Robert Page

[erasedcitizen]

Jun 25, 2021 9:08:26 GMT squatter1 said:

Like it or not, Robert Page has already guaranteed himself the job for the World Cup, no matter what happens tomorrow. (Assuming Giggs doesn’t come back)

That’s not me expressing an opinion, just realising a fact.

Currently 6/1 for the Wrexham job!

Though I wouldn't be concerned by guesswork like that. No doubt in my mind, Page is leading us through the World Cup qualifiers.

[erasedcitizen]

Just watched his press conference before tomorrow's match and I can see why the players like him so much. He's so calm and assured ahead of what is a huge match, as is Bale and that will reflect on the players.

[quetzal]

I think Stuivenberg is running the show personally. Tactics and stuff.

[allezlesrouges]

Jun 25, 2021 14:52:32 GMT quetzal said:

I think Stuivenberg is running the show personally. Tactics and stuff.

I think a lot of people give credit to number 2s for things like tactics, as was the case with Osian and Coleman. I can't say I know who does what or anything, but the combination I feel is the most important. The manager has to think about absolutely every aspect of management. Player relations, timings, group psychology, media perceptions, training and a million other things. Sometimes the number 2 does just have more time to think about things like tactics by virtue of having less responsibilities. I'm a manager for a local team, and I do really value my number 2 for that reason, although I do feel that ultimately all decisions are an aggregation of both of our opinions ultimately. I imagine with Page-Stuivenberg it's the same

[erasedcitizen]

Jun 25, 2021 14:52:32 GMT quetzal said:

I think Stuivenberg is running the show personally. Tactics and stuff.

Personally I think we're reaping the rewards that come from having a wealth of very talented staff who work well together in making the most out of our resources. Stuivenberg is a part of that, as is Page.

[quetzal]

I will say that Rob has done a fantastic job with the media side of things. Watched the press conference and I grew up in the Ogmore Valley area not a million miles from the Rhondda. I think I got a bit of grit in my eye tbh. Very emotional now. This game got penalties written all over it

[CrackityJones]

If you’re trying to calm down before the match, don’t watch this:

[lgpdc]

i was but watched it anyway ...Pagey..Pagey-Pagey .. Pagey-Pagey...paygee paygee paygee.

[quetzal]

Jun 26, 2021 14:15:48 GMT lgpdc said:

i was but watched it anyway ...Pagey..Pagey-Pagey .. Pagey-Pagey...paygee paygee paygee.

Mickey Mouse from the whole Welsh management tonight. That was Stuivenberg’s last game btw.

[njdragon]

Jun 26, 2021 18:44:52 GMT quetzal said:

Jun 26, 2021 14:15:48 GMT lgpdc said:

i was but watched it anyway ...Pagey..Pagey-Pagey .. Pagey-Pagey...paygee paygee paygee.

Mickey Mouse from the whole Welsh management tonight. That was Stuivenberg’s last game btw.

Why Mickey Mouse?

Page has grown on me a lot seems like a real man manager, loved his interview tonight.

How do you know it’s stuivenbergs last game?

[hooky]

Page does not have enough experience, judgement, believe and nous to remain manager. I fear he may keep the job by default and worry we may blow the already difficult chance to qualify for the WC via a play off

However, as a man and leader he is top notch and I truly appreciate him getting us qualified for League A of the Nations Cup and getting us to the knock out stages of the Euros

I just feel the faith in Morrell highlighted a lack of judgement - Morrell was responsible in significant part for a couple of key goals conceded by failing to track runs, while we saw a Danish coach today who quickly identified a problem and immediately solved it. By contrast, Page waited and waited. He also should have got a message across to keep fighting and professional as our heads went down far too early today. Jane Ludlow highlighted some of the petulance from our players as a bit unacceptable. Also 4 red cards in a few games suggests a lack of discipline which should have been addressed. Sure all of them could be questioned but maybe all of them should have been avoided too.

