WALES WALES

Where’s Marriott?
By Mike Hughes

RAMBLING ON MY MIND
During a four-week period in which Wales played Brazil and Portugal and gave performances in which the only disappointing features were the actual results, I find myself surrounded by strange people obsessed by England playing in Belgium! How bizarre. 

GET BACK
I think Mark Hughes was being just a little harsh in suggesting that Wales had performed well for 65 minutes against Brazil. The improvement from the Finland game was marked(!), not least in defence where we looked robust, determined and, more importantly, actually alert and aware. Gareth Roberts was perhaps caught out more than a couple of times and became a little too physical but let’s not forget who we were playing here. It’s a pity that enforced team changes meant that the progress couldn’t really be measured against Portugal but I personally saw enough positives to remain encouraged. 

SPEED THE PLOUGH
The midfield in both games worked hard and created chances but it has to be said that the (one?) weak link remains Gary Speed when he plays out on the wing and persists in coming inside when better options exist. I am reliably (and incessantly) informed by a number of Newcastle fans that his performances in centre-midfield for them have been a revelation. Am I missing something? Is there some reason why we can’t try him there? Then again, if the first Brazilian goal was bad luck and the second was sheer class (although the space he had to shoot looked a bit Coleman-like!) it has to be said the third was down to Speed losing the ball in centre-midfield and Delaney anticipating a run and a cross in the way (we hope) that only a Cardiff player could. Still, even if we lack a bit of bite upfront we’re beginning to resemble a squad who want to play for their country with the sort of passion that has been missing for a long time; and with a bit of tactical nous beginning to develop, it can only get better. Now who’d have thought I’d be saying that after two 0-3 reverses!

FREESTONE TIRES
The main surprise in the squad was the selection of Roger Freestone to cover the absent Paul Jones. There, I suspect, is the career of Andy Marriott up in smoke. Now, what exactly does this tell us? I can’t believe that Mr H has forgotten Andy, so is it then the case that he simply doesn’t rate him? I hope to goodness that this is the case. The alternative is that he hasn’t been selected because Mark Hughes suspects that the standard of reserve- team football at Sunderland doesn’t match that of first-team football at Swansea. Now, what an admission that would be! Poor old Andy. Imagine the ignominy of having taken the golden shilling and having dressed it up as a career move… only to find that your international prospects disappear down the toilet faster than Wimbledon team spirit! Anyway, a quick round of applause for Mr Freestone and Mr H. It was the stupid decision of a previous manager to blood Mr Marriott in a game against Brazil that led to the lack of confidence he has suffered so much from in the past few years. I’m not suggesting that Freestone should never play again for Wales, but big games do require some experience. 

UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF
Was it shut or was it stuck? Either way, it looked tremendously impressive; and if we do indeed get a Celtic bid for a future Euro tournament then it would be hard to see a better stadium for the final.

INSTANT KARMA?
On the other hand, poor old whatsisface. You know. That left-winger blokey. Had a bit of a funny turn before kick-off. Thought he was in an aircraft hangar and decided there wasn’t enough room to stretch his legs and promptly injured himself. Don’t get me wrong. I like to see our best players playing, and especially against tough teams like Brazil and Portugal; however, if one were to believe (one doesn’t - but just bear with me here) in karma then one might conclude that someone somewhere decided that our Ryan needed a bit of Karmic feedback and promptly nobbled him. Ha!!!

UPTOWN TOP RANKING
Finally, the vagaries of the FIFA world rankings mean we’re once again out of the top 100 countries in the world. I suppose it should be more of a surprise that we were in it in the first place! I wonder how high we would have to be ranked before someone described it as ‘artificially’ high? Anyway… RP