' Rob Page '
Mon Mar 28, 2022 12:03 pm
What Rob Page has done for Wales is nothing short of brilliant
Page boasts an impressive record in his 20 matches as Wales boss to date
By Ian Mitchelmore
28 MAR 2022
SPORT
Amid uncertain, turbulent and testing times, Rob Page has been nothing short of a rock.
The 47-year-old was thrust into the limelight in the wake of Ryan Giggs' arrest 16 months ago, with many holding legitimate concerns over whether the off-the-pitch events would de-rail the significant progress made since the gut-wrenching World Cup qualifying loss to Republic of Ireland in late 2017. Read the latest on Giggs' court situation here.
Questions on Giggs came left, right and centre. Each was not merely batted away, but answered in a dignified manner. Humility was also shown, with Page unwilling to accept praise for what he described as a squad honed by Giggs.
After overseeing a 0-0 friendly draw with the United States of America in his first match at the helm, Page guided Wales to victories against Republic of Ireland and Finland in his maiden competitive outings as boss. Those triumphs saw the Red Dragons finish at the summit of their Nations League group with 16 points from the 18 on offer.
That earned Wales promotion into League A and a host of dates with big guns including Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland. It served as an appetiser of what was to be an astonishing 12-month period for a country still wearing the heavy burden of repeated World Cup qualifying anguish.
All the while, the Red Wall were unable to show their support for the man who won 41 caps for his country due to isolation and social distancing rules put in place owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Naturally, the challenges became greater, and not just on the pitch. Wales were presented with a logistical nightmare for Euro 2020 while, to add insult to injury, their fans were shafted to the extreme.
England partied at Wembley for all bar one of their seven tournament fixtures while Scotland enjoyed home comforts themselves. The Red Wall were told not to follow their beloved stars in Baku, Rome and Amsterdam. Even those hardy souls who defied the odds to be in the stands at the Euros were made to pay through the nose for coronavirus tests.
Frustrations were there, and Page was questioned tactically during key stages of the tournament. A tough first half in the opener against Switzerland along with a capitulation in the last-16 defeat to Denmark raised significant concerns.
The "happy to be here" mentality that many held in France five years earlier no longer existed, such is the expectation on the current crop of players. Nevertheless, Page guided Wales out of a tough-looking group to reach the knockout stages, thanks largely to a swashbuckling win over pre-tournament dark horses Turkey.
Page's frustrations with UEFA finally rose to the surface after the 4-0 loss to Denmark while talisman Gareth Bale struggled to contain his emotions when pressed on his future after the rout at the Johan Cruyff Arena. But in adversity, true colours are shown, and the focus swiftly switched back to reaching a first World Cup since 1958.
Wales are unbeaten in their eight matches since exiting the Euros, with wins over Belarus and Austria along with the 1-1 draw against Belgium serving as real highlights. In ending Austria's 2022 World Cup hopes, the Red Dragons extended their unbeaten home competitive record to 17 games, a run which stretches back to November 2018.
As for Page, he has overseen just four defeats in his 20 matches as boss, with those all coming against teams higher up than Wales in the FIFA rankings [Belgium, France, Italy and Denmark]. As for his tactical nous, he emphatically answered his critics in the World Cup play-offs.
Page promised an aggressive approach from his players, and he stuck to his word by naming a starting 11 which was packed with attack-minded players. Bale stole the show with a display that made a mockery of the media outlet who brandished the 32-year-old a "parasite".
With that uneasy situation came more testing questions. But, yet again, Page showed dignity and class. "Every single one of the players in the squad would walk on broken glass down the M4 to get into Wales and play for their country and he's [Bale] no different," the Wales boss said.
His pride is immeasurable, and the clichéd passing on of praise to his players is in this instance undeniably genuine. Now, Page stands on the brink of etching his name into Welsh football folklore as the Red Dragons stand just one win away from gracing the grandest of stages for only the second time in their history.
Page boasts an impressive record in his 20 matches as Wales boss to date
By Ian Mitchelmore
28 MAR 2022
SPORT
Amid uncertain, turbulent and testing times, Rob Page has been nothing short of a rock.
