You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “A sobering day for Welsh football.”.
- Cardiff City News 24/7
-
By subject
- "Home page" (1)
- Cardiff City Books (35)
- Cricket (3)
- Down in the dugout (205)
- Football in the Rhondda valleys. (95)
- General (6)
- General football stuff (55)
- Memories, 1963 – 2023 (594)
- My best…….. (10)
- Our posh new ground (7)
- Out on the pitch (1,064)
- Patreon (3)
- R.I.P. (33)
- Re-branding (8)
- The Championship (74)
- The kids. (248)
- The Owl Centre (11)
- The Premier League (7)
- The stiffs (204)
- Up in the Boardroom (175)
- Wales (164)
- Women's football (25)
Blogroll
- Become a patron.
- Bluesy's Blues
- Bob Bank Hero
- Cardiff City Exiles.
- Cardiff City forum
- Cardiff City mad – messageboard.
- Cardiff City mad.
- Cardiff City Official site.
- Cardiff City Supporters Club
- Cardiff City Supporters Trust
- CARDIFF CITY, CLARKS PIES AND CURRY
- cardiffcity.no
- Ffwtbol
- joncandy's photostream
- mirkobolesan
- News Now Cardiff
- Notes of Ninian.
- Penmon
- The Bluebird
- The Lone Gunman – Shooting From The Lip
- The Owl Centre
- Urban 75
- View from the Stands.
- Vital Cardiff.
- —Cardiff Kickaball
Feedback
- The other Bob Wilson on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
- Brian Andrews on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
- Mike Hope on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
- GRAHAM on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
- Dai Woosnam on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
Search
Old stuff
- March 2024 (7)
- February 2024 (12)
- January 2024 (6)
- December 2023 (15)
- November 2023 (10)
- October 2023 (13)
- September 2023 (13)
- August 2023 (11)
- July 2023 (5)
- June 2023 (6)
- May 2023 (6)
- April 2023 (13)
- March 2023 (11)
- February 2023 (11)
- January 2023 (10)
- December 2022 (12)
- November 2022 (10)
- October 2022 (15)
- September 2022 (11)
- August 2022 (13)
- July 2022 (6)
- June 2022 (8)
- May 2022 (4)
- April 2022 (12)
- March 2022 (10)
- February 2022 (16)
- January 2022 (11)
- December 2021 (10)
- November 2021 (13)
- October 2021 (14)
- September 2021 (15)
- August 2021 (16)
- July 2021 (5)
- June 2021 (8)
- May 2021 (6)
- April 2021 (14)
- March 2021 (14)
- February 2021 (15)
- January 2021 (15)
- December 2020 (19)
- November 2020 (16)
- October 2020 (16)
- September 2020 (14)
- August 2020 (5)
- July 2020 (17)
- June 2020 (11)
- May 2020 (4)
- April 2020 (5)
- March 2020 (6)
- February 2020 (13)
- January 2020 (14)
- December 2019 (16)
- November 2019 (15)
- October 2019 (13)
- September 2019 (9)
- August 2019 (16)
- July 2019 (6)
- June 2019 (7)
- May 2019 (5)
- April 2019 (15)
- March 2019 (11)
- February 2019 (12)
- January 2019 (13)
- December 2018 (16)
- November 2018 (10)
- October 2018 (11)
- September 2018 (11)
- August 2018 (15)
- July 2018 (6)
- June 2018 (8)
- May 2018 (7)
- April 2018 (15)
- March 2018 (11)
- February 2018 (19)
- January 2018 (9)
- December 2017 (16)
- November 2017 (13)
- October 2017 (13)
- September 2017 (15)
- August 2017 (18)
- July 2017 (5)
- June 2017 (6)
- May 2017 (5)
- April 2017 (15)
- March 2017 (13)
- February 2017 (12)
- January 2017 (16)
- December 2016 (14)
- November 2016 (11)
- October 2016 (16)
- September 2016 (16)
- August 2016 (12)
- July 2016 (9)
- June 2016 (8)
- May 2016 (10)
- April 2016 (16)
- March 2016 (16)
- February 2016 (14)
- January 2016 (14)
- December 2015 (14)
- November 2015 (13)
- October 2015 (13)
- September 2015 (15)
- August 2015 (16)
- July 2015 (4)
- June 2015 (5)
- May 2015 (9)
- April 2015 (16)
- March 2015 (14)
- February 2015 (18)
- January 2015 (13)
- December 2014 (16)
- November 2014 (17)
- October 2014 (18)
- September 2014 (12)
- August 2014 (18)
- July 2014 (4)
- June 2014 (6)
- May 2014 (6)
- April 2014 (9)
- March 2014 (16)
- February 2014 (15)
- January 2014 (12)
- December 2013 (20)
- November 2013 (16)
- October 2013 (13)
- September 2013 (15)
- August 2013 (16)
- July 2013 (5)
- June 2013 (7)
- May 2013 (11)
- April 2013 (16)
- March 2013 (16)
- February 2013 (15)
- January 2013 (12)
- December 2012 (13)
- November 2012 (16)
- October 2012 (17)
- September 2012 (15)
- August 2012 (13)
- July 2012 (7)
- June 2012 (9)
- May 2012 (13)
- April 2012 (9)
- March 2012 (12)
- February 2012 (11)
- January 2012 (13)
- December 2011 (7)
- November 2011 (12)
- October 2011 (15)
- September 2011 (11)
- August 2011 (15)
- July 2011 (7)
- June 2011 (9)
- May 2011 (15)
- April 2011 (11)
- March 2011 (13)
