FT: NORTH MACEDONIA 1 - 1 WALES. Match thread

[Don Corleone]

Too right. Bellamy made a big thing of not picking Colwill because he didn’t play enough, then picks and brings on a long past his best Allen. Then he looks to go backwards when we needs a goal and cocks up the game.

It would actually have been easier to have played a simple pass forward , there were no Macedonians in front of him and he had space to move into.

You know for all of the clever football tactics we end up scoring from a deep cross into the big man who heads it down for the small quick one to knock home - very old school! Shame we didn’t try it sooner in the game 😂

[MacAdder]

Thoroughly enjoyed this game - in stark contrast to boring, boring England.
Thought Wales were the better team, but a draw felt like a fair result.
Even Mrs Cyclops was shouting when Brooks scored.
How on earth did that Mace player miss his kick at the end?
A great watch!

I also think that we are now turning into a good team to watch.
We haven't quite got the striker situ right though.

Enjoyable couple of hours watch although would have been devastating had we not equalised.

[MacAdder]

It would actually have been easier to have played a simple pass forward , there were no Macedonians in front of him and he had space to move into.

You know for all of the clever football tactics we end up scoring from a deep cross into the big man who heads it down for the small quick one to knock home - very old school! Shame we didn’t try it sooner in the game 😂

You mean Warnockball???
What have you done Don

[Eric Cartman]

Who knows, i'd have to watch it again, i'm not sure he gets his body in a good position with the ball and he offloads it too quickly. I can sort of see Bellamy's logic with Allen, that's why he only afforded him 10 minutes or so, cool head, very experienced, doesn't need to run, he never has, keep it simple. Almost didn't work out. As for the unmentionable one, Bellamy just doesn't rate him, no more complicated than that i reckon.

I heard he bullied Colwill for being too small when he was in charge of the academy and now's he too scared to pick him because rubin would toss him around like a dog toy.

It's completely true, I definitely didn't just make that up.

Wales crying out for someone who can beat a defender and run in space between the back four and the midfield, James had a few bursts out of midfield and created a bit of chaos but didn't look sure and like he always had the license to do it. Nobody beats their man through sheer size and lack of pace like our Rubin.

[blue matt]

I also think he's been overrated by fans/media putting him alongside Bale & Ramsey as Wales "trinity", in reality he's nowhere near either of those and much closer to someone like Ashley Williams or Ledley

to put him in Bale or Rambo's class is just silly, he worked hard, but thats it

[Tuerto]

I heard he bullied Colwill for being too small when he was in charge of the academy and now's he too scared to pick him because rubin would toss him around like a dog toy.

It's completely true, I definitely didn't just make that up.

Wales crying out for someone who can beat a defender and run in space between the back four and the midfield, James had a few bursts out of midfield and created a bit of chaos but didn't look sure and like he always had the license to do it. Nobody beats their man through sheer size and lack of pace like our Rubin.

I think that Bellamy is looking for 'Zip' in midfield, quick footed players, get on it and move the ball, or certainly pace in possession.

[blue matt]

I think that Bellamy is looking for 'Zip' in midfield, quick footed players, get on it and move the ball, or certainly pace in possession.

Joe Allen

[Tuerto]

Joe Allen

He played 10 minutes.

[LA Bluebird]

Think more than a few have forgotten how good Allen was during our first Euros, while he's earned a mistake or two he also shouldn't be anywhere near the squad now. Especially given that this group is a bit of a free hit, time for one of the younger players to take his place.

[Tuerto]

Think more than a few have forgotten how good Allen was during our first Euros, while he's earned a mistake or two he also shouldn't be anywhere near the squad now. Especially given that this group is a bit of a free hit, time for one of the younger players to take his place.

Completely agree on both counts, a bit of respect in order to a player who was a major part of that success and the joy it brought us all.

[Don Corleone]

Yes Allen was excellent in Euro 2016, we can’t forget that

[the other bob wilson]

Colwill has an unfortunate running style which makes him look knackered when he isn’t which may well count against in Bellamy.s. That said, Bellamy ‘s reason for not picking him in the first place was ridiculous given some of the players that did get picked.

[the other bob wilson]

Think more than a few have forgotten how good Allen was during our first Euros, while he's earned a mistake or two he also shouldn't be anywhere near the squad now. Especially given that this group is a bit of a free hit, time for one of the younger players to take his place.

Well said, agree with all of that.

