Swansea have educated us all,have lit the light SAYS BELLAMY

Craig Bellamy praises Speed and Swansea City over Wales progress

2014 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER - WALES V CROATIA
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea Date: 26 March, 2013 Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Wales & online, live text online

Craig Bellamy says the legacy of late Wales manager Gary Speed has been combined with Swansea City's tactical example to underpin the national team's improved recent form.

The Cardiff City star says Speed's successor Chris Coleman is continuing with the Speed-Swans philosophy.
And Bellamy says evidence of its success could be seen in their 2-1 World Cup qualifier win over Scotland.
"Swansea have educated us all. Swansea have lit the light," said Bellamy.


"We had an incredible human being [Speed] who came into our national squad as manager and wanted to emphasise that.
"Cookie's [Coleman] trying to do the same as well and trying to deliver the same philosophy."
Wales fought back from 1-0 down at Hampden Park on Friday to win 2-1, leaving Bellamy toasting one of the "proudest" games of his international career.
They now go on to face Croatia in Group A on Tuesday at Swansea's Liberty Stadium with a place at the 2014 World Cup finals still a mathematical possibility.


That's eight set pieces now we've conceded [from] in this group. We can't do that

Craig Bellamy

Brendan Rodgers was in charge of the Swans when news of Speed's death shocked the football world in November, 2011.
Rodgers had already guided the Swansea into the Premier League and his successor, Michael Laudrup, has seen them win the Capital One Cup while maintaining top-flight progress this season.
And the Swans have won admiration throughout the game with an approach more associated with Spanish than British football.
Bellamy added: "We've gone this way with our football in the last few years.
"We were left a legacy by an incredible human being an... we followed that through [against Scotland], which makes me even more proud that… we represent him [Speed] every time we play.
"I'm not emotional. I'm just proud."
However, Bellamy says Wales' set-piece defence must improve, following the first-half Grant Hanley header that put Gordon Strachan's side into the lead.
"[That's] Another set piece which we need to do something about - that's eight set pieces now we've conceded in this group," said Bellamy.
"We can't do that."
And having been at the centre of speculation over his international future for much of this season, Bellamy says the manner of Wales' win over Scotland has left him wanting more.
He added: "The philosophy of the football is playing football and keeping the ball.
"And I said at half time, 'if we lose, we lose'.
"I can take a loss. I can walk off, as long as my head's held high and I'm passing the ball like that, I'll lose.
"If that's not good enough, then it's not good enough."

He's always spoken well of us has Bellamy and im glad he's buried the hatchet with Coleman because Wales needs Craig Bellamy.It was plain to see that Speed was trying to emulate Swansea's style when he was in charge and hats off to him as it worked really well.As much as i don't like Coleman i really hope we can push on with him now and beat Croatia next week although in time honoured tradition with Wales,one good result is usually followed by a defeat.

In fairness bellamy allways talks well about us(even tho he is born in cardiff).

Passing the ball like we did against the weaker teams is easy. I wonder if Coleman will use the tactics of parking the bus against the stronger teams like the Jacks do against the likes of Chelsea and Man U because Croatia will be a totally different opposition.

Bellamy probably supports the Jacks now being a South Walian plastic scouser.

Passing the ball like we did against the weaker teams is easy. I wonder if Coleman will use the tactics of parking the bus against the stronger teams like the Jacks do against the likes of Chelsea and Man U because Croatia will be a totally different opposition.

Swansea actually have a decent record against the big sides so if Wales can replicate that I'd be happy. Bellamy has always said it how it is and Swansea deserve credit, just a shame not all people from Cardiff aren't as honest and unbiased as him

Cardiff born players never slag Swansea off to the press. Then there's bitter jacks hartson and James hating everything Cardiff. Just go's to show that we're a cut above the jacks.

Cardiff born players never slag Swansea off to the press. Then there's bitter jacks hartson and James hating everything Cardiff. Just go's to show that we're a cut above the jacks.

Nathan Blake, Joe Ledley

Cardiff born players never slag Swansea off to the press. Then there's bitter jacks hartson and James hating everything Cardiff. Just go's to show that we're a cut above the jacks.

Nathan Blake, Joe Ledley

I haven't heard them slag Swansea off.

Passing the ball like we did against the weaker teams is easy. I wonder if Coleman will use the tactics of parking the bus against the stronger teams like the Jacks do against the likes of Chelsea and Man U because Croatia will be a totally different opposition.

Swansea actually have a decent record against the big sides so if Wales can replicate that I'd be happy. Bellamy has always said it how it is and Swansea deserve credit, just a shame not all people from Cardiff aren't as honest and unbiased as him

Swansea have done well and fair play to them.

The idiots on both sides ruin it for most...... they need to grow up.

Passion my arse......it's not even sport.

I look for4ward to playing them and showing again who are the big boys.

Nathan Blake "Jay has aspirations to play in the Premiership so why on earth would he go to Swansea? It’s nonsensical really. Laughable.

Jay wants to play at the highest level he can. He’s at Cardiff now and going to Swansea would be a step backwards for him. Simple as that."

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/spo ... -25674925/

Not sure about Joe Ledley though, as I believe his brother and dad are Swans fans so I doubt he'd have bitter feelings towards us.

As for Bellamy, he's from Cardiff but I don't think he's a Cardiff supporter and his views would probably be different if he was.

Passing the ball like we did against the weaker teams is easy. I wonder if Coleman will use the tactics of parking the bus against the stronger teams like the Jacks do against the likes of Chelsea and Man U because Croatia will be a totally different opposition.

You obviously don't watch swansea, swansea play the same weather it's man u, chelsea or some non league team they do not park the bus.

Nathan Blake "Jay has aspirations to play in the Premiership so why on earth would he go to Swansea? It’s nonsensical really. Laughable.

Jay wants to play at the highest level he can. He’s at Cardiff now and going to Swansea would be a step backwards for him. Simple as that."

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/spo ... -25674925/

Not sure about Joe Ledley though, as I believe his brother and dad are Swans fans so I doubt he'd have bitter feelings towards us.

As for Bellamy, he's from Cardiff but I don't think he's a Cardiff supporter and his views would probably be different if he was.

Hardly call Nathan's comments slagging you off. At the time we were both championship clubs and it was a pretty daft idea to think that we would sell you one of our best players in the janusry window just as it would have been pretty daft if we had said we wanted to buy, say, Nathan Dyer

Passing the ball like we did against the weaker teams is easy. I wonder if Coleman will use the tactics of parking the bus against the stronger teams like the Jacks do against the likes of Chelsea and Man U because Croatia will be a totally different opposition.

You obviously don't watch swansea, swansea play the same weather it's man u, chelsea or some non league team they do not park the bus.

Yes we do.

Nathan Blake "Jay has aspirations to play in the Premiership so why on earth would he go to Swansea? It’s nonsensical really. Laughable.

Jay wants to play at the highest level he can. He’s at Cardiff now and going to Swansea would be a step backwards for him. Simple as that."

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/spo ... -25674925/

Not sure about Joe Ledley though, as I believe his brother and dad are Swans fans so I doubt he'd have bitter feelings towards us.

As for Bellamy, he's from Cardiff but I don't think he's a Cardiff supporter and his views would probably be different if he was.

Hardly call Nathan's comments slagging you off. At the time we were both championship clubs and it was a pretty daft idea to think that we would sell you one of our best players in the janusry window just as it would have been pretty daft if we had said we wanted to buy, say, Nathan Dyer

How is that not classed as slagging us off? Saying that a move from Cardiff to Swansea were a step backwards and saying that we wouldn't be able to get to the Premier League is pretty clearly slagging us off.