" We Are All Relying on One Man to do it for us? "
Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:48 am
Gareth Bale WILL drag Wales out of the football doldrums -
Thurs 26 March 2015
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=156243
By Chris Wathan
It seems as though Welsh hopes rest on the shoulders of Gareth Bale at the business end of the Euro 2016 qualifiers but his teammates insist they're right with him
Neil Taylor backs Gareth Bale to lead Wales to gloryNeil Taylor backs Gareth Bale to lead Wales to glory
Neil Taylor has revealed how Chris Coleman’s Euro 2016 hopefuls have felt the responsibility of dragging Wales out of the international doldrums – and claimed Gareth Bale has what it takes to help make it happen.
Wales face Israel on Saturday in a game manager Coleman has described as the national side’s most significant since the Euro 2004 play-off defeats to Russia more than a decade ago.
Because victory away to the surprise group leaders would put unbeaten Wales in the driving seat to make it to France next summer and end a major finals exile lasting 57 years.
Swansea City full-back Taylor says the squad are refusing to down-play the importance of the Haifa clash, admitting there was an awareness that it was down to a side containing talents such as Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Real Madrid megastar Bale to force football back into the wider Welsh public affection.
And despite the recent storm surrounding Bale’s Real form, that even saw one group of angry Madridistas attack his car after the weekend El Clasico defeat, Taylor says Bale is more than up to spearheading the effort.
Taylor, 26, said: “We know it’s a massive game because an opportunity has arisen for us to really push on as a side.
“And we know the importance because I’m of the belief that playing for your country is massive, the pinnacle of your career.
“We’ve felt all along that we wanted to get a feel-good factor across Wales, to give them something to back.
“They came through for us in those games with Bosnia and Cyprus and made a real difference for us and we don’t want to let that go.
“We want to get the hype around Welsh football again, to get on a crest of a wave, get some results and go somewhere.
“We have spoken about it as a squad, about getting that back; Cardiff and Swansea both have full-houses but we needed them back.
“We knew we had to give them something to shout about, to get the kids interested in the national side.
“We know rugby is dominant, especially in South Wales, but we want to bring football back to an era when we were watching with full-houses at the Millennium.”
Victory in Israel will help, setting up a mouthwatering clash with group favourites Belgium in June.
Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans AgencyChris Gunter and Ashley Williams celebrate Wales' draw with Belgium
As will the Bale factor, with Taylor insisting that despite the scrutiny and the pressure the £85m man is ready to deliver.
Taylor said: “I think Gareth has become a bit acclimatised to how his life is now with stuff like that.
“And when that happens you brush everything off quite easily, whether you’re doing well or not doing well you have to take everything the same way. And he’s played in enough big games now to be able to deal with all of that.
“You saw the cameras here at training for him and even in Andorra there were people camped outside our hotel and it will probably be the same in Israel.
“The important thing for us is that he’s here because when he is he gives it his best and you see how much he wants this as a passionate Welshman.
“He’s desperate to get to a major tournament like the rest of us. I think he obviously feels the onus is on him maybe because he’s one of the best players in the world and everyone knows that.
“He wants to influence every game and he’s become a real leader and that drive is there.”
Taylor accepts there is a need for the rest of Coleman’s exciting squad to step up with Bale if they are to make the most of their impressive start that has seen wins over Andorra and Cyprus and hard-earned draws with top seeds Bosnia and Belgium.
And he added: “Sometimes you can see, like against Andorra, he maybe thinks ‘The game’s not happening here for us, I have to take more responsibility on myself because I can do things other players can’t do’. And he does that. That’s where he produces.
“I don’t think there is pressure on him really, but as a team of course we try to help him and do the best we can.
“And we have got other good players here, don’t forget that. Spread out evenly across a big squad we’ve got other people who can come in and affect it.”
Thurs 26 March 2015
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=156243
By Chris Wathan
It seems as though Welsh hopes rest on the shoulders of Gareth Bale at the business end of the Euro 2016 qualifiers but his teammates insist they're right with him
Neil Taylor backs Gareth Bale to lead Wales to gloryNeil Taylor backs Gareth Bale to lead Wales to glory
Neil Taylor has revealed how Chris Coleman’s Euro 2016 hopefuls have felt the responsibility of dragging Wales out of the international doldrums – and claimed Gareth Bale has what it takes to help make it happen.
