Manager: Roberto Martinez
Odds to win: 33-1
2007-2008:
Position: 1st (League One) W:27 D:11 L:8 F:82 A:42 Points: 92
Top Scorer: Jason Scotland (24)
FA Cup: Third Round
League Cup: Second Round
Yellows: 61 Reds: 5
Results against Reds: (N/A)
2008-2009:
Name: Martin Jones (www.swanseacity-mad.co.uk)
Club: Swansea City
Level of Interest: I missed one home game last season. Rarely go away, but I intend to go to more away games next season.
How has pre-season gone for you?
Good so far. Spanish tour next week where we play Espanyol and Barcelona B.
Are you pleased with the signings your club has made?
Very pleased, but we still need another goalkeeper. Our new Spanish striker Gorka Pintado is one to watch next season.
What realistically are you aiming for this season?
Mid -table, but you never know!!
After coming so close two years ago when you lost out to Barnsley this must mean an awful lot?
Yes, I think we probably deserved to win the play-off two years ago, but football can be a cruel game can't it. Although I feel we are better equipped to do well this season under Roberto Martinez.
What do you remember most from that day at the Millennium Stadium?
The noise coming from the Barnsley end after you won on penalties as against the silence at the Swans end. I personally hate the play-offs.
Which player has past his sell by date?
Dennis Lawrence, perhaps, but we have got rid of a lot of the deadwood.
Have you got the right manager in charge?
I wouldn't swap him for anybody, he loves the club, and although Roberto's Spanish he's Swansea City through and through.
What advice would you give him?
Don't listen to me!!!!
Who do you see as your key player?
Ferrie Bodde - Dutch midfielder, who Derby tried to steal.
Who would you most like to beat this season?
Derby County.
Where will you finish?
Mid table I think
How do you rate Barnsleys chances next season and where do you think they will finish?
Well you finished well last season under a lot of pressure after your cup run and I think you'll do well. Simon's a good manager and you look well organised under him. I think you will probably finish in the top half of the Championship.
Name: Andrew (a.k.a Swansea Til I Die)
Club: Swansea City
Level of Interest: Season Ticket, all home cup games, 10+ away games a season
How has pre-season gone for you?
Very well. We beat Osturlands 6-0, Neath 5-0, and then played two 45 minute games against Port Talbot and Carmarthen and won 4-0 and 3-0 respectively.
The level of opposition may not be the best but they've only been fitness exercises and I've known us to struggle in such games in our not too distant history so I'm very pleased.
Are you pleased with the signings your club has made?
They're all largely unknowns. We broke our club record when we paid £400,000 for Ashley Williams from Stockport who has played a few games for Wales and is definitely one for the future and we've got Mark Gower who has done well at this level before with Southend.
Other than that we've signed 3 Spaniards (Jordi Gomez on loan from Espanyol), Alberto Serran from Espanyol and Gorka Pintado from Grenada) as well as an Argentinean (Fede Bessone from Espanyol). We also signed Stefan Morrison from WBA, but we hear he's one for the future and wont feature much next season.
Andrea Orlandi and Owain Tudur Jones being fit after spending most of last season injured will be like two new signings as will of course keeping hold of Ferrie Bodde.
What realistically are you aiming for this season?
If you offered me 21st place now I would take it, although with one of the best managers outside the Prem and a host of talent in the squad I would be a bit disappointed if we were seriously pulled into a relegation scrap next season. 15th or above I would be delighted with.
After coming so close two years ago when you lost out to Barnsley this must mean an awful lot?
It means everything. The playoff final really really hurt, it was a horrible way to lose a game and I felt that we threw away promotion twice that season. Once when we blew Automatic despite being in an excellent position for most of the season and once throwing away the playoff final (where even you would have to admit we were the better side).
In a funny way it's worked out well. The hangover continued until the following February when Jackett went and since then it's all been uphill under Martinez.
I think we're in a better position now to do well in the Championship than we would have been under Jackett so maybe the Tykes did us a favour.
What do you remember most from that day at the Millennium Stadium?
I just remember the entire game being absolutely unbearable, even when we were winning, which I guess is something that Barnsley fans would have felt too.
Other than that I remember sitting in an almost empty stand at the end of the game being totally dejected.
... and that bloody Status Quo song when you won, which still gives me nightmares
Which player has past his sell by date?
Dennis Lawrence.
Have you got the right manager in charge?
1000% (no typo there) yes.
What advice would you give him?
Keep doing what you're doing but brown shoes don't look great with black trousers. In my humble opinion of course, Mr Martinez, sir.
Who do you see as your key player?
If Ferrie Bodde and Jason Scotland replicate last seasons form then we'll do well.
Who would you most like to beat this season?
Cardiff City please.
Where will you finish?
17th
How do you rate Barnsley's chances next season and where do you think they will finish?
Iain Hume is a player I've always liked and think he'll do well for you. Everyone tends to write off the Barnsley's of this division yet we've seen the less fashionable sides prove a lot of people wrong over the years. Think you'll be good for a lower midtable finish and easily avoid the drop.