"'We can win last four games"

'We can win last four games,' vows Coleman ahead of do-or-die clash


By Alex Bywater

September 2 2017


Chris Coleman's hopes of leading Wales to the 2018 World Cup in Russia remain in the balance ahead of tonight's all-important qualifier with Austria in Cardiff.

The pressure is on but with four Group D games to go, the manager is in confident mood. Despite his team being level on points with Austria and four adrift of joint leaders Republic of Ireland and Serbia, the former defender has the utmost faith in his charges.

Home advantage in their Cardiff City Stadium fortress, he believes, is enough to help Wales to victory over the best sides in the world. There will be no fear among those wearing red tonight.

"We can win the last four games, and that's no disrespect to Austria, Moldova, Georgia and the Republic of Ireland," Coleman said. "I know this is a statement, but I'll say it - it could be Brazil, Spain and Germany. I have that much confidence in our players and our team.
"If we get it right then there's nobody we need to fear. A draw in this game won't do either of us any good, so you would imagine something will have to give.

"Both teams are going to go for it, but we've been here before and we know how to handle these situations."
After reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016 against the odds, Coleman is right to back his players. But deep down he will know six points must be gathered from the game with Austria and Tuesday's trip to Moldova.

Anything less is likely to represent a fatal blow to any hopes Wales fans might have of travelling to a second successive major tournament.
Austria are in the same boat, which should make for a fascinating contest.

Coleman has some selection issues to address. Midfielder Joe Allen is suspended, as is Neil Taylor. Gareth Bale is back to lead the forward line, while the Wales manager must also decide whether to gamble on starting Joe Ledley.
The midfielder is lacking match fitness and is without a club after being released by Crystal Palace. Ledley is likely to begin the game rather than be used from the bench, with Coleman a big fan of player's impact both on and off the pitch.

For Austria, Marko Arnautovic will be the main threat. The West Ham forward scored twice in a 2-2 draw in the return fixture in Vienna. Wales have drawn their past five qualifying games and must turn stalemates into wins.
Coleman, who has said this campaign will be his last - his contract expires in 2018 - remains convinced his team will make the World Cup.

"I can't think anything else other than we're going to Russia. I'm positive, I think we're in a good place. We need a big result and a big performance in this game. Forget the next three," he said.

"I don't regret saying this will be my last campaign. I wear my heart on my sleeve. Not everyone does that. I was honest and I do miss the day-to-day work.

"The trade-off I have is watching the boys singing the national anthem in Cardiff and I'm fronting that.
"To think going into this Austria game that someone could be stood there doing it instead of me leaves a real bad taste.

"The aim is Russia and that means we have to get Austria sorted out.

"I've had other offers, but the thought of handing the job over and someone else standing there instead of me doesn't sit well. I'm all in, I'm still manager of Wales. I think we'll take it to the wire, I really believe that."
A sell-out crowd in Cardiff is set to cheer Coleman's team on and it must not be forgotten that Wales remain unbeaten in this campaign. They should win this one, albeit narrowly. Any alternative is unthinkable.

"It's quite simple - we must win," said skipper Ashley Williams, who is one yellow card away from a ban.

"We enjoy playing in Cardiff. It's always a good atmosphere under the floodlights and we want to get the win and go into the next one." (© Daily Telegraph, London)

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Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

Oops

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

One down

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

The above post is basically the complete opposite of how we played tonight!

To win tonight was a huge statement and a great confidence boost. And considering Bale had one of his worst ever games in a Welsh shirt we've done well. Ashley Williams was a different class tonight, and I really can't wait to see more of Woodburn. It's a shame he didn't go out on loan to another team, as he won't get much game time at Liverpool.

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

The above post is basically the complete opposite of how we played tonight!

To win tonight was a huge statement and a great confidence boost. And considering Bale had one of his worst ever games in a Welsh shirt we've done well. Ashley Williams was a different class tonight, and I really can't wait to see more of Woodburn. It's a shame he didn't go out on loan to another team, as he won't get much game time at Liverpool.

To be fair - no it isn't.

We were desperate for a goal at half time. We were too defensive minded.

We subbed Richards for Andy King and changed formation to a 4-3-3

From then on we were much better on the ball, and subsequently scored.

I hope Coleman starts against Moldova in a 4-3-3, it seemed far more effective. Richards isn't a wingback and we missed Taylor in that role.

Coleman gas taken us further than any Welsh manager in modern history have a bit of faith!

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

Oops someone looks abit silly.

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

Oops someone looks abit silly.

