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Post by jackanapes on Sept 9, 2024 21:19:15 GMT
This was not a normal game. I can only assume that the people venting use this board as a substitute for therapy. On to the next one. So all our games will be played on billiard tables in 28 degrees, against fair-minded & sportsman-like opposition, with the referee from the World Cup Final will they? The conditions and refereeing imposed a level of randomness that is virtually impossible to counteract. The Montenegro players were overhitting and misplacing passes just as much as ours. Both sides looked like kids sliding around in a swamp. Hardly any top level games are played in these circumstances now. Anybody who’s played in conditions half as bad will know how everything goes out the window. If it makes you feel good to criticise players battling impossible conditions, then crack on. I’ll reserve my judgment for games played under more typical conditions. |
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Post by dai on Sept 9, 2024 21:26:36 GMT
Ah well, normal service resumed.
Missed the second half due to 5aside, but I was expecting to come home and read about a better outcome after Bellamy's confidence on Friday night about us 'not playing any worse'.
Yes, the conditions were poor, but thats the same for both teams. I have to question why that's being used as a major excuse?
The ref was shocking though, I counted at least 3 yellows which went unpunished in the first half, so to read we had 4 to their 2 is absolutely criminal. Poor reffing often dictates how a game goes. Amazes how little pundits say about ref's. No-one has mentioned him tonight.
The standout negative for me in that first half was Cooper who is nowhere near good enough. A lot will disagree with me on this, but Vaulks would have suited that game to a tee. Physical, strong, hard to get the ball off. We really lacked some muscle in midfield when they were bullying us about. But again, the ref allowed that to happen.
I was the biggest Page critic, however I can't help but feel he gets absolutely slated if still in charge. Not saying Bellamy should get slated, because he's obviously experimenting. Iceland will be a good test, and I still wouldn't fancy us out in Turkey.
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Post by quetzal on Sept 9, 2024 21:29:29 GMT
You never complain about a competitive Wales win. I was busy so didn’t know the result after 45 mins. Told my mate at half time that it was still possible for Wales too lose. History is still against in Eastern Europe. I’m chuffed with the win.
I love an enthusiastic manager. Brian Flynn used to use words like ‘mouthwatering’ for tough fixtures wherever he managed. But Bellamy should reign it in it a little bit. Teams pin stuff to the dressing room wall for motivation when it’s a little bit too much. Bellamy interviews only negative for me so far. Enthusiasm crossed a line to cockiness.
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Post by winsumluzsum on Sept 9, 2024 21:34:59 GMT
You never complain about a competitive Wales win. I was busy so didn’t know the result after 45 mins. Told my mate at half time that it was still possible for Wales too lose. History is still against in Eastern Europe. I’m chuffed with the win. I love an enthusiastic manager. Brian Flynn used to use words like ‘mouthwatering’ for tough fixtures wherever he managed. But Bellamy should reign it in it a little bit. Teams pin stuff to the dressing room wall for motivation when it’s a little bit too much. Bellamy interviews only negative for me so far. Enthusiasm crossed a line to cockiness. Sorry I don't see that at all. Bellamy’s been very respectful of the opposition and hasn't said anything that could be used as motivation. Care to give an example? |
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Post by quetzal on Sept 9, 2024 21:38:49 GMT
You never complain about a competitive Wales win. I was busy so didn’t know the result after 45 mins. Told my mate at half time that it was still possible for Wales too lose. History is still against in Eastern Europe. I’m chuffed with the win. I love an enthusiastic manager. Brian Flynn used to use words like ‘mouthwatering’ for tough fixtures wherever he managed. But Bellamy should reign it in it a little bit. Teams pin stuff to the dressing room wall for motivation when it’s a little bit too much. Bellamy interviews only negative for me so far. Enthusiasm crossed a line to cockiness. Sorry I don't see that at all. Bellamy’s been very respectful of the opposition and hasn't said anything that could be used as motivation. Care to give an example? The ‘we’ll never play worse’. It’s more the way I see it going. Hope I’m wrong. |
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Post by melynwy on Sept 9, 2024 21:39:17 GMT
Yes, the conditions were poor, but thats the same for both teams. I have to question why that's being used as a major excuse?[ I don’t think it’s being used as an excuse for a poor performance from us specifically, just as an excuse for a poor/mad game. I was the biggest Page critic, however I can't help but feel he gets absolutely slated if still in charge.. Well yes, of course, because it would be a continuation of the previous disappointing results and performances! Tonight was the second game of a new regime, following a very good performance in the first game. That’s two obviously different contexts, no?! |
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Post by winsumluzsum on Sept 9, 2024 21:39:22 GMT
Good debut for Darlow. Apart from one poor pass out from the back was comfortable in possession and made a few excellent saves.
