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Post by hooky on Mar 10, 2024 20:14:00 GMT
Being a Welsh rugby as well as football fan then I am suffering!
Please, please, please can we play to our full potential, can Page make quality decisions so that we have the best chance of getting past Finland as losing to team we are better than on paper at home would just bury my sporting year!
If we manage that then surely we will have one decent performance against Poland! My grandparents on my mother's side were Polish but goodness I have never seen us play well at home against them in my lifetime!
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Post by jimexotic on Mar 10, 2024 21:07:46 GMT
I must admit that I'm not at all optimistic about these, playing two different teams is a slog.
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Post by manulike on Mar 10, 2024 23:57:25 GMT
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Post by jbt95 on Mar 11, 2024 7:05:54 GMT
I must admit that I'm not at all optimistic about these, playing two different teams is a slog. At least we have zero travelling to do. |
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Post by cogancoronation31 on Mar 11, 2024 11:46:50 GMT
I'm fairly hopeful that we can despatch Finland in the play-offs S/F, but share the worry of others about encountering Poland in the final. Agree it's high time we get a decent result against them!
(Is it just possible, though, that Estonia may confound everyone in their S/F - and sneak an unlikely win against the Poles?)
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Post by marsvolta on Mar 11, 2024 12:55:50 GMT
I'm fairly hopeful that we can despatch Finland in the play-offs S/F, but share the worry of others about encountering Poland in the final. Agree it's high time we get a decent result against them! (Is it just possible, though, that Estonia may confound everyone in their S/F - and sneak an unlikely win against the Poles?) It’s funny that we all seem to think that if we beat Finland then it’s Poland in the final, we haven’t really thought about it being Estonia |
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Post by fiveattheback on Mar 11, 2024 13:43:02 GMT
We would definitely lose to Estonia through some utterly absurd goal
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Post by cynonvalley on Mar 11, 2024 16:00:25 GMT
Attacking players in form, I'm hopeful.
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Post by iot on Mar 11, 2024 16:27:27 GMT
I can't remember a time where we've had so many players in good form and playing regularly in the build-up to a game. Rambo's our only significant injury concern (and RND to a lesser extent). Even Mepham's been getting decent minutes these last couple of weeks, and Connor is ticking over nicely. Ward is the only one not playing at all, while Davies could ideally do with more minutes (although not a major concern). Apart from that, everyone's getting significant involvement, most of our defence and midfield are impressing, and our forwards are on fire. Why is all this making me feel more nervous, if anything? It's not helping with the plucky underdog / low expectation mentality I've always been comfortable with. On paper, we should be massive favourites against Finland, although Poland still have the edge given they have players playing for Juventus, Barcelona, and Arsenal.
Actually, looking at it, Poland have Juventus' No.1, Kiwior has started every game for Arsenal recently and playing well, Lewandowski is on 24 goals 9 assists so will still likely be the best player on the pitch, and Matty Cash is doing well for Champions League-chasing Aston Villa. I'm sure they're supported by a plethora of very decent Polish players. Panic over, Poland will be comfortable favourites against us.
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Post by welshrover on Mar 11, 2024 16:36:07 GMT
I'm fairly hopeful that we can despatch Finland in the play-offs S/F, but share the worry of others about encountering Poland in the final. Agree it's high time we get a decent result against them! (Is it just possible, though, that Estonia may confound everyone in their S/F - and sneak an unlikely win against the Poles?) It’s funny that we all seem to think that if we beat Finland then it’s Poland in the final, we haven’t really thought about it being Estonia I was thinking the same, it's quite disrespectful to the Estonians, I feel sure we wouldn't be happy if we were similarly disregarded. |
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Post by athenempadu on Mar 11, 2024 18:17:17 GMT
It’s funny that we all seem to think that if we beat Finland then it’s Poland in the final, we haven’t really thought about it being Estonia I was thinking the same, it's quite disrespectful to the Estonians, I feel sure we wouldn't be happy if we were similarly disregarded. Being an underdog is as old as football itself, and it will be used to motivate the Estonian players. |
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Post by manulike on Mar 11, 2024 20:03:59 GMT
I'm fairly hopeful that we can despatch Finland in the play-offs S/F, but share the worry of others about encountering Poland in the final. Agree it's high time we get a decent result against them! (Is it just possible, though, that Estonia may confound everyone in their S/F - and sneak an unlikely win against the Poles?) It’s funny that we all seem to think that if we beat Finland then it’s Poland in the final, we haven’t really thought about it being Estonia I'm counting on Estonia to take their match to pens at least!