[Cyclops]

Brooks technique and calmness was so good that he even incorporated a nutmeg for extra measure.........

Agree - I thought it was a masterstroke to bring him on when he did knowing his fitness level and his notable contribution in the previous game.

But I'm not sure Brooks meant a nutmeg at the end. Seemed to me, the Mace defender bust a gut to get into position, but was unbalanced, couldn't sort his feet out, panicked and messed up his clearance.

Whatever it was, Wales totally deserved the draw.

[North Cardiff Blue]

I also think that we are now turning into a good team to watch.
We haven't quite got the striker situ right though.

Enjoyable couple of hours watch although would have been devastating had we not equalised.

We need a few more players, with Ampadu and Wilson we would have beaten them easily.

It's a pity Ashford and Cowlill couldn't have gone along to train and develop with the squad, it would have been good for their speed of thought and develop their quick passing and movement.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Colwill has an unfortunate running style which makes him look knackered when he isn’t which may well count against in Bellamy.s. That said, Bellamy ‘s reason for not picking him in the first place was ridiculous given some of the players that did get picked.

It's because he hangs onto the ball too long and loses it, Bellamy wants the ball to do the work and for players to pass and move.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Yes Allen was excellent in Euro 2016, we can’t forget that

He's rubbish now and shouldn't have played, thanks for the memories but never again.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Well done Bellers on the whole it's not a strong squad and with limited resources, he's doing very well, Allen's mistake potentially cost us two points.

[Dave Blue]

Well done Bellers on the whole it's not a strong squad and with limited resources, he's doing very well, Allen's mistake potentially cost us two points.

Possibly but we weren’t really busting a gut to get a winner at 0-0. It was the desperation of being behind, with old school tactics, which ironically paid off in the end.

[the other bob wilson]

Late, late equaliser for Wales, but still two points dropped?Late, late equaliser for Wales, but still two points dropped?

Satisfactory international break for Wales at all age levels.

https://mauveandyellowarmy.net

[Bobby Dandruff]

It would actually have been easier to have played a simple pass forward , there were no Macedonians in front of him and he had space to move into.

You know for all of the clever football tactics we end up scoring from a deep cross into the big man who heads it down for the small quick one to knock home - very old school! Shame we didn’t try it sooner in the game 😂

You have a point there about how we scored: isn’t that the manager’s job to have different plans to try and win games?

Maybe we should have gone more direct to Moore sooner? Macedonia certainly weren’t up to much.

[BLUETIT]

It would actually have been easier to have played a simple pass forward , there were no Macedonians in front of him and he had space to move into.

You know for all of the clever football tactics we end up scoring from a deep cross into the big man who heads it down for the small quick one to knock home - very old school! Shame we didn’t try it sooner in the game ��

EXACTAMUNDO

[Lord Worcester]

View from the sofa:

Positives:
Jordan James
The centre halves
Darlow
Grabbing a point
The football played. Some very good stuff

Negatives:
The substitutions. DJ off. Made no sense. Bring kiefer on take DJ off? Brookes for broadhead way too late.
Missed chances. Could / should have won that game twice.
Failure to get the best out of Brennan
Failure to utilise kiefer when he did come on
Lack of urgency from 70 on
Lack of 3 points! Only 1 qualifies

[North Cardiff Blue]

View from the sofa:

Positives:
Jordan James
The centre halves
Darlow
Grabbing a point
The football played. Some very good stuff

Negatives:
The substitutions. DJ off. Made no sense. Bring kiefer on take DJ off? Brookes for broadhead way too late.
Missed chances. Could / should have won that game twice.
Failure to get the best out of Brennan
Failure to utilise kiefer when he did come on
Lack of urgency from 70 on
Lack of 3 points! Only 1 qualifies

[City123]

View from the sofa:

Positives:
Jordan James
The centre halves
Darlow
Grabbing a point
The football played. Some very good stuff

Negatives:
The substitutions. DJ off. Made no sense. Bring kiefer on take DJ off? Brookes for broadhead way too late.
Missed chances. Could / should have won that game twice.
Failure to get the best out of Brennan
Failure to utilise kiefer when he did come on
Lack of urgency from 70 on
Lack of 3 points! Only 1 qualifies

Belgium go to North Macedonia 3 days before we play them in June, whilst we play Liechtenstein

Hopefully North Macedonia can give them a game while we can go into it a little fresher