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Post by fiveattheback on Sept 9, 2024 21:44:27 GMT
Ah well, normal service resumed. Missed the second half due to 5aside, but I was expecting to come home and read about a better outcome after Bellamy's confidence on Friday night about us 'not playing any worse'. Yes, the conditions were poor, but thats the same for both teams. I have to question why that's being used as a major excuse? The ref was shocking though, I counted at least 3 yellows which went unpunished in the first half, so to read we had 4 to their 2 is absolutely criminal. Poor reffing often dictates how a game goes. Amazes how little pundits say about ref's. No-one has mentioned him tonight. The standout negative for me in that first half was Cooper who is nowhere near good enough. A lot will disagree with me on this, but Vaulks would have suited that game to a tee. Physical, strong, hard to get the ball off. We really lacked some muscle in midfield when they were bullying us about. But again, the ref allowed that to happen. I was the biggest Page critic, however I can't help but feel he gets absolutely slated if still in charge. Not saying Bellamy should get slated, because he's obviously experimenting. Iceland will be a good test, and I still wouldn't fancy us out in Turkey. Didn't help that our more physical midfield presence in Ampadu was booked after 3 minutes |
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Post by hooky on Sept 9, 2024 21:46:21 GMT
I really hope we don't see the likes of Cooper in important games. As I said he is just not good enough. he must have lost the ball in not great positions or fallen over >6 times in the first half?
Look at the difference when JJ came on. I think JJ was being rested but that could have cost us
Sorba had a mixed performance but he will learn from tonight in terms of a couple of mistakes and he always fights and made some key interventions.
Comments on criticism of Montenegro performance and saying its no different to Page. Now it was not great but they are an awkward team. Before tonight we had not taken a point off them away from home in the 2 matches we played. Bellamy changed things and tactics after we conceded - would Page have? I think we lose that tonight with Page in charge
PS - Bellamy please teach all the squad to finish off open goals 2cm out! Its like the suddenly believe they are taking a drop kick at rugby - unbelievable at times!
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Post by fiveattheback on Sept 9, 2024 21:50:32 GMT
First ever win in (former) Yugoslavia?
Also first time since Estonia 2021 we've won the away game in a competitive double header?
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Post by quetzal on Sept 9, 2024 21:51:15 GMT
First ever win in (former) Yugoslavia? Macedonia? |
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Post by fiveattheback on Sept 9, 2024 21:54:41 GMT
First ever win in (former) Yugoslavia? Macedonia? Lost away in Skopje didn't we? |
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Post by winsumluzsum on Sept 9, 2024 21:54:43 GMT
Cooper wasn't great in possession but was rated a 7.1 on Fotmob, thanks to his defensive stats. Won 2 out of 3 tackles and 5 of 9 ground duels. Plus 1 out of 1 aerial duels. 1 block 2 Clearances 2 headed Clearances and 5 recoveries. Drew 2 fouls, although with a proper ref it would have been more. Certainly contributed to the defensive effort.
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Post by talyfan on Sept 9, 2024 22:01:11 GMT
I'll keep bashing my head on the wall but it's why I keep banging on about having a diverse profile of players you might need in the squad when you're in these situations. Hope you don't need them but they're handy when these circumstances do crop up and more often than not they do when you go to these places.
We had the likes of Cooper and Sheehan. You effectively have 2 players of the same profile. Small, lightweight and decent in possession but nothing meritable. Neither particularly robust off the ball.
Worries me if Ampadu got injured or banned. Up shit creek when we're playing these physical sides.
