Claret? More like flat beer!

I'VE never liked the clarets — I'm a cider man myself.

The old man likes his French plonk — he was supping it the other night when we were watching Sheffield United roll over against the Clarets from Burnley.

Plonkers.

Just when you thought Swansea City were back in the play-off race, Burnley go and spoil the mood.

Fair play, Swansea have done us proud since the international break, bagging three straight wins after THAT penalty denied them another at Ninian Park.

Speaking of Cardiff City, how about the result at Deepdale last Saturday?

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, seeing as the cricket score Preston racked up put them back in the play-off picture.

In the end, I laughed.

Still, this season has been so good for Swansea that we should not be worrying about how the neighbours get on.

We are bigger than that these days.

The pity is that Swansea's great efforts this year don't look like being enough to secure the play-off place they deserve.

Okay, so the clubs above may drop points over the next couple of weeks.

The Championship table, after all, can be made to appear upside down at times.

But sadly, I still think Swansea will come up short.

They might well win their last two games — I can see Blackpool's Tangerines getting squashed at the Liberty on the final day if the Swans need a result.

Sheffield United is likely to be a lot harder, even if the Blades were about as sharp as rolling pins at Turf Moor the other night.

Watching that game made you think how good Swansea are — and that maybe they will have wasted an opportunity if they do miss out on the top six.

But I don't buy all this stuff about this year being Swansea's chance.

Some of the boys reckon the Championship will be much harder next season, that there are some good sides coming up and others coming down.

But I keep telling them it's just like when I go on the pull at Mecca Bingo.

So long as I sort myself out, I've usually got a chance.

FOR Swansea City, sorting themselves out this summer is going to mean keeping hold of their stars and adding a couple more quality players.

As far as new recruits go, we trust Martinez to deliver.

But as far as not losing some of this season's big hits, I am concerned.

Angel Rangel practically screamed 'Come and get me' in the interview I read in the Post the other day after he was linked with Celtic.

West Ham and Manchester City are also said to be interested, then there's Jordi Gomez and Celtic and Jason Scotland and Middlesbrough.

Swansea could fill a gossip column all on their own just now, and that's not good news for us fans.

For all the good football we've seen at the Liberty this season, we've seen in the past that big bucks usually turn players' heads.

You can't really blame them — I'd write for another website if they offered me more dosh.

Or some dosh, for that matter.

Sadly, I'm not on anyone's summer wanted list.

That's not the case with some of Swansea's players, and I fear one or two may walk away if, as seems likely, promotion doesn't happen.