We’ll miss you, Gary
It feels a little clichéd to talk about Gary Speed as “one of a kind”, but how can you argue with it? The statistics tell a story of a unique pro, but the stream of anecdotes in the past few weeks add colour to the picture of a much-loved man. Obviously, none of us can claim to have really known him – did anyone? - but it’s proven impossible to find a harsh word that was spoken in his direction. I only had a few dealings with him, but one sticks in the mind from earlier this year when I was supposed to interview him for this magazine. He thought the conversation was taking place a day earlier than arranged and when no call came he phoned me. Apologetic for the mix up, and acknowledging that I was busy that afternoon, he said we could try again the next week. Surprisingly, a call came the next day – he’d cleared room in his schedule – and he spoke for 35 minutes. You probably have to work in sports media to fully appreciate how rare that kind of courtesy is. Anyway, there has been talk about how best to honour his memory. While that is commendable and right, it was right too that it wasn’t in the form of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award. He did a very good job with Wales, but other coaches, including the eventual winner Andy Flower of the England cricket team, deserved it more. We need to find another, more fitting way to remember the man, Wales’ lost leader.

Swans Flying High
Swansea’s Premier League first year back in the big time is approaching the halfway mark and so far it has been a huge success. Here, RedHanded runs the rule over Brendan Rodgers’ regular starters - and the big man himself - to review who has impressed and who must do better in the second half.

Michel Vorm: Unknown before his £1.5m move from FC Utrecht, but the Dutch keeper looks like one of the division’s best signings. A revelation. 8/10

Angel Rangel: Steady performer, but his howler against Manchester United famously cost Swansea a point. Ankle injury came at just the wrong time. 7/10

Garry Monk: The captain is back from injury but not back to his best. 6/10

Ashley Williams: Hard to believe he ever played non-league. A brilliant defender and leader. 8/10

Neil Taylor: Another who has gone the hard way to the top but looks comfortable at this level. 7/10

Nathan Dyer: Never gets bored of running at defenders and his final ball has improved, but needs to score more goals. 9/10

Leon Britton: A pass master who is essential to Swansea’s possession game. 8/10

Joe Allen: Some pundits believe the homegrown midfielder is good enough for the Champions League. That’s premature but he almost never puts a foot wrong. 8/10

Mark Gower: An unsung hero who rarely misplaces a pass. 7/10

Scott Sinclair: Struggled to replicate last season’s heroics, but then again he has been a marked man in the top flight. 7/10 Danny Graham: Record signing has to finish more of his chances. 7/10

Brendan Rodgers: His philosophy of passing football has won admirers and plenty of points, while his defence has looked organised and proven extremely effective. More impressively, he kept the team passing and believing in his brave approach when things were a little rocky early on. If there is a criticism, it centres on Swansea’s transfer dealings. It’s hard to know how much of a role he plays in that department, but the club under performed a little in the summer market. In January he’d do well to add a couple of defenders, a midfielder with physical presence and possibly a support striker. 8/10

Verdict: An excellent start.

What’s in a number?
2 – The number of male Welsh boxers who have already qualified for the Olympics. Fred Evans and Andrew Selby will be the first Welshmen to box at the Games since 1984.

Riath Al-Samarrai reflects on the loss of a great professional and genuinely nice bloke