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Post by texan on Sept 17, 2020 9:00:37 GMT
To be fair, it's very hard for these sides with the one-legged nation of this years competition. Whilst TNS should be beating a side from the Faroes over two legs, drawing away from home would be by no means a bad result. EDIT: Texan's beaten me to this point. Needed emphasizing though, its an important point!  |
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Post by CrackityJones on Sept 17, 2020 9:26:36 GMT
Valid point but surely TNS are in a better position to cope than a team from the Faroe Islands?
Two teams knocked out by a country with a population smaller than Barry Town. Not a good look.
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Post by 1gwaunview on Sept 17, 2020 10:22:34 GMT
Valid point but surely TNS are in a better position to cope than a team from the Faroe Islands? Two teams knocked out by a country with a population smaller than Barry Town. Not a good look. Of course that ought to be the position. Never advisable to underestimate the opposition though (as we Cymru fans know only too well). |
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Post by rico on Sept 17, 2020 14:04:08 GMT
Is the population argument that keeps coming up a fair one? Other nations, especially smaller nations, generally have the pick of their best talent stay within their national division, at least for a period of time, we do not.
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Post by allezlesrouges on Sept 17, 2020 19:03:01 GMT
More last minute heartbreak for the Welsh clubs. Cei Connah conceding a penalty in the 97th minute which is converted. Just when it looked like they were taking it to extra-time against all odds
Y Bala 2-0 down at half time - so that looks like that for this year. Most disappointed in TNS to be honest
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Post by conwy10 on Sept 17, 2020 21:36:44 GMT
Is the population argument that keeps coming up a fair one? Other nations, especially smaller nations, generally have the pick of their best talent stay within their national division, at least for a period of time, we do not. I think it can go both ways. Guaranteed a lot of the lads playing at Welsh clubs in Europe have had the advantage of being developed in academies in England smaller countries can only dream of. But at the same time a professional career is only a 50 mile drive away. I understand why we aren’t good in comparison to European Teams, imagine any country not having their major towns and cities not competing in the national league, but still I expect better than losing to teams from micro nations. TNS should have done a job on them last night. Barry should have contributed too after the FAW gave them a lifeline. |
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Post by fiveattheback on Sept 17, 2020 21:41:01 GMT
Is the population argument that keeps coming up a fair one? Other nations, especially smaller nations, generally have the pick of their best talent stay within their national division, at least for a period of time, we do not. Not really, our four biggest clubs play in a different league. The current Cardiff and Swansea sides would probably progress quite well in European competition |
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Post by alarch on Sept 17, 2020 22:01:04 GMT
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Post by pendragon on Sept 17, 2020 22:24:17 GMT
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Post by robin1864 on Sept 18, 2020 1:08:24 GMT
Andy Morrison sounds like a proper scumbag, makes my skin crawl to think Wrexham fans wanted him after Hughes got sacked. Nomads are going to get shagged out of existence by UEFA, the FAW & the government. Hope it was worth it for a couple beatings from some Eastern European no-marks. |
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Post by allezlesrouges on Sept 18, 2020 8:26:42 GMT
What a stupid remark to make - why don yourself in like that?
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Post by haruki on Sept 18, 2020 9:08:47 GMT
This is absolutely bonkers. Connahs Quay Nomads had players self isolating then the manager tells others with symptoms to just crack on and play. And how thick must he be to tell that to the media!!! www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54199351"Manager Andy Morrison says Connah's Quay Nomads "had to turn a blind eye" to players who turned up feeling unwell for their Europa League qualifying defeat by Dinamo Tbilisi. The game went ahead despite four players having tested positive for Covid-19 beforehand. The quartet and a fifth player, who has yet to test positive, are in self-isolation. "Three lads have turned up tonight and they're not well," said Morrison. "And it's like 'lads I don't want to hear it. I can't hear it tonight that you're ill, please like you know. Let's just get through it'. "I've been told that before the game and we've had to turn a blind eye to it and then you would have never noticed that anyone there tonight wasn't feeling great." Three players had been confirmed as having tested positive for coronavirus before the second qualifying round game. Nomads lost 1-0 to a late Giorgi Gabedava penalty at Wrexham's Racecourse." |
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Post by texan on Sept 18, 2020 9:44:06 GMT
Well he's gone...
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Post by cadno on Sept 18, 2020 9:58:14 GMT
If you listen to the interview he doesn't actually mention Covid symptoms. I read on Twitter that he was referring to players with headaches / stomach ache, I think the media have kind of blown things out of proportion.
