Ashley Williams: Wales captain announces retirement

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55811296

Whilst he has been declining for some time surprised he could have got a short term contract and potentially been part of the euros where are short on experience in that area. Surprised someone like Ledley hasn't busted a gut to get a team as well.

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Originally Posted by mazadona10

Whilst he has been declining for some time surprised he could have got a short term contract and potentially been part of the euros where are short on experience in that area. Surprised someone like Ledley hasn't busted a gut to get a team as well.

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I think there's a chance Joe might end up playing in Australia again - as for Ashley Williams, I know he played for the wrong teams (jacks and wurzels), but he was a mainstay of the Welsh team and was another who barely missed a call up for us, I hope he has a happy retirement.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

I think there's a chance Joe might end up playing in Australia again - as for Ashley Williams, I know he played for the wrong teams (jacks and wurzels), but he was a mainstay of the Welsh team and was another who barely missed a call up for us, I hope he has a happy retirement.

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Absolutely, that headed equaliser against Belgium will be part of Welsh football folk lore and he was a great servant for the Welsh side

For someone that has represented Bristol C I actually quite like the guy.

A good professional and a good CB and captain for Wales. Part of one of the best Welsh teams I'll see.

That's it, don't think he did well for anyone else....

All the best to the guy.

A brilliant captain of Wales. Never Wales down

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Originally Posted by mazadona10

Whilst he has been declining for some time surprised he could have got a short term contract and potentially been part of the euros where are short on experience in that area. Surprised someone like Ledley hasn't busted a gut to get a team as well.

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He's too old and too slow. If he was a classy midfielder who could sit back and spread it around or an experienced centre forward who could always find space and finish, fair enough. But an old centre back whose legs are gone and who's mistake-prone is just a liability.

Fantastic captain.

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Originally Posted by fingers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55811296

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Great captain and integral to the best summer of my life. Good luck big man

I return and i get to see GrangetownBlues response to this

He has been waiting ever so patiently :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by blue matt

I return and i get to see GrangetownBlues response to this

He has been waiting ever so PATRIOTICALLY :thumbup:

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FYP :hehe:

Oops...sorry I’m late !

Good riddance....only played for Wales because he figured he didn’t have a ‘cat in hells chance’ of getting an England cap.
Selfishly denied (86 times) WELSH players caps for their country, just to satisfy his own ego.
Average player....below average human being. He’s retired...but I bet he’ll still be playing away.:biggrin:

zzzzzzzzzz

We could do with another one of him coming through for Wales....he was also a pivotal part of the jacks rise and cost them peanuts. I wondered why Dave Jones never got him first as he had connections at Stockport and we were a league or two higher I think when he signed

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

Oops...sorry I’m late !

Good riddance....only played for Wales because he figured he didn’t have a ‘cat in hells chance’ of getting an England cap.
Selfishly denied (86 times) WELSH players caps for their country, just to satisfy his own ego.
Average player....below average human being. He’s retired...but I bet he’ll still be playing away.:biggrin:

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:hehe::hehe::hehe:

Must try harder.

Been a massive part of Wales success, great defender .

Legend

Best wishes to him

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

Oops...sorry I’m late !

Good riddance....only played for Wales because he figured he didn’t have a ‘cat in hells chance’ of getting an England cap.
Selfishly denied (86 times) WELSH players caps for their country, just to satisfy his own ego.
Average player....below average human being. He’s retired...but I bet he’ll still be playing away.:biggrin:

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What kept you. I've been on tender hooks :hehe:

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

Oops...sorry I’m late !

Good riddance....only played for Wales because he figured he didn’t have a ‘cat in hells chance’ of getting an England cap.
Selfishly denied (86 times) WELSH players caps for their country, just to satisfy his own ego.
Average player....below average human being. He’s retired...but I bet he’ll still be playing away.:biggrin:

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Fair play to you, you never let it go :wales::wales::wales: and you never failed to make me smile because of it

I Salute you

Never rated AW to be honest, poor in the air (THAT goal aside), quite short for a CB, always seemed to be rushed, particularly in the latter years.
Didn't care for him at all tbh, but that was probably down to the side he played much of his career for.

Got to say though he was an integral part of that Swansea side that all the pundits used to drool over and as has been said, never let Wales down and played his part in delivering the best Wales tournament performance of all time.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

What kept you. I've been on tender hooks :hehe:

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Or even tenter hooks!

A pivotal part of Wales's greatest adventure. May not have been the best ever defender, but made up for that by being a great leader on and off the pitch.
Cheers Ashley.

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Originally Posted by goats

We could do with another one of him coming through for Wales....he was also a pivotal part of the jacks rise and cost them peanuts. I wondered why Dave Jones never got him first as he had connections at Stockport and we were a league or two higher I think when he signed

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Think it was just the case that we couldn't afford him at the time. We were certainly in for him first: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wal...ys-2227688.amp

Obviously not a fan of the clubs he played for and he had a few sticky moments with City fans. Was also prone to a lot of mistakes. But no denying he was a class captain for Wales and a great servant. That game in Dublin against Ireland a couple of years ago showed he still possibly had something to offer too.

