Cymru friendlies 2023

[dai]

Bloody hell, didn't realise German legend Klinsmann is South Korea's manager! Could be a very humbling night tomorrow.

[cogancoronation31]

An attack-minded team managed by Klinsmann full of talented guys playing at top level in the Prem/Europe/Korea.

A nice evening forecast for Cardiff tomorrow, and a real test for our lads (whatever our line-up will be).

What's not to like?

Even if you can't make it, for cost or other reasons, from further afield, get a ticket if you live locally-ish!

[njdragon]

anyone know how many tickets have now been sold for wales v korea?

Sun is out and its warm so i expect a good few walk ins on the day

[sleepy]

Sept 6, 2023 7:21:19 GMT jbt95 said:

Sept 5, 2023 21:37:06 GMT marsvolta said:

Only the first load of Red Wall members can buy tickets at the mo,so will probably sell more once the sales open up to more people.

On sale to all members. Maybe the demand isn’t there for this game either? Maybe people have wised up. Very poor opposition, likely to be Wales B and not cheap.

I think sales look quite slow. Only the middle sections sold out, hardly any sold anywhere else. Can't be more than about 3k sold I would think.

With 4 tickers per member I would have thought more would have sold so far.

[cogancoronation31]

Last post refers to Gibralter game, not South Korea tomorrow night!

Should be 10k-plus for South Korea.

Regarding Klinsmann, it's worth checking out his complete interview on: youtu.be/5sbiBZ-z9gI

[iot]

An uncomfortable read. We haven't had players questioned by the press on poor attendances since the Toshack era - you can't help but feel the poor support will have some sort of effect on squad morale. Hats off to those making a stand by admirably boycotting the game, you're a real credit to Wales.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66730463

What I would say though is that the attendance won't be much different to the one we had in the friendly after the last (successful) qualification campaign which, to me, just shows we've always had crap support.

[njdragon]

Sept 6, 2023 13:15:19 GMT iot said:

An uncomfortable read. We haven't had players questioned by the press on poor attendances since the Toshack era - you can't help but feel the poor support will have some sort of effect on squad morale. Hats off to those making a stand by admirably boycotting the game, you're a real credit to Wales.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66730463

What I would say though is that the attendance won't be much different to the one we had in the friendly after the last (successful) qualification campaign which, to me, just shows we've always had crap support.

Pity I’m taking my daughter to her first game, was hoping for the usual atmosphere

[fiveattheback]

Sept 6, 2023 13:15:19 GMT iot said:

An uncomfortable read. We haven't had players questioned by the press on poor attendances since the Toshack era - you can't help but feel the poor support will have some sort of effect on squad morale. Hats off to those making a stand by admirably boycotting the game, you're a real credit to Wales.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66730463

What I would say though is that the attendance won't be much different to the one we had in the friendly after the last (successful) qualification campaign which, to me, just shows we've always had crap support.

Or shows the how pointless international friendlies are/the way they're perceived.  The pre Euros friendlies were about 10-12k down on what we were getting during the campaign, the games against Panama and Belarus were sparsely attended.  I don't like the new directive of having to play a friendly if you don't have a competitive game, just seems to add games to a congested fixture list for no reason and is added expense for supporters

This isn't just isolated to international friendlies, look at the attendances for cup games, these are competitive fixtures but tend o get very low attendance.  A lot of people don't want to go to perceived "lower value" games, especially if the tickets are fairly expensive.  Throw in the poor form, knowledge it'll be a B team, losing the draw of Bale, the general discontent, financial worries of supporters and there's no shock there's a low attendance.  People need to get off their high horse when talking about football attendances, it isn't some noble pursuit, it's a pass time like any other and if the product is poor/perceived to be then people won't hand over the best part of £30 for a ticket.  Those of us who spend our time on here talking about the details of Welsh football really aren't a representation of the wider support.

[dragonsoccer]

Was an article written in 2019 prior to the low crowd against Belarus? *and that came off the back of 2 defeats in June as well

Over the years, for those old enough, we have always had low attendances, its always up and down depending on how we are playing

[dai]

www.espn.co.uk/football/match?gameId=386655

Just an example of how poor our fan base can be. This was not long after Bale had just sealed his move to Madrid. You'd think a lot people would have wanted to see the world's most expensive player at the time, but no, only around 13k made the match. The atmosphere was a bit dire, despite us outclassing Iceland.

