You’re a new manager of the national team, how do you treat one of you star youngsters who has suffered an horrendous double leg break, lost his mentor through suicide [the reason you got the job] and is going through a terrible patch of form? That’s right, you take the captaincy of the national team away from him.
Chris Coleman ladies and gentleman, who said it was down to relieving the pressure from Ramsey and nothing to do with scapegoating him for the side losing the first two qualifiers under his reign when he took away the armband from the Speed-chosen Ramsey.
Now the Wales manager is considering giving it back to Ramsey as the current Wales captain, Ashley Williams, is suspended for their World Cup qualifier against Serbia in Cardiff tonight.
Williams picked up a second yellow against Macedonia which means he will not play tonight in Cardiff and Coleman has admitted that he is considering a number of players, one of whom is Ramsey.
He said
“I’ve not spoken with him (the new captain) yet but I’m probably looking at two or three players with experience.
“I’ve got to get it right, going forward also for the future.
“It’s unfortunate to lose Ash because he has been fantastic for us.
“He’s a big loss but whoever gets the armband is going to have to lead by example.
“I can’t deny he’s [Ramsey] not someone I’ve thought about [for the captaincy] because his form is magnificent.
“I gave it to Ash last year because I thought he was on top of Aaron, who hadn’t got back to his form of before.
“I felt he was under a lot of pressure and that’s why I gave it to Ashley, who’s a natural born leader anyway.
“He was a good choice but I’ve always believed that Aaron would be captain again one day.
“He just had to concentrate on his own game and he’s been absolutely fantastic with Arsenal.
“Then he comes with us and runs the game, and he just looks mentally and physically different to where he was last year.”
That might have something to do with the support he had at Arsenal to help him get through what must surely have been the most difficult period of his life, not someone who not only kicked him when he was down but then looked to stomp on his face by trying to convince Ryan Shawcross to play for Wales.
As you can tell, Coleman isn’t much liked around these parts and we’re a little bit protective over Ramsey.