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

Or even tenter hooks!

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Don't make an escape goat of him.

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Originally Posted by MacAdder

Never rated AW to be honest, poor in the air (THAT goal aside), quite short for a CB, always seemed to be rushed, particularly in the latter years.
Didn't care for him at all tbh, but that was probably down to the side he played much of his career for.

Got to say though he was an integral part of that Swansea side that all the pundits used to drool over and as has been said, never let Wales down and played his part in delivering the best Wales tournament performance of all time.

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“That goal” came off the back of his head! He was useless in the air, slow, and a poor tackler. Got away with ‘blocking’, and passing it back and for to his keeper and full backs for a couple of seasons, when teams let you have the ball in your own half!
He was brutally exposed at Everton and Stoke ...when teams started playing a pressing game and he was called upon to ‘defend’...he is a bit of a joke to some fans on Merseyside.

My favourite moment was when 20,000 Cardiff fans let him know he wasn’t “even Welsh”...the look on his face was priceless!

I just hope he never gets near the Welsh team ever again, mind you, he has similar attributes to our recent managers....he makes Giggs and Coleman look like Mother Theresa! :hehe:

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

“That goal” came off the back of his head! He was useless in the air, slow, and a poor tackler. Got away with ‘blocking’, and passing it back and for to his keeper and full backs for a couple of seasons, when teams let you have the ball in your own half!
He was brutally exposed at Everton and Stoke ...when teams started playing a pressing game and he was called upon to ‘defend’...he is a bit of a joke to some fans on Merseyside.

My favourite moment was when 20,000 Cardiff fans let him know he wasn’t “even Welsh”...the look on his face was priceless!

I just hope he never gets near the Welsh team ever again, mind you, he has similar attributes to our recent managers....he makes Giggs and Coleman look like Mother Theresa! :hehe:

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:sherlock:

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Legend

Best wishes to him

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“Legend”? Are you referring to his success rate with single mums on housing estates? Numbers you can only dream about! :hehe:

And to think Dave Jones almost signed him for Cardiff City once upon a time.

StT.
<><

Of all the Welsh players who are actually English, there hasn't been anyone who has come close to contributing as much as this guy.

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Originally Posted by Rjk

Of all the Welsh players who are actually English, there hasn't been anyone who has come close to contributing as much as this guy.

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He “turned up” for Wales ...obviously....he loved the time away, and the limelight, but just like all the other “plastic Taffies” we ever had, he was nothing more than average.
I think it’s downright disrespectful to all of the ‘World Class’ Welsh players we’ve had over the years, to say he was our greatest captain, that’s embarrassing!
He was our captain when we achieved (rather fortuitously) our best ever finish at a major tournament, some might say despite him, and his mate Coleman, rather than because of them.

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

He “turned up” for Wales ...obviously....he loved the time away, and the limelight, but just like all the other “plastic Taffies” we ever had, he was nothing more than average.
I think it’s downright disrespectful to all of the ‘World Class’ Welsh players we’ve had over the years, to say he was our greatest captain, that’s embarrassing!
He was our captain when we achieved (rather fortuitously) our best ever finish at a major tournament, some might say despite him, and his mate Coleman, rather than because of them.

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Fortuitously? We topped our group and beat one of the best teams in the world!

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

He “turned up” for Wales ...obviously....he loved the time away, and the limelight, but just like all the other “plastic Taffies” we ever had, he was nothing more than average.
I think it’s downright disrespectful to all of the ‘World Class’ Welsh players we’ve had over the years, to say he was our greatest captain, that’s embarrassing!
He was our captain when we achieved (rather fortuitously) our best ever finish at a major tournament, some might say despite him, and his mate Coleman, rather than because of them.

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You're so blinkered because he's a Jack (same with Coleman). It's pathetic.

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

He “turned up” for Wales ...obviously....he loved the time away, and the limelight, but just like all the other “plastic Taffies” we ever had, he was nothing more than average.
I think it’s downright disrespectful to all of the ‘World Class’ Welsh players we’ve had over the years, to say he was our greatest captain, that’s embarrassing!
He was our captain when we achieved (rather fortuitously) our best ever finish at a major tournament, some might say despite him, and his mate Coleman, rather than because of them.

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Nothing fortuitous about our victories against Russia or Belgium. England messed up by not beating Slovakia, but the performance against Russia was probably the best team performance by a Wales team for many years.

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Originally Posted by City123

Fortuitously? We topped our group and beat one of the best teams in the world!

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Mate..I went to every Euro 2016 game, I’ve actually been to most Wales games, home and away, for many years.