I am selfish and want us to win and so if we can realistically get an upgrade to a more experienced coach then I want us to secure that.

[quetzal]

Jun 26, 2021 22:17:36 GMT njdragon said:

Jun 26, 2021 18:44:52 GMT quetzal said:

Mickey Mouse from the whole Welsh management tonight. That was Stuivenberg’s last game btw.

Why Mickey Mouse?

Page has grown on me a lot seems like a real man manager, loved his interview tonight.

How do you know it’s stuivenbergs last game?

Mickey Mouse on the game tonight. It was always Stuivenberg’s last game. Part of the Arsenal contract. Page great in the interviews. I disappointed that’s all.

[pendragon]

Jun 26, 2021 23:03:02 GMT hooky said:

Page does not have enough experience, judgement, believe and nous to remain manager. I fear he may keep the job by default and worry we may blow the already difficult chance to qualify for the WC via a play off

However, as a man and leader he is top notch and I truly appreciate him getting us qualified for League A of the Nations Cup and getting us to the knock out stages of the Euros

I just feel the faith in Morrell highlighted a lack of judgement - Morrell was responsible in significant part for a couple of key goals conceded by failing to track runs, while we saw a Danish coach today who quickly identified a problem and immediately solved it. By contrast, Page waited and waited. He also should have got a message across to keep fighting and professional as our heads went down far too early today. Jane Ludlow highlighted some of the petulance from our players as a bit unacceptable. Also 4 red cards in a few games suggests a lack of discipline which should have been addressed. Sure all of them could be questioned but maybe all of them should have been avoided too.

I am selfish and want us to win and so if we can realistically get an upgrade to a more experienced coach then I want us to secure that.

I'm with you, but Page's fortunes sorts of rests on Giggs' I'd imagine. Giggs was appointed on a four year contract in January 2018, so surely it will run its' course early next year? Unless Page were to leave as caretaker manager, he'll remain in place until then. But, FAW could choose not to renew in January and appoint another manager.

[lafiest]

Page has done us proud in difficult circumstances. Proper man manager… I would give him the permanent job with a tactician like Osian Roberts. Let’s just hope that Giggs gets no where near this team again

[dai]

The main issue for me is a failure to recognise a basic problem that things are not working.

It was criminal to play 4-2-3-1 again against a better quality team in Denmark, when we were more or less outplayed by the Swiss. It seems so elementary.

Lack of urgency with subs. At 2-0 down you may as well go for broke, and change things to an attacking 3-4-3 or 4-3-3, not just sit there and wait for something to happen.

It was painful tonight seeing us completely implode and Page/management didn't seem to have the faintest idea what or how they could change things.

Did you we have the players capable of making a difference? Brooks looked poor after coming on tbh.

Ramsey and Bale, for all they have done should not be untouchable. Bale in particular looked finished after that initial 20 minutes, Ramsey was also completely ineffective. Why not give opportunities to the players that got us here? Wilson, Joniesta, Matt Smith?

I dunno. I said this in another thread - I do feel we have tactically regressed over the last few years, and been far too reliant on luck over anything else.

I love how Page speaks, similar to Coleman, but is it enough?

[insertname]

Jun 26, 2021 23:41:59 GMT dai said:

The main issue for me is a failure to recognise a basic problem that things are not working.

It was criminal to play 4-2-3-1 again against a better quality team in Denmark, when we were more or less outplayed by the Swiss. It seems so elementary.

Lack of urgency with subs. At 2-0 down you may as well go for broke, and change things to an attacking 3-4-3 or 4-3-3, not just sit there and wait for something to happen.

It was painful tonight seeing us completely implode and Page/management didn't seem to have the faintest idea what or how they could change things.

Did you we have the players capable of making a difference? Brooks looked poor after coming on tbh.

Ramsey and Bale, for all they have done should not be untouchable. Bale in particular looked finished after that initial 20 minutes, Ramsey was also completely ineffective. Why not give opportunities to the players that got us here? Wilson, Joniesta, Matt Smith?

