Games won't harm Swans hopes
NEIL Taylor has dismissed fears that Olympic call-ups for three of Swansea City's players will disrupt the club's pre-season preparations.
Taylor, along with Joe Allen and Scott Sinclair, has been included in Stuart Pearce's 18-man squad for this summer's London Games.
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Neil Taylor
Team GB will meet for the first time today before going to Spain on Monday for a training camp in preparation for the Olympic football tournament, which begins on July 26.
The scheduling means the Swans' Olympic trio will be unavailable for pre-season training and this month's trip to the US, with new manager Michael Laudrup set to meet his players for the first time on Monday.
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And although he won't be in South Wales for the summer regime, Taylor is confident his Olympic commitments will not affect his preparations for Swansea's second term in the Premier League.
"Unfortunately we won't be able to work with the new manager," he said.
"But that's just the price we have to pay for playing at this level.
"We want to impress the new manager and we will be looking to impress during the games with Team GB.
"I'm sure the manager will be watching, so hopefully that will be another way for him to assess us.
"In any case, he's watched a lot of DVDs of Swansea and he will have done his research, so he'll know what we're all about."
With three players in the Team GB squad, Swansea are the best represented club in the 18-man party.
The Olympic final takes place on August 11, just seven days before the Swans begin their second Premier League campaign with a trip to QPR. The gold medal match at Wembley is also only four days before Wales's final 2014 World Cup qualifying warm-up against Bosnia at Parc y Scarlets on August 15.
Taylor and Wales team-mate Allen could be left with an almighty fixture-pile up if Team GB reach the Olympic final, but the former Wrexham left-back does not think his position with the Swans will be jeopardised.
"If the manager was coming in and changing things then we might be a bit worried," said Taylor.
"But he's inheriting a team which is doing well and he's said he's looking to play in the same way.
"I haven't spoken to the new manager yet because he's been back and forth from different countries over the last few days.
"He's been getting his staff together and waiting to meet the players.
"We're all looking to strengthen but he'll want to assess the squad before making any changes.
"It's a really exciting appointment and all the players are looking forward to working with him."
Comments
by ProjectVRD
Sunday, July 08 2012, 10:21PM
“Well muldoons, you may as well phone Mr Laudrup and tell him not to bother signing anyone after De Guzam and Chico because all managers go on video before signing players after major international tournaments.
I know what you agenda is, you are totally against GB like all the other nats.”
by muld00ns
Sunday, July 08 2012, 1:08PM
“dream land! see a player on the training field is totally different. You can't tell a players attitude by a video ***!”
by Philosoraptor
Sunday, July 08 2012, 12:45PM
“No I don't, he will know what to expect from them because he has access to all video and advice from coaches. These players will come back fitter than the rest of the team and will have had more match practice.”
by muld00ns
Saturday, July 07 2012, 10:46PM
“You don't think them playing in the Olympics and not allowing Laudrup to run the rule over them won't affect club preparations? I think it will. What if BL wants to try new tactics and formations. Without seeing these players in training how will he know if they can fit in?”
by Philosoraptor
Saturday, July 07 2012, 9:30PM
“I don't think playing in the competition will cause any problems barring injury. They will come back just as refreshed as they would have from America minus the jet lag. Having that international friendly just before the Premier League starts is stupid though, 4 days before the league starts? Did FIFA not think about players who may have to fly thousands of miles?
Mind you, SouthlandJack, considering we got more points in the second half of the season compared to the first, I would say he did enough to help us climb into the 11th spot.”
by trncjack
Saturday, July 07 2012, 1:27PM
“it will not do any harm will it , of course not, not unless you get an injury which could put you out until christmas, but you could get an injury playing in america ,but at least you would have been doing it for the Swans, does any one know whether the boc are prepared to pay out compo if this happens.”
by SouthlandJack
Saturday, July 07 2012, 11:25AM
“Agree...TAYLOR needs to concentrate on the Swans and keeping out of the press !! Had a poor 2nd half of last season.”
by Lezz_T
Saturday, July 07 2012, 10:47AM
“Disappointing that this selfish 3 are putting their own interests above that of the club by taking part in what is seen as an insignificant competition by the footballing world.
Where would they be now without the Swans?”