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Post by hooky on Mar 11, 2024 20:24:48 GMT
We should go into these matches as if we have nothing to lose
Because it is crazy we are in a play off given how poor we were in the qualification
Hopefully Page can make positive decisions during matches and make a positive difference this time - he has had enough practice
However, lets not kid ourselves - we need our players to step up and perform. Guess we need to just focus on getting to that play off final first. Does anyone know much about Finland? Are any of their important players looking set to miss the match or are they all fit?
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Post by manulike on Mar 11, 2024 20:31:21 GMT
We should go into these matches as if we have nothing to lose Because it is crazy we are in a play off given how poor we were in the qualification Hopefully Page can make positive decisions during matches and make a positive difference this time - he has had enough practice However, lets not kid ourselves - we need our players to step up and perform. Guess we need to just focus on getting to that play off final first. Does anyone know much about Finland? Are any of their important players looking set to miss the match or are they all fit? dragonsoccer reporting that their Oliver Antman is due back sometime in March. Has been out since September
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Post by jbt95 on Mar 11, 2024 22:16:04 GMT
We should go into these matches as if we have nothing to lose Because it is crazy we are in a play off given how poor we were in the qualification We finished 3rd of 5 teams, top 2 automatically qualify. It’s not exactly crazy. |
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Post by iot on Mar 11, 2024 23:04:56 GMT
It’s funny that we all seem to think that if we beat Finland then it’s Poland in the final, we haven’t really thought about it being Estonia I'm counting on Estonia to take their match to pens at least!
Don't understand your comment about Lewandowski. The website you linked shows he plays every game. What am I missing? |
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Post by manulike on Mar 11, 2024 23:55:07 GMT
I'm counting on Estonia to take their match to pens at least!
Don't understand your comment about Lewandowski. The website you linked shows he plays every game. What am I missing? My bad. I must have misread it. Wishful thinking, no doubt... |
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Post by andybell84 on Mar 12, 2024 13:04:53 GMT
Surely the likes of Tom Lawrence and Will Vaulks can get midfield squad places this time around at the expense of far poorer options in midfield.
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Post by rangers15 on Mar 12, 2024 14:06:45 GMT
Random question:
I'm in Birmingham with work on the final/friendly game on Tuesday. Does anyone know of a good place to watch the game? Ideally looking for a welsh based pub - if thats a thing in Brum.
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Post by gwernybwch on Mar 12, 2024 21:40:29 GMT
I'm fairly hopeful that we can despatch Finland in the play-offs S/F, but share the worry of others about encountering Poland in the final. Agree it's high time we get a decent result against them! (Is it just possible, though, that Estonia may confound everyone in their S/F - and sneak an unlikely win against the Poles?) I can see Estonia getting something with the right tactics. I don't think that the Poles would take too well with the type of shithousery that they like to dish out to others. Play acting, time wasting, all behind the ball, playing for set pieces. 90 minutes of that and the brittle Polish psyche would be broken. |
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Post by jbt95 on Mar 12, 2024 23:02:51 GMT
I'm fairly hopeful that we can despatch Finland in the play-offs S/F, but share the worry of others about encountering Poland in the final. Agree it's high time we get a decent result against them! (Is it just possible, though, that Estonia may confound everyone in their S/F - and sneak an unlikely win against the Poles?) I can see Estonia getting something with the right tactics. I don't think that the Poles would take too well with the type of shithousery that they like to dish out to others. Play acting, time wasting, all behind the ball, playing for set pieces. 90 minutes of that and the brittle Polish psyche would be broken. Potentially 120 mins |
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Post by iot on Mar 13, 2024 10:50:47 GMT
Surely the likes of Tom Lawrence and Will Vaulks can get midfield squad places this time around at the expense of far poorer options in midfield. I think there's a case for including them, but it's not a particularly strong one. As others have mentioned, whilst Lawrence is picking up some form after being hampered with injuries, we've got so many options in his position (most of them far better - Wilson, James, Brooks, Johnson) that it would be really surprising to see him included. Given the fact he hasn't been selected when in better form in the past and when our other options were not in the type of form they're in now, I would say there's next to no chance he gets selected. Similarly, Vaulks wasn't getting selected even when we didn't have any proven options in his position other than Ampadu and Morrell. We now have James and Sheehan. I think there's a case for including him, but it's not going to happen, and I would feel very nervous if we relied on him. I just don't think he's well-suited to international football and has stood out like a sore thumb in some of his appearances for us. |
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Post by jbt95 on Mar 13, 2024 11:01:51 GMT
WTF is Ramsey doing in the squad. He better not be in the match day 23 or we’ve learnt nothing.