The 47-year-old was thrust into the limelight in the wake of Ryan Giggs' arrest 16 months ago, with many holding legitimate concerns over whether the off-the-pitch events would de-rail the significant progress made since the gut-wrenching World Cup qualifying loss to Republic of Ireland in late 2017. Read the latest on Giggs' court situation here.
Questions on Giggs came left, right and centre. Each was not merely batted away, but answered in a dignified manner. Humility was also shown, with Page unwilling to accept praise for what he described as a squad honed by Giggs.
After overseeing a 0-0 friendly draw with the United States of America in his first match at the helm, Page guided Wales to victories against Republic of Ireland and Finland in his maiden competitive outings as boss. Those triumphs saw the Red Dragons finish at the summit of their Nations League group with 16 points from the 18 on offer.
That earned Wales promotion into League A and a host of dates with big guns including Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland. It served as an appetiser of what was to be an astonishing 12-month period for a country still wearing the heavy burden of repeated World Cup qualifying anguish.
All the while, the Red Wall were unable to show their support for the man who won 41 caps for his country due to isolation and social distancing rules put in place owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Naturally, the challenges became greater, and not just on the pitch. Wales were presented with a logistical nightmare for Euro 2020 while, to add insult to injury, their fans were shafted to the extreme.
England partied at Wembley for all bar one of their seven tournament fixtures while Scotland enjoyed home comforts themselves. The Red Wall were told not to follow their beloved stars in Baku, Rome and Amsterdam. Even those hardy souls who defied the odds to be in the stands at the Euros were made to pay through the nose for coronavirus tests.
Frustrations were there, and Page was questioned tactically during key stages of the tournament. A tough first half in the opener against Switzerland along with a capitulation in the last-16 defeat to Denmark raised significant concerns.
The "happy to be here" mentality that many held in France five years earlier no longer existed, such is the expectation on the current crop of players. Nevertheless, Page guided Wales out of a tough-looking group to reach the knockout stages, thanks largely to a swashbuckling win over pre-tournament dark horses Turkey.
Page's frustrations with UEFA finally rose to the surface after the 4-0 loss to Denmark while talisman Gareth Bale struggled to contain his emotions when pressed on his future after the rout at the Johan Cruyff Arena. But in adversity, true colours are shown, and the focus swiftly switched back to reaching a first World Cup since 1958.
Wales are unbeaten in their eight matches since exiting the Euros, with wins over Belarus and Austria along with the 1-1 draw against Belgium serving as real highlights. In ending Austria's 2022 World Cup hopes, the Red Dragons extended their unbeaten home competitive record to 17 games, a run which stretches back to November 2018.
As for Page, he has overseen just four defeats in his 20 matches as boss, with those all coming against teams higher up than Wales in the FIFA rankings [Belgium, France, Italy and Denmark]. As for his tactical nous, he emphatically answered his critics in the World Cup play-offs.
Page promised an aggressive approach from his players, and he stuck to his word by naming a starting 11 which was packed with attack-minded players. Bale stole the show with a display that made a mockery of the media outlet who brandished the 32-year-old a "parasite".
With that uneasy situation came more testing questions. But, yet again, Page showed dignity and class. "Every single one of the players in the squad would walk on broken glass down the M4 to get into Wales and play for their country and he's [Bale] no different," the Wales boss said.
His pride is immeasurable, and the clichéd passing on of praise to his players is in this instance undeniably genuine. Now, Page stands on the brink of etching his name into Welsh football folklore as the Red Dragons stand just one win away from gracing the grandest of stages for only the second time in their history.
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Re: ' Rob Page '
Mon Mar 28, 2022 12:14 pm
Let’s win the final before we start these stories
Re: ' Rob Page '
Mon Mar 28, 2022 12:16 pm
He should now be confirmed as keeping the job and the FAW announce Ryan Giggs as departing 'by mutual consent' to save blushes
Re: ' Rob Page '
Mon Mar 28, 2022 4:54 pm
Giggs can have a go again whenever Page decides he's had enough. FAW need to pay up Giggs contract if he found not guilty.
If guilty then - termination of contract by mutual consent - to save any embarrassment.
If guilty then - termination of contract by mutual consent - to save any embarrassment.
Re: ' Rob Page '
Mon Mar 28, 2022 11:23 pm
Rob Page and the Team have done a Good job to this point - Which we should All be proud of 