Wales coach John Hartson: We're not too worried by lack of goals
WALES coach John Hartson feels the team's poor strike rate in recent matches is "not a major worry" and is optimistic the goals will soon come.
The Dragons head into tomorrow's World Cup qualifying clash with Scotland at Cardiff City Stadium having scored only once in their last five games — Gareth Bale's effort in the 6-1 drubbing in Serbia last month.
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Gareth Bale celebrates his goal with Aaron Ramsey in the 6-1 defeat in Serbia last month
That loss, coming after a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, means Chris Coleman's bottom-placed side have no points from two fixtures in Group A so far and are in urgent need of finding some goalscoring form ahead of the double-header against the Scots and Croatia, who they take on in Osijek next Tuesday.
The issue is certainly not lost on former Wales striker Hartson, who netted 14 times in 51 matches for his country, but the 37-year-old reckons defending might be a more pressing concern right now and is confident the team has goals in it.
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"It is a concern that you don't get goals from your frontmen, but it's not only your strikers you need to look at," Hartson said.
Front foot
"It is the whole team we look at, and when the team is on the front foot and playing well, the goals will come.
"I think it's more of a problem of conceding them at the moment rather than scoring them.
"It (goalscoring) is not a major worry to us at the minute.
"If we weren't really creating chances I'd be more worried. Hopefully we can create plenty of chances, get the crowd behind us and we can score some goals."
Wales have lost all five of their games since Coleman succeeded the late Gary Speed as manager.
Along with the emotional impact Speed's death had on the squad, Hartson believes the Dragons have also suffered plenty of bad luck with regard to player availability.
James Collins is currently suspended following his red card in the Belgium game and although Gareth Bale (heel) and Adam Matthews (ankle) are expected to be fit for Friday, there are several absentees through injury, including Craig Bellamy (knee), whose international future is somewhat uncertain at the moment.
Hartson said: "We would love him to be here — he is a great player and he has great respect from everybody here.
"But looking to the future, I really don't know.
"I don't think the door is closed by any means for his return, but you'll have to ask him."
Regarding his own career, Hartson is enjoying the coaching role he has been handed by Coleman, describing it as a "wonderful opportunity".
After retiring from playing and then overcoming cancer, he made an unsuccessful bid to succeed John Toshack as Wales boss in 2010, and he says he is currently in "no rush" to get the top job.
"If I'm really honest with myself, I probably wasn't ready. I'd just finished playing and overcome a really serious illness — but it was a job I'd have loved to have done back then," Hartson said.
"Now I'm in a better position in terms of learning, and I'm in no rush — I'm 37 and I can have a plan in terms of my future, but certainly short term I'm just looking to learn as much as I can."
Wales's losing streak has seen the pressure mount on Coleman, who has opted to switch his captain from Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey to Swansea City skipper Ashley Williams.
While Hartson feels Ramsey will captain Wales again one day, he has endorsed the move, and referring to Coleman, he said: "To take this job on, which was a very difficult job with everyone having felt so close to Gary, he was very brave, and it is going to take time.
"I have a lot of admiration for Chris Coleman and I just hope we can get it right."
Comments
by morton1947
Thursday, October 11 2012, 12:51PM
“I agree with both previous Posters to the site as Gorseion Joe says if you don't score goals you don't win matches and Hartson knows that but is sitting on the fence as he is part of the Welsh set up. As far as Coleman goes Jock8Jack is right as he hasn't a clue and should never have been put in charge. Another thing that galls me is the fact of the so called Superstars only make themselves available when it appears to suit them. The players should either always be available for Wales and not be called on full stop as this smacks of the monkey working the organ grinder rather than the other way around. So hopefully the Welsh FA will wake up and get this sorted quickly before we become a total laughing stock of the footballing world.”
by Jock8Jack
Thursday, October 11 2012, 12:36PM
“The WFA are demanding a change in fortune – pity they did not listen when it mattered … how can you seriously appoint Chris Coleman ? what was the true rationale behind it ? he can't go on hiding behind Gary Speed and "how close they were" means nothing ! the WFA should never have listened to the cries of Roberts and Savage of all folk and left the Dutch lad in charge … what Gary Speed would certainly would have wanted is continued success that means get this embarrassment offloaded now cut the losses and get the Dutch lad back whatever the result on Friday its plain to see Coleman does not have a clue as his CV would reflect ….. John Hartson dear oh dear worse than what we had thought eh .....”
by GorsseinonJoe
Thursday, October 11 2012, 10:00AM
“Hartson has made a mistake, if you don't score goals you don't win matches, not to be worried is a worrying statement.
If Wales stopped leaking goals and didn't score at least you would be getting a point, at the moment we are being humiliated. I don't know whats happened in this squad but losing Gary Speed has certainly changed either the attitude of players or the system of play introduced is not working.
Chris Coleman's "I don't give a monkeys..." comment was also a mistake as it makes him look arrogant and unapproachable.”