FT: Wales 1 - 1 Serbia. Ah bollox

[Bobby Dandruff]

Tomorrow is a must win game for Wales, even though we have so far only played 3. A win for Serbia would see them surge 5 points in front of us and would leave us needing to win at least 5 out of our 6 remaining games to catch them, you would think.

The biggest question mark is over who replaces Ben Davies in the team, as James Collins is out also. The most likely solution with our remaining options is Paul Dummett to slot in on the left side of the 3.
Another option I'm sure Coleman has considered is James Chester to move to the left, with Gunter slotting in at RCB and Adam Matthews coming in as a surprise choice at wing back. Funnily enough the last competitive game Matthews played in was the 3-0 defeat against Serbia at home 3 years ago. We may also see us go to a flat back four instead with Andy King or Jonny Williams coming into the midfield.

Whatever the case, we certainly need a result. A draw wouldn't be disastrous, but wouldn't be that beneficial either as we only have 2 home games left after tomorrow night - against Austria and Ireland in the Autumn of next year. A win would likely see us go top of the group as I fancy Austria to beat Ireland at home tomorrow.

As it stands:

1. Serbia 7
2. Ireland 7
3. Wales 5
4. Austria 4
5. Georgia 1
6. Moldova 0

I can't agree with that; it was a game that we dare not LOSE and the fact that we all feel so disappointed that we didn't actually win, is a mark of how far the team have progressed.

Serbia aren't a bad side and are better than the Irish. This sets up the game in Dublin nicely.

I don't think that we have anything to fear in this group.

[NYCBlue]

Colman has done a great job with the team spirit, but he's tactically naive. Serbia adjusted at half time and we did **** all.

[Lawnmower]

I need to see their goal again as I thought we had got way with it when the ball hit the post. Hennessey seemed to pat it over the line.
In truth we don't deserve more than six points. Our campaign may be over before our next home game and that would be hugely disappointing especially as Ireland are nothing special.

Hit the post then rebounded onto Hennessy and in

[BLUETIT]

Crowd was a bit (I'm being nice, they were pi$$ poor) last night. !

to many tickets going to the occasion people and not footie fans.
It's turning into the EGG

[Zenith]

I can't agree with that; it was a game that we dare not LOSE and the fact that we all feel so disappointed that we didn't actually win, is a mark of how far the team have progressed.

Serbia aren't a bad side and are better than the Irish. This sets up the game in Dublin nicely.

I don't think that we have anything to fear in this group.

As it stands now:

1. Ireland 10
2. Serbia 8
3. Wales 6
4. Austria 4
5. Georgia 2
6. Moldova 1

2 home games, 4 away games left in this campaign. Not winning our home games might just came back to haunt us - but I hope it doesn't and we get some big wins in March and June next year.

[Pearcey3]

Crowd was a bit (I'm being nice, they were pi$$ poor) last night. !

to many tickets going to the occasion people and not footie fans.
It's turning into the EGG

Seriously?What more were you expecting?

[Pearcey3]

Last night was a better performance but Georgia's home draw with Moldova puts into perspective our result with them last month. That result is going to haunt us. Ireland have had plenty of luck in this campaign. Let's hope that luck starts to turn.

[Zenith]

Anyone else think the ref was piss poor last night?

[Pearcey3]

Anyone else think the ref was piss poor last night?

Yes he was very weak...but for both sides. He bottled sending Joe Allen off for a very clear handball which would have given Serbia a dangerous free kick/ penalty. Joe was already on a yellow at the time.
Lots of play acting from the Serbs last night.

I thought Bale was too unselfish last night. We know what pace he has but he didn't ever run at them which was a real shame.
We deserved the win but were lucky getting draws in our previous two games so six points is fair enough but it's well short of what we need.

How on earth Ireland have managed to get ten points with such an average side is beyond me.

[Des Parrot]

He bottled sending Joe Allen off for a very clear handball which would have given Serbia a dangerous free kick/ penalty. Joe was already on a yellow at the time.

He missed the deliberate hand ball in the box & the shirt pull both by Allen, both defo pens. so fortunately it works both ways.

[Baloo]

Last night was a better performance but Georgia's home draw with Moldova puts into perspective our result with them last month. That result is going to haunt us. Ireland have had plenty of luck in this campaign. Let's hope that luck starts to turn.

