OK time for another 'The-Season-Hasn't-Started-And-We're-Bored' thread. After another embarrassing night for Welsh clubs in Europe is there a case for a FAEW (wait for it...Football Association of England & Wales)? Now I know it'll never happen and this isn't about Welsh independence as a nation. Mabon you have been warned! But Wales, with a population not much larger than Birmingham, has produced some world class footballers who have never graced an international stage of note because inevitably they've been surrounded by inferior players. In relatively recent times Rush, Hughes, Giggs, Bellamy, Ramsay, Bale and possibly more would have all made a combined England & Wales team. Our world class players would get the opportunity to perform on a world stage and the team would have a real chance of winning something for once. The LOW is a laughing stock and as for the FAW is there anyone outside the organisation that respects them? It's possible that with a full integration of associations competition would improve, with Welsh sides having to raise standards to compete with their English counterparts. Works well for the Swans. Integration works for the Olympics - we're still proud as a nation of Dai Green aren't we? Also works in cricket where Wales has produced England captains in the past. Is there a case that parochial national pride is getting in the way of success or would it be just an artificial construct with no real identity, neither English nor Welsh? Swallow your pride and be successful or forever be resigned to failure? Another important question is whether our English cousins would want it! Just a fun debate and don't take it too seriously, fellas! Prepare for incoming!!!!
Bored is not the word! Mabon will be none too pleased with this offering, and rightly so, The FAW might be useless, but that's not an excuse to merge with the English FA, Where would impartiality come from, I sure don't trust the English, and I'm sure Mabon doesn't either, so a none starter from me, besides the answer, would be to have a complete root and branch overhaul of the FAW, getting rid of the old boys network, starting fresh with young blood is the real and only answer!................
That's why I mentioned him Dilli. Not a suggestion really, but an interesting debate. I for one can see the benefits, but I can also see some equally justifiable objections. Proud to have Welsh players in a team that could seriously challenge for one of the world's great football prizes, or proud of being "gallant losers" yet again? Or is that akin to selling out like those up the M4 have done? Controversial for sure, even though it'll never happen.
Good thread in terms of debate. But the way I see it, if we had started the European qualifying group as we ended it we would have qualified with ease. We're getting better as a nation and have some real young talent coming through the ranks. If we keep progressing the way we are/were (need to see how Coleman does first) then I firmly believe we will be qualifying for major competitions on a regular basis... Not saying we will ever have a chance of winning them mind as England would, but at least it will restore some pride into the nation.
I agree. Wales have improved of late and have Speed to thank for that, fair play. Whether the Swans way of doing things will have an influence I don't know. I'm worried about Coleman though.
Agree, starting to feel a little concerned. I do however agree about the FAW being cack. I would hate to think they have taken much credit in the recent success of the national team and us. Appointing Speed was about the only thing they have done right over the last 5-10 years. We've had loads of conversations on here about the way we (as a club) have suffered a bit from the Cardiff bias within the FAW and many of us have questioned what the point of them at all is being that we are in an English league... Personally I'd like to see our LOW teams ply their trade against English teams as it would improve the level over the years...however that would then bring into question all the issues concerning FIFA we've been discussing on the other threads.
Just for the record, I had one hell of a nightmare the other night regarding Coleman and Wales, and he blew it big time, so hope I'm wrong on this, but my gut feeling is not good!..............
C'mon Mabon Aussies started a good thread here what's your take mate ? Personally I don't see any harm in it
Good idea .... Why not give it go. I am sure the England will always have the best interest of Welsh youngsters at heart. NOT!
I would go for it, we have the cricket as an example. But let me throw this in as well, how many of you wanted the swans to be in the FA instead of the FAW ? This happened last year, and we are now part of the FA setup now. Now it is sort of double standards if you are for one but against the other I think. It won't happen though unless there is a true British side instead of the national ones now, plus a British league system.
