|
|
Post by insertname on Nov 16, 2021 22:52:59 GMT
We're a weaker squad than Scotland, they looked class vs Denmark, we've been battered by the Danes 3 times since 2018. McTominnay, McGinn, Armstrong, Gilmore, Fleck, McGregor... Thats a premier League quality midfield there! Apart from Rambo and Ampadu our midfield is quite average compared to the Scots. Wilson arguably but he isn't an all round midfielder yet. Levitt looks like he could be good, need him to step up when he gets a chance. They're strong in midfield but weaker up front. Defence I'd say they have an edge at left back, arguably we have an edge at right back and the centre backs are comparable. Goalies roughly comparable too. But they don't have world class players except two world class left backs. Bale and Ramsey are still top quality players. It's a hard one to call on paper and I expect it would be a tight game in reality. We won't have to play them in the semis but I wouldn't mind getting them in our path - can't really pick a more favourable seeded team to play in the final IMO The problem with games like that is the Battle of Britain stuff gets thrown in and raised the pressure, as with our WC winner takes all qualifier v ROI. I think Russia might be a better opponent to be paired with from the tougher seeds. |
|
|
|
Post by dai on Nov 17, 2021 12:01:07 GMT
My order of preference for the semi-playoff:
Turkey
Austria
North Macedonia
Czechs
Ukraine
Poland
|
|
|
|
Post by superunknown on Nov 17, 2021 12:04:27 GMT
My order of preference for the semi-playoff: Turkey Austria North Macedonia Czechs Ukraine Poland Macedonia Austria Turkey Ukraine Czechs Poland No easy games here of course but Macedonia have to be the pick of the bunch for me. Austria have been garbage lately and I don't think Turkey will be as bad as they were in the summer. |
|
|
|
Post by fiveattheback on Nov 17, 2021 12:05:36 GMT
North Macedonia will be missing Elmas I believe, he's a very important player for them
|
|
|
|
Post by erasedcitizen on Nov 17, 2021 12:09:08 GMT
My order of preference for the semi-playoff: Turkey Austria North Macedonia Czechs Ukraine Poland Macedonia Austria Turkey Ukraine Czechs Poland No easy games here of course but Macedonia have to be the pick of the bunch for me. Austria have been garbage lately and I don't think Turkey will be as bad as they were in the summer. This for me, then from the other side of the draw, the top seeds I'd want in order: Russia Scotland Sweden Italy Portugal |
|
|
|
Post by dai on Nov 17, 2021 12:30:28 GMT
Think we perform under pressure against better opponents, and Macedonia, being underdogs, could be dangerous if we underestimate them.
|
|
|
|
Post by conwy10 on Nov 17, 2021 12:37:20 GMT
We're a weaker squad than Scotland, they looked class vs Denmark, we've been battered by the Danes 3 times since 2018. McTominnay, McGinn, Armstrong, Gilmore, Fleck, McGregor... Thats a premier League quality midfield there! Apart from Rambo and Ampadu our midfield is quite average compared to the Scots. Wilson arguably but he isn't an all round midfielder yet. Levitt looks like he could be good, need him to step up when he gets a chance. They're strong in midfield but weaker up front. Defence I'd say they have an edge at left back, arguably we have an edge at right back and the centre backs are comparable. Goalies roughly comparable too. But they don't have world class players except two world class left backs. Bale and Ramsey are still top quality players. It's a hard one to call on paper and I expect it would be a tight game in reality. We won't have to play them in the semis but I wouldn't mind getting them in our path - can't really pick a more favourable seeded team to play in the final IMO I love Neco, but if he's not getting a look in at Liverpool and Robinson is their main left back he has to edge Neco. I'd say nearly all over the pitch the Scots are better but the top 3 players would all be Welsh. The contrast in our players abilities is quite amazing really. |
|
|
|
Post by erasedcitizen on Nov 17, 2021 12:47:20 GMT
Think we perform under pressure against better opponents, and Macedonia, being underdogs, could be dangerous if we underestimate them. Considering we battered them on neutral ground, Turkey would also be considered as the underdogs against us if we have a full quota. |
|
|
|
Post by erasedcitizen on Nov 17, 2021 12:56:55 GMT
We're a weaker squad than Scotland, they looked class vs Denmark, we've been battered by the Danes 3 times since 2018. McTominnay, McGinn, Armstrong, Gilmore, Fleck, McGregor... Thats a premier League quality midfield there! Apart from Rambo and Ampadu our midfield is quite average compared to the Scots. Wilson arguably but he isn't an all round midfielder yet. Levitt looks like he could be good, need him to step up when he gets a chance. Denmark fielded a weaker side than any time we played them, and I don't think it's a good comparison to make anyway. Some teams are just better set up to face certain teams and due to our weaknesses in the middle of the park we struggled against a strong Danish side. Scotland, as you quite rightly allude to, have more strength in the middle of the park and Denmark weren't fielding Delaney or Hojbjerg so they were always going to be well set up against the Danes. We went in with Morrell and Allen in the middle who got absolutely battered, it was unlikely to work. In 2016, we fared a lot better against the top ranked team in the world than we did against Northern Ireland. This was because we were brilliant at hitting teams on the counter attack but struggled to break teams down who sat back. |
|
|
|
Post by erasedcitizen on Nov 17, 2021 12:59:26 GMT
For what its worth, I'd put Scotland down as favourites if the game was played at Hampden, but ourselves as favourites if we faced each other in Cardiff. I think we're 2 very evenly matched sides.
