" GARY MONK UNHAPPY WITH CARDIFF CITY FANS "

" Cardiff City fans booing Ashley Williams on Wales duty? It's just not on says Swansea City boss Garry Monk "

Thursday 2nd April 2015

Monk can't believe some of the criticism heading his skipper's way and admits he's surprised by it

reception Ashley Williams gets from some Wales fans ‘bizarre,’ but he believes his Swansea City skipper is the right man to lead the nation into Euro 2016.

Williams is Wales captain too and guided the Dragons to a brilliant 3-0 win in Israel last weekend to put Chris Coleman’s side well on the road to qualification for the tournament in France next year.

But Williams, a hero at the Liberty Stadium after seven years, has fallen foul of inter-club rivalry at times with some sections of Welsh supporters, particularly those with an affiliation with the Swans arch-rivals Cardiff City, giving the 30-year-old a poor reception at times when he is turning out for Wales particularly in the capital.

The situation is exacerbated as well by the fact Williams was not born in Wales and only qualifies thanks to a Welsh grandmother.

Monk and Williams are now preparing for the Swans' clash with Hull at home on Saturday as the club returns to Premier League action following the international break.

And Monk believes his captain’s exploits for the Dragons can only enhance his club form even if the player’s efforts are not always appreciated by some Welsh fans themselves.

of strange. You are playing for your country and are booed by your own fans. It’s bizarre,” said Monk.

“The good thing for Ash is we are used to that rivalry here. You are used to getting the abuse and all the rest from Cardiff.

“I think when it comes to Ash with Wales it has died down a bit recently. I do remember there was a game in Cardiff a few years back, I think it was against Norway, and I remember him coming back and saying, ‘I got booed by my own fans!’

“But there’s no doubt Ash is passionate about Wales and he wants to do his best.

“He’s been here a long time and he knows how important it is for the country. He feels it, that’s the most important thing, it’s not just like someone trying to find a way into international football, it’s about someone who really cares about what Wales do and how they get on.

"You see that in his performances. He wants them to qualify. He feels the passion and that is the most important thing.

Swansea then he has taken that into his country. Now you can see the confidence and growth within the Welsh team. Gary Speed put that in there and Chris Coleman has taken it on and they look a proper team now.

"In recent years they’ve had good individuals, but not looked so much of a team with a good way of playing.

“They’ve got that now. Ash has taken all his club form and belief and captaincy into the international game and maybe now that is even working both ways.”

Wales was one of the contentious issues Coleman faced when he took over as national boss.

Previous incumbent Speed had handed the armband to Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, but when Coleman took charge, one of his first decisions, was to relieve Ramsey of the responsibility and hand the captaincy to Williams.

Monk, who played along side Williams before becoming his club manager, said Coleman had most likely made the correct decision.

“Looking from the outside it seems a brave move by Chris,” said Monk.

“But you don’t know what conversations he had with Aaron, it could be that Aaron didn’t really want it. Perhaps he felt pressurised by it. You don’t know until you speak to him.

"You can have the idea that this guy is a talisman or a poster boy of the set-up, but it does not always work out that they should be captain. Some of them don’t enjoy it.

“Ash has been captaining us in the Premier League and he is a good leader on and off the pitch, Chris saw that, spoke to Aaron and it does not seem to have affected him, if anything it looks to have helped him.

"That’s what Chris took into account when he made that decision.”

I don't agree with booing my but it goes to show it was mainly cardiff supporting Wales

When was the last time he was booed?

Booing the captain isn't supporting Wales...

Also if Rhyl decided to boo Aaron Ramsey it would also be noted, doesn't mean mainly Rhyl support Wales.

This silly point scoring needs to stop, and it seems its only one team that is so adamant in doing it. We are the ones holding Wales back currently by actively trying to split the fanbase, not the ones supporting them.

Don't agree with the booing.

Monk should shut up anyway.

Adds fuel to the nasty club tag.

Adds fuel to the nasty club tag.

I wish Monk hadn't omen about this. It has been sorted by and large. Williams hasn't been booed recently and the he recent thread underlines the new-found unity on internationals both on the pitch and on the terraces (oh, for the terraces again!!!).

Caulker came from Swansea on loan to sign for Cardiff. Did he get booed? Maybe a bit, but when he scored the only goal in the first ever Welsh Premier League Derby, his Jack past was forgotten. Lol.

The main thing is we have a Welsh squad to be proud of now so let's enjoy it.

Shouldn't be captain thought

Monk has always been a mouthy prick. I've a lot more respect for Williams than I have for monk and certainly won't boo him when he plays for Wales

Just seems daft that this Is brought up now after a great result. Welsh football on a high and Wales supporters seemingly in unanimous support for the team and management which hasn't been the case for a while. I can understand Williams manager backing his player when he was having the peak of his abuse but not now. Either lazy journalism or a shallow dig by someone who can't hide his dislike for his teams rivals.