My thoughts too Swim, though I do like Stuart Pearce, the team GB kit is nice, must admit it looks a bit Italian!..... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
It depends where you see the value in having a national team. If it's purely about being successful, then yes there is a case to be made for a merger. However, in my opinion it would be a horrendous move. With the game at club level being completely driven by money and rich clubs buying success, international football is the only remaining, truly representative game at professional level. With the "winning is all" ethos being rammed into fans, especially youngsters, there has to be some checks and balances in the game and it's about time we returned to the ethos (at least at international level) of supporting a team because they are made up of your countrymen, and that this support is unconditional. This ethos needs to be drummed into players and supporters alike. I agree that the FAW are somewhat living in the dark ages and that the responsibility of bringing on the gifted in Wales is largely being shouldered by the two senior clubs in Wales, clubs that play in the predominately English pyramid system, but this should not be the catalyst for anything that even slightly prejudices our identity as an internation al team in it's own right. I reiterate, for me, it's time we fans learned to love our national side unconditionally and not wait for the good times before we come out in numbers - there's enough of that at club level. Mabs, sorry if I stole your thunder.
The problem with supporting your country as the above post is that Wales are crap and that shows clearly by the level of support. People are losing interest by the drivel of the football offered, to be fair speed was changing that but we are back at square one now. I support the swans only and don't really care about the international football, but support the Wales rugby massively, so it's not about not caring I'm welsh just that I don't care about the Wales football itself and the mismanagement by the FAW
I hear you loud and clear valleyswan, but there was a time not so long ago when the Welsh rugby team were crap and were being mismanaged by the RFU but support was as strong as ever. The point I was trying to make in my earlier post is that someone has to take the lead in getting back to the ethos where players want to play for and welsh folk want to support, their national team. I think by standing back and not caring, we are never going to effect change. Merging with England would be trying to buy into the success of someone who is far closer to it than ourselves - another case of trying to buy success. The more we turn out in numbers and get behind the guys representing us, the more they will want to play for their country. I know in the modern game, this is quite a difficult concept to understand, but let's make playing for Wales important again and put pressure on FAW to manage it a bit better.
The Welsh FA are crap, solution would be to sort it out not change everything! We are a small nation and will sometimes punch above our weight and sometimes/more often will not. I will support Wales but will not support them due to all the stupidity of (mainly) Cardiff fans wearing Cardiff shirts and causing nonsense. If we all could cheer for Wales I would go as I used to do! That would be through thick and thin!
Fair shout Rhod, and yes, the idiots from both factions have had an influence. If, as you say the majority are Cardiff fans, then I'm happy to publicly disown them, but I've seen similar behaviour from both camps. I think we could take a leaf out of the books of supporters in the north of our country. Again, someone has to take the lead in ousting this minority that affects the support of the truly passionate majority. Agree with what you say, make the changes from within and accept who we are - and be proud of it.
The obstacle to Wales getting any where is the FAW, and until there is a complete culture change, and some young fresh blood brought in, then we are always going to stumble from one disaster to another, Mark Hughes had some good fortune with the quality experienced players he had, but the FAW and his set up, had nothing building behind the scenes, then Toshack, came along, with his prehistoric game plan that killed all interest from the Welsh public, now to my surprise Speed started looking to Swansea for inspiration, and started a solid foundation, and some promising results, playing the game the right way, but sadly once again the FAW move to bring it all tumbling down, with the appointment of Coleman, I don't even care if he's a Swansea boy, got no faith in him doing anything, but blowing it, hope I'm wrong for Wales sake, but every time of late that I've asked my boys to come and watch Wales play, the response I get, is " No thanks dad, Wales are crap" so we are losing generations of support, and this can only be turned around by the appointment of the right manager, and Coleman in my view was a big mistake, but I'll give him time to prove me wrong, but the boy is to negative for my liking!...............
The point is that it's expensive to follow Wales, and there is little end product, also there doesn't appear any will to change. I think most of the problems are actually caused by the FAW so unless there is change there things will continue. In regards to the rugby, we are a rugby supporting nation and there is always expectation that we will win, and let's face it we qualify for all the major competitions, unlike the football where we haven't since my parents were nippers.