[njdragon]

Sept 6, 2023 13:30:14 GMT dai said:

www.espn.co.uk/football/match?gameId=386655

Just an example of how poor our fan base can be. This was not long after Bale had just sealed his move to Madrid. You'd think a lot people would have wanted to see the world's most expensive player at the time, but no, only around 13k made the match. The atmosphere was a bit dire, despite us outclassing Iceland.

What a game to miss, this was one of bales best goals ever where he ran around the touch line to pick up the ball past The Icelandic full back. Same as that Barcelona goal.class.

[fiveattheback]

Sept 6, 2023 13:30:14 GMT dai said:

www.espn.co.uk/football/match?gameId=386655

Just an example of how poor our fan base can be. This was not long after Bale had just sealed his move to Madrid. You'd think a lot people would have wanted to see the world's most expensive player at the time, but no, only around 13k made the match. The atmosphere was a bit dire, despite us outclassing Iceland.

I remember here being about 12k there when we battered Norway even though we were in relatively decent form at the time, and then there was the time about 6 people watched us beat Northern Ireland in Dublin, unless you're playing a big side or there's a special reason for the game you can forget a big friendly crowd.

People don't like friendlies.  It's what hurt the Nations League when that started.

[jackanapes]

Friendlies are often dismal affairs with players going through the motions to avoid getting injured. The Paraguay game still stands out in my mind - I remember nothing of the game, only the soul destroying emptiness of watching paint dry in an empty and freezing Millennium Stadium.

This is why the Nations League is so great. Every game has something riding on it. I’ll be there tomorrow, but the rational part of my mind tells me not to waste my time and money.

[iot]

Sept 6, 2023 13:28:50 GMT fiveattheback said:

Sept 6, 2023 13:15:19 GMT iot said:

An uncomfortable read. We haven't had players questioned by the press on poor attendances since the Toshack era - you can't help but feel the poor support will have some sort of effect on squad morale. Hats off to those making a stand by admirably boycotting the game, you're a real credit to Wales.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66730463

What I would say though is that the attendance won't be much different to the one we had in the friendly after the last (successful) qualification campaign which, to me, just shows we've always had crap support.

Or shows the how pointless international friendlies are/the way they're perceived.  The pre Euros friendlies were about 10-12k down on what we were getting during the campaign, the games against Panama and Belarus were sparsely attended.  I don't like the new directive of having to play a friendly if you don't have a competitive game, just seems to add games to a congested fixture list for no reason and is added expense for supporters

This isn't just isolated to international friendlies, look at the attendances for cup games, these are competitive fixtures but tend o get very low attendance.  A lot of people don't want to go to perceived "lower value" games, especially if the tickets are fairly expensive.  Throw in the poor form, knowledge it'll be a B team, losing the draw of Bale, the general discontent, financial worries of supporters and there's no shock there's a low attendance.  People need to get off their high horse when talking about football attendances, it isn't some noble pursuit, it's a pass time like any other and if the product is poor/perceived to be then people won't hand over the best part of £30 for a ticket.  Those of us who spend our time on here talking about the details of Welsh football really aren't a representation of the wider support.

I think most of that is fair, although would disagree with this part:

"People need to get off their high horse when talking about football attendances, it isn't some noble pursuit, it's a pass time like any other"

I think following any football side is different to other pass times, it's different to deciding whether to attend an Arctic Monkeys gig or not. It's the difference between being a fan and a supporter. Good supporters will follow their side in good times and hard. We have very few of those. 

[iot]

Sept 6, 2023 14:47:33 GMT jackanapes said:

Friendlies are often dismal affairs with players going through the motions to avoid getting injured. The Paraguay game still stands out in my mind - I remember nothing of the game, only the soul destroying emptiness of watching paint dry in an empty and freezing Millennium Stadium.

This is why the Nations League is so great. Every game has something riding on it. I’ll be there tomorrow, but the rational part of my mind tells me not to waste my time and money.