|
|
|
|
Post by quetzal on Nov 17, 2021 13:13:48 GMT
I would take Austria but I wonder when the group started to slip they just started saving themselves knowing they had a place in the bag already.
|
|
|
|
Post by cynonvalley on Nov 17, 2021 13:16:44 GMT
North Macedonia could be like Estonia, tough for us.
|
|
|
|
Post by dai on Nov 17, 2021 14:02:29 GMT
We're a weaker squad than Scotland, they looked class vs Denmark, we've been battered by the Danes 3 times since 2018. McTominnay, McGinn, Armstrong, Gilmore, Fleck, McGregor... Thats a premier League quality midfield there! Apart from Rambo and Ampadu our midfield is quite average compared to the Scots. Wilson arguably but he isn't an all round midfielder yet. Levitt looks like he could be good, need him to step up when he gets a chance. Denmark fielded a weaker side than any time we played them, and I don't think it's a good comparison to make anyway. Some teams are just better set up to face certain teams and due to our weaknesses in the middle of the park we struggled against a strong Danish side. Scotland, as you quite rightly allude to, have more strength in the middle of the park and Denmark weren't fielding Delaney or Hojbjerg so they were always going to be well set up against the Danes. We went in with Morrell and Allen in the middle who got absolutely battered, it was unlikely to work. In 2016, we fared a lot better against the top ranked team in the world than we did against Northern Ireland. This was because we were brilliant at hitting teams on the counter attack but struggled to break teams down who sat back. Could also argue we faced a weaker Belgium side last night and didn't make quite the most of it. I have my suspicions that Scotland would have bettered our result if they played Belgium. |
|
|
|
Post by jimexotic on Nov 17, 2021 14:11:57 GMT
Denmark fielded a weaker side than any time we played them, and I don't think it's a good comparison to make anyway. Some teams are just better set up to face certain teams and due to our weaknesses in the middle of the park we struggled against a strong Danish side. Scotland, as you quite rightly allude to, have more strength in the middle of the park and Denmark weren't fielding Delaney or Hojbjerg so they were always going to be well set up against the Danes. We went in with Morrell and Allen in the middle who got absolutely battered, it was unlikely to work. In 2016, we fared a lot better against the top ranked team in the world than we did against Northern Ireland. This was because we were brilliant at hitting teams on the counter attack but struggled to break teams down who sat back. Could also argue we faced a weaker Belgium side last night and didn't make quite the most of it. I have my suspicions that Scotland would have bettered our result if they played Belgium. That Belgium side would have beaten Scotland, De Bruyne, T. Hazard, Origi, Denmark don't have anybody like that. The Scotland hype is partly deserved but wait until they come up against a side of real quality, I think they'll struggle, Dykes is no Moore and they don't have anyone like Bale or Ramsey and they don't have our pace. |
|
|
|
Post by saints19 on Nov 17, 2021 14:17:04 GMT
Don't want to be disrespectful to North Macedonia but surely they'd be the team you'd fancy in the semis? Looking at them at the Euros they were beaten in all their games, albeit performing respectably, including by Austria and Ukraine. They finished 3rd in the Euros qualifying and came a narrow 2nd this campaign. Of course they beat Germany this campaign but I don't know how much you read into that given it was just one game. They're no mugs clearly but it really would be the best draw for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by erasedcitizen on Nov 17, 2021 14:23:40 GMT
Denmark fielded a weaker side than any time we played them, and I don't think it's a good comparison to make anyway. Some teams are just better set up to face certain teams and due to our weaknesses in the middle of the park we struggled against a strong Danish side. Scotland, as you quite rightly allude to, have more strength in the middle of the park and Denmark weren't fielding Delaney or Hojbjerg so they were always going to be well set up against the Danes. We went in with Morrell and Allen in the middle who got absolutely battered, it was unlikely to work. In 2016, we fared a lot better against the top ranked team in the world than we did against Northern Ireland. This was because we were brilliant at hitting teams on the counter attack but struggled to break teams down who sat back. Could also argue we faced a weaker Belgium side last night and didn't make quite the most of it. I have my suspicions that Scotland would have bettered our result if they played Belgium. Not sure what argument you're trying to make. My argument is basically that football isn't as simple as having a better side on paper than your opponent, but you appear to be countering with 'Scotland probably would have beaten that Belgian side'. Not sure how the 2 relate? |
