FT: CROATIA 2 - 1 WALES

For the first goal Lawrence didn't track his man the moment the Croatian made the pass from just inside their own half.
He should have anticipated a ball over the top into acres of space and didn't.
That's why he was chasing back so vigorously and facing the goal at pace, led to an uncontrolled own goal.
If he'd chased back with the Croatian just beyond him, he would have been in a much better position to defend with his back and side to the goal.

The second goal was appalling defending along with a lot of bad bounces

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

Apparently Ben Davies may now be available on Tuesday night too. Very important we don’t lose to Hungary especially if they win today.
I would question whether Roberts stays in the side and I would bring in Brooks for Wilson and Ampadu for Vaulks.

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Brooks and Ampadu have fitness issues, otherwise they probably would have both started today. Maybe Giggs also had one eye on the Hungary game as the best chance to pick up some points, and he took the players recovery time into account.

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Originally Posted by JDerrida

For the first goal Lawrence didn't track his man the moment the Croatian made the pass from just inside their own half.
He should have anticipated a ball over the top into acres of space and didn't.
That's why he was chasing back so vigorously and facing the goal at pace, led to an uncontrolled own goal.
If he'd chased back with the Croatian just beyond him, he would have been in a much better position to defend with his back and side to the goal.

The second goal was appalling defending along with a lot of bad bounces

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How many times did we see our defenders being turned by a ball that left them off the pace? It happened throughout the game as they got behind our back four time and time again.

Side issue. We need better than Vaulks.

The coverage over here was appalling. Pictures from a Croatian director, no pre-game, no half time discussion and no post game. I still haven't seen a decent replay of the foul that wasn't given.

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

How many times did we see our defenders being turned by a ball that left them off the pace? It happened throughout the game as they got behind our back four time and time again.

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We need to massively improve our decision making, anticipation, special awareness, our thought processes, our unit awareness and game management.

With Giggs experience and his contacts, he should be able to pass those things on to the majority of our players.

That said, I thought there were a number of positives and I enjoyed the last 10-15 minutes.

Not a great result, but the difference in Welsh squads of today, and those in the past is like night and day.

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Originally Posted by JDerrida

We need to massively improve our decision making, anticipation, special awareness, our thought processes, our unit awareness and game management.

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It all changed when Ampadu came on, he was giving instructions to everybody around him, while still doing the business himself. I can't believe he is only 18 y.o, he is mature beyond his years.

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

Not a great result, but the difference in Welsh squads of today, and those in the past is like night and day.

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We are not far from being a very good side with all our best players fit, and because many of them are so young they are only going to get better.

We still need another forward though.

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

We are not far from being a very good side with all our best players fit, and because many of them are so young they are only going to get better.

We still need another forward though.

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Totally agree.

I was explaining to some friends about six years ago, that whilst we lack a number of forwards, the FAW and it's management and development teams need to be fast tracking and focusing on developing forwards as a priority.

Choose the best young forwards from all of the developmental age groups, that is 7-8 years onwards and develop and hone their physical attacking skills, game management, decision making, game awareness and so much more.

Some of the above, as mentioned earlier, was appalling today.

Its extremely basic stuff and it cost us.

Very disappointing that we gave them two goals through basic errors but we got very lucky with their disallowed goal as far as I could see.

Far better for the last 20mins and with that chance in injury time we can justifiably say it could easily have been a draw.

Tough team to play in very tough conditions but that finish gives hope that when they get into a rhythm we have a team who can challenge anyone on their day. Let's just hope that there is some juice left in the tank for Tuesday night now.

Ampadu (also most tackles in match)
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Minutes Played: 24
Accurate Passes: 14
Pass Success: 82%

Smith
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Minutes Played: 65
Accurate Passes: 10
Pass Success: 66%

Vaulkes
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Minutes Played: 66
Accurate Passes: 12
Pass Success: 66%

It's a tricky one with Ampadu though as if he is 100% match fit then he's a guaranteed starter. He's a least a full season of actually playing competitive football away from that though.

We saw last campaign that he really struggled with a 2 game turnaround and if I was in Gigg's shoes I'd also be targeting the Hungary game more than today's.

Hopefully that knock at the end hasn't aggregated anything as he has to start now on Tuesday in the hope of getting a good hour out of him.