I enjoyed Bala's game, class effort from them, playing good football. They might have managed a result on another day.
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Post by 1gwaunview on Sept 18, 2020 10:32:54 GMT
There'll be repercussions to this incident for sure from UEFA and others. Shame It's yet another year with fleeting Welsh club involvement in Europe.
Siomedig iawn!
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Post by erasedcitizen on Sept 18, 2020 10:38:34 GMT
If you listen to the interview he doesn't actually mention Covid symptoms. I read on Twitter that he was referring to players with headaches / stomach ache, I think the media have kind of blown things out of proportion. I enjoyed Bala's game, class effort from them, playing good football. They might have managed a result on another day. Players shouldn't be on the pitch if they're ill regardless. |
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Post by robin1864 on Sept 18, 2020 10:53:46 GMT
If you listen to the interview he doesn't actually mention Covid symptoms. I read on Twitter that he was referring to players with headaches / stomach ache, I think the media have kind of blown things out of proportion. I enjoyed Bala's game, class effort from them, playing good football. They might have managed a result on another day. Doesn't matter, every precaution has to be taken to ensure football can be played safely, and besides that there's also the HR angle of forcing people who are sick to work. It was nice of them to momentarily break TNS's monopoly, but they're toast now. |
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Post by cadno on Sept 18, 2020 12:08:40 GMT
If you listen to the interview he doesn't actually mention Covid symptoms. I read on Twitter that he was referring to players with headaches / stomach ache, I think the media have kind of blown things out of proportion. I enjoyed Bala's game, class effort from them, playing good football. They might have managed a result on another day. Doesn't matter, every precaution has to be taken to ensure football can be played safely, and besides that there's also the HR angle of forcing people who are sick to work. It was nice of them to momentarily break TNS's monopoly, but they're toast now. Fair enough. Surely Uefa could have cancelled the game when some Cei Connah players were tested positive a few days earlier. |
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Post by derynglas on Sept 18, 2020 19:42:13 GMT
Faw have released a statement tonight.
As far as i can tell they say the club did nothing wrong,all protocols were followed.
Club has been asked about Morrisons comments which are being investigated to see if
they brough the game into disrepute.
Club seems to be in the clear,their game Sunday still on atm,manager might be in a bit of trouble.
Another manager coming up with reasons his team has lost which we see every week.
Suppose some are quite pleased that not only all the clubs are out now,
but some bad publicity for the league thrown in for good measure!
All 3 clubs unlucky in a way. Watched the TNS game good effort and sickening the way
it panned out but dissapointing off course.
Only saw the end of the Bala game due to work commitments but Liege had a pen and a
deflected goal by all accounts with Bala themselves missing a pen at 1-0 so could
have been different.
Nomads,well losing to a 97th minute pen against one of the historic clubs of Europe
whov won a European competition when youv got 6 out could be looked at as a heroic effort,
or yet another beating from an Eastern European no mark.Depends on your point of view i suppose.
So its ended for another year,on a bit of a sour note.
Try again next year.
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Post by garynysmon on Sept 19, 2020 0:53:23 GMT
Is the population argument that keeps coming up a fair one? Other nations, especially smaller nations, generally have the pick of their best talent stay within their national division, at least for a period of time, we do not. I can guarantee you that there isn't another country in Europe where its top flight football league struggles to get anything in the way of real media coverage. ITV won't even acknowledge the results on the news bulletins while elsewhere, with the exception of S4C, its slim to none. We're forever handicapped while Wales' biggest clubs continue to play in another country's league. The reasons why its the case can be argued of course, but it still diverts so much media coverage and general attention away from domestic football, we haven't got a hope in hell barring a favourable draw. That said, I can't overlook how ridicuously unlucky we are not to have at least one team in the next round. TNS or Nomads could have done it with no real complaints, and Bala put in a great performance against one of Belgium's giants. If I were a dictator, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr would be in the Welsh pyramid tomorrow. |
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Post by allezlesrouges on Sept 19, 2020 7:58:04 GMT
Is the population argument that keeps coming up a fair one? Other nations, especially smaller nations, generally have the pick of their best talent stay within their national division, at least for a period of time, we do not. I can guarantee you that there isn't another country in Europe where its top flight football league struggles to get anything in the way of real media coverage. ITV won't even acknowledge the results on the news bulletins while elsewhere, with the exception of S4C, its slim to none. We're forever handicapped while Wales' biggest clubs continue to play in another country's league. The reasons why its the case can be argued of course, but it still diverts so much media coverage and general attention away from domestic football, we haven't got a hope in hell barring a favourable draw. That said, I can't overlook how ridicuously unlucky we are not to have at least one team in the next round. TNS or Nomads could have done it with no real complaints, and Bala put in a great performance against one of Belgium's giants. If I were a dictator, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr would be in the Welsh pyramid tomorrow. I've never really considered the clubs in the English leagues coming over the the Welsh pyramid. I'm interested as to the benefits of it. What would be the advantages? Would it not just result in those clubs' quality lowering? |
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Post by derynglas on Sept 19, 2020 8:28:02 GMT
Merthyr,definately.Their stance is the definition of insanity.
