Fortunately, we continue to ignore David Johnson whose career promptly went into a freefall only recently arrested after he messed us around so much prior to the Switzerland game. For the first 20 minutes I thought Nathan Blake was David Johnson! Of course, as soon as I knew it was Nathan, he ceased to be impressive.

This does highlight the potential pitfalls of this approach and the kind of long-term resentment it can cause was amply highlighted by the damage caused to the Republic of Ireland by the Keane/McCarthy affair, which was at least in part fuelled by a background of long-term anti-English feeling from 'genuine' Irish players!

With this in mind though, I was amused to note the recent front cover of When Saturday Comes (which rarely has any interest nowadays beyond the front cover) where Giggs was asking Bellamy, 'What on earth is that?', and was met with a reply along the lines of 'Dunno, I think it might be the national anthem'! 

OUT OF LEFT FIELD

There are certain managers that can't help but punish their players for starting to achieve success at a level where they may/ought to have played or did play but not enough. Clough was an obvious example and it would appear that we can now add Glenda to the list.

What on earth is Simon Davies doing at left back? More interestingly, no-one in the press has picked up on this. Is it normal then? Is this the replacement for Gary Speed, that other well known Welsh left back? Very strange indeed.

Is this what other international managers have to put up with? If you want proof of a league manager damaging the prospects of an international team just look at what has happened to the promising Ukraine team since Sergei Rebrov was relegated to Siberia (sorry, Spurs reserves). Oh, guess who manages Spurs? So, the biggest threat to Wales' qualification for Portugal could turn out to be Eileen Drewery!

LIVE AT THE WITCH TRIALS

Even stranger are the whisperings about Ryan Giggs. Out of form; about be sold; and so on. Now Wales have enough short-term injuries to worry about with Speed and Gabbidon (no, I don't think Simon Davies could replace Speed!) and other injuries could occur between now and March, particularly with Bosnia coming to the capital (now, let's see those tough lads from South Wales fight them and win!) without worrying about Giggs' allegedly indifferent form. What are we going to do? Drop him? I think not. He now does the same for Wales as he does for United. We have balance on the wings (assuming Simon doesn't move to left-back. I'm getting worried about this); he gets through a tremendous amount of defensive work and he is devastating on the counter.

Of course someone needs to point out to the dumbos (sorry, gentlemen) of the press that United are no longer a counter-attacking team which is why Giggs doesn't suddenly burst through on the counter with half a pitch to cause problems in. With essentially five in midfield there is also no longer space for him to cut infield so of course he is looking a bit out of sorts. He needs to find a new role and it really isn't that easy. I bet he's really enjoying playing for Wales at the moment and I suspect that his frustration at club level could be about to work very well for us over the next couple of qualifiers.

Indeed, I would be shocked if he didn't produce exactly the sort of quiet, measured performance he did against Italy where he spent 70 minutes getting through the work (mostly retrieving the ball after Speed had given it away unchallenged) and then 20 ravaging them on the counter with Davies and Bellamy. So, get off his back. 

UPTOWN TOP RANKING

I have tended to comment on the rankings but I wouldn't want any of you to think I am obsessed by them. However, it was nice to be recognised as one of the two most improved teams in the world even if the other was Senegal, who rose the same number of places but are considered to have beaten harder teams. We only beat the losing World Cup finalists! We are now FIFA-ranked at 52 and holding but let's put this in perspective. Scotland are 60! 

SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND

Finally, we may be the current best- supported team in Western Europe but I certainly didn't expect Azerbaijan to be sold out in two hours. Whisper it but the financial future of Welsh football could be secure in two years if this sort of thing carries on. Pardon my vitriol but I can't wait to reject England as a friendly fixture because they're not as much of an attraction as Azerbaijan! Anyway, I have tickets and have managed to escape the family stand this time. Now, I wonder if Bosnia will sell out.