GIGGS’ DREAM START: HOW HE DID IT
We analyse Ryan Giggs’ dream start as Wales manager:
RYAN Giggs enjoyed a dream start to life in charge of Wales as recordbreaker Gareth Bale inspired the national side to a 6-0 win over China in Nanning.
Football writer IAN MITCHELMORE, who is in Nanning with Wales, runs through the key talking points from the game at the Guangxi Sports Center...
Solving a problem from the past
THE bulk of Wales’ top stars were fit and firing when it came to qualifying for, and then running riot at Euro 2016.
But the same can’t said about their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign as a host of players – most notably Gareth Bale – were absent through suspension and injury as Chris Coleman’s side missed out on a play-off place in agonising fashion.
And having started his reign as Wales manager in perfect fashion, Giggs revealed after the game that his side’s strength in depth was something he was determined to fix.
When asked about what he learned from his side’s performance against China, Giggs responded: “We wanted to get that strength in depth.
“Sometimes that has been an Achilles heel, if we have two or three players out then we struggle. We don’t want that any more.
“We want a competitive squad. If someone is missing through injury or suspension then we have someone to come in.
“Just like all of the subs who came on, they did really well.
“It is not easy when you come on and the game is won, to still push and put on a good performance.
“There were some really good performances. Declan John was outstanding. It was a great night for a lot of individuals.”
The new generation grab the chance to shine
HAVING seen a number of players make their international debuts in the final game of Coleman’s reign against Panama in November, it took Giggs just 70 minutes to give Chris Mepham the honour of donning the Wales shirt for the very first time against Marcello Lippi’s side.
The Brentford man has impressed with the Bees this season and was sent on for the final 20 minutes of the 6-0 win against China, replacing Ben Davies at the Guangxi Sports Center.
And, while the 20-year-old won’t have many easier nights in his football career, it was testimony to what Mepham has done at club level, that he got the nod to make his professional bow against China.
In addition, it’s what he’s shown on the training ground in the short time he’s been in camp with the national side.
Elsewhere, Harry Wilson made his long-awaited return to the international stage having not featured since becoming his country’s youngest player when he played against Belgium in 2013, while Declan John was also back after a lengthy absence.
And 1,619 days after Wilson’s international bow, the Liverpool youngster – currently on loan with Championship outfit Hull City – well and truly seized his opportunity to shine with a sumptuous strike on the brink of halftime before claiming a slick assist for Sam Vokes after the restart.
It was often said that the future’s bright as far as Wales are concerned given the number of youngsters – most notably Ben Woodburn.
He, remember, sent shock waves through the international scene with the winning goal in the World Cup qualifier against Austria just five minutes into his debut – that featured in the final games of Coleman’s tenure.
But, crucially for Giggs, those who were introduced in the opening game of his reign showed that they can deliver the goods on the international stage, and more importantly, solve the Achilles heel he felt that has hampered his nation in the past.
A new philosophy, and a new system?
WHEN asked ahead of the game about what he would bring to the party, Giggs discussed how he would make sure he kept the good of the previous regime while sprinkling his own magic onto the national side.
And, from the moment his first international team announcement was revealed, you got a real sense of how Giggs wants his side to play.
It may sound like something of a cliche, but playing football on the front foot is exactly what Wales did, albeit against surprisingly underwhelming opponents.
It helped that John and Chris Gunter were deployed as wing-backs, but also that a midfield diamond spearheaded by Wilson allowed Gareth Bale and Sam Vokes to wreak havoc at the top end of the pitch.
As we saw so often with the previous regime, the wing-backs tuck in to form a back five when the opposition get hold of the ball.
But in attack, Wales had so many options across the park against the China Cup hosts.
Wilson’s influence on proceedings grew as the match wore on, while John’s confidence grew with each passing minute.
Add the threat that Gunter provided on the right, and it all left Bale with the licence to roam, and – as we saw with his hat-trick - the opportunity to do the damage at the business end.
Joe Allen and Andy King deserve huge credit for the way they protected the centre-back trio of James Chester, Ashley Williams and Ben Davies, and their efforts provided those previously mentioned with the platform to run China ragged.
And, given that the Manchester United faithful brilliantly adopted Joy Division’s classic Love Will Tear Us Apart as a way of showing their affection for Giggs during his days at Old Trafford, it’s easy to see why the manager is now translating his own attacking philosophies to ensure that Wales are now aiming to be the ones tearing up their opposition.
The sweetest of moves, and everyone played their part
BY the time Sam Vokes prodded home shortly after the hal-hour mark to make it 3-0 to Wales, the game already had the feel of a pre-season friendly.
Wayne Hennessey was a mere spectator for the majority of the match – one fine late save apart – but even Wales’ No.1 played his part in Vokes’ first strike.
As did every other player on the pitch for Giggs’ side.
The determination to play out from the back was evident on numerous occasions, and it worked a treat as Wales conjured up a wonderful 14-pass move that culminated with Vokes scoring his ninth international goal.
Each of Wales’ 11 players touched the ball in the build-up to the Burnley man’s effort, a team goal if ever there was one.