The Summer ramps up.

The return of our squad after their brief holidays is always a keynote moment for we Swans, and was complemented this season, of course, in their welcome by Michael Laudrup, our new Manager, and the rest of his staff.

As well as getting his first glimpse of his squad, and getting to know his playing staff, there is also the key element of adding (or not) to the base group. A key time all around, without question.

The first two signings were encouraging, adding Chico Flores and Jonathan de Guzman to the squad as arguably, direct, relacements for Gylfi Sigurdsson and Steven Caulker.

Laudrup's initial appraisal has justifiably drawn pertinent interest, and it will be fascinating to see the outcome of this reported regard.

Today's acceptance by Rayo Vallecano for an agreement to transfer Miguel Perez Cuesta,"Michu", to the Club was a genuine "buzz-out" moment. Subject to personal terms agreement, this could prove the key signing of the summer.

Since then, of course, the signing is confirmed, so Welcome to Wales, Michu.

These signings are in advance of our previous efforts. Over the last few years , we Swans have been privy to a progression of better and better footballers, all designed to (succesfully, mainly) progress our club.

The change has come in the level of achievement.

We're a mere newcomer to the Premier League, but it would be unfair to say that our last couple of seasons have been anything other than sensational.

The degree to which we're successful this year is likely to influence a great deal more than just Swansea City fans.

Think on this.

In a division in which the majority of British Football fans still think it's important to have a Sugar-Daddy type ownership (think Nottm Forest very recently) where all will be solved by an injection of capital, the way that our Club operates is different. Some would say better, but I'd better be somewhat less smug for Karmic reasons alone. (sic)

The Board's approach over the recent few years has been exemplary. Think about it. Never once have we been indebted to circumstance, either individually or collectively, and each and every signing has made both football and commercial sense.

It's the way that a modern Football Club has to operate - with a view both to the incumbent present and the need for success balanced against the long term viability of the Organisation - and it's a trick achieved by very few in the modern age.

The key, as always, is the field of play.

We of the JackArmy have been both privileged and blessed in the recent past. Subsequent to our flirtation with oblivion in 2002, is it mere coincidence that financial probity allied with on-field skill has resulted in Cty's propulsion into the so called "best League in the World"?

 I don't think so.

The evidence shows that on each year since their flirtation with non-existence, the Swans have progressed.

Argument continues as to which Manager set them on the current stream of crowd pleasing football and it's difficult to suggest other than Roberto Martinez, who, when he took over in 2006, made a recognisable on-field difference.

Say what you like, what is unarguable is that Martinez's on-field transformation was more than noticeable to us Jacks.

Here was a team that played 4-3-3 when 4-4-2 was the norm (not always successfully) but at least played the game differently. We began to realise that to have possession was an end in itself - since it meant simplistically that when we had the ball the opposition couldn't score. It took some time, but people got on board.

If Tabloid journalism of the sensationalist sort got a broadcast voice it would certainly end up as talkSPORT, sensible British Sport's perpetual curse, but eternal addiction.

This is a station where the 24 st Alan Brazil, a footballer from a former age, criticizes the modern Andy Carroll for his "lifestyle". Yes, I know. Where Adrian Durham (a Journalist? ) and Darren Gough ( an ex-cricketer and TV Reality dance star) criticise Arsene Wenger for not signing RvP to a long term contract.

You couldn't make it up, really.

I highlight this outlet for a reason - in the modern age, PL football is a 24/7 reality, and the web just adds to this.

So this week sees our Club jet off to the USA for it's pre-season tour with games against the Colorado Rapids, and the San Jose Earthquakes of the MLS lined up, cushioned by a match against the League lower  Club, the Ventura County Fusion.

It's not insignificant to comment that the upper echelon quality of the Club's pre-season schedule is in advance of  previous years (without being excessive) and simply reflects our nowadays stature as a PL Club.

Partly true, I think, but I prefer to view it as another example of the well-paced development of the whole : aptly and precisely monitored by our excellent Chairman, Manager and Board. Kudos, to them all.

There has been a great deal of speculation about our top class Midfielder, Joey Allen. Btw, if you're interested when he came across my radar, get it here.

Whatever the outcome, there's no doubt that this is a young player who's shown that he's ready to play at any level. Currently a member of Team GB's Olympic Squad, we may not have seen the best of him in the friendly 2-0 defeat against Brazil, but hey, that could have been said for most of the GB Team.

Rumours persist that both Brendan, and Liverpool, are keen. Let's be realistic. When an Iconic Club comes to call, as we saw with BR, it's hard for the lesser party to resist, either individually or collectively.

That doesn't mean, however, that it's a done deal. As HJ showed in the BR changeover, if you want the best you have to pay. I've seen Joey compared to Jordan Henderson -  fine player that he is -  and who LFC paid £18m to Sunderland for : a not-quite-yet-successful transfer.

I think we can all agree that they paid an inflated fee, and prices nowadays are more realistic, but £15m seems to me to be the minimum we can expect to receive, and then he goes with both my blessing and best wishes.

Now's the time to remind all of us of the loss of Ferrie Bodde to a freak injury. Take some time to think what could have been, and then send your best regards to Ferrie. Huge, huge, RESPECT.

Last Saturday the team played it's first pre-season friendly locally at Port Talbot Town, and ML came away with his first win as the Swansea City Manager from a 5-0 besting. Get a report of the game here.

These are fantastic times for we JackArmy members (officially and not), and I look forward to providing regular updates as the side "does" America and the new Season gets closer and closer.

Doncha' just LOVE being a Jack?

Onward, Swansea City.