It was ridiculous to make an unknown 16 year old boy the youngster ever welsh cap. He has not played a first team game. He is a schoolboy. I doubt he has even done his O levels. He is obviously not of international standard. It makes a complete mockery of international football. It is an insult to the many welsh players have eked out a career in the lower leagues and never played for their country. It puts unbelievable pressure on the boy to be saddled with this badge. Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and before him Ryan Giggs had played first team football in the Football league; their selection was merited. Wilson's was not. BUT the most unforgiving and damning part of the whole sorry episode is that it was a cynical ploy to prevent the boy from playing for another country. The very fact he is primarily welsh qualified aside; the rule permit a choice in certain circumstances, makes no difference. I suspect he will not feature for Wales for a long time for two reasons. One he is not good enough and two he has not played enough football. ps. I wonder if Wilson will become best known for an answer to a quiz question, and not his international footballing pedigree.
I agree with you, but I would also say that allowing a player to play for a country he was not born in, nor were his parents, but only his grandparent was, a bigger mockery of international football. Or that players can play for a nation after is it, what 5 years? That is a mockery of international football. I am afraid that although you are right that he is too young, international football has been a mockery for far too long for this to have any effect. I think the only difference in regards to playing for a country (In my opinion) should be if you have lived in a country for longer than 5 years, PRIOR to your 18th birthday, in regards that you are brought up in the country. That way you are covering those who moved after say a few months of being born, and all they know is that country.
Not cheap for his grand-dad who put £50 on him to play for Wales when he was aged 3. The odds..........2,500/1 making a payout of £125,000. Coleman's ratonale was that the English FA had been sniffing around as he has an English grandparent making him eligible for them. He now can't play for anyone but Wales.
While not wholly agreeing with I can understand the Wilson situation and Wales' desire to get him tied in bearing in mind the relatively small talent pool we work with - and his grandad's pleasure at fleecing the bookies for £125k. What? His grandad was on the Wales selection panel? Only joking. However, the England situation with Januzaj is ridiculous. The lad is clearly Belgian with Balkan parentage and even Turkish ancestry. He only came here to play football. He has no UK links beyond this. Again I can understand England's desire to lock in a very good young player but if they do so it makes an absolute mockery of any qualification rules. Might just as well go on holiday to Portugal and say you want to play for them.
the lad wanted to play for Wales & considers himself Welsh so why even give the english the chance to turn his head. It was only for the last 3 minutes or so anyway and it's always nice to see the bookies getting a beating.
Can't agree with all this my grandfather once went to Aberdare stuff. When I started watching Wales we had true Welshmen playing like, Eddie Niedzwiecki, John Toshack and Dick Krzywicki. Lets go back to the good old days.
Recall him netting for Wales at Ninian in 1970 home internationals. 1-1 draw I think. George Berry, Pat Van Der Hauwe, Eric Young and Vinnie Jones were as welsh as Tony Cascarino, Andy Townshend and Ray Houghton were irish.
