A 2-2 draw in Iceland* and a 1-0 win over Montenegro* in Cardiff keeps Cymru in the running for at least the Nations League play-offs while Craig Bellamy is now undefeated after four matches in charge. This is the best ever start by any Cymru manager, topping the previous best start of three unbeaten matches enjoyed by his immediate predecessor Rob Page. Here is a catalogue of how all the 16 full-time managers appointed since 1954 fared in their first four games:
Walley Barnes LLLL
Jimmy Murphy DLDW
Dave Bowen WLLL
Mike Smith LWWW
Mike England WLLW
Terry Yorath LWWL
John Toshack L
Mike Smith LWWL
Bobby Gould WLDL
Mark Hughes WLWL
John Toshack WLLD
Gary Speed LLLW
Chris Coleman LLLL
Ryan Giggs WWLL
Rob Page DWWL
Craig Bellamy DWDW
Admittedly, the likes of Montenegro and Iceland are not the toughest opponents in the world, but nevertheless no international football match is easy and this is particularly true for a small country with a fledgling manager working within the crippling limits imposed by a systemic lack of professional footballers – as usual made worse by a host of injuries and suspensions.
Bellamy seems to have torn up the Welsh soccer rule-book, ignoring all the received wisdoms by never picking the same side twice, never being constrained by notions of a strongest XI and never giving a moment’s credence to the ingrained Welsh inferiority complex. From out of nowhere he has introduced bold attacking football, the passing game, domination of possession and, above all, a team ethos that insists on strict adherence to his tactics allied to selfless, disciplined hard work. It is a breath of fresh air, and because it brings previously untapped skills out of quite ordinary players it opens up thrilling future possibilities.
Of course it could all go tits up, and it is important not to elevate expectations to unfeasible levels. However, the pie-in-the-sky idealist lurking within me can’t help thinking that Cymru has unearthed a rare diamond in Craig Bellamy. Is he stark raving bonkers? Is he a one-off genius? Could his combination of Cardiffian cunning and unteachable self-confidence be precisely the recipe we have always needed? We will know a lot more after Nations League Group B4 concludes in November with matches away to Türkiye and then home to Iceland.
*NOTES
Cymru’s head-to-head record against Iceland now stands at P8, W5, D2, L1, Goals F15-A7; and against Montenegro P5, W3, D0, L2, Goals F6-A5.