WALES WALES

Accentuate the positive

By Mike Hughes


SHOT BY BOTH SIDES

Okay, while we can mathematically qualify for the next World Cup Finals it will take an incredible sequence of results, and, while there was a certain inevitability about some aspects of the performance (just where do the defence get such quick acting tranquilisers from - Mathew Jones?), it has to be said, once again, that some of the reaction to the two results has bordered on the bizarre. All the talk of people giving votes of confidence for goodness sake! So, let's start off this time by being quite clear about where we are now in comparison to where we could have been without Mark Hughes.

(1) Our crowd against Poland was the highest on the day anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere except for the 65,000 for Russia versus Yugoslavia and yet most pundits were disappointed by the numbers! If that isn't a sign of raised expectations then what is? Incidentally, 65,000 or not, we have by far the best stadium in Europe at the present time (pitch excluded).

(2) No-one realistically expected us to be in with a shout in a group with Norway, Poland and the Ukraine, and especially not with a young inexperienced manager and a squad of terminal underachievers. In the circumstances five draws, two defeats and tremendous away performances in Poland and the Ukraine can hardly be described as a failure.

(3) While I'm sure many people (myself included) would have liked to have seen more youngsters blooded earlier, the results of the Under-21s show just what a long way we have to go and just how much of a gulf in class at all levels we have to set about making up. Most telling in this respect was the recent FAW website poll on who we think the next Welsh goalkeeper might be. Now apart from the unnerving effect this might have on Paul Jones (what next - an FAW poll on who we'd like to see replace Mark Hughes!) the most striking thing about the list of suggested names in this poll was that there was no reference at all to those keepers who currently play at Under-18 and Under-21 level. Apart from the insulting presumption that we might not know that football exists outside of the Premiership or Division 1, what more telling indictment could there be that we have a long way to go? However, Hughes' reliance on much of the old guard has meant that he has won them over and there is nowhere near the pressure there would have been had he chosen or been forced to play some of those youngsters. Look at Sammy McIlroy for an example of how building on youth (even when there is clearly much promise there!) can take its toll on a nation's belief in their manager.

(4) It is very tempting to see the resignation of yet another person complaining of 'politics' within the FAW (and it must be true because you'd have to be desperate to go to Sheffield Wednesday at the moment!); however, the fact that we have (well, had in this case!) people working on technical development in the community is a measure in itself of what might be termed the 'quiet revolution' taking place in Welsh football.

 

99 RED BUFFOONS

Anyway, on a lighter note there is much competition for Welsh footballing buffoon of the moment:

As Premiership PR strives to convince us that British footballers have entered the 21st Century with sensible (non-existent?) drinking habits; sophisticated diets (hmm!) and so on, it was lovely to hear the heart-warming tale of big Johnny and his 'tatty' passport that he stores in the kitchen drawer (Mr. Burglar if you're interested) and which got a bit wet and stuck together. All together now. 'Awww!'