I dunno. I said this in another thread - I do feel we have tactically regressed over the last few years, and been far too reliant on luck over anything else.

I love how Page speaks, similar to Coleman, but is it enough?

It’s all very well wanting changes but there is nothing on the bench. Brooks is not playing at international standard at the moment and I think people have been over hyping him and Ampadu like we’ve got world beaters head and shoulders above what’s on the pitch that Page is inexplicably not playing.

Sadly for Neco tonight he proved why he’s not been playing. Roberts is not going to save a game against a team of Denmark’s stature, that’s just common sense and Brooks has had periods of form but, sadly, there is a reason why a prem side didn’t take a punt when Bournemouth got relegated. He’s one we have to hope will get back to his best but he’s certainly not a big miss from the starting XI today.

The other options are Wilson: decent but when you’re looking for top quality talent you want better.
Williams: should perhaps have played more but again is he really going to help claw back a two goal deficit against Denmark?

The first XI was as good as it got imo, bar Morrell could maybe have been interchangeable with someone else. Subs wise there was very little there to make a material difference when you’re losing to Denmark and you’re two arguably world class players aren’t even in the game themselves

[lafiest]

Denmark won the tactical battle pushing Christiansen in to midfield. After that we had no options. Not pages fault just the alternatives are lacking in form/ quality.
Fair play to their manager in changing their system to nullify us. That’s what you can do when you’ve got champions league quality through the team and we’ve got lower end championship battlers in midfield

[pendragon]

The problems cited here are not unique to us.

Is Austria a team of world-class talent? Or Hungary? I'm not saying we would have won, but both those teams managed to push top teams to the brink.

We've qualified for League A of the Nations League, and will be playing higher tier teams.

Is "he did okay" enough? Are we confident that Page is getting the absolute best he can out of this squad? Not making tactical changes for example, would suggest lack of foresight of some of the most basic principles of the game.

[impeachabull]

Jun 26, 2021 23:55:27 GMT lafiest said:

Denmark won the tactical battle pushing Christiansen in to midfield. After that we had no options. Not pages fault just the alternatives are lacking in form/ quality.
Fair play to their manager in changing their system to nullify us. That’s what you can do when you’ve got champions league quality through the team and we’ve got lower end championship battlers in midfield

Always thought the Danes were the favourites and this would be a very hard game, but it's hard to see how Page didn't attempt to react at all to their utter dominance in the first-half. Beyond, the first 10 minutes, we were bereft of any serious attacking intent. I was hiding behind my sofa by the end of the first-half, praying for the whistle.

Can't see how that wasn't apparent to the coaching staff. Neco was an enforced sub, Wilson didn't change the impetus at all, Moore didn't have a great game but 78 minutes was about the worst time to bring him off. Subbing him at half-time would've made sense, but after his later substitution, we only had the option of launching balls into the box for Tyler Roberts.

Like I say, never expected to beat them but the manner and the tactics were incredibly disappointing. 

[talyfan]

Jun 26, 2021 23:51:33 GMT insertname said:

Jun 26, 2021 23:41:59 GMT dai said:

The main issue for me is a failure to recognise a basic problem that things are not working.

It was criminal to play 4-2-3-1 again against a better quality team in Denmark, when we were more or less outplayed by the Swiss. It seems so elementary.

Lack of urgency with subs. At 2-0 down you may as well go for broke, and change things to an attacking 3-4-3 or 4-3-3, not just sit there and wait for something to happen.

It was painful tonight seeing us completely implode and Page/management didn't seem to have the faintest idea what or how they could change things.

Did you we have the players capable of making a difference? Brooks looked poor after coming on tbh.

Ramsey and Bale, for all they have done should not be untouchable. Bale in particular looked finished after that initial 20 minutes, Ramsey was also completely ineffective. Why not give opportunities to the players that got us here? Wilson, Joniesta, Matt Smith?