Sure you get dull games, but they're just as often entertaining - I really enjoyed the Czech game for example and seeing Colwill and Johnson impress for the first time. 

I do think they're important - both to try out new players, but from a supporter perspective it's also about the surrounding (for want of a better word) vibes going into important games - that players go into Latvia with a feel good factor rather than a downer after playing in front of a half empty stadium with the press asking them why so few bother to turn up. 

[allezlesrouges]

Sept 6, 2023 15:02:40 GMT iot said:

Sept 6, 2023 14:47:33 GMT jackanapes said:

Friendlies are often dismal affairs with players going through the motions to avoid getting injured. The Paraguay game still stands out in my mind - I remember nothing of the game, only the soul destroying emptiness of watching paint dry in an empty and freezing Millennium Stadium.

This is why the Nations League is so great. Every game has something riding on it. I’ll be there tomorrow, but the rational part of my mind tells me not to waste my time and money.

Sure you get dull games, but they're just as often entertaining - I really enjoyed the Czech game for example and seeing Colwill and Johnson impress for the first time. 

I do think they're important - both to try out new players, but from a supporter perspective it's also about the surrounding (for want of a better word) vibes going into important games - that players go into Latvia with a feel good factor rather than a downer after playing in front of a half empty stadium with the press asking them why so few bother to turn up. 

Mexico was a good game too, us beating their first team with our B team was definitely a confidence builder. I enjoyed watching the Trinidad game too. Friendlies can be enjoyable, but I do sympathise with people not wanting to spend their money on something that has nothing riding on it, especially in this economy

[bringbackelmo]

Sept 6, 2023 15:02:40 GMT iot said:

Sept 6, 2023 14:47:33 GMT jackanapes said:

Friendlies are often dismal affairs with players going through the motions to avoid getting injured. The Paraguay game still stands out in my mind - I remember nothing of the game, only the soul destroying emptiness of watching paint dry in an empty and freezing Millennium Stadium.

This is why the Nations League is so great. Every game has something riding on it. I’ll be there tomorrow, but the rational part of my mind tells me not to waste my time and money.

Sure you get dull games, but they're just as often entertaining - I really enjoyed the Czech game for example and seeing Colwill and Johnson impress for the first time. 

I do think they're important - both to try out new players, but from a supporter perspective it's also about the surrounding (for want of a better word) vibes going into important games - that players go into Latvia with a feel good factor rather than a downer after playing in front of a half empty stadium with the press asking them why so few bother to turn up. 

It's only different because you, presumably, prefer football to music. I've known plenty of people that wouldn't miss a gig by their favourite band, follow them around the world etc.

[1gwaunview]

Continue to play as they have been recently and they'll have to pay people to watch them.
Number of reasons perhaps why this friendly hasn't excited people. Some examples - school term just started (mid-week game), economic situation, the opposition, price of tickets (why not a tenner or £15 for this one). Main one could be the dire performances of late, fair weather fans losing interest.

[surge]

My take:

- It's interesting opposition. We rarely play teams outside of UEFA and South Korea have some big names

- We have a number of sports fans who chase good news stories and senior men's team in a bit of a slump compared to recent highs. Too small a core fanbase currently to pull in full houses unless things are going well - the reason reaching out to different communities, investing in together stronger and strengthening ties through football is important.

- There is an element of international footie fatigue especially in Cardiff. This is the best reason that it should have been played in Swansea, although the location of their stadium is reportedly awful in terms of connections to trains.

- UEFA dropped a ball by making games x number of days apart. If we had 6 Nations like schedule of every game Friday, Saturday or Sunday even a week apart then things would be much better. Thursday night in first week back at school is awful timing.

- It is marginally too expensive but not massively so. The majority of those who want it to be £15 would find some other excuse not to go if it was.

- It's an important game and the players who play will learn a lot about themselves by playing opposition outside of UEFA. Oh, and they deserve better than press stories about "holes in the red wall". We've let ourselves down as a supporter's here. 

[jbt95]

surge

We have played the majority of our friendlies in recent years against non UEFA teams.

The past 6 years alone -

Panama, China, Uruguay, Trinidad & T, USA, Mexico.

