FT: WALES 0 - 0 TURKEY. Match thread

Friday 6th September, ko 7:45pm
Cardiff City Stadium.

Live on S4C and BBC iPlayer

Wales captain Aaron Ramsey says he never considered international retirement after the disappointment of missing out on Euro 2024, and instead wants to keep playing until the 2026 World Cup.

Ramsey, 33, was an unused substitute as Wales lost their Euros play-off final to Poland on penalties in March, with then manager Rob Page criticised for not bringing him on.

The Cardiff City midfielder admits that experience had "eaten away" at him but, now Craig Bellamy has replaced Page as Wales boss, Ramsey is excited about the team's future.

"It never entered my mind about stopping. If anything, it excites me what this team are capable of," said Ramsey.

"It was difficult for me not to get on and hopefully try to help the team to qualify. That was the thing that was eating away at me and I felt like there was some unfinished business there.

"That is definitely an aim of mine, to help this team qualify for the next World Cup. The potential in this team, the age, it's all positive and puts us in a great position to do that."

Bellamy’s first game in charge will be at home to Turkey in the Nations League on Friday.

When he named his squad for that game and the away match in Montenegro three days later, Bellamy confirmed that Ramsey would continue as captain.

Bellamy also said there was still "a lot" to come from his former Wales and Cardiff team-mate despite the injury issues which have hampered Ramsey throughout his career.

The ex-Arsenal midfielder and his current Wales team-mates have started training under Bellamy for the first time this week, and the consensus among the squad is overwhelmingly positive about the new head coach's thorough methods and shift towards a more progressive, adventurous style of play.

"I think the way that he's come in and handled himself has been so impressive," said Ramsey.

"There's been a lot of information given in the first few days but the boys have done really well to absorb as much as they can so far.

"It's definitely going to be a process in these next six games before the World Cup qualifiers start [in March]. It's really aggressive, high-intensity without the ball, the non-negotiable stuff. The way he sees the game is new to a lot of us - only Connor [Roberts, who worked with Bellamy at Burnley] has experienced that before.

"We're all pretty impressed and hopefully we can implement the things we've been working on in these first few games."

Been watching all the interviews on Sky, as with all new things/methods, Bellers and the players are talking the talk.

Let’s hope they can walk the walk, on the pitch !

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

Let’s hope they can walk the walk, on the pitch !

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Come on Tony, you know that the change in playing style will take more than a few training sessions to be successful.

https://media-faw-cymru.s3.eu-west-2...1-1024x576.jpg

Tonight's starting 11

Lot's of young talent on the bench, a new era!

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Originally Posted by RichardM

https://media-faw-cymru.s3.eu-west-2...1-1024x576.jpg

Tonight's starting 11

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Are we looking at a Back 4 here?

6 current or former bluebirds involved

Anyone based in the U.S know if this is being broadcast live?

can Cardiff play like this please?

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Originally Posted by Rjk

can Cardiff play like this please?

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Like watching a different sport.

We look decent so far, should be winning.

Is Erol there? I hope he is learning how to play football...

What a brave and positive first half. The only thing missing is a goal and Sorba Thomas came so close but just off.
Playing out from the back like that is a high risk but by and large the players have done it really well. Good crisp passing and a nice tempo.

Bellamy clearly likes pace in the side. Thomas has done well. Think there will be a sending off with 5 booked already.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

What a brave and positive first half. The only thing missing is a goal and Sorba Thomas came so close but just off.
Playing out from the back like that is a high risk but by and large the players have done it really well. Good crisp passing and a nice tempo.

Bellamy clearly likes pace in the side. Thomas has done well. Think there will be a sending off with 5 booked already.

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Wales are so quick to win possession back. Superb tempo and showing that its possible to pass back to the keeper to keep possesion without losing momentum. An excellent fist half and the only concern is we're not in front.

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Originally Posted by Eddie Johnson

Is Erol there? I hope he is learning how to play football...

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You weren’t that good, Eddie - when you played for the City.