I dunno. I said this in another thread - I do feel we have tactically regressed over the last few years, and been far too reliant on luck over anything else.

I love how Page speaks, similar to Coleman, but is it enough?

It’s all very well wanting changes but there is nothing on the bench. Brooks is not playing at international standard at the moment and I think people have been over hyping him and Ampadu like we’ve got world beaters head and shoulders above what’s on the pitch that Page is inexplicably not playing.

Sadly for Neco tonight he proved why he’s not been playing. Roberts is not going to save a game against a team of Denmark’s stature, that’s just common sense and Brooks has had periods of form but, sadly, there is a reason why a prem side didn’t take a punt when Bournemouth got relegated. He’s one we have to hope will get back to his best but he’s certainly not a big miss from the starting XI today.

The other options are Wilson: decent but when you’re looking for top quality talent you want better.
Williams: should perhaps have played more but again is he really going to help claw back a two goal deficit against Denmark?

The first XI was as good as it got imo, bar Morrell could maybe have been interchangeable with someone else. Subs wise there was very little there to make a material difference when you’re losing to Denmark and you’re two arguably world class players aren’t even in the game themselves

Comes down to our 26 man selection. Having a good chunk of your squad being young, inexperienced players will do that. Some have barely kicked a football in the senior men's game. We can't rely on them yet.

The process for me at the start of the selection is you pick your starting XI and three goalkeepers.

You'll then pick your bench.

Your defence will literally be like for like players. Generally, players which can slot directly in place if injuries, fatigue, suspensions occur.

Your midfield and attack gets a bit more interesting. For me, it's where you can have players who slot in straight away but also can offer us a different profile to what we've got in the starting XI.

For me calling up the likes of Colwill, Levitt etc. Offers very little other than getting them familiar to the setup.

The likes of HRK, Vokes, Doidge, Vaulks etc. These players are not by any stretch of the imagination individually or technically game changers or a silver bullet. If we were better I wouldn't call them up but given we have a paddling pool sized selection pool to choose from you make do with what you've got.

They do however offer something different to what we called up. And I think that's a factor not spoken or discussed on here particularly for tournament football.

The players I've mentioned wouldn't come on and change the game with individual brilliance (maybe other than HRK 😉). But what they can do is change the game for us tactically and give our opponents something to think about.

I've felt a lot of the time this tournament we could with two players up front against teams which play with a back 3. We didn't have a striker to call upon off the bench. Bale often legless by that point and Roberts not really an outlet or focal point off the bench. To go into the tournament with only 1 real out and out striker boggles my mind a bit. Yes, our strikers aren't prolific by any stretch but I'd rather a striker play than a false 9 or a goosed Bale.

Same applies with central midfield. If we needed a different central midfield profile off the bench to Morrell and Allen yesterday we had two physically like for like players to call upon and all virtually offer a similar profile. You bring in someone like Vaulks, maybe not as technically good but he's got a good engine, good strike on him and even has a long throw in which Bale could get on the end of.

That's my rant over anyway. Enjoyed the tournament overall and still hopeful for the world cup qualifiers. Exciting 12 months ahead!

[conwy10]

To be fair to Page we were in crisis ahead of the tournament with all the top people in Welsh football leaving. I’d say he achieved our objectives for the tournament but Denmark showed in a big way all the problems we have, credit to them for that.

Changing tactics is a gamble. You work on your set up, your players get comfortable in it, but you’re easily scouted for the next match. We were all debating but we could name the starting lineup and tell how we were going to play.I would have my doubts that Denmark just on the fly changed their system. The manager probably had it well thought out and briefed the players ahead of time that if they need to they’ll switch things up. We were on top and they switched their game plan.

[pendragon]

Jun 27, 2021 7:01:35 GMT conwy10 said:

To be fair to Page we were in crisis ahead of the tournament with all the top people in Welsh football leaving. I’d say he achieved our objectives for the tournament but Denmark showed in a big way all the problems we have, credit to them for that.