Monk just loves to stir up the hate doesn't he?

He should be above that now as a manager but he's still the hateful little prick he was as a player.

I for one would never boo a Welsh player now as I may have done years ago when Hartson was playing.

That's because I've grown up, about time monk did the same silly little boy.

Get a grip and support our club. They outshine us and we are stuck up our own behinds with a billionaire backer. We took the cash and sold our soul.

Bad timing as far as I'm concerned. No need to bring this up especially after a great year for Wales. Move on I say.

He may not be the most popular player we have ever had but this is the best chance we've had to qualify for a long time and we should all get behind Wales 100%
He's a good player and he's pulling on the shirt, we've seen great welsh players before not wanting to play for us so whilst this fella is doing his job and playing well we should all get behind him.
If we finally qualify he will go down in history as captain.
I've been to the last few away games, just coming back from Israel and if we can't get behind the boys at this point we've got no hope.
Regardless of feelings if you boo him, which I haven't heard, we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot.
The rugby have have had plenty of non welsh players and they couldn't care less.
Hopefully our success will be breed more welsh nationals who are as good as him and we will compete at a higher level.
I think Bale will take over as captain soon enough anyway but whilst Williams is doing well let's all get behind him.

PS I played against Bale in football and against Warburton in rugby and they will both go down as legends so that is my claim to fame haha

Don't agree with the booing.

Monk should shut up anyway.

Monk could always put in an appearance and anything Williams gets would fade into insignificance!

I think this is just Wales Online stirring things up, really. Why would Monk say this unprompted?

Has I have said in previous post I have no problem with Williams or the other swansea ,lads they are good players and the level of football they are playing is helping our cause to qualify.i know some swansea fans don't rate him or Taylor but I beg to differ Williams is a rock in our defence .as for monk I have no time for him monk was always first to stir the shit with his mates Tate and trundle about disliking cardiff and building up hatred against us but he forgets all that

It's an ancient story. Against Bosnia and Cyprus the Canton was chanting for Ashley and Jonny Williams. Doesn't fit the stereotype though, does it?

As others have said, it's a non-story. The vast majority of Cardiff fans I know have the sense to support Williams in a Wales top. He might have been born in English but he's given as much, if not more, than Welsh born players in that red shirt so he's earned due respect.

I've always found Monk to be a smug antagonising little worm. Very much like Jenkins. I have respect for what Swansea have done but think Jenkins in particular takes more credit than he should and is one of the most smarmy people I've ever come across. It has clearly rubbed off on Monk.

Get a grip and support our club. They outshine us and we are stuck up our own behinds with a billionaire backer. We took the cash and sold our soul.

What the FCK as this got to do with the op?

I don't agree with booing players from rival clubs who are on international duty, saying that monk could also have mentioned that Ramsey and Ledley have been booed when they have played at the jacks sh*t pit of a stadium in the past, maybe he forgot that happened.

I've been to a number of Welsh games and I have never heard anyone booing a Welsh player.

I was not at the name that this happened at but what I have been told is that it was only a handful of supporters. This was over 3 years ago perhaps longer so why bring it up now?

I will say to Monk what I would of said to those Cardiff players who thought we could still get to the play offs. Stop being so stupid.

I cannot remember the last time he was booed.

In all honesty I think Ash has proved himself to the Wales fans and Garry Monk is doing nobody any favours by dragging this up.

There was a thread on this board just the other day regarding Williams and it was nice to see that he has gained the respect of the majority on here when he pulls on a Wales shirt.

In all honesty I think Ash has proved himself to the Wales fans and Garry Monk is doing nobody any favours by dragging this up.

There was a thread on this board just the other day regarding Williams and it was nice to see that he has gained the respect of the majority on here when he pulls on a Wales shirt.

Well said.

The likes of Ali_Keith aka RM conveniently forget things like that. Never mind his time is soon up here.

some people are a joke, booing the captain of our country because he is a jack or from england then moaning because we are never successful.

I don't agree with booing my but it goes to show it was mainly cardiff supporting Wales

that attitude is the exact reason why there is a split in our fan base at the moment when watching wales. And i bet you want wales to do well yes

Booing the captain isn't supporting Wales...

Also if Rhyl decided to boo Aaron Ramsey it would also be noted, doesn't mean mainly Rhyl support Wales.

This silly point scoring needs to stop, and it seems its only one team that is so adamant in doing it. We are the ones holding Wales back currently by actively trying to split the fanbase, not the ones supporting them.

Give it a rest jack fed up with this rhyl rubbish

I've not heard him booed. Just look at the other thread on Williams and you'll see he's actually very well respected among Cardiff fans. Just Monk stirring up trouble where there isn't any. He's probably worried Wales are better than England now