The Swans take on Southampton later today in the FA Cup. The game kicks off at 4.30pm UK time, and is LIVE on the BBC by way of a variety of methods. Ticket sales for Southampton fans are drastically low but the the Swans have sold in healthy numbers, more than ninety three for sure.

Some will get that.

The game is now available as pay on the day so last minute takers this evening can pay in. Southampton have won four of the last five meetings, drawing one. In fact one of those wins for the Saints came in the third round two years ago when they squeezed past the Swans 2-3 at the Swansea.Com. Past results will bear no perspective on today’s match. You can be pretty certain that both sides will be including players on the fringes. What Luke Williams determines as a good side for this game we will see come this afternoon. Under 21 players gave travelled, however the head coach and his reluctance to include players from the academy is exasperating.

For us, Zan Vipotnik and Bianchini need a rest, (from not scoring a lot) so Kyrell Wilson (below) could surely be included ? When I say need a rest I mean from persistently not scoring, so why not give Wilson a crack ? He’s just signed a new contract, and at twenty years of age is mature enough to handle the occasion. Is there any reason why we shouldn’t see this young man, if Luke does decide some form of slightly different line up ?

Sammy Henia-Kamau, joined the Swans from Jersey Bulls two years ago, we profiled him before he came to the Swans. He would earn some real valuable experience even if he sits on the bench today. However, of course if Luke wants to remain in favour with the new investors they will want to see a win and some indication Luke understands they are serious as to their investment. This is a big week for Luke, lose today and god forbid next weekend to Cardiff City and his rating is going to be the lowest since he came to the club. Win them of course and there is respite for sure.

Current head coach at Southampton, Ivan Juric is on record as stating he doesn’t want to make any changes to his side today, he just wants to win the game which surely his side are favourites to do.

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Really with the breaks in-between games from the last fixture to this and then onto the derby game next weekend there’s no reason why a full strength side shouldn’t be selected. Depends how clear our Luke is seeing things. The Swans would earn £115,000 if they win today and a win in the fourth round rebound brings in another £120,000. It’s the little things that Luke has to understand. People who invest big money want to see some form of understanding that they want public facing figures like Luke to show the club in the right light, and in the right way. This month to date hasn’t done him any favours. He really does need to up his game in the media, and stop talking and adding things to his press reports as he did after the WBA links. All of a sudden after those ‘call my agent’ comments he is talking about his agent being in his sick bed, (he has three who run the company) we’ve named them on here in the last week. Then he states he hasn't had any contact. After a meeting with Chairman, Andrew Coleman more disclosures ‘he’ really could have stated right at the beginning. If he thinks he is in a strong position with those who make decisions at the Swans, then he does need to see who the decision makers are since this new investment which we broke exclusively on this website.

We need the public facing figure at the Swans to be sensible in their responses, far more cleverer in how they say things, and to understand what the impact is on internal business. Especially on how it is perceived by the people who have made a massive investment into the Swans.

Moving on to the link by Peter O’Rourke on football insider to twenty six year old, Adam Phillips at Barnsley. He seems a decent player at that level. An attacking midfielder that throughout this career is closing in on a goal in four ratio. This season has been excellent for Adam, he is scoring goals yet again and assisting too. We don’t have access to everyone in the game, nobody has, but those we do know have stated there’s definitely been no bids, and any contact will be via an employed agent to Barnsley. (Agents do this you know) No direct contact as yet has been made but the Swans are keen to strengthen their midfield and of course Joe Low at centre back is very much a priority.

If they could, getting Low and a player like Philips into Swansea City would be a huge lift. There most certainly will be a loan player which again we are working on.

League one clubs adhere to the Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) not profit and sustainability as per the Championship, and Barnsley are looking in a decent place with cash injections over the past eighteen months. They will be looking in and around a million pound plus for Phillips, that’s how it all starts anyway. Where it ends up if clubs do start bargaining is anyone’s guess.

That aside we are still working on a link with a second tier player in Portugal of Brazilian descent. It’s leading nowhere at the moment. But we will keep at it. Nobody has the info all the time, it is rarely that websites get any clear picture on transfers coming in as we did with Joel Piroe, Hannes Wolf and Andy Fisher so we always welcome advice and information which is always in total confidence. If you want to join our ever increasing team drop us a line.

Inquisitive people are always welcome.

Artwork by Swansea Independent : Photograph with permission Dimitris Legakis

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