PART of being an opinionated sports columnist, not to mention an opinionated football fan, is making bold predictions.

However, in the interests of credibility, it is also appropriate to hold your hands about when said predictions turn out to be completely and utterly wrong.

And on Swansea City I was dead wrong.

A lot of people will no doubt suggest they always had faith Swansea could survive, nay thrive, in the Premier League, but I don’t recall hearing from too many of them back in July.

I expected them to be similar to Blackpool last season, full of guile and grace that would make them everyone’s second favourite team but lacking the know-how to survive.

There was also a belief that by never compromising their principles the Swans would be ‘found out.’ But if recent results are anything to go by, the Premier League is no nearer to establishing a plan to beat Brendan Rodgers side at fortress Liberty.

With a pool of players in the Welsh squad all getting regular game time and indeed shining as Premier League regulars, it would appear Wales could well have a permanent fixture in football’s top tier.

The key to remaining at their current level or even exceeding it will be standing firm when the vultures come circling this summer as Swansea’s best are sure to already be attracting admiring glances from afar.

But well done to Swansea, they’ve proved me totally and utterly wrong and long may they continue to do so for the good of Welsh football.

WITH several plastic red seats visible on Saturday at the Millennium Stadium and a very quick google search of ticket prices later, I’d just like to ask the following: what are the WRU thinking?

A great, great Welsh side on the brink of another Grand slam and prohibitive pricing means the penultimate game doesn’t sell out?

Let us not forget that grass roots participation is already hugely in football’s shadow, as is support as pertains to the regions struggling to compete at all with the Bluebirds or Swans.

The cheapest ticket going for this weekend versus France is £66 plus booking fee. You might be making money WRU, but at what cost?