Description
Issue 11 opens with Llion Carbis’ preview of the Trinidad & Tobago friendly, as international football returns to The Racecourse. It’s over a decade since Wales beat Norway 3-0 in a friendly at the oldest international venue still in use. We last played Slovakia in our opening Euro 2016 game in France, and we’ll be hoping for a similar result at the Cardiff City Stadium just four days after Wrexham. Llion previews our first Euro 2020 Qualifier.
James Thomas is a massive admirer of Manchester City midfielder, Matt Smith. Presently pulling the strings on loan at Dutch club, FC Twente, James is predicting great things for the maturing Wales star. Will Smith return to Manchester City at the end of his loan spell, or will he move on and continue his footballing education on the Continent? It’ll be fascinating to find out.
One of Wales Women’s biggest fans, Haley Evans, reviews her Wales away trip to watch our women in their 2 – 0 friendly defeat against Italy. Travelling overnight to watch the game in Cesena the following evening, what could possibly go wrong? Try Cesena in the snow! Haley also shares her thoughts on our qualifying group for Euro 2021.
Our failure to qualify for major tournaments is well documented. Not only do we not qualify, but we portray an incredible knack of falling at the last hurdle and being the architects of our own failure. Throw in a couple of dubious refereeing decisions and it’s quite a back catalogue. Perry Morgan does the maths in Last Game Deciders, reminiscing of what could and should have been.
Buzz Boncarth looks back at Wales match programmes of old. With the first of his regular column, Get With The Programme, he takes a look at the programme for Argentina’s only visit to Wales to date. Its Wales v Argentina on Wednesday 13th February 2002 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Having followed my country throughout my life, we’ve always been thin on the ground when it comes to the depth of our squad. In weeks leading up to a game, I’ve always been on tenter hooks in the hope that no-one gets injured playing for their club. Not now though. With the wealth of talent we have virtually all over the pitch, I tend to be more relaxed about things. Like most things, there’s always an exception, and in this case it’s our lack of an out-and-out striker. Guto Llewelyn looks at our centre-forward options in Vokes or Roberts.
What do Ruud Gullit and The Smurfs have in common? Barry Hughes, of course. Barry Hughes? No, me neither, but I should have. Ian Johnson introduces us to the amazing Welshman who plied his trade in the Netherlands in Go Ahead Barry Hughes. It’s an amazing read!
John Carrier brings us the second part of No-one Listens Until The Ground Shakes featuring extracts from his forthcoming book on the fascinating history of women’s football in Wales. This concluding part focuses on 1973 up to the present day.
There’ll Always Be an England – There are many hard luck stories in football management. Mark Evans looks back at one of the unluckiest, that of former Wales manager, Mike England.
For the culture vultures, this issue’s mix of music, politics, books and beer is quite a cocktail. Dave Owens popped backstage in Cardiff’s recent ‘Yes is More‘ gig and discussed independence with organiser, the Super Furries’ Cian Ciaran.
Scott Jones supplies the book review, with his take on “The Man Who Kept The Red Flag Flying”. ‘The Man’ in question is none other than former Wales manager and Manchester United backbone, Jimmy Murphy. With an exceptional eye for footballing talent and the ability of maximising potential, Rhondda-born Murphy remains the only manager ever take Wales to a World Cup Finals. What makes his story even more extraordinary is that he did it on a part-time basis why single-handedly rebuilding Manchester United after the Munich air disaster!
David Rees offers his tips for a tipple against Trinidad & Tobago and Slovakia in his regular column, Cwrw am Byth.
Ton Pentre’s Tony Evans opens up on following Wales, home and away, as he features in this issue’s Wales Fan Profile.