International football: Wales/Cymru v Finland, Belarus and Estonia

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I think most of us would agree more with local ratings (https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...-bale-21488163) than the whoscored ratings (https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/15...-Belarus-Wales).

I think Giggs deserves credit for:

+ Blooding youth at CM for where the game is going rather than easy option of just sticking Vaulks in
+ Winning games when the pressure was on to help us qualify automatically to the Euros
+ Bringing with him connections to boost our backroom staff
+ Buying into process of travelling round Wales working with kids and increasing revenue for the FAW

However, his personal life has caused him to be a very expensive distraction recently - further comments will be a lot more honest than that once full information out. The FAW have done incredibly well to keep momentum going but I haven't seen anything from Page yet that makes me think he's the main man (at least not without big money being spent on assistants) rather than one of the backroom staff even though he's done really well in testing circumstances.

[Rjk]

I think most of us would agree more with local ratings (https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...-bale-21488163) than the whoscored ratings (https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/15...-Belarus-Wales).

I can understand the difference in a couple of instances.

I think the whoscored ratings are stats driven, so lawrence was given a decent rating as he did a fair amount of passing and won son individual duels. Where he was caught out of position for the goal I'm not sure that shows up in their dataset.
(I can't even begin to imagine the dataset that tries to measure that - I bet someone has had a go though)

Other players like Colwill and Gunter are scored down on both metrics as their shortcomings are easier to pick up in the numbers

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This is an interesting post too:

Thought we looked a lot better with Sparky Harris on the pitch. You can see here with the average position maps we looked to have a lot more structure with Harris (18) as a striker rather than Colwill (13) as a false 9

https://twitter.com/CaiStatsFTBL/sta...63815664926720

There's a negative reaction to playing a false 9 but today maybe:

i) Proved why we've kept going back to it - Kieffer aside our big strikers to play off are a young, attacking midfielder just starting out, playing our most important player in a role which he seems uncomfortable in, playing Tyler Roberts in a role he's uncomfortable in or... Majority of our (high profile) young attackers are smaller men.

ii) Proved why majority of fans aren't keen and prefer a striker as a natural focal point. Sparky is 6ft so not a small man even if strengths aren't the same as Kieffer's (Vokes or HRK before).

I still think we need to analyse how Man City/Liverpool open teams up without a striker to play off rather than going a) Kieffer Moore or b) worry. It could be good learning for Colwill but I wouldn't be forcing him into that role and he's done better so far in his natural position.

[the other bob wilson]

This is an interesting post too:



There's a negative reaction to playing a false 9 but today maybe:

i) Proved why we've kept going back to it - Kieffer aside our big strikers to play off are a young, attacking midfielder just starting out, playing our most important player in a role which he seems uncomfortable in, playing Tyler Roberts in a role he's uncomfortable in or... Majority of our (high profile) young attackers are smaller men.

ii) Proved why majority of fans aren't keen and prefer a striker as a natural focal point. Sparky is 6ft so not a small man even if strengths aren't the same as Kieffer's (Vokes or HRK before).

I still think we need to analyse how Man City/Liverpool open teams up without a striker to play off rather than going a) Kieffer Moore or b) worry. It could be good learning for Colwill but I wouldn't be forcing him into that role and he's done better so far in his natural position.

The plan might have been to have a false number nine, but Colwill ended up playing more like a target man for me - a role he seems totally unsuited for in my book.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

The plan might have been to have a false number nine, but Colwill ended up playing more like a target man for me - a role he seems totally unsuited for in my book.

Thinking Kelvin Etuhu in that Blackpool playoff final

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Thinking Kelvin Etuhu in that Blackpool playoff final

A case of "big lads play up front in this formation - you're a big lad so let's try you out."

It didn't work today but apart from Jack Vale (Blackburn youth) I can't see either a natural successor to Kieffer or useful back-up. Probably why I've always been higher on a false 9 system than others.

Mark Harris has sent a tweet:

Dreams really do come true. My first international cap and what a win! Thank you everyone for the messages and support.

https://twitter.com/sparkyharris11/s...42493048221703

[the other bob wilson]

Belgium beating the Czechs 3-0.

[OurManFlint II]

Belgium beating the Czechs 3-0.

I watched this one, the Czech are obviously good and I expect them to be favourites going into the game in Oct but i was thinking Wales might actually have a chance of getting something. A win this week is critical for Wales then all in for that Oct fixture, i just can't see the Belorussian or Estonians taking points off them, or us taking anything from Belgium, who looked very good last night.

