Just heard on Sky Sports that Page is NOT going to resign or be replaced and, God help us, is going to take us to the next World Cup!! Is the FAW populated by complete idiots? 
Wales vs Poland
- Thread starter Yankee_Jack
- Start date
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Unlikely.Just heard on Sky Sports that Page is NOT going to resign or be replaced and, God help us, is going to take us to the next World Cup!! Is the FAW populated by complete idiots?
Although it has to be said that since we are no longer a team of (X+1) or (IX + 2), all XI now have to play together as a cohesive unit and our football has a higher tempo and better quality as a result. So you never now, it may happen.
However, by 2026, Ben Davies will be 33; Harry Wilson will be 33; Connor Roberts will be 31; Danny Ward will be 33; Hensessey will be 40; Keiffer Moore will be 34.
If fact all of our keepers will be 32 or older. So we need to be introducing the likes of Oli Cooper and Ben Cabango and other Welsh "youngsters" now to get the experience and be ready for World Cup 2026 by their mid-20s. Is Page capable of doing this development while still qualifying
I don't think so; not when most of his squad have more top level experience than he does.
Brave but doomed attempt by Wales because a player who earns millions of pounds a year was unable to take a decent penalty. It might sound harsh but ultimately that's what it boiled down to in this match. However, that said we, nor Dan James, should never have been in this situation in the first place and it is my contention that we wouldn't have been had we had a 'proper' manager in place during qualifying. Some stats:
POSSESSION: 42-58 SHOTS: 12-11 OT: 4-0 PASSES: 491-665 COMPLETED: 377-571 TOUCHES IN OPPO BOX: 25-20 CORNERS: 3-6 FOULS: 18-13
Of course there were no goals scored but we came the closest and it's interesting to note that we denied Poland even one shot on target in 120 minutes of football despite the presence of Lewandowski playing up front for them. He was well shackled by our defenders all night and, for him, had minimal impact on the game.
This might account for Page playing DJ as a sort of wing back when we had a ready made back 4 on the pitch of Rodon and Mepham flanked by Williams and Davies. But fortune favours the brave and, imo, the brave thing was to play a back 4, strengthen our attacking options and go for the win. But we stuck with 5 at the back, failed to score as a result and lost the shootout as a consequence. Would a more experienced, a more tactically astute coach have gone for the win? We don't know, nor will we ever know if that plan might have succeeded had it been adopted. But I just can't shake the feeling that we've paid the price for Page's distinct lack of top level experience - and worse, it now looks as though we shall continue to pay that price until the next World Cup.
POSSESSION: 42-58 SHOTS: 12-11 OT: 4-0 PASSES: 491-665 COMPLETED: 377-571 TOUCHES IN OPPO BOX: 25-20 CORNERS: 3-6 FOULS: 18-13
Of course there were no goals scored but we came the closest and it's interesting to note that we denied Poland even one shot on target in 120 minutes of football despite the presence of Lewandowski playing up front for them. He was well shackled by our defenders all night and, for him, had minimal impact on the game.
This might account for Page playing DJ as a sort of wing back when we had a ready made back 4 on the pitch of Rodon and Mepham flanked by Williams and Davies. But fortune favours the brave and, imo, the brave thing was to play a back 4, strengthen our attacking options and go for the win. But we stuck with 5 at the back, failed to score as a result and lost the shootout as a consequence. Would a more experienced, a more tactically astute coach have gone for the win? We don't know, nor will we ever know if that plan might have succeeded had it been adopted. But I just can't shake the feeling that we've paid the price for Page's distinct lack of top level experience - and worse, it now looks as though we shall continue to pay that price until the next World Cup.
Behindthegoal
Key Player
I’m not disputing my betters’ superior knowledge of how to play this game, never have. My highest involvement was Sutton and Cheam 5th XI, (first reserve), but I can see the merit of snuffing out Lewandowski and relying on speedy breaks out to score. I feel for Daniel, the pressure must have been enormous.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Indeed
You could tell by his expression as he walked up to take it that he was not at all comfortable. Not a good way to approach any penalty or free kick. Again, going into that situation Page should have figured out who his penalty takers were and in what order. Ben Davies took the first - taking a leadership role as captain ... when has Ben ever taken a penalty in a game before. And it was truly a nervous series of penalties from there. Ward on the other hand came within inches of saving a few of the Polish penalties.