Wales Squad Announced

[Cinio Dydd Sul]

Ok, I’ll rephrase the question. What Welsh-qualified right back would you take ahead of Gunter? I genuinely can’t think of any others, apart from Rushesha who doesn’t seem to be anywhere near first team football. I guess you could take Beck to cover LWB and switch Williams to RWB if Connor gets crocked.

Wes Burns who has played at RWB for Wales previously should be there instead of Gunter, playing better and in a higher division. Sorba Thomas can also play there if Roberts is out.

I understand wanting to take J Williams and Gunter for continuity/ morale reasons but they should go either as coaches or as additional non named squad members.

Jordan James and Harries are going but aren't named in the squad so it is possible to do. I'd much prefer those 2 be available to play to be honest.

 

[sainthelens]

Like everyone else, love nothing more than to see us in the last 16.
But I've a feeling this is way to big for Page. Should we struggle in the first 2 games, its gonna look he's wasted/blown our best chance ever of getting out of a world cup group.
Showed what he was about yesterday for me. Old pals act/coupled with churlish comments.

 

[Swanjaxs]

So if Page wants to big up the morale and team spirit card he should have included Dafydd Iwan and Michael Sheen in the squad, both could do a better job on the pitch than Grunter and Williams too, a win win

 

[sainthelens]

So if Page wants to big up the morale and team spirit card he should have included Dafydd Iwan and Michael Sheen in the squad, both could do a better job on the pitch than Grunter and Williams too, a win win

This.
Brilliant.

 

[Cinio Dydd Sul]

https://twitter.com/JordanWebber96/status/1590676434129145857?t=2qIf1ZTEoqUvNPtbCc5mKg&s=19

Martin doesn't seem too pleased. Understandably.

 

[sainthelens]

Lump on Oli to score anytime on Saturday.
Odds of 9/2....like finding it in the street.

 

[A4Jack]

https://twitter.com/JordanWebber96/status/1590676434129145857?t=2qIf1ZTEoqUvNPtbCc5mKg&s=19

Martin doesn't seem too pleased. Understandably.

Can't blame him. Looks pissed off especially if Page hasn't even picked up the phone. Good reaction from him

 

[BarryTownSwan]

Gunter & Johnny W are unlikely to get on the pitch in Qatar. They are there as a reward for the part they've played in setting the morale/tightness of the camp and for helping the youngsters transition into the team. They won't be around after Qatar, this is their retirement swansong, and the likes of Oli Cooper, Jordan James, Harries etc will replace them in the squad.

If (and I agree it's a big if) our 'big guns' perform, then I feel we have a damned good opportunity to make a mark in this tournament. We know how important a fit Allem, Ramsey, Bale are to the side, and I have a feeling they'll do us proud.

How about a starting XI of Hennessey/Ward, Roberts, Ampadu, Rodon, Ben Davies, Nico Williams, Ramsey, Allen, Moore, Bale, James/Wilson/Johnson? That's not a bad starting XI.

I'm looking forward to the USA game, watching us walk out, the anthem, hopefully score a goal or two, and hopefully win the game. 4 points in that group may see us through. As someone who didn't think I'd see Wales qualify in my lifetime I'm excited about us being in Qatar, let's get behind the boys (as I'm confident 90% of the population will).

 

[Glyn1]

It's an understandable decision even if it may be the wrong one, and you can see the logic behind it. Oli has started in only 10 out of 20 games for Swansea this season and been substituted in 9 of them so he's still learning his trade. It's come just a little too soon for the boy, but he'll be in the Euro squad in 2 years' time for sure.

As to "picking players on form" that's fine, but if the team loses a few games the manager will then be criticised for "tinkering" and "not having a settled squad". Page has gone for a settled squad with players he has worked with, and who have worked with each other, and it's not an obviously wrong approach even if we disagree with it.

 

[Evanski]

Wes Burns who has played at RWB for Wales previously should be there instead of Gunter, playing better and in a higher division. Sorba Thomas can also play there if Roberts is out.

I understand wanting to take J Williams and Gunter for continuity/ morale reasons but they should go either as coaches or as additional non named squad members.