Been OK so far, hope they can keep the tempo up

Night and day between Page and CB’s approach so far. Early days but they look loads better for me. Don’t mean to be harsh but I’m pleased that Moore isn’t involved.

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Originally Posted by Divine Wright

Night and day between Page and CB’s approach so far. Early days but they look loads better for me. Don’t mean to be harsh but I’m pleased that Moore isn’t involved.

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yeah he's good at what he does, but this isn't it

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Originally Posted by Divine Wright

Night and day between Page and CB’s approach so far. Early days but they look loads better for me. Don’t mean to be harsh but I’m pleased that Moore isn’t involved.

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I've no idea whether it's down to CB's tactics but I'm enjoying this.

Btw can we do away with bucket hats now? (Something new needed).

See pudsey bear is on the pitch again. 😂 😂

It's not a proper Wales game without Kieffer in a bandage.

He should be the next face of children in need

Since when have turkey become turkyer?

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Originally Posted by uncle bob

Since when have turkey become turkyer?

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keep up

Only 8 mins injury time is a joke.

What team did Wales play at home on Friday 6th September 2024?
Family fortunes.
😂 😂

https://youtu.be/MHiGT_odU2Y?si=oH1j094eWgza4-nW

We dropped off in the second half but overall an encouraging performance. We do lack a cutting edge though.

We were worse playing ten men than we were playing eleven, but an enjoyable game nonetheless - great to see a home team at Cardiff City Stadium playing front foot, intelligent and quick football.

Is our ground cursed ?
Home teams won’t score

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

We dropped off in the second half but overall an encouraging performance. We do lack a cutting edge though.

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They pushed us out to the flanks….which we accepted…. The crossing was wayward and when it was flashed across the 6 yard box there wasn't anyone in there.

They need to work out a way to go through the middle a bit more.

That said, Turkey totally parked the bus, especially after the red.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Divine Wright

They pushed us out to the flanks….which we accepted…. The crossing was wayward and when it was flashed across the 6 yard box there wasn't anyone in there.

They need to work out a way to go through the middle a bit more.

That said, Turkey totally parked the bus, especially after the red.

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Yep and considering we had an extra player we didn't stretch them. Turkey also successfully slowed the game down.
Think we need to be a little more pragmatic at playing out from the back too.
However the passing and tempo were terrific in the first half. So on balance a good start for Bellamy.

Also good to see Johnson staying on the pitch when Moore came on. Bellamy is definitely more attack minded than Page.

The first game I've enjoyed at CCS for a very long time.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned some of Danny Ward's dodgy playing out from the back.

See my comments above Richard. He played short too often and it was nearly costly.

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

See my comments above Richard. He played short too often and it was nearly costly.

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It wasn't so much playing it short, it was playing it to a Wales player who had a Turkey player on him and no where to go. Short would have been ok if his teammate had time and space.
But, he got away with it so I can't complain too much.

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Originally Posted by RichardM

The first game I've enjoyed at CCS for a very long time.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned some of Danny Ward's dodgy playing out from the back.

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Bulut would have wet his pants at Wales swashbuckling attacking style, but would have absolute adored and be licking his lips at the way we played the ball dangerously around at the back in a Cardiff City style

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Originally Posted by Mr Soul '68

Bulut would have wet his pants at Wales swashbuckling attacking style, but would have absolute adored and be licking his lips at the way we played the ball dangerously around at the back in a Cardiff City style

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Did we score ? No.

The best we have played in years.
It reminded me of a few games in to Gary Speed’s reign.

Plenty of positives!

Breath of fresh air to see positive play most of the players no more than a few seconds on the ball mostly looking up and playing forward, lack of an out an out goalscorer is a worry as was the play down the right side with Roberts not so positive and Johnson poor delivery. all in all very encouraging

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichardM

It wasn't so much playing it short, it was playing it to a Wales player who had a Turkey player on him and no where to go. Short would have been ok if his teammate had time and space.
But, he got away with it so I can't complain too much.

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This is what I was inferring. He was playing it short to marked players in or around the edge of the penalty when he should have gone long.