|
|
|
Post by dai on Nov 17, 2021 14:32:59 GMT
Could also argue we faced a weaker Belgium side last night and didn't make quite the most of it. I have my suspicions that Scotland would have bettered our result if they played Belgium. Not sure what argument you're trying to make. My argument is basically that football isn't as simple as having a better side on paper than your opponent, but you appear to be countering with 'Scotland probably would have beaten that Belgian side'. Not sure how the 2 relate? You were implying that Scotland aren't a better side than us because they beat a weaker Denmark, yet we faced a weakened top team as well and failed to win. Obviously there's an argument that a weaker Belgian side is still better than a weaker Danish team, but it's debatable. I just think we need to show some humility here and give credit where it's due. Scotland unfortunately are very, very good side right now. |
|
|
|
Post by jimexotic on Nov 17, 2021 14:39:15 GMT
Don't want to be disrespectful to North Macedonia but surely they'd be the team you'd fancy in the semis? Looking at them at the Euros they were beaten in all their games, albeit performing respectably, including by Austria and Ukraine. They finished 3rd in the Euros qualifying and came a narrow 2nd this campaign. Of course they beat Germany this campaign but I don't know how much you read into that given it was just one game. They're no mugs clearly but it really would be the best draw for me. Whoever we play, it's a knockout game and both teams will have to go for it, I'd back us to go toe to toe with anyone we're drawn against and get the job done, we're at our best when we put it on teams and last night we had Belgium on the ropes in the second half. |
|
|
|
Post by erasedcitizen on Nov 17, 2021 14:40:39 GMT
Not sure what argument you're trying to make. My argument is basically that football isn't as simple as having a better side on paper than your opponent, but you appear to be countering with 'Scotland probably would have beaten that Belgian side'. Not sure how the 2 relate? You were implying that Scotland aren't a better side than us because they beat a weaker Denmark, yet we faced a weakened top team as well and failed to win. Obviously there's an argument that a weaker Belgian side is still better than a weaker Danish team, but it's debatable. I just think we need to show some humility here and give credit where it's due. Scotland unfortunately are very, very good side right now. No, I wasn't implying that at all, you've misinterpreted my post. My opinion of Scotland being a similar level side to us stems from both team's results over the past couple of years and is totally separate to the point I was trying to make on the post you quoted. |
|
|
|
Post by cymro on Nov 17, 2021 14:40:49 GMT
Not sure what argument you're trying to make. My argument is basically that football isn't as simple as having a better side on paper than your opponent, but you appear to be countering with 'Scotland probably would have beaten that Belgian side'. Not sure how the 2 relate? You were implying that Scotland aren't a better side than us because they beat a weaker Denmark, yet we faced a weakened top team as well and failed to win. Obviously there's an argument that a weaker Belgian side is still better than a weaker Danish team, but it's debatable. I just think we need to show some humility here and give credit where it's due. Scotland unfortunately are very, very good side right now. Did you forget that Scotland got hammered twice at home in the Euros not long ago? One of them by a team we've taken 4 points from in qualifying. Scotland have improved greatly recently but let's not get too carried away with how well they're doing just yet. Their biggest threat in qualifying was Israel. |
|
|
|
Post by quetzal on Nov 17, 2021 14:43:17 GMT
You were implying that Scotland aren't a better side than us because they beat a weaker Denmark, yet we faced a weakened top team as well and failed to win. Obviously there's an argument that a weaker Belgian side is still better than a weaker Danish team, but it's debatable. I just think we need to show some humility here and give credit where it's due. Scotland unfortunately are very, very good side right now. Did you forget that Scotland got hammered twice at home in the Euros not long ago? One of them by a team we've taken 4 points from in qualifying. Scotland have improved greatly recently but let's not get too carried away with how well they're doing just yet. Their biggest threat in qualifying was Israel. Israel the dream 3rd/4th seeds in any qualifying group. They never get their shit together |
|
|
|
Post by welshowl on Nov 17, 2021 17:05:35 GMT
North Macedonia will be missing Elmas I believe, he's a very important player for them Somebody is quick off the mark on wikipedia. A new page to cover the Play-offs here
As well as Elmas, Kostadinov will miss the semi final for them. The other suspension which potentially matters for Cymru is Klich of Poland should we draw them.
