Swansea against Cardiff: Clash of South Wales

On Sunday, the most fiercely competed derby in Wales will grace the main stage. Cardiff against Swansea will, for the first time ever, be competed in the top flight.

Many fans will tell you that this is their match of the season. The passion, the football, the hatred for the other side. This all adds up to a derby that can rival any other clash in the world.

This games comes at a time when both teams aren't playing their best football. Cardiff, the hosts, went through a radical change in 2013. Malaysian Vincent Tan came in as the new club owner and instantly changed the team. He rid them of the iconic blue shirts - losing their nickname of 'Bluebirds' - for red ones. He changed the club crest to a red dragon. He also got them promoted from the Championship.

Cardiff had a good start to life in the Premier League after wins including a famous win over Manchester City, but have stuttered recently, leaving them in 16th place.

Swansea, on the other hand, are now quite stable in the Premier League in their third season in the league. Despite a rough start, they have got back to their good form of last season. They haven't had the best of results since their League Cup triumph in February, but they are now ninth in the table.

Michael Laudrup has found a good set of players this season, bringing in a big Spanish contingent. It is a shame that Wilfried Bony and Michu haven't yet clicked, but I am sure that after a few more games the goals will be rolling in.

The derby is a game many fans thought would never happen. 10 years ago, Swansea almost went bust. Only the fans could save them, and a win over Hull on the last day of the League Two season in 2003 saved them from falling into the murky depths of non-league football. There was a gap of nine years before the two sides met again.

I have to include my prediction for this game. Sadly, I think there will be quite a few tussles for referee Mike Dean to break up. There will be at least a couple of players sent off unfortunately. But it will be a true spectacle, and the atmosphere will be absolutely electric. I am going for a 3-1 win for Swansea. They are a technically superior team, and Cardiff have had some off-the-pitch issues lately which could affect the players.

Whatever the result, this will be an amazing tale of two cities clashing through football, and I hope the world watching will be shown the class lying in South Wales. Gwneud Cymru'n falch iawn!

Cardiff against Swansea

Cardiff stun City while Spurs win

Cardiff stunned Manchester City 3-2, with ex-Manchester United striker Frazier Campbell scoring twice.

Despite going behind, they scored three in a row before a late City goal, but the Welsh team held on for a famous win.

Rivals Swansea lost to a Roberto Soldado goal, losing 1-0 to Tottenham.

Zachary's Premier League Predictions

So it is that time again – the start of the Premier League season! It is also time for me to write down my predictions for the 20 teams participating this year.

This season could be interesting – the top three teams from last season all have new managers.

For the first time ever in a Premier League season, Manchester United is without Sir Alex Ferguson as manager. Fellow Scot David Moyes has come from Everton to replace him. Despite winning the Community Shield against Wigan, many fans have been questioning the Glaswegian, even before the start of the season.

Manchester City sacked boss Roberto Mancini and brought in ex-Malaga manager Manuel Pellengrini. Pellengrini has already been starting the mind games, saying that his team have the ‘best squad’ in the Premier League.

Chelsea brought back Jose Mourinho, replacing the unpopular Rafael Benitez as the latest man at the helm at Stamford Bridge.

Some big transfers include:

Fernandinho – Shaktar Donetsk to Manchester City for £30 million.
Roberto Saldado – Valencia to Tottenham for £26 million.
Stevan Jovetic – Fiorentina to Manchester City for £22 million.
Alvaro Negredo – Sevilla to Manchester City for £20 million.
Andre Schurrle – Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea for £18 million.
Andy Carroll – Liverpool to West Ham for £15 million.
Jesus Navas – Sevilla to Manchester City for £14.9 million.
Victor Wanyama – Celtic to Southampton for £12.5 million.
Wilfried Bony – Vitesse Arnhem to Swansea for £12 million.

Gary Medel – Sevilla to Cardiff for £11 million.

Some transfer rumours are:

Gareth Bale could leave Tottenham to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in a deal that could break the transfer world record.

Despite a £40 million move to Arsenal seemingly gone, Luis Suarez still wants to leave Liverpool. He, like Bale, could head to Real Madrid.

Liverpool could sign Anzhi midfielder Willian for £30 million.

Chelsea want Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney despite being told by the Manchester club that he is not for sale.

Please note: this was written on the 16^th of August 2013. The summer transfer window finishes in England on 2nd September 2013. There may be other transfers in that time.

Now time for the main focus of the article – the predictions:

1st  place - Chelsea

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

2nd  place - Manchester City

3rd place – Tottenham Hotspurs                                                    4th  place - Manchester United

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

5th  place - Swansea City

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

6th  place - Arsenal

7th  place – Liverpool

8th  place - Everton

9th  place - West Ham

10th  place - Southampton

11th  place – Newcastle

12th  place - Norwich

13th  place - Fulham

14th  place - West Brom

15th place - Stoke

16th  place - Aston Villa

17th  place – Sunderland

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

18th  place - Cardiff

19th  place - Hull

20th  place - Crystal Palace

FA Cup winners: Chelsea

League Cup winners: Tottenham

I predict Chelsea to do the double with both a Premier League trophy and a FA Cup win. With Jose Mourinho as manager, they are seemingly unstoppable. Manchester City will be quite a bit like last season, finishing out of the reach of 3^rd and way below 1^st. Tottenham, especially if they can keep Gareth Bale. Manchester United will have a bad season, finishing fourth. This may be the start of their demise – without Ferguson they could have a Liverpool-like downfall.

Swansea could be the surprise of the season – if they can slip the Europa League Thursdays noose that almost sent Newcastle down last season, they have a real chance of improving on their 9^th place finish in the previous campaign; watch out in the top scorers lists for Wilfried Bony and Michu, they really could form a great partnership.

Arsenal will have a pretty bad season, slipping out of both the Champions League and Europa League places. Liverpool probably won’t be able to improve on their 7^th place finish last term, but that could change should they secure one or two more big-name signings. Everton will struggle without David Moyes as manager, but should be able to pull it together enough to finish a respectable 8^th. With signings that include Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing, West Ham could have a very good season and finish in the top half. Southampton have made some good signings and after star striker Ricky Lambert scored on his England debut, his confidence will be booming.

Newcastle, Norwich, Fulham and West Brom will all finish comfortably outside the relegation zone. Stoke, Aston Villa and Sunderland will all survive, though it will be a close call.

All three teams coming up from the Championship will go straight down. Crystal Palace and Hull will be in the relegation places almost from the start and stay there, similar to Reading and QPR last season. Cardiff will be like Wigan – fighting but just not good enough to stay up in the end.

Please feel free to comment your predictions and what you think of my ones. Enjoy the new season!