Pride before a fall for Toshack?

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Well, two days have passed since Wales' embarrassing Euro 2008 qualifying defeat to Cyprus.

And to be honest, I'm still struggling to get my head around it.

At one point, although hardly inspiring in the way they went about it, it looked as if Wales were about to hang on for another backs-to-the-wall win on the road.

But then it fell to pieces - and the media were left trying to pick them up and make sense of the whole debacle following Toshack's press conference.

Tosh refused to take any questions, simply stating he had a few points of his own, including the phrase: "I have to take a long, hard look at what I'm doing here."

Now it has been quickly pointed out that that resigning and walking away wasn't what the Wales boss meant and he is staying with the Wales challenge.

I don't think there was any doubt of that, something Wales on Sunday pointed out in our report and confirmed by FAW sources to me.

But when you can't ask questions to clarify the point, it was Tosh himself who had thrown this issue into the air.

And he knew exactly what he was doing after it emerged he made similar comments in his interview to broadcasters S4C prior to the press-conference.

The school of thought was that he couldn't blame his players - who should have taken their fair share of blame - or risk alienating himself inside the dressing room.

But with some observers in Nicosia claiming they were ignoring and then debating Tosh's touchline instructions, perhaps it's already too late.

Tosh is a proud man and this game - the worst display of his tenure - would have hurt him big time.

Does he need it? Is the challenge too much? Did he fall for getting into a tete-a-tete with Sparky and Savage before the game, a tactic that now looks rather foolish?

Craig Bellamy refused to comment on whether Tosh is taking this team in the right direction, although in fairness he had answered similarly before the game when the feel-good factor was still alive and well.

But I think he is as blooding these youngsters is the only way and as Neville Southall has previously stated, you will get games like these with kids until they find consistency comes with age. Tosh needs to do more, though, with our hopes of making it into pot three for the next qualifying campaign now over.

His honeymoon period with his employers has lasted three years now, and although they still remain confident of his methods, excuses must make way for expectation very soon indeed.

Wales' Teenage Wonder Goal

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It's just like watching Brazil - even if it's actually Wales Under 16 side in the Victory Shield last week.

Check out this howitzer of a free-kick that won the game for Wales' kids against Scotland at Carmarthen's Richmond Park.

It was scored by Lee McArdle - a 16-year-old centre back, hopeful of making the grade at Premier League outfit Everton.

Not much info on the rookie at the moment, but with FAW Trust elite performance director Osian Roberts in the Carmarthen crowd, hopefully there'll be tabs kept on his progress and he'll soon be winning caps under Brian Flynn.

After all, we wouldn't want skills like this go to waste - remember that Ryan Giggs actually wore the Three Lions in this competition many moons ago as an England schoolboy!

And judging by this strike, you have to wonder whether Brazil will be checking whether McArdle's a relative of Roberto Carlos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKW5HCLcIAU

Tosh Says He Got It Wrong . . .

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Yes, you did read the headline correctly - Wales boss Toshack has held his hands up and admitted he's been wrong with Wales.

Now, although Savage-gate, Oster-gate and Collins-gate have all previously opened up a path to criticise Tosh and his stubbornness to back down, the former Real Madrid manager isn't as obstinate as you'd think.

And when results haven't gone the way we've all wanted, Tosh has taken a good look at his own role before laying into his team.

Speaking to Wales on Sunday, Toshack outlined the three times he felt he let his country down, and the three chances he's got to put that right.

A start against Cyprus this Saturday would be welcomed by all.

Carry on reading for this weekend's interview in full.

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What a Weekend . . .

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So rugby unites as a nation then, does it?
Well, the smiles on faces this morning suggests football plays a small part too.
Try telling Cardiff fans it's a miserable time to be a Welshman after their first home win in seven months.
And try pulling Swans supporters down off cloud nine after faith in promotion was restored five times over at top-of-the-table Orient on Saturday.
And even Wrexham followers - down in the dumps for weeks - are seeing things a bit brighter after Friday night's success.
Now all we need is for Tosh's team to follow suit against Cyprus on Saturday and we're done!

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Crem de la Welsh Prem

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When Lee Trundle lines up in the Championship for Bristol City, followers of the Welsh Premier should allow themselves a small smile.

Because lost in the hype following Trunds' move from Swansea was the fact the Welsh Prem had produced its first £1m player.

Not a bad feat for a league that's suffered some unfair criticism over the years.

In case you missed it - and for some reason the story wasn't posted online this week - click to read the rest of this entry and you can see Wales on Sunday's extended look into the Football League graduates from the Welsh leagues and the hopes for the next generation.

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Has Wales Boss Tosh Mellowed?

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Wales manager John Toshack has left problem pair Danny Collins and Paul Parry out of his squad for the games with Cyprus and San Marino.

But Tosh has insisted the door is open for both of them to make a return to international football when they want.

Toshack phoned Sunderland defender Collins before naming his squad for the qualifying double-header after Collins pulled out of the games against Germany and Slovakia.

He had cited an ankle injury as the reason for his last absence - but has now admitted he is worried about his place in the Black Cats' side.

The discussion last month was thought to have ended angrily.

And when we've seen that happen in the past it's meant the end of the road for that particular player when it comes to the red shirt.

Robbie Savage, Ben Thatcher, John Oster - even Collins himself once before.

You always got the impression, no matter how right you thought the manager was, he had a tendency of being a tad harsh, making a quick call he would never back down from.

But although Tosh did warn Collins and Parry - whose personal problems remain enough for the Welsh boss to go easy on his absence - their places could be at risk with others looking to step-in, he didn't blast their decisions.

Okay, he wasn't exactly chuffed - but the very fact he said he was willing to give them another chance suggests the former Real Madrid manager might have mellowed three years into the job.

That's fine - after all, we know we can't go and cut off the few options available to a country of our limited resources.

But Tosh is worryingly opening himself up for a return of that old debate of bringing back Sav and Oster. I, for one, was hoping that issue had been put to bed after the Blackburn midfielder's ill-timed and ill-informed recent comments.

"I would have picked them both for this squad if they had made themselves available," said Toshack on Parry and Collins.

"The door is still open for them both, and I do not want to be ringing people every time there is a squad to find out if they want to play.

"I understand both players' reasons, but maybe in six months when they decide they want to be involved again, they may find others are now in front of them.

"Collins no doubt sees Gareth Bale and Joe Ledley ahead of him in the left-sided roles and has decided he wants to do all he can to stay in the Sunderland team.

"I also fully understand Parry's problems. Neither of them feel they want to be in the squad at the moment."

Why the sudden change of heart? Perhaps he's still smiling at the wonderful 5-2 win in Slovakia and the chnace of grabbing tow more wins on the road against the group minnows later this month.

Or perhaps he'd just read this World Cup Boost exclusive in the latest edition of Wales on Sunday.