I presume that those who are still on one yellow card would miss the final in their path if they picked up another in the Play Off Semi Final.
|
|
|
|
Post by rangers15 on Nov 17, 2021 17:17:56 GMT
North Macedonia will be missing Elmas I believe, he's a very important player for them Somebody is quick off the mark on wikipedia. A new page to cover the Play-offs here
As well as Elmas, Kostadinov will miss the semi final for them. The other suspension which potentially matters for Cymru is Klich of Poland should we draw them.
I presume that those who are still on one yellow card would miss the final in their path if they picked up another in the Play Off Semi Final.
yep... so we should expect to play the final (if we get there) without Moore. absolute joke of a rule. |
|
|
|
Post by cadno on Nov 17, 2021 17:18:33 GMT
We're a weaker squad than Scotland, they looked class vs Denmark, we've been battered by the Danes 3 times since 2018. McTominnay, McGinn, Armstrong, Gilmore, Fleck, McGregor... Thats a premier League quality midfield there! Apart from Rambo and Ampadu our midfield is quite average compared to the Scots. Wilson arguably but he isn't an all round midfielder yet. Levitt looks like he could be good, need him to step up when he gets a chance. Denmark fielded a weaker side than any time we played them, and I don't think it's a good comparison to make anyway. Some teams are just better set up to face certain teams and due to our weaknesses in the middle of the park we struggled against a strong Danish side. Scotland, as you quite rightly allude to, have more strength in the middle of the park and Denmark weren't fielding Delaney or Hojbjerg so they were always going to be well set up against the Danes. We went in with Morrell and Allen in the middle who got absolutely battered, it was unlikely to work. In 2016, we fared a lot better against the top ranked team in the world than we did against Northern Ireland. This was because we were brilliant at hitting teams on the counter attack but struggled to break teams down who sat back. Agree with you there |
|
|
|
Post by insertname on Nov 17, 2021 17:21:12 GMT
North Macedonia could be like Estonia, tough for us. They looked a rabble in the Euros. I’d be very surprised if they have managed to perform a complete turn around since then. |
|
|
|
Post by insertname on Nov 17, 2021 17:24:50 GMT
One thing worth remembering is that Russia can’t draw Ukraine so from the outset (according to the presenter on TV last night) we already have more chance of drawing Ukraine than anyone else.
Again Ukraine were very poor in the Euros but they have had some good results recently, beat Bosnia away in the last round of fixtures, but then Bosnia seem to be blowing hot and cold lately so it might not be as good a result as it looks on paper.
|
|
|
|
Post by jbt95 on Nov 17, 2021 17:31:49 GMT
My opinion is -
- Avoid Poland in the semi
- Great if we get a home potential final draw
- Ideally a path to play the Russia or Sweden semi tie winners
- Really important we avoid Portugal or Italy away, in a potential final.
- I don't fancy playing Scotland. Too much hassle, history from '77 and '85. If we lost, it would be in our faces all next winter that they qualified.
|
|
|
|
Post by CrackityJones on Nov 17, 2021 17:34:06 GMT
Mooney has confirmed the play off game will be at CCS and they have no intention of moving to Mill Stad. Didn’t really think it was in the cards but glad it’s been ruled out.
|
|
|
|
Post by morg on Nov 17, 2021 17:53:32 GMT
My opinion is - - Avoid Poland in the semi - Great if we get a home potential final draw - Ideally a path to play the Russia or Sweden semi tie winners - Really important we avoid Portugal or Italy away, in a potential final. - I don't fancy playing Scotland. Too much hassle, history from '77 and '85. If we lost, it would be in our faces all next winter that they qualified. Scotland's opponents in the semis will be interesting. Result against a disinterested Denmark at aside, last 2 home results 3-2 v Israel with a 94th minute winner and 1-0 v Moldova. Not sure about North Macedonia and Austria but other 4 could give the Scots a nervy time at Hampden. They've never played Turkey apparently.On quite a few yellow cards too which could be a factor. Pat Nevin for one is as nervous as hell about that.. |
|
|
|
Post by bolter on Nov 17, 2021 17:59:18 GMT
Mooney has confirmed the play off game will be at CCS and they have no intention of moving to Mill Stad. Didn’t really think it was in the cards but glad it’s been ruled out. Did they rule it out for the final as well? |
|
