Luxembourg

Sums it u

Eric the Red signs for Golwg

Ever less frequent, Eric's contributions to this blog will grow silent for a time, while I shift allegiance to the Welsh language magazine "Golwg".

I will now be writing regular sports features for Golwg, and for the first time ever, I will be using my real name; Phil Stead.

Wales 0-0 Czech Republic

This was a memorable event, if not such a memorable game. Giggs' last game surprised me with the emotions it dredged up, from the crowd, from the man himself , and from me. I was a little choked as he walked off, but I can't put my finger on the exact reasons behind that. It was a combination of things. It was a sad conclusion to a famous international career - Giggs is probably the first player whose career I have witnessed from debut to retirement, apart from Gavin Maguire maybe. His departure was a stark reminder of our own mortality, and as I approach 40, these things tend to hit home. My mid-life crisis was further deepened by the reflection on Welsh failure that Giggs' career highlights. I have decided to stop thinking about it.

But Saturday will be remembered by me for very different, but equally earth-shattering reasons. I actually saw signs of life in Commins Coch. For years I have been driving up and down the A470, and this is the very first time that I saw a citizen of that hamlet. I once saw someone walking through, but this time, there was a man digging his garden. He looked a little like that "Oh I doon't believe it" bloke, but I don't think it was him.

I will never ever sit in the Family Stand again. I had bought a season ticket for my son and I, but I now dread each game. The seats are the worst in the ground - and yesterday we were hammered by the most blinding and uncomfortable sun that I can remember at a football match. But the worst problem is the horns. How long do we have to suffer? People can't smoke at football matches any more, but they can blast air horns all afternoon. They must be banned.
I might start an online petition, but I probably won't.

It's very easy to criticise Wales and Toshack at the moment. The tactics are negative, there is little excitement, and we rely on one or two playmakers to create something off their own back. Bellamy is isolated, we have wingbacks who get forward but have nobody to cross to. A few of our players are worse than mediocre, and everyone can see this.

But rarely do I hear anybody offering a solution. That's understandable because there just isn't one. With the group of players available, Toshack's tactics are unavoidable. We are easy to play against, and rarely cause teams problems. But more importantly, we have been easy to score against in the past, and that needed to be sorted out before we can look at more positive aspects.

Last week I listened to Kevin Ratcliffe taking Collins and Gabbidon apart. That wasn't just based on their lazy and rusty performances against New Zealand, but he was suggesting that they weren't the best defensive option for Wales' future. In fact, he was almost insisting it. So Kevin, tell me, even if James Collins hadn't made you look silly yesterdy, what is your suggestion? Would you leave Collins and Gabbidon on the bench for Steve Evans? Maybe pull Delaney across to centre half? I'd love to hear your answers, because like the rest of the pundits I hear criticism but no solutions.

And I've had it with Robbie Savage. I don't mind a silly rant now and again. It entertains me. But don't try to undermine our National team on the morning of a big game. That is simply disgraceful. You had my sympathies before, I understood that you had special needs, but this has crossed the line from stupidity to nastiness. You gone from wanker to bastard in my estimation.

The lack of a target man really does limit our attacking options, and it frustrates me no end. I can only offer one suggestion. Eifion Williams.

Have you stopped laughing? I know he's just been released by Hartlepool, but at 0-0 with 10 minutes to go, I would feel more enthusiastic about our chances of getting a goal if we had a centre forward on the pitch who knows where he should stand, and has a good record of kicking and heading a football in between the posts. Even Tosh's tactic if playing Collins up there would have been preferable to the lack of presence that defined our attacks in yesterday's game. But to use Tosh's well worn metaphor, we would have pulled the sheet up over our head, but our feet would have gone cold, and I dare say we would have lost the game.

So where do we go from here? Ryan Giggs' claim that the future is bright just doesn't wash, and we all know it. The future is better perhaps, because I don't think it could get any worse. That was a fine performance by a limited team, but for how long will 30,000 people pay to watch that level of fotball? The next campaign must see a return to £10 tickets or a visit to a Wales home game will be even more dispiriting than it currently is.