Wrexham and Newport,on the borderline,and doable.
I sometimes imagine an alternative reality where these clubs are playing in Europe
every year,perhaps reaching the group stages of the Europa league and Champions league.
Their big enough to do it.Its not a carrot for them though with league status
being the be all and end all .Fair enough.Dont think well ever see Newport join,
Wrexham maybe an outside chance the longer their in non league.
Playing in Europ would be better than the constant struggle of getting out of
non league.IMO.if they get league status the argument is weakened considerably.
Cardiff and Swansea,no.Wouldnt be good for the league or Welsh football as a whole.
Financially,they couldnt do it now anyway,such are the rewards in the English
pyramid at the upper level,and the money theyv got tied up at that level.
Looking abroad,be interesting to see what wouuld happen if Catalonia got independance,
and a national team.A league would have to be formed.
Crearly theres no way that Barcelona could join it and wouldnt be forced to.
Espaniol either,being the representatives and supported by Spanish people in
the region.Thats reality.
Most of the other clubs would be expected to join it though for it to be recognised
as a national league and for Catalonia to have a national team.
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Post by garynysmon on Sept 19, 2020 10:20:56 GMT
I can guarantee you that there isn't another country in Europe where its top flight football league struggles to get anything in the way of real media coverage. ITV won't even acknowledge the results on the news bulletins while elsewhere, with the exception of S4C, its slim to none. We're forever handicapped while Wales' biggest clubs continue to play in another country's league. The reasons why its the case can be argued of course, but it still diverts so much media coverage and general attention away from domestic football, we haven't got a hope in hell barring a favourable draw. That said, I can't overlook how ridicuously unlucky we are not to have at least one team in the next round. TNS or Nomads could have done it with no real complaints, and Bala put in a great performance against one of Belgium's giants. If I were a dictator, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham and Merthyr would be in the Welsh pyramid tomorrow. I've never really considered the clubs in the English leagues coming over the the Welsh pyramid. I'm interested as to the benefits of it. What would be the advantages? Would it not just result in those clubs' quality lowering? Obviously my interests lie with Welsh football as a whole and not the individual interests of Cardiff and Swansea. I have to recognise that as individual clubs they are probably better off in the English system, or as long as they stay in the top two tiers at least. The income generated is bigger than anything they'd recoup in Wales, barring reaching the group stages of the Champions League and possibly Europa League (which wouldn't be impossible but not a guarantee either). But if they were forced to join the Cymru Premier the quality of their squads would probably drop. I'd personally argue that it needn't have to fall through the floor though. The biggest impact thoough, would be the resulting rise in quality for other clubs as a result of the media and the Welsh populace suddently taking an interest in the league, once it had become a proper top flight if you like. With more sponsorship and better paying TV deal, coupled with the resulting attendance boost, you'd end up with more clubs turning full time so gradually increasing the Welsh professional player pool. Yes, it would end up as an SPL type league with Swansea and Cardiff becoming your Rangers and Celtic, while your Wrexhams and Newports probably being the equivalent of the Edinburgh clubs in chasing the third and fourth spots. Essentially I just think there's a lack of vision by some. The arguments we often hear by Wrexham fans etc is claims that their crowds would drop to 500 if they were in the Welsh Prem, but why would that be the case? Unless they have a pathological hatred of anything Welsh, with all due respect to National League clubs, if they can attract 3,500-4,500 for the visits of glamour clubs such as Bromley, Chorley, Eastleigh and Sutton United, it suggests to me they're there to follow their side regardless. Imagine what Wrexham could do if they were recouping the rewards of regular European football (you're talking £1m a year for finishing champions without making much of an impact on Europe even), on top of decent gate receipts? I can guarantee it would be way and above anything they could make in the Vamarama League or even League Two. When talking about the Anglo clubs joining, people should imagine how the league would end up like rather than what it is now. So in essence, it would be good for Welsh Football but not necessarily Cardiff and Swansea individually, and probably of benefit to Newport and Wrexham if you ignore the ideological barriers placed by many of their fans. Merthyr are just on another planet! |
