Giggs reveals he’s not in the picture over Bale
RYAN Giggs says he is unaware of Gareth Bale’s struggles at Real Madrid because he does not have the TV channel covering their domestic games.
Subscription channel Eleven Sports is the official TV rights holders of LaLiga games in the UK and Ireland, with matches broadcast through its online streaming platform.
But Giggs does not have access to the channel and admits he is struggling to keep an eye on Bale’s fortunes.
“I’ve not seen many of the games because they’re not on Sky any more,” Giggs said as he announced a 26-man squad for the Nations League decider against Denmark in Cardiff on November 16 and the friendly in Albania four days later.
“They are on Eleven Sports and I haven’t got that. I haven’t seen it.
“But we’re talking about a worldclass player who never lets his country down.”
In a tongue-in-cheek reference to a saying which became popular when Giggs replaced David Moyes as Manchester United boss in 2014, Eleven said it was willing to give the service “to Giggsy until the end of the season”.
Bale missed last month’s high-profile friendly defeat to Spain and the Nations League victory against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin because of muscle fatigue.
The 29-year-old has featured in four games since the last international break, during which time Real have lost 5-1 at Barcelona and sacked manager Julen Lopetegui.
Bale’s problems have mirrored that of his club and he was booed off by some sections of the Bernabeu crowd when he was substituted in the 2-0 league win over Real Valladolid on Saturday.
He has gone seven games without a goal, and former Real striker Jorge Valdano ramped up the pressure on the Welshman last week by claiming his £85.3million transfer fee had “created this illusion he’s some sort of world superstar”.
But Giggs said: “I don’t think he needs help. He’s had five years at Madrid, I had flak at (Manchester) United.
“You’re under scrutiny all the time, so that is something Gareth is used to.
“He’s an experienced player. He’s been there and he’s probably experienced most things as a player, being at a big club like Real Madrid he would have seen everything.
“He likes coming away with us, and he was with us more or less here the whole time in the last camp getting over his injury. I know he can’t wait to join up with the lads.”
Anderlecht defender or central midfielder James Lawrence was the surprise name in Giggs’ squad.
The 26-year-old was born in Henley-on-Thames but qualifies for Wales through his grandmother, who is from Haverfordwest.
Lawrence was at the Arsenal and Ajax youth academies, but he spent four years at AC Trentin in Slovakia before joining Anderlecht in August.
“He’s a good player, comfortable with the ball at his feet and likes to play out,” Giggs said.
AS Wales fans and the media cast their eyes over the 26-man squad to face Denmark and Albania there were two questions many found themselves asking in quick succession.
Who is James Lawrence? Where is Joe Rodon?
It is the most left-field selection of Ryan Giggs’ reign to date and it has stirred up no end of debate given this is the first time Lawrence has been called up by an representative side.
It is hard to feel anything but a tremendous amount of sympathy for Rodon, who has excelled for Swansea City since making his debut in August.
His club-mates Connor Roberts and Daniel James have been included, but there is no place for Rodon...
So who is James Lawrence?
Left-sided defender Lawrence is currently plying his trade in the Belgian top-flight with Anderlecht, joining them in the summer after a four-year spell with Slovakian team AS Trencin.
Born in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire in 1992, he started his career in the youth ranks at Arsenal and QPR - playing alongside a certain Harry Kane with the Gunners - before his family made the move to Holland in 2008.
Lawrence recounted in a recent interview how he sent emails to clubs in Holland to see if there was any interest, and he was picked up by HFC Haarlem after a trial.
From there he moved to Eredivisie champions Ajax, where he was coached by childhood hero Dennis Bergkamp, before going on to have stints with Sparta Rotterdam and RKC Waalwijk.
His time with the former European champions was hampered by injury as well as a heart problem. Lawrence was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and underwent successful surgery.
During his final year in Holland he was enrolled at the Johan Cruyff institute in Amsterdam, a centre designed to help athletes and business professionals develop their skills in sports management. Lawrence completed his studies for an international masters in sports management.