Good to see Colwill and Savage in the senior squad.
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Post by fiveattheback on Mar 13, 2024 11:05:28 GMT
WTF is Ramsey doing in the squad. He better not be in the match day 23 or we’ve learnt nothing. Good to see Colwill and Savage in the senior squad. It's a 28 man squad, not like he's taking a spot away from anyone. Probably end up pulling out anyway Post-playoffs we really need to try and incorporate more strikers, lots of pressure on Moore's availability |
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Post by jbt95 on Mar 13, 2024 11:12:51 GMT
WTF is Ramsey doing in the squad. He better not be in the match day 23 or we’ve learnt nothing. Good to see Colwill and Savage in the senior squad. It's a 28 man squad, not like he's taking a spot away from anyone. Probably end up pulling out anyway Yeah I don’t really mind him training and being around the squad, that’s absolutely fine, but potentially being able to be on the bench is ridiculous. |
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Post by hooky on Mar 13, 2024 11:13:29 GMT
Typical Page
He is so stupid - you can just imagine he'd throw Ramsey in to anchor our midfield because he is such a great footballer (or was 5 years ago!).
If there is one player who needs 3-4 games before getting consistency it is Ramsey. We cannot afford to have a passenger - we learned that harsh lesson in Qatar. Ramsey should not even be on the bench
If he started him and we lost then Page should be sacked immediately.
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Post by hooky on Mar 13, 2024 11:15:44 GMT
and why on earth Savage? I wonder - unfortunately we know why! FFS - big match then the likes of Lawrence over him any day!
Can we have a competent manager in the next few year please?
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Post by dragonsoccer on Mar 13, 2024 11:22:23 GMT
media today should be asking questions on
Ramsey ! inclusion?
Why no Tom Lawrerence?(to put that one to bed) - he is playing top flight football (SPL and Europe)
Why 28 player squad?
opinion
28 can only be few niggles i would guess
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Post by iot on Mar 13, 2024 11:34:55 GMT
The main thing we should take away from the squad announcement is how strong it is - the strongest it's been post World Cup. People will always focus on the negatives, but the things being brought up are all pretty frivolous.
Ramsey will 100% not start in these games. Agree if he were to start, and it went wrong, that would be a massive cock-up, but it's not going to happen. I strongly suspect he's there primarily for off-the-pitch reasons, but why not include him in the squad if he continues to recover quicker than expected over the next week and we feel we need him for the last 15mins in one of these games? I see no issue with having him there as an option.
The omission of Lawrence will have no material impact on our chances because we have 6 wide forwards who I would argue are justifiably ahead of him. We also have Matondo, who I'm surprised to see included given Lawrence is currently ahead of him at club level, but neither would start or be brought on ahead of the other options anyway so it's immaterial.
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Post by paj on Mar 13, 2024 11:39:34 GMT
I would imagine that some players will play the friendly if we lose. The likes of savage Colwill levitt matondo and ramsey for instance.
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