Chairman's column: Bristol City
Read Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins' programme notes for today's clash with Bristol City.
Welcome to the Liberty Stadium for our second game in a week on home soil.
With four Championship games already behind us and 42 still left to play, we have given ourselves a solid platform to build on and hopefully it has provided everyone with plenty of optimism looking forward.
The teams we have faced so far - Sheffield United, Preston North End, Birmingham City and Leeds United - will have given Graham Potter and his staff a good insight into the varied opposition we shall be up against week-in, week-out, and will help everyone to understand the challenge we face over the long season ahead.
We may add a couple of loan players before next Friday’s transfer deadline, while we have a further opportunity to change things around once more in January to add the final touches to the squad and give ourselves a fighting chance to compete and get stronger as the season unfolds.
There have been a lot of changes at our club this summer, but I think it’s clear to us all that the spirit and bond within the group is already strong.
As with any element of change, it can take time for things to settle down, but the performances and results so far have indicated that we are heading in the right direction and we have a strong, positive outlook.
With a bit of luck and good form and fitness from our players, I hope we can build a new inner self-belief and continue to enjoy watching our team being competitive while getting used to that winning feeling we became accustomed to over many years.
One of the main reasons Graham and his staff were the best fit for Swansea City at this time was the winning culture he had built up over the last few years at Ostersund FK.
In my view, the winning culture Graham had developed can and will make the difference when the Championship season really starts to settle down and the battle to pick up points each week becomes tougher.
Today’s game against Bristol City brings back some great memories of the regular games we had against each other here at the Liberty Stadium and Vetch Field along with the regular trips to Ashton Gate.
Bristol City have been well-run and managed over many years by current owner Steve Lansdown, and I welcome all of their directors, staff, players and supporters to our Liberty Stadium once more.
Today’s game is quickly followed by Tuesday’s home Carabao Cup game against Crystal Palace and then next Saturday’s trip to the capital to play Millwall.
The international break will then provide an opportunity to recharge the batteries and assess our own Championship start.
Enjoy the game,
Huw