He made the move to Slovakia in 2014, and scored on his debut for AS Trencin. He went on to help them win two Slovak Super
Liga and two Slovak Cup
titles, and experienced Champions League football with them.
He has gone on to play in the Europa League for Anderlecht this term, they are currently fourth in the Jupiler League.
How does he qualify for Wales?
Giggs revealed at his squad announcement that Lawrence qualifies to represent Wales through his grandmother.
“His grandmother is from Haverfordwest, that’s how he qualifies for Wales,” said the Wales boss. “We’re always looking for players that are available to play for Wales. We’ll then check them out and see if they’re good enough. James is playing at a good club and he’s playing regularly. “We were made aware of him over the last six months. He’s gone under the radar. He started at Arsenal and has played most his career abroad but he fits the profile of how I want to play.
“He’s a defender who likes to bring the ball out and he’s comfortable with the ball at his feet. I’m looking forward to seeing
him at close quarters.”
What has he said?
In recent years Lawrence has given wide-ranging interviews to the Daily
Mail and The Guardian about his unusual career progression, and the benefits he has experienced from playing football outside the UK.
“I now find the idea of playing in other countries exciting, whereas I feel like if I’d spent my whole career in England I might be more tentative about venturing abroad,” he told The
Guardian during his time in Slovakia. “Looking back it’s been a real adventure and has opened up the possibilities for the future. I’m playing for the best team in Slovakia.
“If we maintain our form we’ll be playing Champions League qualifiers next season. I couldn’t be happier about that.”
Has he got in ahead of Joe Rodon?
It’s hard to know if Lawrence and Rodon were directly head to head for the same particular spot in Giggs’ squad, there are nine defenders in the 26-man selection after all.
But his status as a left-sided centre-half casts him in a similar role to the one that Rodon has filled for Swansea for the majority of their SkyBet Championship campaign.
The 21-year-old has won a number of plaudits for his impressive form, and it was telling that Swansea boss Graham Potter talked of his signing a new deal last week as a statement for the club amidst reported interest from the Premier League, including champions Manchester City no less.
WalesOnline has learnt that Rodon’s name was on a larger provisional squad list, which was cut down to 26 before the final announcement was made.
Should Rodon have got the nod?
It would be unfair to turn any criticism on Lawrence over his selection because ultimately it is not his choice.
He has been offered the chance to play international football and no-one can say they would turn that opportunity down if they were in his position.
Hopefully he will do well in Wales colours if given the chance, but this is a choice that really does feel harsh on Rodon. He would be well within his rights to wonder what more he has to do to get in the senior squad.
Giggs spoke of Lawrence’s comfort on the ball and ability to bring it out from the back as key considerations in his selection.
If he has watched Rodon this term – and it is understood Giggs has not attended a fixture at the Liberty Stadium this season, although members of his coaching team have – then he would realise the Swansea man is far from lacking in those same qualities. Additionally, the message it sends out is something of a prod in the eye for the pathway system that the Football Association of Wales have done so much to put in place, developing an identity and way of playing through the age groups to the senior level.
The success of that programme can be clearly seen in the emergence of a number of talented young players into the senior ranks over the last 12 months and more.
Rodon has played for Wales at Under-20 level - featuring at the prestigious Toulon Tournament - and Under-21 level. He has skippered his side in both age-brackets.
He has answered his country’s call – in a recently named Under-21 squad only Regan Poole had more appearances to his name – and represented Wales with pride.
He has grasped his opportunity with both hands, every bit as effectively as Roberts and James. They thoroughly deserve their call-ups, their colleague deserved one too.
Ultimately these are the decisions Giggs is paid to make, he has to do the job how he sees fit because it’s his head on the block if things go wrong and he who will receive the plaudits if they go right.
Rodon also has time on his side, at just 21 he looks a young man destined to win may caps for his country at senior level. Some people may ask ‘ what’s the hurry?’ Surely he will get better with experience?
But, when you are performing to such a consistently high level and in such a rich vein of form, it’s very hard to understand why Wales have chosen to overlook him and, at the same time, opted to fast-track Lawrence.