Welsh football awards 2012 by Paul Abbandonato

Player of the season - Gareth Bale

Has had an absolutely brilliant 12 months which has led to him being even more coveted by the Spanish big two of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Shrewd pundits reckon only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are better these days in world football.

It’s been a joy to see the stunning strides made, and maturity displayed, by a teen star we first set eyes on here in Wales as a precocious 17-year-old.


Best individual performance - Gareth Bale again (for Wales versus Scotland)

They say there is no such thing as a one-man team, but Bale in October’s World Cup game was as close as anything I have seen to break that norm.

Magnificent throughout, he refused to accept defeat as Wales trailed 1-0 into the closing moments. One surging run past three Scottish defenders, coupled with a beautifully-struck penalty, drew Chris Coleman’s men level.

Almost before we had finished celebrating, Bale won a free-kick as his old nemesis Charlie Adam ruthlessly upended him. The Welsh flier picked himself up, ran past the helpless Adam again and fired that unstoppable shot past Allan McGregor.

Perhaps the best solo display I have seen from anyone in a Welsh shirt.


High point - Ben Turner's goal v Liverpool in the Carling Cup final

There's nothing quite like a last minute equaliser to rescue a team in a cup final.

Big Ben Turner duly delivered the Wembley goods for Cardiff City against Liverpool.

Cue pandemonium amongst 30,000-plus Bluebirds fans.


Toughest job - Chris Coleman

Chris Coleman with Wales, given the circumstances in which he had to take on the post after the tragedy involving his old mate.

Coleman dilly-dallied to begin with, attempting to keep the players and Speed’s old backroom staff onside by not changing anything.

It was a recipe for disaster, Coleman is not Speed and needed to do the job his way.

After four defeats in his opening four games, including the 6-1 thrashing in Serbia, he finally agreed it was time to stop trying to copy Speed.

It may not have any great affect upon Wales’ results, but at least Coleman will eventually bow out doing things in the manner he believes is right.


Worst team performance - Serbia 6 Wales 1

I won't go quite as far as saying it was embarrassing to be a Welsh fan that night, but it was as close as it comes.

Reminiscent, in so many ways, of the night 15 years earlier when Bobby Gould’s Wales were battered 7-1 by the Netherlands in Eindhoven.

At least that was the star-studded Dutch.

This loss to a pretty average Serbian side was even worse, given the status of the opposition.


Team of the year - Swansea City

How can you look beyond Swansea City?

What a first year in the Premier League.

And the second season hasn’t been bad, either.

Top results, top football, top signings.


Best team performance - Swansea City 1-0 Manchester City

Cardiff City were magnificent in battering Burnley 4-0 the other week and truly outstanding in holding Liverpool in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

But it has to be the Swans’ stunning 1-0 win over champions-elect Manchester City on March 10, when Luke Moore, no less, headed home the winner.


Star with ground to make up - Aaron Ramsey

No-one has talked up this wonderfully gifted Welsh midfield star more than yours truly, but even I have to admit he’s stagnated somewhat.

When Ramsey and Jack Wilshere were Arsenal’s midfield young guns emerging under Arsene Wenger’s excellent tutelage, it was the Welsh wizard who was rated the more highly.

These days it is Wilshere who Wenger appears to be pinning his hopes upon, either putting Ramsey as a substitute or sticking him out of position on the right.

At least Ramsey was given a new contract this week, proving Wenger still has belief in him.

Ramsey played well for Team GB at the Olympics, but Wales’ 6-1 hiding in Serbia saw him have the Welsh captaincy taken away from him.

Knows he has ground to regain, but he’s too good a player not to bounce back.


Biggest controversy 1 - The Cardiff City rebrand

The Bluebirds rebranding from blue to red because the Malaysians regarded that as a luckier colour.


Biggest controversy 2 - Team GB

Wales aces Ryan Giggs, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor refused to sing the God Save the Queen


Most deserved honour - Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs finally getting the opportunity to appear on a major international stage when he skippered Team GB in the Olympics.

It was long overdue for the Manchester United ace and ex-Wales international who is the greatest player of a generation.


Unluckiest player - Neil Taylor

The swashbuckling Swansea and Wales left-back broke his ankle in a game against Sunderland.

No player in Welsh football had made the strides Taylor had done in the previous 24 months, from non-league player with Wrexham to Team GB star in the Olympics.

We wish him a successful recovery and look forward to seeing him at his tough-tackling, pacy, overlapping best again.


Best bit of business 1 - Michu

Swansea City netting Michu, the Premier League’s top scorer, for a mere £2million from Spanish football.

Given what we’ve seen from him to date, that looks like the steal of the century.


Best bit of business 2 - Joe Allen

Swansea City again... this time netting a £15million profit on young Joe Allen.

Look, Allen is a tidy little player. Well balanced, comfortable on the ball, prepared to stick his foot in, able to pass with either foot.

But even permitting for today’s daft transfer fees, a £15million footballer he is not. As such, we shouldn’t be placing too much of a burden of expectation upon him with Wales.

Only Brendan Rodgers would have paid that over-inflated sum of money. The Swans were probably smiling the whole way to the bank.


Worst bit of business - Adam Matthews released by Cardiff City

Cardiff City letting Adam Matthews go for nothing. Okay, I know it actually happened the previous year, but the way Matthews has shone in Europe with Celtic this season just underlines the folly of this particular piece of Bluebirds transaction.

Matthews has been one of the few bright spots for Chris Coleman’s Wales team and was this week named in a list of the world’s best 100 young footballers.

Good bit until the last bit on Matthews.

Good bit until the last bit on Matthews.

Don't they know anything? Released in 2011

Good bit until the last bit on Matthews.

Don't they know anything? Released in 2011

I think he knows that because he says "Okay, I know it actually happened the previous year, but the way Matthews has shone in Europe with Celtic this season just underlines the folly of this particular piece of Bluebirds transaction."

Good bit until the last bit on Matthews.

Don't they know anything? Released in 2011

I think he knows that because he says "Okay, I know it actually happened the previous year, but the way Matthews has shone in Europe with Celtic this season just underlines the folly of this particular piece of Bluebirds transaction."

So why mention it at all? Poor.

Good bit until the last bit on Matthews.

Don't they know anything? Released in 2011

I think he knows that because he says "Okay, I know it actually happened the previous year, but the way Matthews has shone in Europe with Celtic this season just underlines the folly of this particular piece of Bluebirds transaction."

So why mention it at all? Poor.

Exactly what I thought.

Good bit until the last bit on Matthews.

Don't they know anything? Released in 2011

I think he knows that because he says "Okay, I know it actually happened the previous year, but the way Matthews has shone in Europe with Celtic this season just underlines the folly of this particular piece of Bluebirds transaction."

So why mention it at all? Poor.

Exactly what I thought.

And here.

I know why, because the guy is a stubborn know it all, I've read a few of his stuff and loves the sound of his own voice.
Nothing would ever convince him that DJ was shit and Toshack was amazing, "journalist" with one eye.

Biggest controversy 2 - Team GB

Wales aces Ryan Giggs, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor refused to sing the God Save the Queen

Using the word 'refused' is poor of him. They didn't publicly state that they wouldn't sing it but certain parts of the press choose to make an issue out of it. What they didn't say is that a couple of the players mentioned don't sing the Welsh anthem when they play for Wales.