Does a Welsh team manager really deserve such treatment?
 |
Gould's autobiography.
I haven't read it so I
don't know what it's about. |
In August 2000, Bobby Gould was named as manager of Division Three side Cardiff City. But two months later he handed over his duties to Alan Cork and was promoted to the role of general manager. After seeing the Bluebirds win promotion at the end of 2000–01 he left Ninian Park to seek a return to management
Turkey 6 Wales 4 Gould's finest moment
In 2000 most people I spoke to seemed to be getting their knickers in a twist at the prospect of Bobby Gould taking the helm at Ninian Park after his glorious failure as manager of Wales.
Not me. I had been a big fan of Bobby ever since I was lucky enough to sit next to him on the flight from Istanbul to Cardiff following Wales' 6-4 defeat in
Turkey back in 1997.
Turkey back in 1997.
 |
| Welsh party leaves Istanbul |
Bobby could have sneaked quietly away from Turkey but chose instead to face the flak and field criticism from Welsh supporters sharing the return flight. He faced an ugly mob at the airport with dignity with only a raincoat over his face for protection. Does a Welsh team manager really deserve such treatment?
 |
| Hair after incident |
Morons hell bent on preventing Gould from boarding the plane chanted for his resignation. Eventually, after a scuffle and special pleading on my part, the players and journalists relented and allowed Bobby on the plane, his hair brusquely ruffled in the fracas.
 |
| Post match autopsy |
He was a model of diplomacy. He had to be, if he didn't want the post-match autopsy to be carried out on him. Does a Welsh team manager really deserve such treatment?
During the flight Gould was constantly baited by fickle supporters. He was aggressively defensive (something you could never say about his Wales team) about his preparation, team selection and match tactics.
I defended him. Wales' had eleven men on the pitch, one of which was a goalkeeper. so you couldn't accuse Gould of not getting the basics right. What happened when the players got on the pitch was out of his control, even if he was getting paid for it.
 |
| Welsh National Anthem an Artist's impression |
During the flight some supporters, obviously drunk, called into question Gould's commitment to Wales and Welsh football. "You're not even Welsh!' shouted a particularly ignorant Swansea supporter. Does a Welsh team manager really deserve such treatment?
Eventually, Gould was unfairly goaded into admitting that the only time he'd had a lump in his throat during the Welsh National anthem was when he accidentally swallowed an Everton mint before the Turkey game.
Eventually, Gould was unfairly goaded into admitting that the only time he'd had a lump in his throat during the Welsh National anthem was when he accidentally swallowed an Everton mint before the Turkey game.
But Gould countered brilliantly. "I wasn't born in Wales," he said, "but if you cut me, my blood is red." This comment drew not only gasps but a few serious offers to test the theory. Does a Welsh team manager really deserve such treatment?
Cardiff fans should have backed a man prepared to make a statement like that.
 |
| Good film |
It was a pleasure sitting next to Bobby on that return flight and I took the opportunity to apologise on behalf of the entire Welsh nation over the Nathan Blake incident. Gould assured me, and I believed him, that he would never say or do anything knowingly racist.
We then settled back in our seats to enjoy the in-flight movie chosen by Bobby; 'Mandingo'.
It was typical of the man that by the time the plane touched down in Cardiff, Gould had won over many of the detractors and made many new friends by promising to resign.
 |
| Welsh FA Member? |
But FAW committee members refused point blank to accept his resignation. And quite right too! These people are obviously not the un-dead zombies many supporters claim them to be.
It saddens me to hear comments bandied about like "Bobby Gould's reputation in Wales is lower than rat's piss." Does a Welsh team manager really deserve such treatment? That's unfair. In years to come Bobby's place in the history of world - yes world - football will be reassessed.
It saddens me to hear comments bandied about like "Bobby Gould's reputation in Wales is lower than rat's piss." Does a Welsh team manager really deserve such treatment? That's unfair. In years to come Bobby's place in the history of world - yes world - football will be reassessed.
Afterall, nobody did more than him to close the gap between the traditional football super powers (like Wales) and the emerging nations.
Unfortunately, as Cardiff manager, Bobby fails to answer the question on everyone's lips; Is it possible to play Lee Baddeley and still win?
Available from Amazon Kindle
Bobbing Along Issue 1
No comments:
Post a Comment