Viva Espaņa - Jacks on Tour 
By Dai Smith

Hi All, I'm back in the rainy UK, thanks to my on time BMI Baby flight. A big thank you to Paul, Tony S, Andy, Bethan and Jim who have helped the site tick over while I have been away trotting round after the team in Spain.

Also to the Jacks I have regularly bumped into on tours that have made the trip twice as enjoyable. Mentions in dispatches go to Mike Thomas, Dave Williams, Peter Charles, Len, Colin Jones, the Gigg Family, Richard of Warwick and Alison, Andrew Godden and Dafydd y Garreg Wen (sorry if I missed your name off the list).

Onto the football, thanks again to those who have decided to contribute to others with their views and in particular Mike Thomas whose review was superb (I've added it to your blog Mike).

In my humble opinion, Espanyol (First half) and Barcelona B (second half) aside, I was fairly under whelmed by the way we played. I was hoping we would dispatch the amateur side Peralada, and semi professional outfit Palamos in a similar way to Neath/Port Talbot and Carmarthen.

It may have been the heat but too many performances were heavy legged affairs. Refereeing on the tour also did not help the physical aspects of the British game either with any contact at all between opposition players was deemed a foul.

So what if anything did I learn about our new look squad on this tour.

Back 4

Besson before Painter for me. I have been impressed by his composure on the ball and his delivery of a decent cross when he does get forward. Serran would also get the nod over Williams. I was again impressed by his composure on the ball. I'm also not sure that Williams looks quite fit? Right back. I have not been over impressed by either of our stand-in right backs to be honest. Although Collins did play very well in the 3 goal fight back against Barca B. I spoke to Angel at that game - he says he is a week away from starting training and maybe 3 to 4 weeks away from match fitness.

Midfield

It's gonna be tough picking a 4 or 5 from our current crop as there is a lot of quality there. Gomez looks a class acquisition. Good on the ball, nice pass and prepared to go forward. Orlandi is a player who has show good form throughout pre-season. Gower has looked a decent acquisition also. This might upset my mate Giggsy, but I can't see many starts for Leon Britton.

Up front

Bussy will be difficult to leave out as he has netted 10 goals in pre-season. Pintado looks a decent find and I'm sure he will score goals in the championship but although he worked hard, he did not find the net at all out in Spain. Brandy looked sharp when he came on against Barca. With Scotland to come back, I think we are well covered in this area.

A final word on the tour, I feel the need to express my disappointment with the teams lack of acknowledgement of the fans. Many fans recounted trips to the games similar to the "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" film - with some pretty poor public transport available back to resorts after the late kick-offs. Some fans sleeping on beaches or taking very expensive taxi rides.

Espanyol - I'm sure the players did not much feel like celebrating with the fans, but around 500 Swans fans deserved better than a token turn around and clap as they trudged off the pitch.

Peralada - again a token clap without breaking stride as the team left the pitch

Palamos - Little acknowledgement again from the team, however Garry Monk and OTJ had to return to the pitch to be presented with a Cup. To their credit, they spent some time posing for photographs and signing autographs - although no other members of the team came back out.

Barcelona B - I was probably more disappointed by this than any of the others. The Swans support during this match was excellent. Being quite vocal and encouraging throughout the game and playing a blinder as a 12th man. Again, just a token clap from a handful of players without breaking stride as they left the pitch.

I don't expect an FA Cup type celebration with the fans after even game or even the giving out of scarves and T-Shirts that happened on out last tour of Holland, but I would expect all the team to come over and spend a few minutes thanking the fans for their support.

Do you feel you could write a Northbank Natter - Just send it to me.