- February 2011 (18)
- January 2011 (15)
- December 2010 (12)
- November 2010 (13)
- October 2010 (16)
- September 2010 (15)
- August 2010 (20)
- July 2010 (9)
- June 2010 (9)
- May 2010 (15)
- April 2010 (13)
- March 2010 (22)
- February 2010 (17)
- January 2010 (17)
- December 2009 (19)
- November 2009 (16)
- October 2009 (20)
- September 2009 (20)
- August 2009 (25)
- Cardiff City News 24/7
-
By subject
- "Home page" (1)
- Cardiff City Books (35)
- Cricket (3)
- Down in the dugout (205)
- Football in the Rhondda valleys. (95)
- General (6)
- General football stuff (55)
- Memories, 1963 – 2023 (594)
- My best…….. (10)
- Our posh new ground (7)
- Out on the pitch (1,064)
- Patreon (3)
- R.I.P. (33)
- Re-branding (8)
- The Championship (74)
- The kids. (248)
- The Owl Centre (11)
- The Premier League (7)
- The stiffs (204)
- Up in the Boardroom (175)
- Wales (164)
- Women's football (25)
Blogroll
- Become a patron.
- Bluesy's Blues
- Bob Bank Hero
- Cardiff City Exiles.
- Cardiff City forum
- Cardiff City mad – messageboard.
- Cardiff City mad.
- Cardiff City Official site.
- Cardiff City Supporters Club
- Cardiff City Supporters Trust
- CARDIFF CITY, CLARKS PIES AND CURRY
- cardiffcity.no
- Ffwtbol
- joncandy's photostream
- mirkobolesan
- News Now Cardiff
- Notes of Ninian.
- Penmon
- The Bluebird
- The Lone Gunman – Shooting From The Lip
- The Owl Centre
- Urban 75
- View from the Stands.
- Vital Cardiff.
- —Cardiff Kickaball
Feedback
- The other Bob Wilson on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
- Brian Andrews on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
- Mike Hope on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
- GRAHAM on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
- Dai Woosnam on Yet again, Cardiff City face questions about their preparation following south Wales derby no show.
Search
Old stuff
- March 2024 (7)
- February 2024 (12)
- January 2024 (6)
- December 2023 (15)
- November 2023 (10)
- October 2023 (13)
- September 2023 (13)
- August 2023 (11)
- July 2023 (5)
- June 2023 (6)
- May 2023 (6)
- April 2023 (13)
- March 2023 (11)
- February 2023 (11)
- January 2023 (10)
- December 2022 (12)
- November 2022 (10)
- October 2022 (15)
- September 2022 (11)
- August 2022 (13)
- July 2022 (6)
- June 2022 (8)
- May 2022 (4)
- April 2022 (12)
- March 2022 (10)
- February 2022 (16)
- January 2022 (11)
- December 2021 (10)
- November 2021 (13)
- October 2021 (14)
- September 2021 (15)
- August 2021 (16)
- July 2021 (5)
- June 2021 (8)
- May 2021 (6)
- April 2021 (14)
- March 2021 (14)
- February 2021 (15)
- January 2021 (15)
- December 2020 (19)
- November 2020 (16)
- October 2020 (16)
- September 2020 (14)
- August 2020 (5)
- July 2020 (17)
- June 2020 (11)
- May 2020 (4)
- April 2020 (5)
- March 2020 (6)
- February 2020 (13)
- January 2020 (14)
- December 2019 (16)
- November 2019 (15)
- October 2019 (13)
- September 2019 (9)
- August 2019 (16)
- July 2019 (6)
- June 2019 (7)
- May 2019 (5)
- April 2019 (15)
- March 2019 (11)
- February 2019 (12)
- January 2019 (13)
- December 2018 (16)
- November 2018 (10)
- October 2018 (11)
- September 2018 (11)
- August 2018 (15)
- July 2018 (6)
- June 2018 (8)
- May 2018 (7)
- April 2018 (15)
- March 2018 (11)
- February 2018 (19)
- January 2018 (9)
- December 2017 (16)
- November 2017 (13)
- October 2017 (13)
- September 2017 (15)
- August 2017 (18)
- July 2017 (5)
- June 2017 (6)
- May 2017 (5)
- April 2017 (15)
- March 2017 (13)
- February 2017 (12)
- January 2017 (16)
- December 2016 (14)
- November 2016 (11)
- October 2016 (16)
- September 2016 (16)
- August 2016 (12)
- July 2016 (9)
- June 2016 (8)
- May 2016 (10)
- April 2016 (16)
- March 2016 (16)
- February 2016 (14)
- January 2016 (14)
- December 2015 (14)
- November 2015 (13)
- October 2015 (13)
- September 2015 (15)
- August 2015 (16)
- July 2015 (4)
- June 2015 (5)
- May 2015 (9)
- April 2015 (16)
- March 2015 (14)
- February 2015 (18)
- January 2015 (13)
- December 2014 (16)
- November 2014 (17)
- October 2014 (18)
- September 2014 (12)
- August 2014 (18)
- July 2014 (4)
- June 2014 (6)
- May 2014 (6)
- April 2014 (9)
- March 2014 (16)
- February 2014 (15)
- January 2014 (12)
- December 2013 (20)
- November 2013 (16)
- October 2013 (13)
- September 2013 (15)
- August 2013 (16)
- July 2013 (5)
- June 2013 (7)
- May 2013 (11)
- April 2013 (16)
- March 2013 (16)
- February 2013 (15)
- January 2013 (12)
- December 2012 (13)
- November 2012 (16)
- October 2012 (17)
- September 2012 (15)