Changing tactics is a gamble. You work on your set up, your players get comfortable in it, but you’re easily scouted for the next match. We were all debating but we could name the starting lineup and tell how we were going to play.I would have my doubts that Denmark just on the fly changed their system. The manager probably had it well thought out and briefed the players ahead of time that if they need to they’ll switch things up. We were on top and they switched their game plan.

Every game we played against a top side in this tournament, ie. Italy and Switzerland, we played with fear and trepidation. I have the sense that there was no game plan or knowledge of how to play a top tier side during this tournament.

Compare this with our recent performance against Belgium. Granted they beat us 3-1 but in terms of performance, we matched them. Yesterday, there was no plan b and the team fell apart once Connor was off and the Danes had changed formation.

To say, he's done well (which he has tbf) isn't really good enough imo. Cymru deserves better than that.
Another report that troubled me was that he frequently contacts Giggs about formation, tactics etc. How much of what is happening on the pitch down to Giggs snd how much is down to Page? Is he able to work on his own initiative?

[dai]

Jun 26, 2021 23:51:33 GMT insertname said:

Jun 26, 2021 23:41:59 GMT dai said:

The main issue for me is a failure to recognise a basic problem that things are not working.

It was criminal to play 4-2-3-1 again against a better quality team in Denmark, when we were more or less outplayed by the Swiss. It seems so elementary.

Lack of urgency with subs. At 2-0 down you may as well go for broke, and change things to an attacking 3-4-3 or 4-3-3, not just sit there and wait for something to happen.

It was painful tonight seeing us completely implode and Page/management didn't seem to have the faintest idea what or how they could change things.

Did you we have the players capable of making a difference? Brooks looked poor after coming on tbh.

Ramsey and Bale, for all they have done should not be untouchable. Bale in particular looked finished after that initial 20 minutes, Ramsey was also completely ineffective. Why not give opportunities to the players that got us here? Wilson, Joniesta, Matt Smith?

I dunno. I said this in another thread - I do feel we have tactically regressed over the last few years, and been far too reliant on luck over anything else.

I love how Page speaks, similar to Coleman, but is it enough?

It’s all very well wanting changes but there is nothing on the bench. Brooks is not playing at international standard at the moment and I think people have been over hyping him and Ampadu like we’ve got world beaters head and shoulders above what’s on the pitch that Page is inexplicably not playing.

Sadly for Neco tonight he proved why he’s not been playing. Roberts is not going to save a game against a team of Denmark’s stature, that’s just common sense and Brooks has had periods of form but, sadly, there is a reason why a prem side didn’t take a punt when Bournemouth got relegated. He’s one we have to hope will get back to his best but he’s certainly not a big miss from the starting XI today.

The other options are Wilson: decent but when you’re looking for top quality talent you want better.
Williams: should perhaps have played more but again is he really going to help claw back a two goal deficit against Denmark?

The first XI was as good as it got imo, bar Morrell could maybe have been interchangeable with someone else. Subs wise there was very little there to make a material difference when you’re losing to Denmark and you’re two arguably world class players aren’t even in the game themselves

I find it interesting you're so blasé about this!

I can't help but recall how critical you were of Coleman when his failings happened, and how you consistently questioned his tactics. Coleman also had a very limited squad to work with.

How come Page and the current setup are getting a free pass for being tactically naive?

[cadno]

Danny Gabbidon asked the question last night, what is our DNA, our style of play? What is our Identity? 'The Welsh Way?'

I'm kind of fed up of the way football is going, it's going to be a non contact sport before long.

[dragons]

Much as I like Rob Page, long ball tactics doesn't work neither does playing a false No9. What concerns me even more is our U21s also played long ball recently against Moldova under Paul Bodin.

We need to get back to playing out from the back playing like we did under Chris Coleman and Ryan Giggs.

