How did our boys get on in their respective matches?
With the Swans accruing more and more current internationals, it seems we're going to have to get used to our players featuring in international friendlies, qualifiers and competitions, and while the latter is generally of no concern (as they usually fall in the summer months) extra games can sometimes take their toll on a squad. It's important players' game-time is managed well and that they don't "burn out" as the season goes on, but to the players themselves it must be a great honour to represent their country, and I doubt they'd ever want to be substituted in order to "save their legs" ahead of a club fixture. With Europa League football now guaranteed for a while to come, Laudrup will be forced into rotating his squad as the games pile up.
Ashley Williams & Ben Davies
Laudrup had previously bemoaned Ben Davies and Ashley Williams playing the full 90 minutes for Wales in their friendly against Ireland, which fell just prior to the season starting, but he can have few qualms about the boys featuring in competitive fixtures.
Both Ash & Ben played 90 minutes for Wales last night as they went down 2-1 to Macedonia. Yep. 2-1 to Macedonia. You have to love being from Wales - in the same week it was confirmed the most expensive footballer in the world now hails from God's country, and yet we manage to lose to a side who are 89th in the FIFA ranking system. Wales are joint 46th, if you were curious.
In a sign of things to come, Chris Coleman couldn't fly out with the squad as he'd lost his passport, and had to go to Newport (it's a bloody handy thing the passport office is in Wales, eh?) to sort it out before meeting up with the squad in Macedonia. Not the most auspicious start, and so it was that Wales fell behind to Trickovski's opener. Aaron Ramsey managed to earn and convert a penalty to restore parity to the tie but Trajkovski scored late on to seal the win for the home side.
I still don't know what to make of Chris Coleman. Sometimes I think I like the way he's trying to get the team playing football, but the main problem for me is the lack of an out and out striker. Let's hope someone produces a quality forward in the next few years, as Wales do seem particularly toothless at the moment.
Moving on...
Michel Vorm
Vorm was preferred in goal to Kenneth Vermeer, and considering Vermeer holds the Dutch record for the longest streak of international matches without conceding a goal (link) he's done well to get in ahead of the Ajax 'keeper.
The highlights seem to indicate that there was little Vorm could do about either of the goals - that Vassiljev looks a player eh? That second goal was outstanding! A great run, and a great finish - Vorm didn't do anything wrong there I think, 99 times out of 100 in that situation the player is going to shoot low(ish) and he was covering his angles well. You can't plan for that kind of finish!
Holland had Robin Van Persie to thank as he rescued a point for them late on from the penalty spot, but at the other end of the field it's good to see Vorm getting games. If he's getting picked at international level it's only going to increase his stock, and his confidence, and it's also something which could aid in the Dutchman sticking around for a long while to come. If he wasn't getting picked for Holland - perhaps because Swansea aren't yet viewed internationally as a "big team", he may look to move to a bigger club to help his international aspirations, but if he's being preferred to the Ajax keeper that's clearly not the case. Good on you, Michel, you've earned your chance.
Amat & Tancock in Under-21 action
Both these young defenders featured for their respective international sides this week, and they had very differing experiences. Tancock played 90 minutes for Wales U21's against San Marino, and they have clearly been taking after the first-team as they contrived to lose 1-0. To San Marino.
Amat however had a very different time of it. He enjoyed a 6-2 Spanish U21 victory over Austria U21's, and from all the match reports I've read not one mentions him. To be honest, as a centre-back if you play 90 minutes and no journalist mentions any mistakes you've made throughout the game you've done well, so I'd say it's a case of "if you don't notice him, he's doing well".
Possibly an optimistic take on a lack of information, but you need a bit of blind optimism in your life every now and again!