[the other bob wilson]

I watched this one, the Czech are obviously good and I expect them to be favourites going into the game in Oct but i was thinking Wales might actually have a chance of getting something. A win this week is critical for Wales then all in for that Oct fixture, i just can't see the Belorussian or Estonians taking points off them, or us taking anything from Belgium, who looked very good last night.

I agree with all of that although it might work to our benefit playing Belgium last if they've already won the group.

[Pearcey3]

I agree with all of that although it might work to our benefit playing Belgium last if they've already won the group.

We can still win the group! We beat Belgium in Cardiff last time out and with a strong squad can do so again.

[Rjk]

We can still win the group! We beat Belgium in Cardiff last time out and with a strong squad can do so again.

Isn't that the only thing we are really playing for anyway?
If we finish anywhere else in the group we are in a playoff. The same is pretty much true for the Czech Republic as well.

[the other bob wilson]

Bale makes himself even more of a Welsh legend with hat trick in crucial win.

A memorable full Welsh debut for Mark Harris.

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

[OurManFlint II]

Bale makes himself even more of a Welsh legend with hat trick in crucial win.

A memorable full Welsh debut for Mark Harris.

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

"...the odds on any team getting three penalties in a match must be tens of thousands to one."

Wonder what the odds would be on missing all 3?

The imperfect hatrick

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features...9-copa-america

[lardy]

"...the odds on any team getting three penalties in a match must be tens of thousands to one."

Wonder what the odds would be on missing all 3?

The imperfect hatrick

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features...9-copa-america

He had a good career but that is his legacy, poor guy

[Vindec]

People have been clamouring for Cardiff City to play youngsters but already there is criticism of Colwill for his performance for Wales. Would the same happen if the Cardiff team rather than the Welsh team played players from our academy? You betcha! No wonder managers want to stick with the tried and tested players. Ironically, Bale apart, our best player was the experienced Johnny Williams.

However, I agree Harris did well - probably better than he does in a Cardiff City shirt but give Colwill a break. Those who want us to use academy players could at least support those who played (either for Wales or Cardiff) even if they didn't do that well. And that includes the Welsh temporary manager. Calling for him to be replaced is ludicrous.

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Huge boost for Wales. Joe Rodon back in squad for Estonia game on Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/philblanche/stat...13472332787714

Joe Rodon will be there. Will you? https://www.eticketing.co.uk/fawtickets-english/

[dembethewarrior]

I like Pagey, a honest bloke who will ask players to step up

you will not get a prouder Welsh bloke than him either, and imho that goes a long way in international football

On that basis anyone I watch the games with down the pub are a candidate.

[LeningradCowboy]

I’m saying Giggs should resign.

And I'm saying that I don't think we should appoint a new permanent manager until after the 2022 World Cup and Giggs will be gone by then whether or not he resigns.

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Might not be the best thread for it, but 10 years ago we saw a Darcy Blake masterclass and an Earnshaw miss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXjhN9QE8ao

Sadly, that also means it's 10 years since Mike Dye passed away. Not sure if anyone on here knew him and apologies if posting this wasn't good for you.

[the other bob wilson]

And I'm saying that I don't think we should appoint a new permanent manager until after the 2022 World Cup and Giggs will be gone by then whether or not he resigns.

That would mean the national team would have been in a state of limbo for more than two years during which time two major final tournaments will have taken place.

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https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/suppor...mru-v-estonia/

Cymru welcome Estonia to Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday night (8 September) in the European Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The match kicks off at 7:45pm.

Tickets for the match are still available and can be downloaded to your smartphone. Please visit FAW.Cymru/tickets for more information....

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Wales will be able to call on support from its South Asian community when a new fans’ group attends Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Estonia for the first time.

Amar Cymru has been launched to give the South Asian community a voice in the national team, with the group’s formation fully backed by the Football Association of Wales:

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-b1915087.html

Story popped up earlier in the summer but croeso again to the fans who have been around longer than some of us and the new ones joining because of this group

[Pearcey3]

What happens if we finish second and make the play offs? If we also make the play offs via the Nations League do we get two cracks at reaching the finals?

[Rjk]

What happens if we finish second and make the play offs? If we also make the play offs via the Nations League do we get two cracks at reaching the finals?

hopefully we draw ourselves in the playoffs

[Pearcey3]

hopefully we draw ourselves in the playoffs

....and we would still get knocked out by missing a penalty