Premier League 2013/14: 5 Potential Underachievers

5. Swansea City

After two impressive seasons in the top flight, Swansea have made a name for themselves as a side that poses a threat to anyone in the division. A ninth place finish and Carling Cup trophy can be seen as a major success for Laudrup's side, however I believe that next season will end very differently. Many believe The Swans have the potential to push for a European place, though the demanding nature of playing Europa League fixtures in Eastern Europe on a Thursday followed by a home game in Wales on a Saturday could be vital (as an example, this obviously isn't a weekly procedure). This could be the reason Newcastle ended their season in the bottom half after such an impressive 2011/12 campaign; not only was the amount of fixtures very demanding on their players, they tended to rest key players so they could appear in Europa League fixtures, thus weakening their side and resulting in poor performances. Swansea have a fairly small squad, also, and beyond their starting 11 and a couple of other talented players, they do not have the sort of depth that such a demanding schedule requires. This could be costly in the scheme of things, and if Laudrup prioritises league over cup then the end result could be very different. The Swans could very well go on to have a successful season if they go about it in a sensible manner, and their recent signings such as Wilfried Bony and Jordi Amat could help them along the way. The conclusion is, the Europa League is about as prestigious as a Golden Raspberry award. Position 2012/13: 9th Predicted position 2013/14: 14th