Regular writer Stephen @StephenJBaker recaps the opening games for Cymru’s new manager.
Being a follower of Cymru’s National Football Team since the 80’s (watching most home matches live since 1993) I’ve had more than my fair share of false dawns. Toshack’s one game versus Norway; those ten seconds we thought Bobby Gould could do a job for us. So every time there is a new Cymru manager there is some trepidation; will they be a Coleman or a Gould? Despite Cymru’s recent success, we’ve been hurt too many times in the past to think that is one is the one.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis time though, it seems different. When Craig Bellamy was playing for Cymru, he was one of the most passionate Welshman to ever put on the Red Shirt. Always demanded 100% of himself and everyone on the field with him, whether that was match day or on the training pitch. Now having become a coach and working with Burnley before taking on the role of Cymru Manager, he has become someone who has devoured the football tactics bible.
Embed from Getty ImagesBefore Friday’s match Craig Bellamy promised us we would see free flowing football and good players being allowed to be good players. The opponents on Friday were Euro 2024 Quarter Finalists Türkiye. Because of the level of the opponents, we hoped to see a little improvement but did not expect too much until the match on Monday night against Montenegro.
Embed from Getty ImagesJust as the game was about to kick off, the heavens opened up and as it always seems to when there is a football match taking place in the Cardiff City Stadium, it absolutely hammered down. Despite the downpour we could see that Craig had not lost his passion for the National team. Within seconds of the game starting he began prowling the Technical Area, dressed in a black bomber jacket, white t-shirt, black jeans and the brightest white trainers; looking very much like he was working on the door of a night club in Merthyr Tydfil. He was straight down to business, instructions being shouted out constantly to every player, something many have said was missing the last year or two. Players looked relaxed and had clearly been given the freedom to go forward and, as Bellamy said, ‘do what comes natural to good players.’
Embed from Getty Images EmbedSomething else noticeable early on, the tactics visibly changed during the match. This was missing during the final matches of the Page era, no plan B or sometimes there was no apparent plan A. These new tactics threw the Türkiye players, since, in the past couple of years, Cymru had become too predictable. In this game though, Cymru produced an excellent performance against a very good side, drawing 0-0. Bellamy telling us ‘that is the worse we are going to see them play’ The only thing missing in this performance was a goal, but in the next match we didn’t have to wait long for that first goal of the Bellamy Era
Embed from Getty ImagesThree days later Y Wal Goch were off to Montenegro, an area of Europe where Cymru has never won a match. Bellamy made five changes to the Friday night team, not because of drop outs but because he wanted to ‘freshen the team up’. This was a bold move in itself, but he also changed tactics again. This change of tactics and change of players took all of 37 seconds to work, when Moore fired home before most of the fans in the stadium were able to put on their disposable waterproof ponchos. Then before Y Wal Goch sat down after celebrating the first goal, Harry Wilson scored a stunner. Montenegro couldn’t cope with Cymru’s new tactics.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs the weather got worse, the match looked more like a Water Polo game. This caused a change of style from Cymru, in a match that looked like it could be called off at any moment. Montenegro managed to score to make it 2-1; creating a nervous end to the match. But Cymru did what they had to do to hold on and give Craig Bellamy his first win as Cymru Manager.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Bellamy Era started with four out of six points, but more importantly our style of play changed for the better and the improvement was noticeable straight away. Imagine what it will be like when he has more time with the players and they get used to all the new information given to them. This is going to be a fun ride that hopefully takes in North America on the way.
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for Cymru!