We were getting battered in the 1st game against Slovakia..when it was 1-1... HRK shinned one in ..totally against the run of play..happy days.
2nd game...we got outplayed..and lost to England. Think we had only one shot on goal...Bales FK?
3rd game..we beat Russia..who were already out, demoralised, played their squad players, and had one foot on the plane home.
4th game....an OG...1-0...and NI fans claiming they were the better team...hard to argue against that.
5th game...got slaughtered first half hour..could have/should have, been 3 down. Then, when Volkes..Williams...and HRK (none of them actually Welsh btw) all score..in the same game...you know someone up above is looking down on you !

It was a great few weeks in France....but please...keep it real eh?

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

Nothing fortuitous about our victories against Russia or Belgium. England messed up by not beating Slovakia, but the performance against Russia was probably the best team performance by a Wales team for many years.

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You realise that Volkes...Williams...and HRK ...ALL actually scored v Belgium? In the same game...
You don’t think that’s a little ...”fortunate” ? :hehe:

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

Mate..I went to every Euro 2016 game, I’ve actually been to most Wales games, home and away, for many years.

We were getting battered in the 1st game against Slovakia..when it was 1-1... HRK shinned one in ..totally against the run of play..happy days.
2nd game...we got outplayed..and lost to England. Think we had only one shot on goal...Bales FK?
3rd game..we beat Russia..who were already out, demoralised, played their squad players, and had one foot on the plane home.
4th game....an OG...1-0...and NI fans claiming they were the better team...hard to argue against that.
5th game...got slaughtered first half hour..could have/should have, been 3 down. Then, when Volkes..Williams...and HRK (none of them actually Welsh btw) all score..in the same game...you know someone up above is looking down on you !

It was a great few weeks in France....but please...keep it real eh?

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Russia had to win, a win and they were through. Don't let facts get in the way. That was the best I've ever seen Wales play. I also knew we'd win after 1 minute, when Bale shot I just knew we were bang up for it.
NI was a tough game, it was tight and our best player saw us through. Not lucky, what did they create?
We absolutely murdered Belgium at times. We were properly good. They have 10(?) world class players, there's nothing lucky about what we did. When was the last time we lost to Belgium? You can't keep being lucky.

Its a shame you can't enjoy it.

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

Mate..I went to every Euro 2016 game, I’ve actually been to most Wales games, home and away, for many years.

We were getting battered in the 1st game against Slovakia..when it was 1-1... HRK shinned one in ..totally against the run of play..happy days.
2nd game...we got outplayed..and lost to England. Think we had only one shot on goal...Bales FK?
3rd game..we beat Russia..who were already out, demoralised, played their squad players, and had one foot on the plane home.
4th game....an OG...1-0...and NI fans claiming they were the better team...hard to argue against that.
5th game...got slaughtered first half hour..could have/should have, been 3 down. Then, when Volkes..Williams...and HRK (none of them actually Welsh btw) all score..in the same game...you know someone up above is looking down on you !

It was a great few weeks in France....but please...keep it real eh?

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You hate Williams so much that you reduce our national football team's greatest achievement to that? Pathetic.

Also, you're wrong. A win could have seen Russia through, we completely outplayed them in a stunning performance. If you want to talk about luck then Slovakia were lucky to have 11 on the pitch and to be just 1 down at half time considering Skrtel's assault on Jonny Williams. We were too conservative against England but Coleman learned his lesson and after a shaky start we were deserving winners over Belgium while a tight Northern Ireland game was decided by the best player on the pitch

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Originally Posted by Pedro de la Rosa

You're so blinkered because he's a Jack (same with Coleman). It's pathetic.

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I quite like Ben Davies, Alan Curtis, and Joe Allan, they’re nice guys, and decent players....Sorry to screw your story up!
However, more recently, I’m not particularly impressed with Rodon and Roberts from Swansea...they are not very good, and are both very bitter towards Cardiff?
Hopefully they won’t figure too much in future Welsh teams :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

Mate..I went to every Euro 2016 game, I’ve actually been to most Wales games, home and away, for many years.

We were getting battered in the 1st game against Slovakia..when it was 1-1... HRK shinned one in ..totally against the run of play..happy days.
2nd game...we got outplayed..and lost to England. Think we had only one shot on goal...Bales FK?
3rd game..we beat Russia..who were already out, demoralised, played their squad players, and had one foot on the plane home.
4th game....an OG...1-0...and NI fans claiming they were the better team...hard to argue against that.
5th game...got slaughtered first half hour..could have/should have, been 3 down. Then, when Volkes..Williams...and HRK (none of them actually Welsh btw) all score..in the same game...you know someone up above is looking down on you !

It was a great few weeks in France....but please...keep it real eh?

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Imagine being this negative as a person though :frown:

Speaking of Wales as well, sounds like Ampadu had a stormer tonight, been playing well recently