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Originally Posted by caerkid

It's a tricky one with Ampadu though as if he was match fit then he's a guaranteed starter. He's a least another season of actually playing competitive football away from that though.

We saw last campaign that he really struggled with a 2 game turnaround and if I was in Giggs shoes I'd also be targeting the Hungary game more than today's.

Hopefully that knock at the end hasn't aggregated anything as he has to start now on Tuesday.

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He hasn't played since February either. Today was his 10th game of the season (5 with Wales!). He also only plays one or two games a month, which is just not good enough for a player with his talent. Sort it out Sarri!

With Chelsea:

1 game Nov
1 game Dec
2 games Jan
1 game Feb

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

It all changed when Ampadu came on, he was giving instructions to everybody around him, while still doing the business himself. I can't believe he is only 18 y.o, he is mature beyond his years.

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And to think, you spotted him before anyone else, fantastic, well done you.

Highlights on MOTD Wales, 11.10pm @BBCOne Wales

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Originally Posted by Joe Gillis

And to think, you spotted him before anyone else, fantastic, well done you.

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What's up with all the kuntish behaviour? I never spotted him you fecking d*ckhead, I just commented on his ability while he was progressing through the ranks from Exeter to becoming a Welsh star, via Chelsea. There are some right tw@ts on here!

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Originally Posted by Joe Gillis

And to think, you spotted him before anyone else, fantastic, well done you.

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😂😂😂

He’s so inconspicuous looking as well. You’d never spot a kid with hair like Bob Marley and the passing range of Pirlo if it wasn’t for WB 😄

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Originally Posted by J R Hartley

������

He’s so inconspicuous looking as well. You’d never spot a kid with hair like Bob Marley and the passing range of Pirlo if it wasn’t for WB ��

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Best you stick to fly fishing as you are clueless about football!

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

Best you stick to fishing as you are clueless about football!

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Touché

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Originally Posted by J R Hartley

He’s so inconspicuous looking as well. You’d never spot a kid with hair like Bob Marley and the passing range of Pirlo if it wasn’t for WB 😄

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BTW Levitt is the one with the passing range of Pirlo, and I'm not joking! :biggrin:

Was Matondo capped today?

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

Brooks could be carrying an injury as he was struggling at the tail-end of the season. It's nice to see Levitt on the bench after my recent thread identifying him as a potential future star for Wales :biggrin:

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Wales and Ryan Giggs are so lucky to have you posting that thread on this forum.

Who would have thought a young kid born in North Wales, and nurtured through the system of one of the biggest clubs in the world, could one day be a future Welsh star.

Lucky you posted that thread or Giggs may have missed out on him.

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Originally Posted by J R Hartley

Wales and Ryan Giggs are so lucky to have you posting that thread on this forum.

Who would have thought a young kid born in North Wales, and nurtured through the system of one of the biggest clubs in the world, could one day be a future Welsh star.

Lucky you posted that thread or Giggs may have missed out on him.

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I did post that thread before Giggs went to watch him play, so give me some credit! Apparently he was a failure at 12 according to Heisenberg, so not everybody can spot a decent player :biggrin:

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

What's up with all the kuntish behaviour? I never spotted him you fecking d*ckhead, I just commented on his ability while he was progressing through the ranks from Exeter to becoming a Welsh star, via Chelsea. There are some right tw@ts on here!

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I have to say that it did occur to me that you do seem to seize every opportunity to big up Ampadu and I was close to posting something earlier.
So much so it crossed my mind that you might even be his agent :hehe:

Sorry W-B but you spitting your pacifier out won't wash this time and the sarcastic comments are justified.

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

I did post that thread before Giggs went to watch him play, so give me some credit! Apparently he was a failure at 12 according to Heisenberg's judgement, so not everybody can spot a decent player :biggrin:

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Yes, Giggs was only at Man U for 30 years. How did he miss Dylan before that thread?

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

I did post that thread before Giggs went to watch him play, so give me some credit! Apparently he was a failure at 12 according to Heisenberg, so not everybody can spot a decent player :biggrin:

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Apparently, he was a failure at 11 according to Wales Bales, so not everybody can spot a decent player :biggrin:

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Originally Posted by MacAdder

I have to say that it did occur to me that you do seem to seize every opportunity to big up Ampadu and I was close to posting something earlier.
So much so it crossed my mind that you might even be his agent :hehe:

Sorry W-B but you spitting your pacifier out won't wash this time and the sarcastic comments are justified.