Wales face Israel on Saturday in a game manager Coleman has described as the national side’s most significant since the Euro 2004 play-off defeats to Russia more than a decade ago.
Because victory away to the surprise group leaders would put unbeaten Wales in the driving seat to make it to France next summer and end a major finals exile lasting 57 years.
Swansea City full-back Taylor says the squad are refusing to down-play the importance of the Haifa clash, admitting there was an awareness that it was down to a side containing talents such as Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Real Madrid megastar Bale to force football back into the wider Welsh public affection.
And despite the recent storm surrounding Bale’s Real form, that even saw one group of angry Madridistas attack his car after the weekend El Clasico defeat, Taylor says Bale is more than up to spearheading the effort.
Taylor, 26, said: “We know it’s a massive game because an opportunity has arisen for us to really push on as a side.
“And we know the importance because I’m of the belief that playing for your country is massive, the pinnacle of your career.
“We’ve felt all along that we wanted to get a feel-good factor across Wales, to give them something to back.
“They came through for us in those games with Bosnia and Cyprus and made a real difference for us and we don’t want to let that go.
“We want to get the hype around Welsh football again, to get on a crest of a wave, get some results and go somewhere.
“We have spoken about it as a squad, about getting that back; Cardiff and Swansea both have full-houses but we needed them back.
“We knew we had to give them something to shout about, to get the kids interested in the national side.
“We know rugby is dominant, especially in South Wales, but we want to bring football back to an era when we were watching with full-houses at the Millennium.”
Victory in Israel will help, setting up a mouthwatering clash with group favourites Belgium in June.
Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans AgencyChris Gunter and Ashley Williams celebrate Wales' draw with Belgium
As will the Bale factor, with Taylor insisting that despite the scrutiny and the pressure the £85m man is ready to deliver.
Taylor said: “I think Gareth has become a bit acclimatised to how his life is now with stuff like that.
“And when that happens you brush everything off quite easily, whether you’re doing well or not doing well you have to take everything the same way. And he’s played in enough big games now to be able to deal with all of that.
“You saw the cameras here at training for him and even in Andorra there were people camped outside our hotel and it will probably be the same in Israel.
“The important thing for us is that he’s here because when he is he gives it his best and you see how much he wants this as a passionate Welshman.
“He’s desperate to get to a major tournament like the rest of us. I think he obviously feels the onus is on him maybe because he’s one of the best players in the world and everyone knows that.
“He wants to influence every game and he’s become a real leader and that drive is there.”
Taylor accepts there is a need for the rest of Coleman’s exciting squad to step up with Bale if they are to make the most of their impressive start that has seen wins over Andorra and Cyprus and hard-earned draws with top seeds Bosnia and Belgium.
And he added: “Sometimes you can see, like against Andorra, he maybe thinks ‘The game’s not happening here for us, I have to take more responsibility on myself because I can do things other players can’t do’. And he does that. That’s where he produces.
“I don’t think there is pressure on him really, but as a team of course we try to help him and do the best we can.
“And we have got other good players here, don’t forget that. Spread out evenly across a big squad we’ve got other people who can come in and affect it.”
Re: " We Are All Relying on One Man to do it for us? "
Thu Mar 26, 2015 11:34 am
Bale is no doubt pivotal but this is the hardest working Wales squad we've see in years. Every player has played their role so far and hopefully that continues.
Re: " We Are All Relying on One Man to do it for us? "
Thu Mar 26, 2015 11:48 am
Won't read anything written by that tosser
Re: " We Are All Relying on One Man to do it for us? "
Thu Mar 26, 2015 12:10 pm
the bar for qualification has been substantially lowered so it would be criminal if we didnt qualify now. we also have better players than we did 5-6 years ago.
with a good manager i think qualification would be in the bag. coleman must deliver.
with a good manager i think qualification would be in the bag. coleman must deliver.