Tuesday 16 June 2015

Coleman rises from the pits

While all eyes dwell on the marvellous talent of Gareth Bale, the man at the heart of Wales’ unprecedented vaulting of football ambition has skirted the limelight. Chris Coleman’s exploits at the helm of the principality’s soccer side has already broken the fateful heights of Mark Hughes’ tenure a decade ago.


Having followed the often-doomed adventures of the national side for a number of years, the astuteness of the tactics I've seen across this qualification campaign, and most pivotally during the defeat of Belgium on Friday night, is a quality unheard of for Cymru, at least where an oval ball is not concerned. There is no denying that the Belgians are rated as the second best side in the world based solely on the whims of a corrupt organisation, nevertheless, there is equally little debate in suggesting that the formidable attacking prowess of Hazard, Benteke and Lukaku was savagely blunted by Coleman’s modern game-plan.

For the ex-Fulham coach, it was the job that he had spent years preparing for, but when the time came to finally accept the appointment, they were under bitter circumstances. The premature and tragic death of Gary Speed left a void that stretched way beyond the staffing requirements of the Welsh Football Association.

After an immediate sink in form to four consecutive losses, seemingly derailing everything the late manager achieved in his final post, there was no case for dismissing the grief that his players were still carrying. It is remarkable, therefore, that the team’s fortunes have recovered so vibrantly over the past 20 months.

Coleman, a Swansea man from birth, has led his charge into uncharted territory after six unbeaten competitive fixtures. The records are staggering: a probable top World Cup seeding, Wales’ highest FIFA ranking in its history and leaning on the verge of a first major tournament since 1958 – the year Castro joined Communist forces in an invasion of Batista’s Cuba.

Few could have expected such a promising situation from the person who left Greek side AE Larissa to take the reins of his homeland’s hopes. Whereas previously comparisons with Alex Ferguson extended only as far a joking reference to their mutual affection for chewing gum, it may not be long before he outdoes the Scotsman’s own record in international competitions.

After three consecutive games unbeaten against the World Cup quarter-finalists from Brussels, it cannot be said that the improvement in results is any short term fluke. While Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale and Ashley Williams have rightly claimed the headlines, make no mistake that the man on the touchline is the real architect of this unprecedented success – and I don’t mean the fourth official.

Not only has Coleman inspired his squad of predominantly Championship players into a gutsy, confident unit, but also has them playing a dangerous brand of counter-attacking football. Aside from a narrow escape on Andorra’s horrendous artificial turf, each result in Group A has relied on a solid equilibrium of defensive solidity, exemplified by only three goals conceded to date, and the exploitation of two star assets in attacking roles.

Bale’s improved form for his country is much publicised already. Less chatter, in comparison, is devoted to the consummate ease with which Chris Gunter (Reading), James Chester (Hull City) and Neil Taylor (Swansea City) have all worked interchangeably in a loose defensive five. Each of these defenders harried, blocked and intercepted the Flemings’ bursts forward with a maturity undiscovered so far in their domestic outings. This unbreakable backbone extends across the middle of the pitch where the two Joe’s – Ledley and Allen – play the all-important possession game and seek to supply their Galactico in fruitful positions.

Unlike the sloppy and old-fashioned tactical tempo of the other home nations (see ROI vs Scotland for evidence), most of whom still employ orthodox wingers despite their increasing irrelevance to the modern game, Coleman’s preference for wing backs and a condensed core in midfield has led to pacy and direct football. Friday evening proved that positional pioneers like Belgium, or indeed any continental opponent, can be humbled by the reversal of their own style of play, as happened when Taylor and Swansea teammate Jazz Richards had free reign of the flanks for the entire duration.

As their rivals tire and weaken, especially in the case of lesser nations such as Israel, Wales have gained great advantages by unleashing the speed of Ramsey and Bale to blitz their exasperated markers.

The maturity with which these plans have been developed and executed is a far cry from the days of John Toshack, when systems changed as quickly as the team sheet. Whatever is being said by Coleman (a manager with much less pedigree than his journeyman predecessor), it is clear that his players are listening and acting on his words.

On the eve of this campaign’s hopeful conclusion for Euro 2016, the new unexpected threat to Wales’ dream is that their leader is lured away by domestic suitors, typically offering higher wages and more regular workload as their chief temptation. If/when that place in France next summer is assured, renewed offers are guaranteed to follow.

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