Jordan James and Harries are going but aren't named in the squad so it is possible to do. I'd much prefer those 2 be available to play to be honest.

Fair enough Chief. Picking Gunter does smack of not wanting to piss off Ramsey by not picking his best mate.

Which brings us back again to the amateur hour approach of Page. What other manager would pick for any reason other than form, especially given this might/will probably be our only appearance at a WC? If it’s true he said he hasn’t seen Cooper because he wasn’t picked when he came to see us then that’s staggering. It’s not like he’s playing in China! Compare that with Bryan Flynn who would apparently take in four games in a day looking for Welsh qualified talent under Tosh.

 

[ARQS]

It's bizarre that there is so much debate over a load of players who probably won't be needed to contribute in any meaningful manner.

As much as I like him, I can see why Page has picked Williams over Cooper - 33 caps, been in the Welsh squad for the best part of 10 years, two international tournaments. He's also scored 6 goals this season in League Two so it's hardly as if he's rotting away on a bench somewhere.

I know nothing about the two from Cardiff but Colwill not playing regularly for Cardiff is no indication as to whether he is a good player or not.

Ultimately, our best chance of doing well is by using the same 15 or 16 players all the way through. If Colwill, Harris, Cooper, Williams, etc were coming into a game with any hope that they are going to change it in a positive manner, it probably means Bale, Ramsey, Moore, James, Wilson and Johnson have all failed to deliver which puts us into the realms of the final throw of the dice whichever way you look at it.

 

[ARQS]

Fair enough Chief. Picking Gunter does smack of not wanting to piss off Ramsey by not picking his best mate.

Which brings us back again to the amateur hour approach of Page. What other manager would pick for any reason other than form, especially given this might/will probably be our only appearance at a WC? If it’s true he said he hasn’t seen Cooper because he wasn’t picked when he came to see us then that’s staggering. It’s not like he’s playing in China! Compare that with Bryan Flynn who would apparently take in four games in a day looking for Welsh qualified talent under Tosh.

How is it 'amateur hour' picking a back up full back with over 100 caps and experience of two international tournaments? How is that less preferable to picking some kid?

It is a bit strange that he hasn't seen much of Cooper but if he decided to go down the tried and trusted route as soon as we qualified, perhaps he was never seriously considering anyone outside this 26.

 

[French Jack]

Who would you have taken ahead of Gunter?

Based on the criteria of being a good laugh and a boost for morale; I'd have gone for Rob Brydon!

 

[Cinio Dydd Sul]

How is it 'amateur hour' picking a back up full back with over 100 caps and experience of two international tournaments? How is that less preferable to picking some kid?

It is a bit strange that he hasn't seen much of Cooper but if he decided to go down the tried and trusted route as soon as we qualified, perhaps he was never seriously considering anyone outside this 26.

Wes Burns isn't a kid, been around for a long time and is playing the best football of his career.

Don't really buy the tried&tested or 'sticking with what got us there' argument because how many minutes did Gunter and J Williams play in the qualification campaign? They may have been tried and tested 4 years ago, but now they're league 2 players. They maybe premier league mascots or court jesters - in that case take them as extra unnamed players and free up spaces for players who'll benefit from the experience and minutes (I actually think Cooper offers something to the bench- we don't have any other central Midfielders who press high up the pitch like he does).

And where does Tom Lockyer fit into this 'continuity' narrative? He's deviating from his own mantra.

 

[Cinio Dydd Sul]

Fair enough Chief. Picking Gunter does smack of not wanting to piss off Ramsey by not picking his best mate.

Which brings us back again to the amateur hour approach of Page. What other manager would pick for any reason other than form, especially given this might/will probably be our only appearance at a WC? If it’s true he said he hasn’t seen Cooper because he wasn’t picked when he came to see us then that’s staggering. It’s not like he’s playing in China! Compare that with Bryan Flynn who would apparently take in four games in a day looking for Welsh qualified talent under Tosh.

Page's comments are even more baffling considering at times this season we've had 6 Welsh players in our match day squad. Including 3 that on merit should be in or around Wales starting 11. And he's only been to see us once? Forget Ollie Cooper he should be watching Allen, Cabango. It's a needless dereliction of duty.