By Graham Thomas
Craig Bellamy refuses to use the T-word.
The new Wales manager may have let slip with the F-word once or twice in his colourful playing career, but he draws the line at the expletive used by former boss Rob Page.
“Transition” was the description Page repeatedly offered to describe his team during their post-World Cup struggles as a yo-yo-ing campaign to reach the finals of this year’s Euros ultimately ended in agonising failure.
It was a phrase that grated with many, since Page may have lost Gareth Bale and others, but still had an experienced core of players at his disposal.
On the eve of his first match as manager – a Nations League opener at home to Turkey on Friday night – Bellamy was asked if he took the Page stance, that this is still a team in transition.
“I wasn’t here, so I wouldn’t be aware of that,” was his shrewdly diplomatic answer.
“I see a young team. I see a lot of talent coming through. But if I’m being honest, I see a very good team right now.
“The way I’m looking to try and play, it’s maybe a little different to what’s been done with Wales before.
“With the talent of players we have, I believe that if we can just tweak and adapt one or two little bits, it will give us a huge benefit going into the games of the future. So, I see a good group of footballers. That’s what I see.”
That kind of straight no-nonsense talking has characterised Bellamy’s period in charge so far. Of course, every new manager enjoys a honeymoon period and it was not so long ago that the FAW were patting themselves on the back for turning to Page following the chaotic departure of Ryan Giggs.
But there is something about Bellamy that suggests he might be able to square a difficult circle – connecting with Wales fans through his passion and honesty, whilst also showing enough cutting edge tactical and coaching ability to forge a similar bond with his players.
He admitted sleep might prove difficult for him on Thursday night, but there was a steely edge to go with the romanticism of managing his country for the first time.
“Of course it’s going to be a very proud moment, but I’ve worked hard for this. I’ve worked hard. I’m going to recognise that as well.
“That moment when the game gets going, I don’t get paid for being emotional. I get paid for making decisions on the side. That’s the business I have to be in then, straight away.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity as well, but I want to be able to enjoy it. That’s by being calm, doing a lot of the work, and being clear on everything that could occur in a game to be able to make the right decision at the right moment.”
Whether Belllamy can start with a clear victory to match his clarity of thought is less certain.
Wales have a decent recent record against Turkey, but the Turks made the Euros finals and reached the quarter-finals before losing to the Netherlands, 2-1.
On the way, they beat Georgia, the Czech Republic and Austria, whilst in Arda Guler they have one of Europe’s outstanding young players, currently breaking through at the age of 19 with Real Madrid.
“They are a very good side as we saw in the Euros in the summer,” says Bellamy.
“They have flexibility and can adjust during matches, they have some high quality players and we know it’s going to be a real test for us.
“This period is about me stamping on the team how I’d like us to go about the way we play. It would be a little bit crazy of me to expect it straight away . But I have to try.”
There will be no talk of transition, though, and less still about building a project for a far off point in the future.
“Some people talk about building for the future. But this is your country, you’re playing for Wales!
“Who’s to say you’ll have future games? Who’s to say you’ll be good enough for that? Who’s to say I’ll be good enough for that?
“Every game is so important. I have to be respectful of that. You don’t know when your next cap is going to come.”
