" There was never any chance "

'There was never any chance of Gareth Bale playing' - Wales manager Chris Coleman insists

7th Sept 2013.

World's most expensive player stays on the bench as Wales are defeated 2-1 in Macedonia



Wales boss Chris Coleman insisted he was never able to call on Gareth Bale to stop his side losing in Macedonia – even though he named him on the bench.

And he claimed he was ready to face the flak for what appeared to be ignoring the most expensive player on the planet after revealing his place as a substitute was a scare tactic.

Supporters were left mystified as new Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Bale stayed on the sidelines as Wales were unable to build upon Aaron Ramsey’s first half equaliser from the spot following Ivan Trickovski’s 21st minute opener.

But, after Aleksandar Trajkovski’s strike 10 minutes from time handed Macedonia victory, Coleman revealed Bale was never fit enough to feature.

He said: “He was too far off. If there was any chance he’d have come on the pitch.

“It would have been ideal in the last 20 minutes but he wasn’t fit.

“We were never ready to use him. If you’re the opposition manager and you see Bale on the bench, that can change your mentality.

“You think I would have not used him if he was fit? I don’t mind what other people think.

“What I look at is the opposition. If I’m the opposition manager and Bale is on the bench, maybe it would affect his thinking.”

It didn’t work as Wales blew the chance of going for a third win of the campaign and lost the chance of a deserved point at the death.

And it rounded off an embarrassing few days for Coleman after his passport blunder, on which he said: “You’d see what we do when we go away.

“It's next to nothing. All the work had been done. You make of it what you want.”

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why does he always seem to come across as an arrogant bar steward?

Why put him on the bench then get rid of this fool

If there wasn't any chance of him playing why put him on the bench, at least give someone else a chance.

Hate Coleman, arrogant tw*t.

Not fit enough? Yeh right. I am nowhere near as fit as bale but I'm sure I could manage 15 20 mins of a game of footie

'There was never any chance of Gareth Bale playing' - Wales manager Chris Coleman insists

7th Sept 2013.

World's most expensive player stays on the bench as Wales are defeated 2-1 in Macedonia



Wales boss Chris Coleman insisted he was never able to call on Gareth Bale to stop his side losing in Macedonia – even though he named him on the bench.

And he claimed he was ready to face the flak for what appeared to be ignoring the most expensive player on the planet after revealing his place as a substitute was a scare tactic.

Supporters were left mystified as new Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Bale stayed on the sidelines as Wales were unable to build upon Aaron Ramsey’s first half equaliser from the spot following Ivan Trickovski’s 21st minute opener.

But, after Aleksandar Trajkovski’s strike 10 minutes from time handed Macedonia victory, Coleman revealed Bale was never fit enough to feature.

He said: “He was too far off. If there was any chance he’d have come on the pitch.

“It would have been ideal in the last 20 minutes but he wasn’t fit.

“We were never ready to use him. If you’re the opposition manager and you see Bale on the bench, that can change your mentality.

“You think I would have not used him if he was fit? I don’t mind what other people think.

“What I look at is the opposition. If I’m the opposition manager and Bale is on the bench, maybe it would affect his thinking.”

It didn’t work as Wales blew the chance of going for a third win of the campaign and lost the chance of a deserved point at the death.

And it rounded off an embarrassing few days for Coleman after his passport blunder, on which he said: “You’d see what we do when we go away.

“It's next to nothing. All the work had been done. You make of it what you want.”

he was never going to play..

'There was never any chance of Gareth Bale playing' - Wales manager Chris Coleman insists

7th Sept 2013.

World's most expensive player stays on the bench as Wales are defeated 2-1 in Macedonia



Wales boss Chris Coleman insisted he was never able to call on Gareth Bale to stop his side losing in Macedonia – even though he named him on the bench.

And he claimed he was ready to face the flak for what appeared to be ignoring the most expensive player on the planet after revealing his place as a substitute was a scare tactic.

Supporters were left mystified as new Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Bale stayed on the sidelines as Wales were unable to build upon Aaron Ramsey’s first half equaliser from the spot following Ivan Trickovski’s 21st minute opener.

But, after Aleksandar Trajkovski’s strike 10 minutes from time handed Macedonia victory, Coleman revealed Bale was never fit enough to feature.

He said: “He was too far off. If there was any chance he’d have come on the pitch.

“It would have been ideal in the last 20 minutes but he wasn’t fit.

“We were never ready to use him. If you’re the opposition manager and you see Bale on the bench, that can change your mentality.

“You think I would have not used him if he was fit? I don’t mind what other people think.

“What I look at is the opposition. If I’m the opposition manager and Bale is on the bench, maybe it would affect his thinking.”

It didn’t work as Wales blew the chance of going for a third win of the campaign and lost the chance of a deserved point at the death.

And it rounded off an embarrassing few days for Coleman after his passport blunder, on which he said: “You’d see what we do when we go away.

“It's next to nothing. All the work had been done. You make of it what you want.”

he was never going to play..

what I find funny is he used Bale in a mind game against the opposition manager to make him believe Bale could come on any minute, and thats all acceptable but has a go at the press and supporters for thinking Gareth Bale may come on any minute

funnily enough Chris when a team is 2-1 down and your best player is on the bench fit or not your supporter base is going to be screaming for him to come on. I understand he may not be fit enough to play a full 90 minute game but is he that unfit he cant play for 10 minutes?

If he wasn't fit then he shouldn't be on the bench and his place could have gone to someone who was fit. Poor management from a poor Manager just don't know where we are going but it's not qualification any time soon

86 million for a player that is unfit you couldn't make it up

what I find funny is he used Bale in a mind game against the opposition manager to make him believe Bale could come on any minute, and thats all acceptable but has a go at the press and supporters for thinking Gareth Bale may come on any minute

funnily enough Chris when a team is 2-1 down and your best player is on the bench fit or not your supporter base is going to be screaming for him to come on. I understand he may not be fit enough to play a full 90 minute game but is he that unfit he cant play for 10 minutes?

It really does show what a pub team mentality Coleman has, mind games, we were playing Macedonia not bloody Brazil. If we spent more time on beating them with the players we have maybe it would have been a better result.

Wales can't afford the insurance for him ofcourse he was never going to play!

Weird