The Welsh FA have long been thwarted in their desire for progression due to the insular beings within the entity we now know as the FAW.( Football Association of Wales ) Yes, the days of Alun Evans are long gone when a correctly monikered tie was your key to the door. However, there’s still something not right in the governing bodies transmissions or maybe what it authorises ?
I’m only asking questions, some though are based on fact. Past fact, and definitely future fact.
As a business the FAW dip, dive swoop and soar as the countries football success has now gone from Paul Bodin nights of dismay to European success in 2016. Of course that’s success in a Welsh way not in the way our close neighbours would agree with. I get the impression that the signing of Joe Allen (below) by Swansea City came with a desire to boost the presence of the city within the national squad as much as his value to the club overall. Or maybe the signing of Joe Allen did exactly that and the undertone has been lost on us ?
Realistically if fit Joe goes to Qatar alongside Ben Cabango, that’s pretty much nailed on. Of course a succession of Swansea City academy products will also travel, Connor Roberts, Joe Rodon and we can argue Daniel James will also be present in this already beleaguered tournament. Injury issues considered. Rubin Colwill as an example has his flag carriers, not least within the Welsh media but also the Wales ( Cymru ) manager as well. I see little in this twenty year old that would enthuse me should our country need some form of assistance with ten minutes to go against the USA as an example. However, it does raise an eyebrow when Cardiff manager, Mark Hudson, still surprisingly buoyant and in employment says regards his youth product. "He will be fit and available for that selection. I spoke with Rob Page briefly last week, we had a conversation, which was good. The physios speak regularly, I spoke with Rob and told him where we are at with Rubin. It's about getting him ramped right up and ready to go. It's taken longer than we would have wanted. It's something Rubin is frustrated with and so are we, that we haven't had him for selection for a while. But he looked bright and like Rubin yesterday, which is good."
Rubin is a good player, a big lad as well, but the pressure being exerted within Cardiff has to come from somewhere. You can understand the concern regards Joe Allen, a seasoned and when fit match winner for Wales. But Rubin Colwill ? And even Isaak Davies getting a push forwards as well. The FAW obviously want more Wales based players in their side, and I challenge them regards the Davies and Colwill issue. Are we really to expect their inclusion in lieu of say Ollie Cooper ? I would say if it’s a toss up between him and Colwill, albeit slightly different players positionally then Colwill gets the nod. An injured player as opposed to a player in form and enjoying the best football of his life, scoring goals and making things tick for his club, Swansea City.
I will say this if Cooper played for Cardiff he would already be on the provisional list. Of course this is pure conjecture, at the moment at least.
Next week Rob Page names his Cymru squad for Qatar 2022. He has managed the country to a World Cup for the first time since 1958, and all that. He is in such a privileged position and despite many misgivings early on has manoeuvred himself in to Welsh football history. But with that comes impartiality and the ability to determine your own mind and take a longer view. Of course nobody is saying Page has his favourites or lacks transparency to hold his own mind. However are the FAW in some way putting pressure on him ? It’s just a question. Page’s World Cup squad will be illustrated by the potential call up of Chris Gunter, he of AFC Wimbledon in league two. That’s where things will become sticky for me. I can deal with Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale, they still have something to offer, but another inclusion could be Jonny Williams, now of Swindon, another league two player.
Or are we to be happy with Cardiff City substitute Mark Harris ?
If people don’t see my concerns then that’s fine, this is a viewpoint not an accusation, but it’s the Ollie Cooper question for me that’s causes grave concern. If he doesn’t make the squad and a plethora of others do questions should be asked. These are great times for Welsh football, and Welsh football needs the best they can select, especially as I said when you look at the bench and see those we have mentioned here.
And no Ollie Cooper.