Craig Bellamy’s appointment as Wales manager has brought renewed optimism and higher expectations.
The importance of tournament experience can’t be overstated, and players like Ben Davies are central to this.
As one of the most experienced players in the squad, Davies’ leadership and ability to handle the pressure of major tournaments are vital. He’ll play a crucial role in mentoring the younger players and helping them develop the winning mentality Bellamy wants.
The importance of tournament experience can’t be overstated, and players like Ben Davies are central to this.
As one of the most experienced players in the squad, Davies’ leadership and ability to handle the pressure of major tournaments are vital. He’ll play a crucial role in mentoring the younger players and helping them develop the winning mentality Bellamy wants.
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00:00Now, Craig Bellamy's appointment as Wales manager has brought renewed optimism and higher
00:07expectations. His technical approach and passion are already having an impact as Wales build
00:13towards future tournaments. The importance of tournament experience can't be overstated
00:19and players like Ben Davies are central to this. As one of the most experienced players
00:24in the squad, Davies' leadership and ability to handle the pressure of major tournaments
00:29are vital. He'll play a crucial role in mentoring the younger players and helping them develop
00:34the winning mentality that Bellamy wants. Many current squad members lack major tournament
00:40experience and Bellamy's challenge will be to cultivate that. Tournament experience is
00:45crucial for both individual players and squad cohesion and with Davies' guidance, Wales
00:51are shaping up for a bright future.
00:56Just on Ben Davies particularly, he's obviously the most experienced in the side. He wouldn't
01:02matter the match in the first game against Kazakhstan as well, obviously with a goal
01:06in there as well and an assist. He's been absolutely fantastic. I mean, a great servant
01:11and also, interestingly, the only remaining player from 2013 when Bellamy actually played
01:17his last game as a player. So, quite incredible to see his rise and his tournament experience
01:24has got to be so valuable to this Wales squad. It's obviously quite a young bunch of players
01:29as well. So, just a bit on Ben Davies and his impact on this side.
01:33Yes, he's the level head. He's the leader at the back and often quiet. He's maybe not
01:41your typical leader in that sense, but when he speaks, people listen. He leads by example
01:46on the pitch and he's an achievable and recognisable role model for these players because, like
01:52we said, yes, you can talk about Ramsey and you can talk about Allen, you can talk about
01:55Bale from that 2016 squad, but Ben Davies has been there and done it himself. He was
02:02a key part of that 2016 team. Obviously, his block against Slovakia in the opening match
02:07that is so crucial in Welsh folklore. The whole tournament probably doesn't happen or
02:11unfold the way it did if Ben Davies doesn't make that huge block in the opening minutes
02:15against Slovakia in our 2016 opener. And he's a player who is playing at the top level still.
02:21I know Tottenham might not be the highest level in world football, but he's still got
02:25an incredible CV. He's got so much experience under his belt and he's a player who everyone
02:32else can look up to really. And I think from Bellamy's point of view, he's one of those
02:37few players that is really reliable, a constant in the squad. There's others who are maybe
02:43a bit more erratic in their form, players who are less predictable of what you're going
02:49But what you do and can be assured of from Ben Davies is you do get that stereotypical
02:53sort of 7 out of 10 every single game that he plays. And that is so crucial in international
02:58football. And so too is that experience because when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, if
03:02it comes down to another playoff campaign, he's done it. He's been at the European Championships
03:08twice. He's been at the World Cup. And that's huge because it proves it can be done. And in
03:15those moments of doubt where Wales in the past were never able to get over the line,
03:19there is now a track record of doing so. And as a player still in their squad, his system,
03:23the style of play he wants to enforce, and quite a few changes as well to his lineups.
03:29But ultimately, he's got to work with what he's got. And I think this World's team doesn't have
03:35maybe that star quality that the last couple of teams have had, with Ramsey and Bale at their
03:41peak, really, particularly in 2016, and even qualifying for the last World Cup. It was Bale's
03:46magic moments that got them over the line. And you still look at the Wales squad now and you
03:50wonder who is that player who's going to step up and do it? Obviously, we saw Brooks do so
03:55against Macedonia, Kiefer Moore with a fantastic assist. But Brooks and Brennan Johnson, they can't
04:03both play 90 minutes every single match. And they are the two players with probably the most
04:08technical ability. Harry Wilson's had a good season as well at Fulham. But who is actually
04:12going to step up now? There is a platform, there's an opening for another player to become the
04:17catalyst of this team. And maybe it works better the other way that Wales aren't as much of a
04:22sort of one-man team now. I know they were more a collective before anyway, and Bale was just the
04:28icing on top who made things happen. But there is an opening there. While I think there's a bit more
04:34team cohesion and the overall levels may be increased, I still think Wales are just missing
04:39that player in their prime who can win games and secure results on their own.