WALES WALES

Don't write us off
By Mike Hughes

THE NAME OF THE GAME

Finally, some real games to write about! Two more draws might sound bad on paper but was it really the case? Wales are becoming hard to beat and the lack of wins is just a reflection of the lack of class and penetration throughout the team. Those who write Wales off do so at their peril at this stage.

POSITIVE TOUCH

For the negative heads out there, ponder the following: Wales have only lost one of their first six qualifying games. They have only failed to score in one game and have taken the lead in several games. They have emerged with a clean sheet from Poland (as no-one else has managed to do) and held a Ukrainian team whose away form is currently among the best in the world. They have regained some team spirit and it is a squad thing rather than a team thing so injuries and suspensions to key players have not resulted in the perception within the team or the public at large of the covering players being somehow markedly inferior. Crowds are up and was I the only one expressing disappointment at the fact that the crowd was 'only' 42,000 against the Ukraine? How far we have come in the space of a year! We’re even playing to the strengths of our players as they are and not how we’d like them to be. I consider Hartson to basically be an over-sized backside on (very dodgy) legs but even I can’t argue with three goals in two games and his current Premiership form!

NEGATIVELAND You might argue that the performance against the Ukraine saw something that we hoped not to see again ie. the art of going one-up and then sitting on the lead to the point where an equaliser had an air of inevitability about it (Scotland 1985 anyone!). This was usually followed by the players and manager (Smith, England, Yorath, Toshack – take your pick!) whinging about being unlucky! I would argue that, for once, we simply have to admit that a pressing game against such a counter-attacking team would bring inevitable consequences and, given that Wales have little choice but to try and play such a game, the outcome was actually highly satisfactory. It also has to be said that neither manager nor players have complained other than about being disappointed and, after a few days contemplation, all concerned seem to have settled for the balanced perspective that things are still moving in the right direction.

THE NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE DONE

The ‘incident’ between Leicester and Wales over Matthew Jones was a little bizarre to say the least although it was good to see that the player was being blamed more than our management. On the other hand, what possessed our management to think it appropriate to suggest such an injection without getting consent from the club to whom the player is contracted? Recent evidence from the off-form Leicester suggests that their real concern is that the injections are really anaesthetic!

THE JUNE BRIDES

So, move on a couple of months and we have Poland at home. Again, the rhetoric will all be about how a win is vital and how the end will be nigh with anything less than victory. It’s an important game for sure but I for one will settle for the fact that Wales have begun to earn a little respect for themselves.