Tosh talks tough
When RedHanded sat down with John Toshack several months ago it was hard not
to feel sorry for the big man of Welsh football. His problem, he confessed,
was that he had old fashioned values which ran counter to the beliefs of
the young millionaires he coaches. One such belief was that an international
call-up was an honour, irrespective of whether the player got a cap at the
end of the day. Some players, he suggested, would strop if they went away
with the team and did not play. Fast-forward to September and Paul Parry
announced he would not play again so long as the Welsh team remains under “current
management”. The decision came two days after he was left on the bench
against Azerbaijan. “What can you do?” asked Toshack, holding
his hands up. Some are now suggesting his old fashioned views don’t
work with modern players - at least 12 players have quit since Toshack took
over in 2004, with three admitting to problems with him - and he should be
replaced. That would be a travesty. The only things that need to be replaced
are the spoilt footballers who are too arrogant to fight for a place in the
team. Toshack is a good, forward-thinking coach with a long-term plan that
could pay real dividends if individuals placed more importance on the squad
than themselves.
Sail of the century?
It was a similar story in the sailing camp,
where the real optimism is reserved
for 2012. Not only is Cardiff’s Hannah Mills, 20, being hyped as one to
watch in London after winning the world junior championships, but 18-year-old
Anglesey sailor Eifion Mon recently came third in Europe at the under-18 Laser
championships. Ainslie who?
A Virtuous Welsh Cycle
Great Britain was the toast of the cycling world at the Beijing Olympics, but
on closer inspection, it seems Wales can afford themselves a gulp of the champagne.
You see, not only were Nicole Cooke and Geraint Thomas part of the team that
brought home eight gold medals – Thomas correctly predicted in the last
issue of this magazine he would top the podium – but five of the 23-strong
support staff are from this country.
It’s official…
Riath Al-Samarrai is Richie McGowan. Who’d have thought it?