks and played for Swansea and Wales as a unit.

Curt had such skill, trickery and an honesty that you don’t seem to find much today – great to see him still involved with the club and he will always be a true legend of our time. I’m sure others older than me will name names too, but even they would agree that Alan Curtis has to be up there somewhere and he is my choice.

Back to the present day – who is your favourite player at the moment?

Favourite doesn’t necessarily mean the best, the fittest, the most skilful does it? Because my answer is going to be Alan Tate (could have been Leon Britton too but I’ll go for Tatey and I’ll tell you why). He joined us on loan from Man Utd and played a great part in helping us stay in the football league that year. His loan spell was up and when he played his last game he took off his white Swansea shirt to reveal a T-shirt underneath saying “Once a Jack, Always a Jack” – but what’s more he meant it. We were able to re-sign him and he’s been with us ever since!

Now, he has got a great football brain and reads the game well but he has played right back, left back, either centre back, midfield and has even been in goal when we played without a reserve keeper once! He left a premiership club to come to us at rock bottom and has played consistently in every level since to lead us out at Man City as vice captain. He is an honorary Jack legend. (Sorry Leon, but you would be too short to play in goal anyway!!)

Did you enjoy being re-united with Roberto Martinez at the Swansea v Wigan game?

Yes, he deserves so much credit for us being where we are today. As a player he helped us stay in the league; as a manager he built on what Brian Flynn and Kenny Jackett had started and got us into the Championship as Champions of League 1 (and I still have my photo with Roberto and the trophy in my office!) He had a decent reception from the home fans.

Swansea are one of the few clubs with a bright ‘n’ shiny new home. From an outsider’s point of view the stadium looks fantastic, the pitch always looks good and access is excellent.

You know, I thought the Vetch Field was better than the Bernabeu, Old Trafford, San Siro all put together but, boy, looking back, it was awful! Don’t get me wrong, the atmosphere at the Vetch was something special and I couldn’t imagine watching the Swans anywhere else, but going to the Liberty has been the best thing for the club and the atmosphere has now transferred there too. The pitch is fantastic and deserves the awards it and the ground staff have received – games at the Vetch cancelled because of too much rain, all a thing of the past.

So how did it feel to have to leave the old Vetch Field?

It was emotional, but as the song goes “Time to say good-bye” we went on the pitch and my Mrs dug up a piece of the turf to grow at home so we had a piece of memorabilia. Some people had seats, adverts, whatever they could rip up (if it hadn’t already fallen down!!).

Do you foresee the limited size of the stadium being a problem in future?

As it is now I have to say yes, though rumour has it that if we stay in the premiership or should I say when we stay in the premiership (!) there are plans to increase it to 30,000 capacity. Fingers crossed.

You share the ground with the Ospreys (Rugby Union) side. Does that ever pose a problem for you?

Not really, the egg chasers don’t use that many of the seats to be honest! I don’t follow rugby much. I wish them success, but there is more interest nowadays in football anyway.

Is ground-sharing ideal for a Premiership club?

Probably not, but the pitch is so good it doesn’t seem to make much difference. As we are tenants of the Council at the moment we don’t have much choice.

Swansea have become renowned for their attacking play. Do you think your style will be suited to the Premiership, or is it going to leave you too vulnerable at the back?

Yes! It will be well suited to the Premiership but it could well leave us either too goal shy or too vulnerable at the back. Don’t know how else to answer that but maybe strengthening the squad in the transfer window will help.

How do you view your performance so far this season?

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. That’s what we have to do. It couldn’t get much tougher than away to Man City first game, it’s just a case of getting a settled squad, new players bedded in take it steady then pick up points along the way. Don’t forget, 8 years ago we were facing up to the prospect of starting off in the Conference! Here we are in the Premiership instead – reality check please!

How do you view your season going this time around?

It’s going to be hard, but I would hope for 15th or 16th come the end of the season.

And how are you going to fare at Stamford Bridge on 24 Sept?

Oh no! I think we’ll win, lose or draw – not too sure at the moment. Okay, everyone will say an odds on home win but who can tell? Maybe a draw 1–1.

Are you going to the game?

Unfortunately no, due to other commitments, but would love to be there.

Have you ever been to Stamford Bridge?

Strangely enough, no, not inside just around the outside.

Your favourite Chelsea Swansea game?

April 1981, Swansea 3 Chelsea 0 last home game in old Division 2. It was also my mate Steve’s stag day (before weekends in Prague were ever thought of) just pub, football, pub, club, curry – a proper day out! I seem to recall “Jimmy” Hadziabdic scored a cracker with the outside of his right foot. Great day and the chant of “Going up, going up, going up” was being sung with belief.

What is your prediction for Chelsea this season?

2nd in Premiership and winners of either Carling or FA Cup.

What do you think of our new manager, Andre Villas-Boas?

Looks like a smooth operator!

If there was one player from Chelsea you could have for free….

Drogba. Is he available on a free…..?

Hands off! So, whyDrogba?

Because he’s so flippin’ good! Everybody hates him (but they don’t really) but that’s only like a respect thing. He can change a game in a second, he is so imaginative and unpredictable. When did you say we could have him?

Change the subject: Club or Country?

Club!

Prediction time! Your prediction for the top three for the Premiership this season is?

Two Manchesters and Chelsea in a 1-2-3? Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City. Then possibly Liverpool ? Maybe Swansea ?

FA Cup?

Chelsea

Champions League?

Final at Bayern’s ground? But predictably I guess Barcelona .

Five star dining at an upmarket West End restaurant, or bacon egg and chips at a greasy spoon?

Despite considering myself to be fairly cosmopolitan, when you have a Swansea accent it is slightly difficult to carry it off with any degree of success or credibility, so let’s go for the greasy spoon!

Eastenders, Coronation Street or Pobol Y Cwm?

Corrie every time because it not only has humour in it, it also has Rosie Webster who is Scott Sinclair’s girlfriend and she is often at Liberty Stadium and away games and was at Wembley. Top girl!

Okay dude, and finally….

How are the Swans settling into the Premiership and – I really must ask this one – how does it feel to be above Arsenal in the table?

Well…”finding our feet” I would say is a fair assessment – together with finding the back of the net against West Brom – which was a relief!  Mind you, take away the 4-0 defeat at Man City (and even that was not as one sided as 4-0 might suggest) and the games have been really good contests. Nice to hear Mark Lawrenson say so on MOTD on Saturday too.

At least we’ve not compromised on our style so far and despite a long list of injuries we’ve brought other players in from the squad who have not looked out of place either!

Above Arsenal in the table? Steady on now, though I have to admit to texting my mate on Saturday 5.30pm saying I’d be happy if the season could end now as we were 12th! If it wasn’t for that freak goal last week at the Emirates we could have been 4 points above Arsenal now – at least our goal difference is better than theirs! Almost 3,000 Jacks singing “we’ve got more points than you” to Arsenal before kick off was good, though not true by the end of that game!

Ask me next May (please) what it feels like to be above Arsenal in the table and assuming Arsenal will be at least 17th then I’ll have a pint or two with you!

At the moment, let’s keep two feet on the ground as we prepare for a journey to the Bridge on Saturday hoping that we contribute to a good game and that includes off the pitch as well as on it – a strong travelling support is forecast once again.

Apart from this Saturday and again on Tuesday 31st January 2012, have a great season – hope you like what Brendan has put in place here!!