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Is he a good player or isn't he? When I first brought him up not everybody agreed with me, but I had already seen enough to be sure that he was the real deal, so I made the call and that is what I reported. Time will tell how accurate my assessment was :wink:

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

What's up with all the kuntish behaviour? I never spotted him you fecking d*ckhead, I just commented on his ability while he was progressing through the ranks from Exeter to becoming a Welsh star, via Chelsea. There are some right tw@ts on here!

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Hi, f'in d!ckhead here,
Please stop, you're starting to embarass yourself.

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Originally Posted by J R Hartley

Yes, Giggs was only at Man U for 30 years. How did he miss Dylan before that thread?

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I made my own independent assessment of the player way before Giggs ever spoke about him. The difference between me and you lot is I have a mind of my own and I use it! :biggrin:

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Originally Posted by caerkid

Very disappointing that we gave them two goals through basic errors but we got very lucky with their disallowed goal as far as I could see.

Far better for the last 20mins and with that chance in injury time we can justifiably say it could easily have been a draw.

Tough team to play in very tough conditions but that finish gives hope that when they get into a rhythm we have a team who can challenge anyone on their day. Let's just hope that there is some juice left in the tank for Tuesday night now.

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There was a player obviously offside right in front off Wayne Hennesey both for the initial shot and the one that went in. There was no luck getting away with anything.
It wasn't only the last 20 mins that Wales were better, the last ten minutes of the first half Wales were good.
It was a creditable performance against the World Cup finalists and Wales were unlucky not to get a draw

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

He hasn't played since February either. Today was his 10th game of the season (5 with Wales!). He also only plays one or two games a month, which is just not good enough for a player with his talent. Sort it out Sarri!

With Chelsea:

1 game Nov
1 game Dec
2 games Jan
1 game Feb

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Why did I know Sarri was going to be mentioned? If it wasn't for him the boy would be a fully match fit 30 game a season first team player now. The only question is in what league.

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Originally Posted by Joe Gillis

Hi, f'in d!ckhead here,
Please stop, you're starting to embarass yourself.

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It's embarrassing when you've got nothing original to say and you just make sarky comments instead. How does it help any discussion? It's this kind of behaviour which ruined this message board a long time ago, and you can't even see it. Joining in with the mob to gang-up on other posters for a laugh makes you a bully, and desperate to be part of the echo chamber. I've never once had a go at you for no reason, so grow some balls and show some maturity. At the end of the day I predicted a player was going to be good, and he is turning out to be very good. That is no reason to act like a tw@t just because I made the right call.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

Why did I know Sarri was going to be mentioned? If it wasn't for him the boy would be a fully match fit 30 game a season first team player now. The only question is in what league.

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Now that you mention Sarri, he has wasted a year of Ampadu's life. FACT.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

Why did I know Sarri was going to be mentioned? If it wasn't for him the boy would be a fully match fit 30 game a season first team player now. The only question is in what league.

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I'm surprised Giggs hasn't told him he needs to get out on loan and play. It would be a real blow to actually qualify for this tournament and Ampadu be only fit enough to play for a couple of hours in the group stage.

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Originally Posted by NYCBlue

I'm surprised Giggs hasn't told him he needs to get out on loan and play. It would be a real blow to actually qualify for this tournament and Ampadu be only fit enough to play for a couple of hours in the group stage.

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Exactly, and it is a total shambles.

It's frustrating that a number of Croatia's best play was self-inflicted but, again, it feels that there is enough there to make us hopeful. Hungary is the more important match and hopefully this experience stands us in good stead for the home Croatia fixture.

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Originally Posted by surge

It's frustrating that a number of Croatia's best play was self-inflicted but, again, it feels that there is enough there to make us hopeful. Hungary is the more important match and hopefully this experience stands us in good stead for the home Croatia fixture.

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A lot of the younger players are still learning on the job. Days like today will benefit us in the future.

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

A lot of the younger players are still learning on the job. Days like today will benefit us in the future.

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Exactly. The likes of Bale, Ramsey and Allen went through days like today, and even harder games too, before growing into international footballers and showing their best against Belgium over a number of occasions. Games like this and our previous fixtures against Denmark are not total losses even if they end up defeats.

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Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

Was Matondo capped today?

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Yes. He's now committed to Wales.