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Post by winsumluzsum on Sept 9, 2024 22:09:12 GMT
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Post by winsumluzsum on Sept 9, 2024 22:12:14 GMT
I'll keep bashing my head on the wall but it's why I keep banging on about having a diverse profile of players you might need in the squad when you're in these situations. Hope you don't need them but they're handy when these circumstances do crop up and more often than not they do when you go to these places. We had the likes of Cooper and Sheehan. You effectively have 2 players of the same profile. Small, lightweight and decent in possession but nothing meritable. Neither particularly robust off the ball. Worries me if Ampadu got injured or banned. Up shit creek when we're playing these physical sides. Cooper and Sheehan are very different players. Sheehan a playmaker, Cooper a busy bee. They're both a level below Ampadu and James, but both are decent options, especially in better conditions. Tonight was the definition of exceptional. |
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Post by allezlesrouges on Sept 9, 2024 22:29:20 GMT
This was not a normal game. I can only assume that the people venting use this board as a substitute for therapy. On to the next one. There were people on here moaning about Page after we beat Ukraine to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in yonks. Says it all really lol |
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Post by superunknown on Sept 9, 2024 22:30:46 GMT
Can’t read too much into that beyond the result, pitch was atrocious and game plan couldn’t be executed with any degree of accuracy, tough game and we did well to come away wiring the 3 points.
Police keeping us in for 20 mins after the game in the pissing rain was a joke, still soaked through on the bus back to Pod
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Post by allezlesrouges on Sept 9, 2024 22:42:03 GMT
As poor as I thought Cooper was on the ball today, I thought off the ball he did a decent job. I can see why Bellamy likes him as an option in a number 8 role. Just a bit of inexperience today losing the ball in dodgy areas - but then again Ramsey did the same when he came on so I think all players were struggling out there really
For anyone that thinks the performance was poor today for anything other than the conditions I think maybe you haven't ever played in conditions like that. I was a decent player when I was younger, and I remember plenty of times playing a poor team in the pissing rain like that with a pitch getting turned up, it really levels things out and is very frustrating
You can't predict the bounce of the ball - sometimes it comes at you fast, sometimes it stops dead. It's harder to turn, to sprint, you're getting weighed down by your soaking wet kit, people slide tackling you have all the momentum, it gets very difficult to dribble the ball as you're always getting caught up by defenders. All you want to do is get off there with 3 points. When the ref is against you too it adds another level of difficulty
Just how can anyone expect a good game of football in that?? Impossible! I reckon we'll show what we're really about compared to these when we play them in Cardiff
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Post by welshdan1927 on Sept 9, 2024 22:48:04 GMT
Can’t read too much into that beyond the result, pitch was atrocious and game plan couldn’t be executed with any degree of accuracy, tough game and we did well to come away wiring the 3 points. Police keeping us in for 20 mins after the game in the pissing rain was a joke, still soaked through on the bus back to Pod In all fairness, everything the Montenegrin police have done has been an utter shambles this week. I note the "shithole" comment above and I have to say, the levels of utter disorganisation, the taxi mafia, and the disgusting way in which every Welsh fan was booted out of a hotel in Budva midway through their stay for simply being Welsh has all reflected incredibly badly on a country that has vast swathes of natural beauty but not much in the way of humanity. And I'm not comparing to any Western country; I'm comparing directly with Armenia. |
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Post by welshdan1927 on Sept 9, 2024 22:51:57 GMT
Incidentally, if anyone not in Montenegro thinks the weather can't have been that bad; it's been apocalyptic. Most roads are now rivers, most car parks are small ponds. Stepping outdoors for anymore than 20 seconds and you're soaked through. All patches of grass are sodden and pooling water. It's awful.