Mmmmmm could easily been 2 or 3 down at half-time we were that poor! took desperate measures to change things and it took a wonder strike from a 17yr old to save us from another draw! More like fairly accurate upto the goal rather than look silly

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

The above post is basically the complete opposite of how we played tonight!

To win tonight was a huge statement and a great confidence boost. And considering Bale had one of his worst ever games in a Welsh shirt we've done well. Ashley Williams was a different class tonight, and I really can't wait to see more of Woodburn. It's a shame he didn't go out on loan to another team, as he won't get much game time at Liverpool.

How can it be opposite when upto half time we were so defensive and playing crap we could easily been 2 or 3 goals down because tactics were wrong by most people's opinions! Only after we never looked like scoring did we make subs to change formation and still needed wonder strike to win game, or did you think tactics were spot on and we were brilliant 1st half?

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

The above post is basically the complete opposite of how we played tonight!

To win tonight was a huge statement and a great confidence boost. And considering Bale had one of his worst ever games in a Welsh shirt we've done well. Ashley Williams was a different class tonight, and I really can't wait to see more of Woodburn. It's a shame he didn't go out on loan to another team, as he won't get much game time at Liverpool.

To be fair - no it isn't.

We were desperate for a goal at half time. We were too defensive minded.

We subbed Richards for Andy King and changed formation to a 4-3-3

From then on we were much better on the ball, and subsequently scored.

I hope Coleman starts against Moldova in a 4-3-3, it seemed far more effective. Richards isn't a wingback and we missed Taylor in that role.

I agree we should play 4-3-3 v Moldova however on the whole the problem was that Allen was banned tonight he is crucial to our sucsess playing 5-3-2. Would like to see Woodbury start v Moldova to show what he can do. Team would be.

Hennessy

Gunter
Williams
Chester
Davies

Ramsey
Edwards
Allen

Bale
Vokes
Woodburn

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

The above post is basically the complete opposite of how we played tonight!

To win tonight was a huge statement and a great confidence boost. And considering Bale had one of his worst ever games in a Welsh shirt we've done well. Ashley Williams was a different class tonight, and I really can't wait to see more of Woodburn. It's a shame he didn't go out on loan to another team, as he won't get much game time at Liverpool.

How can it be opposite when upto half time we were so defensive and playing crap we could easily been 2 or 3 goals down because tactics were wrong by most people's opinions! Only after we never looked like scoring did we make subs to change formation and still needed wonder strike to win game, or did you think tactics were spot on and we were brilliant 1st half?

We won the game it's as simple as that. First half they were much the better team, the so called 'defensive minded' Coleman made a great tactical change at half time which simply changed the game and won it for us. If I was to rate him on yesterday's performance it would be 9/10. My point was that you were just slating Coleman for no reason, so that's how it was the opposite of what you said because he played a blinder.

Cannot see us winning tonight or against Ireland Coleman is to defensive minded as a manager! He loves playing bale as a defensive midfielder and Taylor attacking one, last game it was bale spreading ball forward to Taylor but that was infective cant see him changing formation untill laye in gamewhen we are desperate for a goal.

The above post is basically the complete opposite of how we played tonight!

To win tonight was a huge statement and a great confidence boost. And considering Bale had one of his worst ever games in a Welsh shirt we've done well. Ashley Williams was a different class tonight, and I really can't wait to see more of Woodburn. It's a shame he didn't go out on loan to another team, as he won't get much game time at Liverpool.

How can it be opposite when upto half time we were so defensive and playing crap we could easily been 2 or 3 goals down because tactics were wrong by most people's opinions! Only after we never looked like scoring did we make subs to change formation and still needed wonder strike to win game, or did you think tactics were spot on and we were brilliant 1st half?

We won the game it's as simple as that. First half they were much the better team, the so called 'defensive minded' Coleman made a great tactical change at half time which simply changed the game and won it for us. If I was to rate him on yesterday's performance it would be 9/10. My point was that you were just slating Coleman for no reason, so that's how it was the opposite of what you said because he played a blinder.

Not slating Coleman for no reason yes we won game which is all that matters, but until tbat goal we did not look like scoring and what about fact we had 5 draws in a row! Thats because he stuck to a formation that didn't work against opponents and wasn't working last night until he had no choice but to change it as a win was a must! Ultimately i believe those draws will cost us qualification.
Ps my better half described 1st half as like watching paint dry!

We'll beat Moldova Tuesday , then simple as we got to go to Georgia and get a win, it will be difficult game there but Georgia will have nothing to play for then and we can win there. Then it will go down to probably our biggest game ever against Ireland where just a win and were in the world cup in Russia, serbia will drop points