- August 2012 (13)
- July 2012 (7)
- June 2012 (9)
- May 2012 (13)
- April 2012 (9)
- March 2012 (12)
- February 2012 (11)
- January 2012 (13)
- December 2011 (7)
- November 2011 (12)
- October 2011 (15)
- September 2011 (11)
- August 2011 (15)
- July 2011 (7)
- June 2011 (9)
- May 2011 (15)
- April 2011 (11)
- March 2011 (13)
- February 2011 (18)
- January 2011 (15)
- December 2010 (12)
- November 2010 (13)
- October 2010 (16)
- September 2010 (15)
- August 2010 (20)
- July 2010 (9)
- June 2010 (9)
- May 2010 (15)
- April 2010 (13)
- March 2010 (22)
- February 2010 (17)
- January 2010 (17)
- December 2009 (19)
- November 2009 (16)
- October 2009 (20)
- September 2009 (20)
- August 2009 (25)
A thoughtful piece as ever from you Paul.
Here is my take on our national team…
You say that major restructuring work is not necessary. Mmm…I am not so sure.
At the centre of things is the manager. He has the best group of players since the Rush/Hughes/Ratcliffe days. And his man management is largely outstanding (the blip with Ginge Collins being the one black mark).
But he has never had any tactical nous. And like the definition of insanity, he loses games with his mistakes, and keeps repeating them. Still getting Hennessey to play short kick outs. Unforgivable.
Keeps playing the ball square or backwards (your favourite Joe Ledley is his star performer in this bizarre non-skill), and shows zero flair when it comes to trying new things.
I watched the Denmark v Ireland game last night. I promise you that only the goalkeeper, centre backs and Eriksen could get into the Welsh team…although our onetime not so great Dane, Andreas Cornelius on the strength of last night, could probably take the place of Sam Vokes. (Amazing how CCFC lost £7m net on that deal in less than a year, eh?).
Yet Denmark still gave Ireland far more of a test than Wales…despite having inferior players. And that is because their Norwegian manager was using diagonals to switch the play, and not being as predictable as Cookie.
Will sign off now, on a personal note.
You mention the two games with Romania back in 1993. I recall them well…not least because I was seated just 30 yards away from the two brothers who killed the retired postman. (My wife’s first ever football match, and her last: after witnessing that horrible event, she said “never again”. She is incredulous when I tell her that the game is called the “Bodin penalty game”…she says it should be called “the “postman murder game”.)
I have good reason to be fond of Romania. 18 months later I was in an 11 day coma in a hospital in their capital city…and their medical staff saved my life.
And that city was not in Bulgaria…!!
That mistake apart Paul, as we say in my old Rhondda stamping ground,… “I can’t fault you butty”.
Morning Dai and thanks for the reply. Just a couple of things to say in reply. First, I’d be interested to know who you rate as tactically good managers and coaches – I always find it hard to come up with names of managers/coaches that I feel win games mainly through their tactical mastery. To me, “tactics” are, basically, a way of being able to make an inferior side beat their so called betters – if you are better than your opponents. there are little fixes and titbits which can help you along the way, but it seems to me that you should just trust your talent.
Second, Lord knows what possessed me with Sofia – I read the piece back twice looking for errors and still I didn’t notice it!
The team has gone backwards since 2016 and the ageing process, injuries and loss of form have not helped. Players such as Ledley, Taylor and King have to be replaced by the crop of emerging youngsters.
Finding a replacement for Ashley Williams is a priority but what alternatives are there? I would suggest the best option is Paul Dummett. However he seemed to be constantly overlooked by the manager previously and is no longer part of the squad. Perhaps as was the case with Ginger Collins, the manager needs a clear the air meeting and bring him back into the fold. Looking longer term Regan Poole could be the solution.
Again what better options are there when considering a replacement for Coleman?
It turns out Jeff you’ve mentioned the exact three players I was thinking of when I said;-
“Wales are not an old team in terms of years then, but they are in terms of the international football mileage they’ve racked up”
and
“but there are two or three others for whom international football is looking increasingly difficult these days.”