FT: WALES 1 - 1 SWITZERLAND.

[Hilts]

We didn’t play great against a team above us in the world rankings and yet we still have one of the points we need to go further in the tournament, people are talking as if we were playing Luxembourg, not Switzerland.

Yes there were, but I think people need to be realistic. You almost need to be getting your state pension to have been alive the time we went to the finals of a major tournament before 2016 - we don’t compete at this level often and today offered evidence as to why.

I’m just about to write my blog piece on the game and am going to be spending a fair bit of time on how central midfield was a major problem for us. Wales were so much like City today in terms of how ineffective we were in the middle of the park in front of our defence, but who do we have within the squad who would have offered more than Allen and Morrell? Ampadu perhaps, but how fit is he? I don’t think Will Vaulks would have made any difference either because the problems we had today seemed to me to be very similar to the ones a City midfield with Vaulks has in it has when they’re struggling.

I’d also say that 30degree temperatures were hardly conducive to an effective high pressing game - I thought Switzerland were good in that department for about an hour then began to tire.

No. Our central midfield today was shocking.

I have no idea why Morrell is anywhere near a Welsh squad. Bob would you be happy if Morrell was a replacement for say Ralls or Pack.

I know i wouldn't.

[Gofer Blue]

I look forward to hearing Page's explanation as to why he subbed James.

[rich munn]

I look forward to hearing Page's explanation as to why he subbed James.

Just before he subbed him a ball was played wide to James who just stood and waited for it and a Swiss player easily got there before him.

He waited for it presumably because he was tired out.

I was not surprised he was substituted and I disagree with criticism of the manager on that score.

However, if Switzerland had continue to play as they started the second half we were out of that game and the tournament. Our central defendars are hopeless if opponents run at them. Fortunately Switzerland started to drop back long before they needed to protect their lead.

A very good point in the end.

[Tuerto]

Just before he subbed him a ball was played wide to James who just stood and waited for it and a Swiss player easily got there before him.

He waited for it presumably because he was tired out.

I was not surprised he was substituted and I disagree with criticism of the manager on that score.

However, if Switzerland had continue to play as they started the second half we were out of that game and the tournament. Our central defendars are hopeless if opponents run at them. Fortunately Switzerland started to drop back long before they needed to protect their lead.

A very good point in the end.

Agreed, James is all about running, he was tired, and even if he wasn't, players do need protecting at times. Add to that 30 degree heat and a game on wednesday that James will start. Agree about the central defenders, very flat at times and neither really knew who should go and who should drop, although they weren't helped by a midfield who seemed content to react and chase as opposed to getting on the ball.

[AfricanBluebird]

We got away with it today based on how ineffective our midfield was and poor we were in defence.

Why is Allen marking their most dangerous player in the air at corners

Saying that, good game time for Davies and Ramsey who haven't played much football and a point against a team in form.

But we have to sort out that midfield.

Ampadu has to start and perhaps bale needs to be floating and dropping deeper with James on the left and brooks or Wilson on the right.

[mazadona10]

We got a point from luck rather than anything else. We should have lost by about 3.

I just don't get the whole thing.

Selecting a squad based on playing possession football. Yes our players are comfortable at a certain level buts it's like expecting Bournemouth to outplay Barcelona.

Allen is a million miles from the player he was. Morrell looked like a league 1 players.

There was no press even when chasing the game.

Midfield offers no shield to defence, we made a good player look like the world greatest.

James was the only who looked like had any intensity.

Not sure what was going on about marking but the guy hardly had to get off the floor.

Balls being played into Moore were so straight if missed just ran through.

Our best players are all attackers and we stand off teams trying to defend.