Welsh wonders
Posted on 18th February 2009 at 11:33
It may have been in the doldrums a long time, but Welsh football is truly on the rise.
True, Swansea may have had an off day in losing to Watford just the night before I decided to share my thoughts, but anyone who witnessed the Swans' display against Fulham at the weekend, will realise they are a Premier League team in the making.
Roberto Martinez has done a fantastic job at the Liberty Stadium with very limited resources - and he now has a team more than capable of reaching the top flight. I always fancied them to do well this year, and I believed a play-off spot was always a possibility for them. It still very much is. And all this has been achieved without the services of top player Ferrie Boddie, who was ruled out for the season with a deadly cruciate knee ligament injury.
But the likes of Jason Scotland, de Vries in goal, plus what must be one of the best midfields outside the Premier League, are more than capable of mixing it with the best. Martinez is a Premier League manager-in-waiting; it's just a question of whether that is with, or without, Swansea...
Meanwhile, just a few short miles away in Cardiff, Dave Jones is crafting together a side which could yet pinch an automatic promotion place. Last season's efforts were ultimately sidetracked by their progress through to the FA Cup final, but now without distraction - and with a few games in hand - I genuinely believe this could be their year.
Once again, Jones has crafted together a team of winners without a massive budget. And given that many of their better players in recent years have been sold off (Chopra, who is now back at Ninian Park; Loovens, Gunter and Ramsey to name but four, then you have to say hats off to the Bluebirds management.
The Bluebirds are definitely play-off bound this term - and possibly even higher if they can make the most of their games in hand - but who is to say at this stage, we could see an all-Welsh play-off final this term. Don't rule it out, but either way, Welsh football is very much on the rise...
True, Swansea may have had an off day in losing to Watford just the night before I decided to share my thoughts, but anyone who witnessed the Swans' display against Fulham at the weekend, will realise they are a Premier League team in the making.
Roberto Martinez has done a fantastic job at the Liberty Stadium with very limited resources - and he now has a team more than capable of reaching the top flight. I always fancied them to do well this year, and I believed a play-off spot was always a possibility for them. It still very much is. And all this has been achieved without the services of top player Ferrie Boddie, who was ruled out for the season with a deadly cruciate knee ligament injury.
But the likes of Jason Scotland, de Vries in goal, plus what must be one of the best midfields outside the Premier League, are more than capable of mixing it with the best. Martinez is a Premier League manager-in-waiting; it's just a question of whether that is with, or without, Swansea...
Meanwhile, just a few short miles away in Cardiff, Dave Jones is crafting together a side which could yet pinch an automatic promotion place. Last season's efforts were ultimately sidetracked by their progress through to the FA Cup final, but now without distraction - and with a few games in hand - I genuinely believe this could be their year.
Once again, Jones has crafted together a team of winners without a massive budget. And given that many of their better players in recent years have been sold off (Chopra, who is now back at Ninian Park; Loovens, Gunter and Ramsey to name but four, then you have to say hats off to the Bluebirds management.
The Bluebirds are definitely play-off bound this term - and possibly even higher if they can make the most of their games in hand - but who is to say at this stage, we could see an all-Welsh play-off final this term. Don't rule it out, but either way, Welsh football is very much on the rise...
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