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Post by allezlesrouges on Sept 19, 2020 12:42:39 GMT
I've never really considered the clubs in the English leagues coming over the the Welsh pyramid. I'm interested as to the benefits of it. What would be the advantages? Would it not just result in those clubs' quality lowering? Obviously my interests lie with Welsh football as a whole and not the individual interests of Cardiff and Swansea. I have to recognise that as individual clubs they are probably better off in the English system, or as long as they stay in the top two tiers at least. The income generated is bigger than anything they'd recoup in Wales, barring reaching the group stages of the Champions League and possibly Europa League (which wouldn't be impossible but not a guarantee either). But if they were forced to join the Cymru Premier the quality of their squads would probably drop. I'd personally argue that it needn't have to fall through the floor though. The biggest impact thoough, would be the resulting rise in quality for other clubs as a result of the media and the Welsh populace suddently taking an interest in the league, once it had become a proper top flight if you like. With more sponsorship and better paying TV deal, coupled with the resulting attendance boost, you'd end up with more clubs turning full time so gradually increasing the Welsh professional player pool. Yes, it would end up as an SPL type league with Swansea and Cardiff becoming your Rangers and Celtic, while your Wrexhams and Newports probably being the equivalent of the Edinburgh clubs in chasing the third and fourth spots. Essentially I just think there's a lack of vision by some. The arguments we often hear by Wrexham fans etc is claims that their crowds would drop to 500 if they were in the Welsh Prem, but why would that be the case? Unless they have a pathological hatred of anything Welsh, with all due respect to National League clubs, if they can attract 3,500-4,500 for the visits of glamour clubs such as Bromley, Chorley, Eastleigh and Sutton United, it suggests to me they're there to follow their side regardless. Imagine what Wrexham could do if they were recouping the rewards of regular European football (you're talking £1m a year for finishing champions without making much of an impact on Europe even), on top of decent gate receipts? I can guarantee it would be way and above anything they could make in the Vamarama League or even League Two. When talking about the Anglo clubs joining, people should imagine how the league would end up like rather than what it is now. So in essence, it would be good for Welsh Football but not necessarily Cardiff and Swansea individually, and probably of benefit to Newport and Wrexham if you ignore the ideological barriers placed by many of their fans. Merthyr are just on another planet! Thanks for taking the time to write this up I definitely can see the benefits of Wrexham, Merthyr & Newport joining - as you mentioned the benefits of Europe are probably better than the benefits of League Two football. Neither are likely to become Championship regulars Swansea & Cardiff I'm still not wholly convinced on. I think the benefits of the Swansea academy on the national team have been showing for a while. If Cardiff can get theirs up to scratch (keeping my fingers crossed on that one) we could use those two academies as good regular players pool producers. I'd imagine their academies would worsen moving over Also considering that any move would probably see an immediate overturn in their squads who'd mostly want to play in the English leagues, so I think there wouldn't be much of an immediate bump in quality for the rest of the league. Long term if they used their money to invest in good youth setups and focused on bringing only Welsh players through I think it could work, but it would be a long term project. And tbh many fans of both of those teams aren't that bothered how the national team do. Also thinking about a comparison to Scotland in this regard, they have a national league which is in the top 20 in Europe & they don't seem to produce a great talent pool so I do wonder how effective this approach would be Also think there would be a drop in attendances. Cardiff's attendance did drop when we were doing poorly in the Championship to around 17k/18k, so not sure Cymru Premier games would attract much of a crowd. Perhaps I'm just being skeptical & I personally know I'd want to watch games, just not sure your average Joe would get behind it Interesting to think about it though |
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Post by welshowl on Sept 19, 2020 15:07:03 GMT
Agree with the last few comments. Can't expect Cardiff and Swansea to join in the next 10 years. But Newport (maybe), Wrecsam and Merthyr should definitely consider it. Cymru Premier needs to get progressively stronger to do better in Europe (though summer football is probably the one thing that can change fortunes there the quickest), and to make those 3 clubs consider joining it.