[marsvolta]

Jun 27, 2021 7:14:31 GMT pendragon said:

Jun 27, 2021 7:01:35 GMT conwy10 said:

To be fair to Page we were in crisis ahead of the tournament with all the top people in Welsh football leaving. I’d say he achieved our objectives for the tournament but Denmark showed in a big way all the problems we have, credit to them for that.

Changing tactics is a gamble. You work on your set up, your players get comfortable in it, but you’re easily scouted for the next match. We were all debating but we could name the starting lineup and tell how we were going to play.I would have my doubts that Denmark just on the fly changed their system. The manager probably had it well thought out and briefed the players ahead of time that if they need to they’ll switch things up. We were on top and they switched their game plan.

Every game we played against a top side in this tournament, ie. Italy and Switzerland, we played with fear and trepidation. I have the sense that there was no game plan or knowledge of how to play a top tier side during this tournament.

Compare this with our recent performance against Belgium. Granted they beat us 3-1 but in terms of performance, we matched them. Yesterday, there was no plan b and the team fell apart once Connor was off and the Danes had changed formation.

To say, he's done well (which he has tbf) isn't really good enough imo. Cymru deserves better than that.
Another report that troubled me was that he frequently contacts Giggs about formation, tactics etc. How much of what is happening on the pitch down to Giggs snd how much is down to Page? Is he able to work on his own initiative?

Have Turkey now joined Russia in the ‘don’t count as a top side because we beat them’ category?

[aberbeeg]

Just watched some of the match again ( very painful watch). Firstly we were completely out thought and out fought from about the 15th minute onwards.

Secondly Page looked like a rabbit in headlights after the Danish manager changed tactics. He did nothing until it was way too late and the match was lost.

Thirdly why take to likes of a “wild card” like colwill when it was blatantly obvious he would NEVER use him? Our midfield was totally overrun yet he brought on two of our smallest players in Brooke’s and Wilson ( both have done very little) colwill is 6ft 2 and could have matched up physically at least. Hindsight it was a very poor decision to take him.

We had no legs in the team once the Danes got a foothold. Allen and Morrell were simply no match for their midfield in either skill or physicality why not change things up?

Lastly Page doesn’t seem to have the respect of players regarding discipline which has fallen apart dramatically. Red cards galore and that show of dissent from James in first game highlights an underlying problem

[welshrover]

Jun 27, 2021 9:05:19 GMT aberbeeg said:

Just watched some of the match again ( very painful watch). Firstly we were completely out thought and out fought from about the 15th minute onwards.

Secondly Page looked like a rabbit in headlights after the Danish manager changed tactics. He did nothing until it was way too late and the match was lost.

Thirdly why take to likes of a “wild card” like colwill when it was blatantly obvious he would NEVER use him? Our midfield was totally overrun yet he brought on two of our smallest players in Brooke’s and Wilson ( both have done very little) colwill is 6ft 2 and could have matched up physically at least. Hindsight it was a very poor decision to take him.

We had no legs in the team once the Danes got a foothold. Allen and Morrell were simply no match for their midfield in either skill or physicality why not change things up?

Lastly Page doesn’t seem to have the respect of players regarding discipline which has fallen apart dramatically. Red cards galore and that show of dissent from James in first game highlights an underlying problem

Can't argue with much of that.

Our most potent weapon recently, the pace of James, largely went unused as our midfield could not get hold of the ball and feed him.

All in all very down after yesterday and not too hopeful for the immediate future.

[insertname]

Jun 27, 2021 6:39:58 GMT talyfan said:

Jun 26, 2021 23:51:33 GMT insertname said:

It’s all very well wanting changes but there is nothing on the bench. Brooks is not playing at international standard at the moment and I think people have been over hyping him and Ampadu like we’ve got world beaters head and shoulders above what’s on the pitch that Page is inexplicably not playing.

Sadly for Neco tonight he proved why he’s not been playing. Roberts is not going to save a game against a team of Denmark’s stature, that’s just common sense and Brooks has had periods of form but, sadly, there is a reason why a prem side didn’t take a punt when Bournemouth got relegated. He’s one we have to hope will get back to his best but he’s certainly not a big miss from the starting XI today.

