IT'S WAY TOO EARLY TO TURN ON GIGGS / SAYS

IT'S WAY TOO EARLY TO TURN ON GIGGS


By Paul Abdanatto


Wednesday 12th June 2019


Football being what it is in 2019, a couple of bad results - even in tough games away from home - and there are calls from some for the manager to go.

In the age of social media we're being told Giggs is clueless, lacks passion, is out of his depth. Heck there were even a couple of posts I saw claiming Russell Slade would make a better Wales manager!

One presumes the last point was tongue-in-cheek, but when it comes to the views of a few Wales fans about Giggs you never know.

There was the #AnyoneButGiggs hashtag doing the rounds before he was appointed on a four-year deal by the FA of Wales. Doubtless many of those signing up to that are also part of the #GiggsOut hashtag that started up post-Hungary.

The frustrations after two key Euro defeats are entirely understandable, but there needs to be a double dose of reality here.

The first is that Giggs is going nowhere. The FAW are amongst the most loyal employers in world football and their goal under Giggs is to reach the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

Other than Mike Smith during his second spell in charge during the mid-1990s, I can't remember another Wales manager being sacked mid-contract.

Whatever the outcry from some, the FAW won't be listening to it. Giggs was desperate for the Wales job. He won't be walking away. His immediate attention has already turned to how to win the remaining qualifiers.

The second reality check is exactly where Wales stand right at this moment in time.

The golden period of the Euros, when Chris Coleman could call upon Premier League regulars, has gone. The core of his side was made up of players in their prime who were playing top flight football most weeks - Wayne Hennessey, Ashley Williams, James Chester, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor, Joe Allen, Joe Ledley, Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale.

Giggs Class of 2019 has just two. Chris Mepham and David Brooks. They're each just 21, hardly seasoned professionals.

Whatever the potential and undoubted talent of the young guns, the fact remains Dan James, Harry Wilson and Tom Lawrence have been playing Championship football. So too Allen, 34-year-old skipper Williams and Chris Gunter.

Hennessey isn't in the Crystal Palace team, Davies has made way to Danny Rose at Spurs, Ethan Ampadu hasn't yet been close to the Chelsea starting XI.

As for Gareth Bale, we know what's happened there. More of that in a moment.

The FAW felt the team needed changing post-Coleman and are mindful that it will take time. They will give Giggs that time. Hence anybody expecting him to go, or fall on his sword, is being rather naive.

He'll be in situ until the end of the World Cup campaign. The Euros are something of a stepping stone towards that for the young guns.


That doesn't mean Giggs' decisions shouldn't be constructively scrutinised. Not picking Brooks in Croatia and dropping Mepham for Hungary were highly questionable choices.

Playing Wilson as centre-forward in the first game, James in the second, were eyebrow-raising decisions when the role would have been more suited to Bale. Or even Sam Vokes.

Wales were also far too tentative in the first-half in Budapest. The manager has to take responsibility for those tactics.

But the theory from some that this is the best Wales squad in history simply does not stack up, when you consider where the players are at this stage of their careers.

Too many have been in the Championship - including Allen and Williams - or not picked by their clubs, or are still learning the game.

The youngsters will get better and better. The key is that Giggs learns as manager too. He has taken up the ropes at the harshest of levels where there is no hiding place.

Even to Giggs' supporters the jury remains out on whether he'll be a success as Wales boss.

But the FAW will judge him in 2022, not after just three Euro qualifiers.

And rightly so, too.

Agree with most of this.

Agree with most of this.

It takes time to turn things around and get players use to new style play, trouble is fans don't like Giggs which is clouding their judgement things become clearer after next two games....

For me, I had doubt in the first place and now I believe Giggs is not the man for Wales. The team seems to be all over the place and worst of all lack passion.

nobody has turned..
there were those that were willing to give him a chance, who mostly are.

and those dead set against him who cant wait to be proved correct..