Craig Bellamy needs an ‘identification’ for his workforce, however the final purpose is identical – to qualify for the key tournaments and be on the World Cup and Euros social gathering, writes Geraint Hughes.
So the long-term plan of attending to the World Cup in 2026 after which additionally a ‘dwelling’ Euros in 2028 isn’t any completely different to the real looking aspirations of earlier Wales managers.
Rob Web page, Ryan Giggs and Chris Coleman all performed their half in Wales qualifying for Euro 2016 and 2020, and the 2022 World Cup. With a bunch of gifted gamers, that sure, did embody Gareth Bale, and a construction and funding behind the scenes from the FAW, these goals have been achieved.
It is a cause why Wales falling brief to qualify for this summer season’s Euros in Germany damage a lot. Wales banked on qualifying and regardless of being a penalty kick from a June soiree with France and the Netherlands, they did not make it.
It felt uncommon not unfortunate. Finally, it additionally value Rob Web page his job as the lads’s senior workforce supervisor.
So Craig Bellamy’s final long-term ambition and the instruction from the FAW hierarchy hasn’t altered – Wales not solely need to be at World Cups and Euros, they count on to.
Craig Bellamy feels completely different although. Do not misunderstand, all managers, coaches aren’t similar, removed from it, however Bellamy actually does really feel like one thing very, very completely different. Overlook any preconceived concepts of him as a participant, that is Bellamy the supervisor, the coach.
Wales’ journey to any future World Cup or Euros beneath him goes to have a singular really feel on and off the pitch and it begins at dwelling to Turkey in Cardiff on Friday night time within the Nations League.
Whereas the purpose to qualify for main tournaments just isn’t a brand new goal, it is the best way Bellamy and ‘his’ Wales workforce go about it that does represent a brand new period. There’s been speak of depth about the best way Wales need to play, and within the brief interval I have been in a position to observe and absorb all the things Bellamy talks about, it is honest to say that could be a very seen factor of how Bellamy needs to teach and put together his gamers.
Aaron Ramsey says Craig Bellamy has instantly made a optimistic impression and the Wales gamers have plenty of contemporary ways to tackle board
In footballing phrases, Bellamy needs his gamers to have the physique language which tells the passionate Welsh followers that they’re sweating blood and tears for his or her nation. That should not be a troublesome ask as this group of gamers have made it clear how a lot they love enjoying for his or her nation.
So for Bellamy it is a good match. He can even demand extra, do not count on any Wales participant to be standing nonetheless waving palms or arms round, that simply just isn’t going to be acceptable for Bellamy. He needs them targeted on the place the ball is, the place they must be and the place the following cross might come from the place the following defensive section might come up from.
Count on a workforce that presses excessive up the pitch that wishes to win the ball again as rapidly as is humanly doable, and in addition count on a workforce that performs at tempo – whether or not that be on the counter-attack, or whether or not meaning getting the ball ahead rapidly. It is about attacking the opposition at each alternative and never losing these alternatives.
It is also been apparent that off the sphere issues are completely different beneath Bellamy in his coaching periods. Bellamy actively turns into concerned whether or not it is a fast faucet on the shoulder of a participant to have a 10-second chat with them or whether or not he is getting concerned in a warm-up drill, he is very a lot the hands-on coach.
Bellamy is beneath contract with Wales for the following 4 years
And the gamers have observed this as nicely and are fairly comfortable speaking about how the workforce conferences are longer than they’ve been beforehand and that there’s a lot of element to tackle board, however there may be an understanding why. Bellamy needs to play in a distinct model and that takes the involvement and the engagement of the gamers, so there may be going to be an terrible lot of element that’s being taught by Bellamy to his new workforce.
It actually seems from the primary week that the gamers and Bellamy are having fun with this new relationship, this begin to a brand new period for Wales.