I made yesterday's trip by car in a return trip that took the best part of 8 hours. The new air service from Anglesey to Cardiff has been launched but there are no weekend flights. Whilst I'm sure that there are very good logistical reasons for this, I wonder if there is any hope of arranging special flights for sporting internationals down in Cardiff? I have booked a flight for Wales rugby international v Japan on a Thursday night which means I can leave home at 5pm, but which requires an overnight stay, and some means of reaching Rhoose Airport by 6.30am. I'm sure that there is demand for a flight which fits around both sports internationals, and a specially arranged flight returning at 10pm would have lots of takers I'm sure. Is this an opportunity for another online petition?

Giggs - boo or cheer?

The news that Ryan Giggs is to retire after Saturday's game against the Czech Republic has left me reeling. My first reaction is one of panic, disappointment, and even mortality. That young lad who was scoring free kicks against Belgium in the early nineties is to stop playing for us. How can this be? Does everything have to stop? It seems so.

The decision is another kick in the teeth for Wales. We need to know why so many of our best players feel that they can't be bothered to turn out for Wales, something the rest of us would sell our Grandmothers for. Let's just look at the team we could put out on Saturday.

Coyne; Delaney, Bale, Collins, Gabbidon, Speed, Savage, Giggs, Davies, Bellamy, Earnshaw.

I wouldn't mind backing that team, but in crucial areas, we have players missing that we just can't afford. And they're missing out of choice. Take Giggs out of that lineup and things look really depressing.

Even when we have been really poor and seemingly hopeless, the presence of Giggs on the field has been reassuring, some cause for optimism. And let's face it. Giggs' presence has doubled crowds over the past ten years. we can all complain about the kids blowing their hooters, but we'll soon find out that life without the Giggs fans is even worse.

What irks me is that Giggs apparently made his decision to retire after the game in Dublin, a game in which he was totally ineffectual, and played far below his club standards. This is something we've become used to, but nevertheless if he had played half decently, he wouldn't be retiring now.

He had many detractors amongst Welsh fans, some of whom wanted him dropped due to his paltry total of friendly appearances. Well they're going to get their chance to experience life without him, and it isn't going to be pretty.

More immediately, I'm not sure what my reaction will be on Saturday. Do I applaud and respect the best footballer that we've had since Billy Meredith? Or do I boo a man that is undoubtedly letting us down?

Welsh football is at a low already, and it's going to get a lot, lot lower. Who will be the next rat to desert the sinking ship?

Campione Y Felinheli !

Last night, Y Felinheli Under 17s went to Holyhead and drew 0-0, a result which made them Champions of the Anglesey League (there is no league in Gwynedd).

It was a result which gave me as much pleasure as any professional game in my long history fo watching football. The distinction between the grassroots game and the professional game is become increasingly blurred for me. And on a night when Liverpool beat Chelsea in front of millions, the small band of travelling supporters at Holyhead felt the same elation as the millions who have latched on to those big teams.

It was a night which justified our decision to form the club 2 years ago. The people who converged on the pitch to celebrate with the lads have all played their part in the success. I looked around me and saw the faces of people who have given up so much time over the years for the benefit of football in the village, and they all deserved to share the celebrations. There can't be that many youth teams that travel 25 miles to play their penultimate game.

This was potentially an explosive encounter. We had beaten Holyhead 6-5 earlier in the season, in a match which left our goalkeeper scarred, and Holyhead walking off the field in protest after having two goals disallowed. There were muttered threats about the return game, but in fact the game was played in decent spirit, greatly helped by the league's decision to supply official linesmen.

It was an emotional evening for Joe, the manager. Having managed the same group of players for 10 years, representing a neighbouring village, this was an achievement which saluted his skill and commitment, and which crowned his time as their coach. Softly spoken and easy going, the team plays in his image, and their extraordinary discipline is a reflection of the respect he holds amongst the team and his peers in local football.

I have watched this side often, and they have given me a lot of pleasure. Their football is fluid, controlled, and seemingly effortless. They have come through in the face of intimidation throughout the season, without once responding in kind. I know it's a cliche, but last night was a victory for football. They proved that you don't need to snarl and growl your way to success.

Some of you may scoff at the eulogies I give for our little team, but others will recognise that our small success means as much to us as any glittering television spectacular. The simple fact is
that we don't need to share our delight with millions of others. The happy faces in the Fic last night weren't celebrating a Liverpool win, they were celebrating a tremendous achievement by Joe and Gwil, their team of players, and the community of football in Y Felinheli.

Llongyfarchiadau!