' RAMSEY SACKED AS WALES CAPTAIN '

Williams replaces



Aaron Ramsey set to be replaced by Ashley Williams as Wales captain

By Paul AbbandonatoOct 4 2012


CHRIS COLEMAN is set to relieve Aaron Ramsey of the Wales captaincy and hand the armband instead to Ashley Williams in what would be the first major change he has made since taking over as manager.

WalesOnline understands Coleman is exploring the leadership option as he looks to stamp his own authority upon the team in a bid to kick-start Wales’ World Cup bid.

The Welsh boss today names his squad for the looming qualifiers against Scotland a week tonight and then away to Croatia four days afterwards, knowing his side have got to start winning.


Coleman has been forced to tread a careful path since succeeding the hugely popular Gary Speed in charge, aware the players wanted as little disruption to the regime as possible.

But a run of five matches without a victory in 2012 has forced Coleman’s hand and made him realise it is time to begin doing the job his way.

A significant part of that, we have learned, involves a shake-up at the top with Swansea City star Williams likely to replace Ramsey as Coleman’s captain.


Williams is seen as a senior figurehead anyway to the youngsters who still by and large make up the bulk of the Welsh squad.

And Wales hope that by relieving him of the responsibility of captaincy, Ramsey will be able to deliver the midfield brilliance which would enable him to fire the side to victory over the Scots at Cardiff City Stadium.

Ramsey has been off form for Wales this year, but has proven in the past to be a genuine match-winner at international level with his midfield artistry.

One of those occasions was the last time Wales played the Scots in the Welsh capital three years ago. Ramsey was sublime that afternoon as he led John Toshack’s side to a thumping 3-0 triumph... when Williams, ironically, had been named stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Craig Bellamy.

Williams is poised to be handed the job on a permanent basis this time around, as Coleman’s new eyes and ears on the pitch. He has gained a lot of captaincy experience in the last year, having regularly led Swansea in the Premier League.

Despite suggestions he has been off form this season, Williams has become a proven top flight performer with the Swans since the club were promoted in 2011.

He has also been Wales’ best defender over the past three years.

Ramsey has held down the Wales captaincy since March 2011, when he skippered his country for the first time in a 2-0 Millennium Stadium defeat by England.

Speed handed him the armband, even though Ramsey’s Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was unhappy with the decision and insisted that, at just 20, his Welsh midfielder was too young for such huge responsibility.

But Speed ignored Wenger’s concerns and kept Ramsey in the role for the other matches under his tenure against Scotland, Australia, Montenegro, England again, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Norway.

Ramsey was rested from the start of the other Wales game under Speed, a 3-1 Carling Cup defeat to the Scots in Dublin, when Rob Earnshaw was made skipper.

Because of the call to retain as much of the status quo from the Speed regime as possible, Coleman stuck with Ramsey as his captain.

But the 6-1 thrashing in Serbia last time out, when some pundits accused Wales of lacking leadership during a horror 90 minutes, appears to have forced the change.



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And Englishman as captain???
If true I won't be going to the Scotland game

Williams has been absolutely shocking this season so i guess he's been named solely due to the Swansea roots.

And judging by the last performance against Serbia, nobody deserves to wear it.

And he's a f*cking Englishman too!!

Last edited by himynameismartyn on Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Jacktastic. Switch all the home games to the Liberty Tampons Stadium.

Williams replaces

Also hartson is now on board as well, it's becoming a jacks love in.

What next fatty trundle as fitness coach

That's me out, was going to go to the Scotland game, f**k off Coleman you useless tosser

icing on the cake for me.. as long as these dickheads are in charge of our national team i wont be watching a single game...

they can do what the want, but the wales fa need to realise that the way we finished the last euro campaign we would never have been in a better position to kick on into this one and qualify for a major tournament.. things are going backwards really quickly...

An Englishman as captain of the Wales team. Nice.

Has Williams ever even played well for Wales

Coleman hasn't got a clue.

Has Williams ever even played well for Wales

Coleman hasn't got a clue.

Of course he has.

I am in Cardiff that weekend for my birthday and was going to go. Decided not to after the last game, but that has finalised it. Will still support them, but making a stand while Coleman is in place. Hate the man! How have we gone from such a high to such a low. Makes me mad, rip speedo! Your dearly missed...

Has Williams ever even played well for Wales

Coleman hasn't got a clue.

Of course he has.

Very rare then, most games he seems to cost us a goal

Williams form at the moment is extremely poor - so he hands the captaincy to him?

He's not Welsh either. Utter shambles.

Dutch Ray must be pissing himself.

its a shambles
ramsey did nothing wrong,bale maybe but williams????????
farcical

Im boycotting the Scotland home game. Welsh FA need to look at themselves.

its a shambles
ramsey did nothing wrong,bale maybe but williams????????
farcical

Agree with you englishbluebird

Im boycotting the Scotland home game. Welsh FA need to look at themselves.

Im boycotting the Scotland home game. Welsh FA need to look at themselves.

And me, fuming

Ramsey should never have been captain.

He should be allowed to just concentrate on playing without the burden of captaincy which should be given to a more senior player.

Why did he continue to have Ramsey as captain for the first few games then decide to change?

Im boycotting the Scotland home game. Welsh FA need to look at themselves.

It saddens me mind, I do Wales away games and with the Speed momentum was excited about this campaign. Sadly the appointment of Coleman and Hartson have ruined any optimism I had. The players now dont seem to want it either the Serbia defeat was poor beyond belief. I thought if they cant be fecked to put the effort in I will pass until parity is restored. I hope they prove me wrong but sadly I feel the Jocks will want it more and thats the saddest thing of all the pride in the jersey seems to have gone.

Ramsey should never have been captain.

He should be allowed to just concentrate on playing without the burden of captaincy which should be given to a more senior player.

So you think Williams an English should be?

A captain should be someone who can lead by example,age is irrelevant
With Bellamy stepping down,the only real canditates were bale or ramsey

Ramsey should never have been captain.

He should be allowed to just concentrate on playing without the burden of captaincy which should be given to a more senior player.

So you think Williams an English should be?

Williams turns up for every game even when carrying an injury unlike some. He is committed to the cause so why not?

He has also been captain of a Premier League side for the last year and a bit so is surely the most qualified in the squad to take the armband?

Im boycotting the Scotland home game. Welsh FA need to look at themselves.

It saddens me mind, I do Wales away games and with the Speed momentum was excited about this campaign. Sadly the appointment of Coleman and Hartson have ruined any optimism I had. The players now dont seem to want it either the Serbia defeat was poor beyond belief. I thought if they cant be fecked to put the effort in I will pass until parity is restored. I hope they prove me wrong but sadly I feel the Jocks will want it more and thats the saddest thing of all the pride in the jersey seems to have gone.

thats exactly how i feel mate.... i was ashamed and embarrassed beyond belief after the last game... ive been everywhere with wales, russia, italy, austria, belgium, holland, czech etc... always had the bulk package for the home games at the mil.stadium ... now id rather shit in my hands and clap than watch wales football.

Ramsey should never have been captain.

He should be allowed to just concentrate on playing without the burden of captaincy which should be given to a more senior player.

So you think Williams an English should be?

Williams turns up for every game even when carrying an injury unlike some. He is committed to the cause so why not?

He has also been captain of a Premier League side for the last year and a bit so is surely the most qualified in the squad to take the armband?

No he is English