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One positive for me yesterday was seeing how intelligent Lawrence has become in possession. Won free kicks in very good areas when there was nowhere to go and he was making runs that were far more intelligent than Bale made all game.
It was a very “2017 Chris Coleman” style performance yesterday. I wonder if that’s because Gunter was back in the side. I like Gunter but most of the time he was slowing play down, though he made a couple of forward passes that I’ve not seen him do for ages. This is a clear instruction by Giggs of course.
We are not going to be beating Denmark with ease, they are a quality team. I’m really not sure what some people were expecting?!
The U21s tomorrow have a real test on their hands against a Portugal side with Jota leading the line!
It didn't help that we played two right backs, as well as Bale got into "win it on his own mode". They're a good side though and Brooks has to start for me, he's a breath of fresh air. Ampadu and him have really nailed down their places in the side for me. I like Lawrence but a few times he doesn't take enough care in possession still but he's a very good player. With Wilson, Brooks, Woodburn etc not starting we've certainly got options for the first time I can remember.
I agree regarding Gunter. He's great if you need to defend all game but going forward he offers next to nothing.
Denmark were so compact defensively yesterday getting around the outside was the best way to hurt them but Gunter isn't that type of full back.
That was a typical Gunter Reading type performance. He moved forward with the ball, checked, turned around and ran backwards before passing the ball back or at best sideways. It kills the momentum. There was no need to drop Brooks. I think Gunter has done well to win 89 caps. It really is time for a change.
Depends on what style you want to play and how much of the ball you are expecting to enjoy. For example, I imagine Gunter's positional sense and safe style on the ball is a better option if we were playing against a Belgium side away whereas Ireland at home absolutely called for different option - or at least Gunter playing 3rd CB rather than RB/RWB.
I thought we could have made greater use of Ledley and Vokes yesterday. As individuals they are not the most exciting but Ledley could have sat between back line and Ampadu/Allen slightly higher, or at least higher without the risk of leaving massive gap behind, while Vokes could have been used to play in Bale and Lawrence/Ramsey. Might not suit the high press or long term thinking Giggs wanted to employ but I doubt Eriksen would have scored that first goal and then Vokes as a useful Plan B.
I agree too.
There was one particular nice interchange in the first half at nil nil where he got forward beyond the last defender but his teammate, could well have been Ramsey, didn't return it to him and the move broke down.
Whether he didn't get it because Ramsey knows his limitations I don't know but it took CG a while to get back into position.
Fair play, he's been a great servant but his days under Giggs could be numbered, especially if he goes for 3 at the back.
Think people are being a bit harsh on Gunter - his presence may have been one of many reasons why we didn't play as well as we did on Thursday, but it's a pretty small one. A bigger reason for me was the decision to play Roberts as far forward as that (I would have preferred to see Brooks keep his place or Harry Wilson given a start) - I might be wrong here, but I don't think he has played in that position for the jacks before has he?
However, what is known for certain is that Wales had used a very demanding approach physically against the Irish less than seventy two hours earlier and now, with eight of the outfield players who had started against the Irish in from the start, were facing an away game (after having their flight out to Denmark delayed) against higher ranked opponents who had not played a game for more than a week in most cases - this seems a better explanation of what happened than trying to put it down to the performance of individual members of the team.
We missed Brooks who likes to comes deep to pick up the ball, and he can also take on player. He's going to be a real talent in a year or too. Position wise, on the right I would say Wilson is the most similar player. Woodburn likes it out on the left or a more central position. With Roberts stuck in midfield he couldn't do his overlaps as effectively as the previous game. Giggs learns from this, as we were a bit lacking going forward down the right, which is where we decimated Ireland.