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As I write this Wales, of late, have
looked like they were back in the days of Mike England and
even worse still Mike Smith. I make this statement even
after, just 4 games ago, the current side were taunted as
"better than the '58 variety" by some quarters.
Well Sparky, unfortunately the truth
has come out. You weren't good enough or experienced enough
for management at this level. Some say the England game
was the nail in your coffin. I'd go as far back as the Azerbaijani
free kick. Others more seasoned than myself are saying Serbia
away in the Euro 2004 campaign was the defining moment.
I personally saw the Northern Ireland,
England and Poland debacles and watched the Azerbaijan game
on TV. Versus Poland, Wales were the better side for long
periods, but could not eek out a win. We haven't won any
of our last 10 competitive games. Friendly wins and decent
results have been papering over the cracks and hidden Hughes'
poor record over the past 2 and half years. Sparky had only
one plan in the end. Hang on for grim death at the defensive
end and hope that long balls to a big man up front (Hartson)
will somehow carve a half chance for one of the livewires
running off him (Bellamy, Earnshaw, Davies or Giggs).
The problem was Plan A didn't work. Unfortunately
for Wales and the legion of supporters there was no Plan
B or C or D. Experience in management and tactics are essential
for your side to be a force at this level. Yes, hwyl can
see you through, and it did for a while, but why is it we
assume that only Wales can have passionate players who want
to play out of their skin for their country? Every team
wants to win no matter whom they are playing against. It
is not our divine right to be the most fervent about our
nationality, although it seems that way.
Many people I know were calling for Hughes'
head after the Russian play-off, and looking back now, Russia
were obviously a very poor side judging by their Euro 2004
results. I still supported him at this stage and I gave
him the benefit of the doubt after the Azerbaijan game.
But the incident that sealed it for me was during the first
half of the Northern Ireland game. A sell-out crowd at the
Millennium, the best atmosphere you could have wished for.
The Irish had just been put to the sword by a very average
Polish side a few days before, so it was ours for the taking.
Northern Ireland scored after 5 minutes,
and then Northern Ireland's Michael Hughes brutally hacked
down Robbie Savage, which led to a fracas and both being
sent off. Healy scored after another Collins mistake at
the back, and then he was sent off for gesturing to the
crowd in celebration. Sparky made a terminal decision. He
decided to withdraw a defender for Rob Earnshaw. No problems
with that but he took off Mark Delaney, one of the only
Premiership players we had in the side, leaving two inexperienced
Division 1 players to marshal the defence. Not only is Delaney
a form player in the Premiership, but he's also a wide player
- exactly what you need to exploit the space by playing
against 9 men. For the last hour of the game we saw Gabbidon
and Collins lope into the Irish half and lob meaningless
crosses into the box which with near enough every Irish
player behind the ball in defence we didn't get a look in.
Saying that though both of the goals we scored came from
headers from crosses, which makes me think what would have
happened if Delaney had been delivering them instead of
the Bluebirds' boys. Mind you we were lucky to end up with
a draw, as late on the Irish were denied a clear penalty
that would have killed the game.
Sparky didn't choose a great time to
quit either. Wales had not played England for 20 years.
Two games into a qualifying campaign and just before the
biggest game in Wales' modern day history, he calls it a
day. What message does that send to the fans and the players?
Sorry lads my heart just isn't in it anymore. You boys go
and do your best because in 4 days time I'll be in a nice
cushy obscenely paid premiership role! Unfortunately to
me that reeked of the fact that Sparky couldn't see a positive
way out for Wales and wanted to secure his future before
those crucial games. We honestly didn't get a kick against
England and against Poland we were the only side in it until
we scored. After that point we went to sleep and before
we knew it, it was 3-1 to them.
Wales has the best stadium in the world,
bar none. Wales has some of the best supporters in the world
for all sports, bar none. It is a shame that we get treated
like dirt by someone we once adored. 4 games too far Hughesy,
and I can truly see Blackburn getting dumped out of the
Premiership, and that the people of Wales will realise,
at the end of the day, you just didn't have it as a manager.
( And in typical fervent fashion, lets all hail the Tosh
revolution!-Editor)
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