The talking is finally just about done and the final preparations are being put in place ahead of the new season, the travels have started, the replica shirts are all washed and ready and the sun is predicted to be out - that can only mean one thing - football is back!!

I'm not sure what it is but the sun always seems to shine on the first day of the season. Think back to those photos of that famous day against Leeds in 1981 and everybody had short sleeves on as they celebrated goal after goal after goal. Of course the sun doesn't always shine but I remember scoring five at QPR in the baking heat and I'm sure one game at the Vetch in one of the last season's there saw the referee stop the game at one point so the players could take on liquids.

The Swans couldn't have been handed a tougher test this time around as they head to the home of the Champions and Chelsea for their opening day clash. The Blues were easy Premier League champions last season and will be wanting to repeat that this time around. But as Manchester City have found twice in recent seasons, winning the Premier League and retaining that title takes some doing and if you look back over the 23 year tenure of the Premier League it doesn't happen that often.

This time last year of course we were heading to Old Trafford and we were given no chance of getting a result there but we upset the odds and managed it and we are capable of doing the same tomorrow. It won't be easy of course but we have won there before (remember the Capital One Cup in 2013) and we can win there again. Chelsea are one of just a few teams we are yet to beat in eight Premier League attempts and that record has to end sometime.

We conceded nine against them in two games last time around and Garry will, I am sure, be using that as motivation for this season and reminding them that they probably owe him a performance after they placed five past us at the Liberty last time around.

Team News

We pretty much have a choice through everyone of who we want to play. As we pointed out after the Deportivo game last week I think there are three decisions that Garry will make tomorrow that haven't been taken. Those are Taylor or Tabanou, Routledge or Montero and the big one Shelvey or Sigurdsson.

People are right when they say that both the last two could play but not for me at Chelsea, we need to think of the defensive element and we need therefore Ki and Cork in there and keeping Ayew and Routs/Montero in gives us the chances to ensure we are tight when we need to be.

Out of the three decisions I am sticking with Taylor, Routledge and Shelvey to make up the XI that will start the game which will line the Swans up as below

Score Predictions

If we are going to go by anything our Prediction League tells us then we will get beat by a couple of goals. More than 60% of the people playing there at the moment are predicting a Chelsea win and I have to confess that it was where my prediction in there went in at as well.

However, this is the match preview and I reserve the right to change my mind for this one and I have to say that with Chelsea's pre-season not being the best, the fact that we want revenge for that 5-0 defeat and an opening day factor makes me think on this sunny day that we can produce something that people aren't expecting.

I am going to plump for a 1-1 draw then on that basis with Gomis getting on the scoresheet first for the Swans but it will be cancelled out by an Eden Hazard goal in the second half. A big dollop of optimism? It's allowed it is the new season after all.

However you plan to watch the game tomorrow then enjoy it and this is finally the end of the close season and it all starts again for us for us in a fifth Premier League season and we remain Wales only Premier League football club

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