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Post by neverever on Sept 9, 2024 22:56:08 GMT
You never complain about a competitive Wales win. I was busy so didn’t know the result after 45 mins. Told my mate at half time that it was still possible for Wales too lose. History is still against in Eastern Europe. I’m chuffed with the win. I love an enthusiastic manager. Brian Flynn used to use words like ‘mouthwatering’ for tough fixtures wherever he managed. But Bellamy should reign it in it a little bit. Teams pin stuff to the dressing room wall for motivation when it’s a little bit too much. Bellamy interviews only negative for me so far. Enthusiasm crossed a line to cockiness. He has always had confidence and ambition in his ability.. I seem to remember reading an interview years ago in one of the Sunday papers ( Sunday people I think) saying that or to the words that he could/would be the best player in the UK ( It was either when he was at Norwich City/Coventry City days (so very early in his career). Its no bad thing instilling confidence & ambition into the players but obviously without dis-respecting the opposition. |
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Post by dragon64 on Sept 9, 2024 23:10:05 GMT
next window-
Iceland v Wales, Turkey v Montenegro
then its Iceland v Turkey, Wales v Montenegro
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Post by superunknown on Sept 9, 2024 23:31:13 GMT
Can’t read too much into that beyond the result, pitch was atrocious and game plan couldn’t be executed with any degree of accuracy, tough game and we did well to come away wiring the 3 points. Police keeping us in for 20 mins after the game in the pissing rain was a joke, still soaked through on the bus back to Pod In all fairness, everything the Montenegrin police have done has been an utter shambles this week. I note the "shithole" comment above and I have to say, the levels of utter disorganisation, the taxi mafia, and the disgusting way in which every Welsh fan was booted out of a hotel in Budva midway through their stay for simply being Welsh has all reflected incredibly badly on a country that has vast swathes of natural beauty but not much in the way of humanity. And I'm not comparing to any Western country; I'm comparing directly with Armenia. Complete joke mate. Dropped us off 25 mins away from where we were originally picked up/the centre so had to walk back in the pissing rain with no explanation. As you say reflected it really badly on the country but I’ve found the actual people to be nothing but friendly and accommodating which is a shame. Montenegrin police are an embarrassment |
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Post by jimbo82 on Sept 9, 2024 23:39:24 GMT
Sorry I don't see that at all. Bellamy’s been very respectful of the opposition and hasn't said anything that could be used as motivation. Care to give an example? The ‘we’ll never play worse’. It’s more the way I see it going. Hope I’m wrong. To be fair on Bellamy he clarified in the S4C interview yesterday that he only meant we wouldn't be worse in terms of preparation, and he conceded we might well have worse performances along the way. |
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Post by jimmytaff on Sept 10, 2024 0:43:37 GMT
In all fairness, everything the Montenegrin police have done has been an utter shambles this week. I note the "shithole" comment above and I have to say, the levels of utter disorganisation, the taxi mafia, and the disgusting way in which every Welsh fan was booted out of a hotel in Budva midway through their stay for simply being Welsh has all reflected incredibly badly on a country that has vast swathes of natural beauty but not much in the way of humanity. And I'm not comparing to any Western country; I'm comparing directly with Armenia. Complete joke mate. Dropped us off 25 mins away from where we were originally picked up/the centre so had to walk back in the pissing rain with no explanation. As you say reflected it really badly on the country but I’ve found the actual people to be nothing but friendly and accommodating which is a shame. Montenegrin police are an embarrassment The explanation we were given was that the pub had been closed after a fight so they weren't dropping off there. Doesn't really stack up yjough |
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Post by dcwales1 on Sept 10, 2024 5:54:22 GMT
In all fairness, everything the Montenegrin police have done has been an utter shambles this week. I note the "shithole" comment above and I have to say, the levels of utter disorganisation, the taxi mafia, and the disgusting way in which every Welsh fan was booted out of a hotel in Budva midway through their stay for simply being Welsh has all reflected incredibly badly on a country that has vast swathes of natural beauty but not much in the way of humanity. And I'm not comparing to any Western country; I'm comparing directly with Armenia. Complete joke mate. Dropped us off 25 mins away from where we were originally picked up/the centre so had to walk back in the pissing rain with no explanation. As you say reflected it really badly on the country but I’ve found the actual people to be nothing but friendly and accommodating which is a shame. Montenegrin police are an embarrassment Outright dangerous. Coaches turfed us all out in what can only be described as a temporary pond. It had a minimum of 2ft of water, people were wading through it, pitch black and a long way from most hotels etc. Most people had no signal and had no idea where they were because the drop off point was over a mile away, there was no lighting and it's was still like a monsoon. Has to be some serious questions asked. |
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Post by aberbeeg on Sept 10, 2024 6:43:12 GMT
I don’t think we’re any better than we were with page right now. All these formations look great, lots of nice possession and touches like the Poland match but I’m not convinced by Bellamy yet. Iceland away will be a good test. This is the minimum we’d expect a draw against turkey at home and a win away tonight. Not sure why jj was dropped tonight he’s too important for us We would be lucky to have a single point by now under Page. |
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Post by aberbeeg on Sept 10, 2024 6:45:10 GMT
Cooper proved what a very poor international player he really is. Koumas was also poor I felt.
Very happy with 4 point from 6 and a very refreshing/ hectic playing style
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Post by cadno on Sept 10, 2024 7:53:35 GMT
Harsh on Cooper, he hasn’t played much for us and the conditions were atrocious with heavy rain, it made it hard for him to play his game but he still dug in and ran his socks off, won fouls and tackled the opposition. Give him time
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