Can get between the swancom and station in 30min by foot, although trains east after a night game are pretty much nonexistent.

Let’s not blame UEFA for everything. Korea play Tuesday next week. This game could’ve been Friday, FAW decision to play it Thursday.

[surge]

Sept 6, 2023 18:59:42 GMT jbt95 said:

surge

We have played the majority of our friendlies in recent years against non UEFA teams.

The past 6 years alone -

Panama, China, Uruguay, Trinidad & T, USA, Mexico.

Can get between the swancom and station in 30min by foot, although trains east for a night game are pretty much nonexistent.

Let’s not blame UEFA for everything. Korea play Tuesday next week. This game could’ve been Friday, FAW decision to play it Thursday.

I say "We rarely play teams outside of UEFA" and you say "We have played the majority of our friendlies in recent years against non UEFA teams." 

It's possible for both statements to be true but I'd love you to find me the fan who is saying, "I would like to go, but I'm bored of seeing teams outside of UEFA. We always get those." I mean, majority of those games were under covid restrictions or in China!!  

I was drawing comparison between football (international windows are usually a week long with two games so fixtures seem to fall on Friday and Tuesday or Thursday and Sunday etc.) and rugby where international windows are two weeks long and fixtures are all on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

[surge]

Anyway, here's the team I'm hoping to see start the game tomorrow:

Ward

Roberts
Mepham
Davies
Neco Williams

Morrell
James
Wilson 

Brooks
Moore
Matondo

[barneycat1]

The marketing by the FAW is pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.
This game in particular should, if it had to be at CCS, gone out at £10 and £5, put on general,sale,from day one.
Marketed properly to clubs, schools, etc.
Sell tickets through other avenues.
Get the game marketed through every media outlet.
Laziness from the FAW , expecting people to pay £28 and just turn up.

[aberbeeg]

Sept 6, 2023 20:20:29 GMT barneycat1 said:

The marketing by the FAW is pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.
This game in particular should, if it had to be at CCS, gone out at £10 and £5, put on general,sale,from day one.
Marketed properly to clubs, schools, etc.
Sell tickets through other avenues.
Get the game marketed through every media outlet.
Laziness from the FAW , expecting people to pay £28 and just turn up.

Spot on. The FAW seem to think sending emails to red wall members 100 times a month is great marketing. They are preaching to the converted!! 
They could have given 15k tickets or more to school kids etc 

[allezlesrouges]

My final preferred XI;

Ward
Neco-Cabango-Fox-Davies
Morrell-Sheehan
Burns-Wilson-Matondo
Bradshaw

JJ on at HT for Sheehan. Mepham & Roberts on for Davies & Neco at around 55 mins. Would also give Brooks, Moore, Broadhead & Tom King some minutes

Want to protect Brennan, Ramsey, Brooks & Ampadu who I think will start against Latvia and be very important in that game

[jbt95]

Phil Cadden reporting Hennessey and Cullen not in tonight’s 23.

I give up with Page. This would’ve been the perfect chance to start Cullen alongside Moore - cause let’s face it Moore is playing tonight - but to not even name him in the 23, especially when Rabbi M was a late call up, is going to do nothing for Cullen.

If we don’t win Monday, and particularly if we don’t put in a good performance, I question if I can be bothered anymore. Page is making me fall out of love with our nation’s national team, something not even playing in Llanelli did.

[fiveattheback]

Not having Cullen in the 23 makes little sense, why call him up otherwise?

[talyfan]

By the sounds of it. The lads who are a bit undercooked at the moment but likely to start against Latvia will probably start the friendly and be hooked at 45/60 min mark.

Expect Davies, Neco and Mepham to start

Adam Davies

Neco Mepham Cabango Davies

Morrell Sheehan

Burns Brooks Broadhead

Moore

[talyfan]

Has to be 23 man squad for these UEFA sanctioned friendlies. Makes sense that it's Cullen.

[fiveattheback]

Sept 7, 2023 10:10:02 GMT talyfan said:

Has to be 23 man squad for these UEFA sanctioned friendlies. Makes sense that it's Cullen.

Why? He's uncapped and we may well need to call on him Monday. Friendly is a chance to give him 30 minutes