Source: Daily_Mail
Toshack: 'Legends' like Rush, Southall and Ratcliffe did nothing for Wales
John Toshack has hit out at former legends of Welsh football who he feels are heaping undue pressure on his young side.
The former Real Madrid boss has named Kevin Ratcliffe, Neville Southall and Ian Rush for suggesting that his emerging group of players should be performing better.
Toshack has been hit by the international retirement of Jason Koumas in the past week and have also had to contend with the withdrawals of Jack Collison and Reading’s Simon Church for personal reasons.
Neville Southall
Kevin Ratcliffe
Club legends: Neville Southall (left) and Kevin Ratcliffe won trophies galore at Everton but never made Wales a successful international team
He faces Russia tonight with a side heavily-dependent on the talent being brought through at Under-21 level and feels that several former players have been unduly harsh.
He said: 'I can understand people saying that we need to step up, that the young lads are coming to a time where they need to deliver.
'I have heard some ex-players say about the young lads: "It's fine, but they need to start delivering." But they never delivered themselves. Rush, Ratcliffe, Southall... you look at the side that they had, the experienced players that they had, and the things they won at club level.
'But they never delivered either. So, of course, we hope that eventually somewhere down the line, they will deliver. However, it is not as straightforward as that. But in the last two tournaments, we have been in the toughest group.
Toshack and Bellamy
Men in charge: Wales boss John Toshack talks tactics with skipper Craig Bellamy
'Last time it was Germany and Czech Republic, in the top three in the world, and this time it’s Russia and Germany. I look at some of the other groups and we could have had a better chance in those.'
Toshack has welcomed back Craig Bellamy after the confusion that surrounded his non-attendance for last month’s friendly in Montenegro.
Bellamy retains the armband for the visit of Guus Hiddink’s side tonight, proof that Toshack has absolved the forward of any blame.
Ian Rush
Legend: Ian Rush was a Liverpool hero but also part of Welsh under-achievement
The Manchester City striker said: 'It was a misunderstanding. The club has apologised to me, they have apologised to Wales.
'But if it’s my name, I’m always going to get the blame anyway, no matter what happens. It’s a little bit disappointing given the commitment I’ve shown. You can say I'm a good player, or a bad player but you cannot question my commitment.
'All it takes is one little mix-up in communication and my name is in the frame again. But it doesn’t surprise me. I’m fit, here and willing to play. If I’m not fit, then I don’t play, it’s as simple as that.
'People are going to look at it from the outside and it’s very easy because of the club I’m at to put a negative spin on things.
'It’s always been negative regarding me. But that’s the situation I’m in, the club’s in. It has been blown out of proportion, these things do happen. It’s probably been blown up to be a bigger story than what it was.
