It is with much renewed optimism that Wales went into their September international matches against Turkey and Montenegro with Craig Bellamy in the dugout.

A 0-0 draw in Cardiff and 2-1 win in the torrential rain of Niksic has many Wales fans excited about just how far this team can go under the new manager.

With over 15 years of top-level football, 77 caps for Wales and a key member of the Euro 2016 squad, Joe Ledley is well-placed to assess Bellamy’s first weeks as Wales coach. So, we asked him!

 

What were your first thoughts when Bellamy got the job in the summer?

There were a few candidates and a few names were dropped. But for me, I think the most exciting one was always Craig. His time at Burnley, working with Vincent Kompany was very impressive.

I played with him and he’s such a passionate Welshman. Going back to [John] Toshack, all our managers have been Welsh and keeping a Welshman in charge is important.

 

Have we seen the beginnings of the style that Bellamy wants his Wales team to play in those first two games?

If you look at his playing days, Bellamy was always on the front foot, aggressive, worked very hard. I think we’ve seen that his team will be like that.

It’s a different way compared to what we’ve seen from Wales over the last few years but I think it’s most definitely the right way. Straight away against Turkey we saw that style: on the front foot, getting into people’s faces, making it difficult for the opposition. On a different day, we win that game with the chances we had.

 

Bellamy seems to be in his element in front of the media, soaking up the pressure…

Oh, he loves it! Football is his life. After he retired, you always knew that he was going to be a manager. The way he has conducted himself in the media has been fantastic. The line about the Turkey performance being the worst that his side will play was a great way of getting the fans onside.

 

How much credit do the players take for that first Turkey performance?

The players have been excellent. It’s very difficult when you meet up with the international squad, they would have only had four days to prepare for that game against Turkey.

Every single player has bought into it, taken on a lot of information in meetings. They’re pressing high, and countering attacking. It’s an exciting brand of football.

 

We’ve seen in these early games, Neco Williams and Connor Roberts coming inside into midfield rather than holding width. Do their profiles as individuals suit that style?

Fullbacks coming inside has been happening for years. The way Pep has done it at Man City is similar to what Bellamy wants. The reason why you bring the fullbacks inside is because they are both very capable on the ball and it gives an extra man to the midfield to get that overload.

It’s not entirely new to these players, but it’s a credit to the fullbacks because Craig has put a lot of pressure on them, and he obviously sees a lot of ability in them.

 

Talking of midfield, how good has Ethan Ampadu been in recent games?

I don’t even think the last couple of games, I think you could go back to the last eight games. He’s been a rock in our midfield. He knows his role very well. His job is to break up play, but also get on the ball. And he’s been a vital part of Wales on the ball and off the ball.

He’s been fantastic, and he’s a true leader. You can see he’s a leader on the pitch and off the pitch, and the way he conducts himself is remarkable, and it’s great for these younger players as well, coming through. He is key to Welsh football going in the right direction and the future of Welsh football as well. For me, he will be the future Welsh captain, for sure.

 

Speaking of captains, what have you made of Aaron Ramsey’s false nine position against Turkey?

He’s been playing in that position for the majority of his time with Wales, and I like to see him there, rather than deeper in midfield. The way I like to see him play is that false nine and number 10 role, just in front of the two midfielders, where you can just give him a license once he’s on the ball, he can create a lot of chances. With Wales, he picks up some great positions, and he gets the team going forward and I thought he did magnificently well against Turkey.

 

We saw Wales go without a striker against Turkey and then play Keiffer Moore there in Montenegro. Is that spot up for grabs?

If you look over the pitch, I think that’s the one position where we are undecided on who should play there. We are able to change it depending on the opposition. Montenegro was perfect for Keiffer, and he got his goal. There’s lots of options.

There’s always going to be competition in all places in that team. It’s a very strong, young Welsh team, in which everyone’s determined to try and play their role and their part in that team.

 

Was the Montenegro game, given the horrendous weather, a better performance than the Turkey game?

I think so. When you play at home, you do have that advantage with the fans and the atmosphere being behind you. Going away from home, it’s much more difficult to play your way.

The weather was terrible, if the match was an hour later it would have been called off. Sometimes you’ve just got to play in these conditions and try and grind out the results. They didn’t have to be as slick as they were against Turkey, but the win was vital for Craig and the team as well.

 

The reaction from Wales fans has been very positive to these first couple of games. What would you say to those who are looking at hotels and flights to the United States in a couple of years’ time?

Don’t get too excited yet! There’s a long way to go but it has been a fantastic start. We’ve been good at getting to tournaments over the last eight years but it’s a work in progress with Bellamy and the squad at the moment.

I think these games in the Nations League are vital to work out how we are going to play and getting up to speed with what Bellamy wants. Hopefully we can make it to the World Cup, and we can achieve it.

To the fans, I’d say keep getting behind the manager and the team and continue their great support!

---

If you want to read more pieces from Sportin Wales, why not read to our monthly magazine here or subscribe to the magazine and newsletter at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.

Our podcast is back for the new season and our co-founder Alex Cuthbert is in charge! You can find all the episodes here or the video versions on our YouTube channel.

You can also keep track of our pieces and videos on our socials at @Sportin_Wales on X or Sportin Wales on Instagram and Facebook.