SO Gary Speed, the new Wales football manager, compares the Millennium Stadium playing surface with a parks pitch – well after Saturday’s dismal, passionless, useless performance against Eng-land, that’s all the side is fit for.

On that evidence they have no business playing at such a grand stadium, for they shortchanged the public, the relatively few decently behaved followers they have anyway.

The very least you expect from any team wearing the red jersey of Wales is fight, commitment to the cause, a never-say-die attitude, pride in the country, all of that and more.

But this lamentable Welsh team possessed none of that. Why, the players, or most of them didn’t even know the words of the national anthem, so how could they possibly have been expected to produce a display at least full of the passion required, especially against England of all teams?

It was excruciatingly embarrassing as the sides lined up for the national anthems before kick-off that the players representing Wales mumbled for a few words of their own national anthem.

And, as for the fans, if that’s what many of them can be called, the booing of the opposing national anthem was disgusting, showing a total lack of respect. Given that kind of utter boorishness what can we expect from the members of the team?

The Argus has taken calls, notably one from a Monmouth reader, who expressed his utter disgust at what went on claiming fans were more concerned with booing the England team than supporting Wales.

At least when the Welsh rugby team play at the headquarters the ground looks and feels like what it is – one of the best international arenas in the world.

The team comes out to flares, fanfares, a wall of sound and the fans get right behind them. The players sing the national anthem with pride and gusto, and while they may not be the greatest side around at least they give it their all.

The fans recognise that and when, for example, the team’s try line is under siege, as it was against Ireland a few weeks ago, they stand to a man and woman and roar the team on with every sinew in their body, defying the opposition to cross that line.

Of course, there is the occasional yobbo and lout at the ground when the Welsh rugby team play there, and some infuriatingly leave their seats when the game is going on to return some time later with a tray full of pints.

But by and large they are well behaved, respectful of the opposition and above all support their own side.

And the players value it and they give it their all for those very fans, thousands of whom make the pilgrimage to away grounds in the Six Nations Championship and beyond at considerable expense.

And as for a new broom Wales management, just what are Gary Speed’s credentials for the job? He did win 85 caps and was one of the players who wore his heart on his sleeve, but is that enough to qualify him as the national manager? Surely not.

He was given the job on the basis of being manager of Sheffield United for a few months, and a none too successful one at that. Some qualification.

So he is fairly bright, comparatively young and he looks presentable enough. So what? His predecessor John Toshack was eminently better suited to the role yet he ended up being vilified.

Speed’s record in charge so far, while admittedly being early days, is played two, lost two, goals for none, goals against five. Brilliant! Give me Toshack any time.

At the end of the day though, in football terms, Wales is a trivial little country with hardly any class players destined to go precisely nowhere whoever is in charge. Fit to play on a parks pitch perhaps?