Next for Wales
mitment to the Wales cause as a player, having missed so many friendly internationals.
Nonetheless, sometimes the FAW just have to make tough calls. Remember, not too many wanted Coleman to replace Gary Speed. Many hard-core fans were against that one, so too some players who seemed to be advocating Speed’s No2 Raymond Verheijen staying at the helm.
However, the FAW hierarchy had decided upon Coleman and despite disquiet, were sticking to their guns by going after him.
They were proven right then. If they feel Giggs is the right man for the job this time, they will go with their instincts again. YES. Tony Pulis’ name would invariably come into the frame. Quite how his Route One approach with West Brom and Stoke would fit into the ‘Welsh Way’ of pass and move would remain to be seen.
Craig Bellamy would be interested.
The FAW have never been shy of appointing a Welsh candidate with no managerial experience.
Robert Page, a former skipper under John Toshack, has his own foot in the door as Under-21 boss, but that appointment wouldn’t be overly-popular with the fans. Here are a couple of left-field suggestions. What about Thierry Henry, or Marcel Desailly, who have each done their coaching badges in Wales and have the utmost respect for the set-up put together here by Coleman’s No2 Osian Roberts? Henry is Belgium’s assistant manager, but could become available after the World Cup. Desailly may fancy a crack at management. They would have to accept a salary significantly lower than figures they are accustomed to. On the other hand, there are only so many international manager jobs available in world football and bossing this group of gifted Wales players would appeal.
Whatever, the FAW would advertise any role, should it become vacant, and see who applied. WHAT ABOUT COLEMAN’S NO2 OSIAN ROBERTS? HE would have to be a contender for the main job, too. In fact, keeping hold of Roberts and the superb sports science approach he has brought to the dressing room, is far more important than retaining Coleman himself.
Roberts may work behind the scenes, but he is a brilliant modernday coach and the Welsh players love his innovative approach.
If Coleman were to go back into club management, he may wish to take Roberts’ expertise with him. The splendid work Roberts has done with Wales – the youth set-up and senior team – hasn’t gone unnoticed in Premier League boardrooms.
However, it is imperative to Welsh football’s future that Roberts’ services are retained here.
In his capacity as technical director of the FAW Trust, it is Roberts who put in place the youth development system that has seen Wales punch above their weight and even snatch dual-qualified talented teens such as Ben Woodburn, Ethan Ampadu and David Brooks from England.
Whether Coleman goes or not, Roberts must stay and continue working with the senior team as part of his duties. IS THE FUTURE STILL RED? YES. There is an understandable sense of deflation at the moment. Suddenly we don’t have a competitive game for another 11 months, we wonder what comes next.
The reality of what has just happened will hit home even harder when the World Cup takes place without Wales next summer. We were good enough to get there.
However, there are still hugely gifted players in this Wales team and youngsters emerging to freshen things up.
As for the fans, well they have proven to be amongst the best in the world. The signing of the anthem on Monday night was utterly spine-tingling.
There are plenty of reasons for optimism, still. Roll on Euro 2020.