My Irish mate keeps telling me they've been really lucky so far. He reckons Wales and Serbia are the best two teams in the group. Not that his words are much comfort really as luck will play an important part within this group with the teams being fairly closely matched.

[Pearcey3]

I really like James Chester as a player but he struggles in the air. We nearly conceded when Fellaini out jumped him in the Euro quarter final. We did concede when Ronaldo out jumped him in the semi final and we did concede last night when Mitrovic out jumped him for their goal. It's becoming a problem.

[surge]

Listening to Radio Wales and now this thread and it seems the new thing is to pick on individual players and their weaknesses. We have to realise that our champions league playing defender dropped out for injury and was replaced by a player in league 2: we are not a massive football nation and we shouldn't focus too much on individual limitations when the results are disappointing.

It's a sign of how far we have come that the draw with Bosnia at home left me on such a high ready while yesterdays comparable performance has left me, and the players by looks of it from the way they left the pitch, a little deflated. Neil Taylor summed it up by pointing out that football is taking the rough with the smooth and we could have so easily been two up, and deservedly so, before they equalised. Two nil up against a side who were more interested in gamesmanship (thank ref, by the way) than football and celebrated the point like a victory.

Some also seem determined to question whether we have been found out yet we played with 4 at the back and against a tough side were not outmatched.

There are negatives that I can see and hope Coleman is strong enough to have a think about: i) Ramsey and Bale are incredibly skillful and when it comes off it opens up the opposition but when it doesn't they are a little too quick to show their disappointment and a little too slow to try and win the ball back sometimes ii) certain players are desperate to play 90 mins when maybe they and we would be better served by making use of the bench.

Two further points, this time about the crowd, we were so much better last night than we were against Georgia, but sadly someone picked up the programme my brother had bought and was keeping under his seat and left with it.

Overall, we are right to be disappointed by a draw against a good side who had the ref concerned about their 11 and only concerned about Tom Lawrence for us. We take one game at a time and next is a massive challenge against the group leaders away from home, but this team has shown time and again that they are capable of rising to challenge and rising successfully when everyone remains together stronger.

P.S. Good victory for the Under-19s against England yesterday too.

[Cleve van Leef]

Listening to Radio Wales and now this thread and it seems the new thing is to pick on individual players and their weaknesses. We have to realise that our champions league playing defender dropped out for injury and was replaced by a player in league 2: we are not a massive football nation and we shouldn't focus too much on individual limitations when the results are disappointing.

It's a sign of how far we have come that the draw with Bosnia at home left me on such a high ready while yesterdays comparable performance has left me, and the players by looks of it from the way they left the pitch, a little deflated. Neil Taylor summed it up by pointing out that football is taking the rough with the smooth and we could have so easily been two up, and deservedly so, before they equalised. Two nil up against a side who were more interested in gamesmanship (thank ref, by the way) than football and celebrated the point like a victory.

Some also seem determined to question whether we have been found out yet we played with 4 at the back and against a tough side were not outmatched.

There are negatives that I can see and hope Coleman is strong enough to have a think about: i) Ramsey and Bale are incredibly skillful and when it comes off it opens up the opposition but when it doesn't they are a little too quick to show their disappointment and a little too slow to try and win the ball back sometimes ii) certain players are desperate to play 90 mins when maybe they and we would be better served by making use of the bench.

Two further points, this time about the crowd, we were so much better last night than we were against Georgia, but sadly someone picked up the programme my brother had bought and was keeping under his seat and left with it.

Overall, we are right to be disappointed by a draw against a good side who had the ref concerned about their 11 and only concerned about Tom Lawrence for us. We take one game at a time and next is a massive challenge against the group leaders away from home, but this team has shown time and again that they are capable of rising to challenge and rising successfully when everyone remains together stronger.

P.S. Good victory for the Under-19s against England yesterday too.

Well said, that man.

[City123]

If we win in Dublin everything will look a lot better

[LordKenwyne]

In the top 5 worst teams I have ever seen for play acting.

The manager was moaning constantly as well.

They'd rather win by cheating than outperforming us.

Not impressed by them.

Grabbing a win against a faltering wales team.......they were congratulating each other as if it was a huge win..... We were there for the taking if they did more in the final third.

[Bobby Dandruff]

Anyone else think the ref was piss poor last night?

Dreadful.