The other options are Wilson: decent but when you’re looking for top quality talent you want better.
Williams: should perhaps have played more but again is he really going to help claw back a two goal deficit against Denmark?

The first XI was as good as it got imo, bar Morrell could maybe have been interchangeable with someone else. Subs wise there was very little there to make a material difference when you’re losing to Denmark and you’re two arguably world class players aren’t even in the game themselves

Comes down to our 26 man selection. Having a good chunk of your squad being young, inexperienced players will do that. Some have barely kicked a football in the senior men's game. We can't rely on them yet.

The process for me at the start of the selection is you pick your starting XI and three goalkeepers.

You'll then pick your bench.

Your defence will literally be like for like players. Generally, players which can slot directly in place if injuries, fatigue, suspensions occur.

Your midfield and attack gets a bit more interesting. For me, it's where you can have players who slot in straight away but also can offer us a different profile to what we've got in the starting XI.

For me calling up the likes of Colwill, Levitt etc. Offers very little other than getting them familiar to the setup.

The likes of HRK, Vokes, Doidge, Vaulks etc. These players are not by any stretch of the imagination individually or technically game changers or a silver bullet. If we were better I wouldn't call them up but given we have a paddling pool sized selection pool to choose from you make do with what you've got.

They do however offer something different to what we called up. And I think that's a factor not spoken or discussed on here particularly for tournament football.

The players I've mentioned wouldn't come on and change the game with individual brilliance (maybe other than HRK 😉). But what they can do is change the game for us tactically and give our opponents something to think about.

I've felt a lot of the time this tournament we could with two players up front against teams which play with a back 3. We didn't have a striker to call upon off the bench. Bale often legless by that point and Roberts not really an outlet or focal point off the bench. To go into the tournament with only 1 real out and out striker boggles my mind a bit. Yes, our strikers aren't prolific by any stretch but I'd rather a striker play than a false 9 or a goosed Bale.

Same applies with central midfield. If we needed a different central midfield profile off the bench to Morrell and Allen yesterday we had two physically like for like players to call upon and all virtually offer a similar profile. You bring in someone like Vaulks, maybe not as technically good but he's got a good engine, good strike on him and even has a long throw in which Bale could get on the end of.

That's my rant over anyway. Enjoyed the tournament overall and still hopeful for the world cup qualifiers. Exciting 12 months ahead!

Yeah that was my conclusion. I agree Doidge etc wouldn’t have done anything but even so for me the tactical and personnel side are inextricably linked- we needed tactical AND personnel changes yesterday. I would have gone to James and Bale on the wing and brought on a striker to partner Moore when the Danes went to 4 at the back and scored the goal but there really wasn’t anyone on the bench who could play a forward role with any competency. We had wingers and attacking midfielders when we really needed a striker. The game was basically lost at 1-0 because we haven’t had a credible back up for when Moore is being cut out of the game.

Our lack of depth was laid bare in stark terms yesterday and it looks like Chester and HRK definitely have a squad place, at least, going forward, whether they want to be part of it given both their age and omission from the Euros is doubtful. I hope they have been “handled” well during this process by Page so that the door has been left open for them to return. We desperately need to unearth a world class centre forward with a gran from Pontypridd though and given the age of Bale and fitness of Ramsey that’s just for starters.

[quetzal]

Jun 27, 2021 8:46:22 GMT dragons said:

Much as I like Rob Page, long ball tactics doesn't work neither does playing a false No9. What concerns me even more is our U21s also played long ball recently against Moldova under Paul Bodin.

We need to get back to playing out from the back playing like we did under Chris Coleman and Ryan Giggs.

So many of our U21’s in the senior set up I can never take them seriously. The results are very average. I’ve seen bits and pieces of Wales in the age groups and I have to be honest, long ball is not a theme. That particular Moldova game maybe Wales thought they could exploit something.