Colwyn Bay's decision to rejoin the Welsh pyramid was quite sudden, and hopefully they will find their feet. Cymru North is obviously full of relatively big teams tying to get promoted this season. Colwyn, Bangor, Rhyl and Prestatyn (not sure what's happening with Airbus). Hopefully some heads at Merthyr will see sense. Some teams who are in the Cymru Premier can be regarded as smaller clubs than the above quartet - but they have earned their place at the top table. With some better management (on and off field) one or two of the 4 will make it back and CP profile will increase again.
Returning to the disappointment of Europe, especially vs Faroe opposition, got to consider again that Faroe league is now 17-18 games into the season. That would have made a big difference (especially this year with delayed start in Wales). Also, maybe Faroe Islands are doing soemthing else right given they also had two wins in the Nations league this month (albeit in league D).
Hopefully FAW are thinking how to improve things in the top flight.
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Post by gogdownsouth on Sept 19, 2020 15:30:20 GMT
Seeing a lot of discontent on Twitter regarding Merthyr, anyone know what is going on there? For me it makes complete sense for Merthyr to be playing in the Welsh system. Also would be huge for the league to have an established team from the valleys, can't remember the last established side from that area to play in the top flight?
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Post by conwy10 on Sept 19, 2020 21:19:55 GMT
Genuinely shocked people think Wrexham should join Cymru Prem. same for Newport. Wrexham get more a week than the entire league combined, even at our worst point. It might be good for the league, but how about the league get to our standard first and then it can be discussed.
Wrexham are a struggling club with huge potential. You won’t be bettering the league by having Wrexham in it you’ll be bringing Wrexham down to their level.
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Post by underwood on Sept 19, 2020 22:03:10 GMT
If Wycombe Wanderers can be a Championship outfit, then so can Newport & Wrexham.
Cardiff & Swansea have spent plenty of time playing against some of the world’s biggest clubs in the past 10 years.
In summary, none of them will ever being playing in a Welsh League.
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Post by robin1864 on Sept 19, 2020 22:43:08 GMT
Some posters on here need to behave, a lot of people are forgetting only 15-20 years ago we shared regular fixtures with Cardiff & Swansea, along with Bournemouth, Brentford & Bristol City. If Wrexham entered the Welsh system, I'd stop going. I want the dream of Manchester United or Arsenal in the cup (or even the league!), not fucking Penybont away on the weekend then Moldova on Tuesday night. It's an absolute delusion to think you'd solve Welsh football's problems by sticking Cardiff/Swans/Wrexham/Newport in the WPL, you'd just be lowering them down to the level of the current dross and the current crowds would disappear overnight. A better solution would be to allow us all back into the Welsh Cup with a Europa League slot up for grabs in lieu of FA Cup European qualification, and for Welsh system clubs to set up more robust academies that hoover up absolutely every child in their area, with the aim of selling on to English clubs for massive fees - being outside of the FA's jurisdiction, they're in a prime spot to avoid the EPPP bollocks. |
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Post by robin1864 on Sept 19, 2020 23:14:18 GMT
The arguments we often hear by Wrexham fans etc is claims that their crowds would drop to 500 if they were in the Welsh Prem, but why would that be the case? Unless they have a pathological hatred of anything Welsh, with all due respect to National League clubs, if they can attract 3,500-4,500 for the visits of glamour clubs such as Bromley, Chorley, Eastleigh and Sutton United, it suggests to me they're there to follow their side regardless. Imagine what Wrexham could do if they were recouping the rewards of regular European football (you're talking £1m a year for finishing champions without making much of an impact on Europe even), on top of decent gate receipts? I can guarantee it would be way and above anything they could make in the Vamarama League or even League Two. We follow Wrexham in such numbers because there is the promise of something better than Bromley or Chorley at the end of it. With all due respect, that means Man United, Liverpool, Everton, or the big London clubs, and certainly not Afan Lido or Caernarfon. We'd do absolutely nothing with the money from European football. I look at TNS and it's a team made up of Wrexham youth rejects, so I don't think we'd need to invest much money to win the league every year. Alongside that, there's also the reputational damage that comes with getting a 10-0 spanking from B36 Torshavn. It's essentially a glass ceiling to the ambitions of our club, and I'd rather watch competitive matches every week than become a Celtic/HJK that just exists solely for 2 nights of European football every month. At least the Irish leagues could merge post-reunification and create some sort of Belfast/Dublin drama, but it'll still be shite football in the main and have an average attendance in the low 1000's. The WPL will have to accept & embrace the opportunity it has to be a development league. Wales missed the boat a century ago, it'll never reach the giddy heights of the SPFL. |
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