Re: " Wales complete Euro 2020 preparation with a draw "
Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:04 pm
The game wasn't the best, but it was great just to be back inside our ground, god I missed the place.
On a side note, days of doing 2 tests and finally working out how to get your ticket on your phone, walked up to the turnstile and was told to flash bar code on ticket reader to enter ground, no check on test results what so ever, strange
On a side note, days of doing 2 tests and finally working out how to get your ticket on your phone, walked up to the turnstile and was told to flash bar code on ticket reader to enter ground, no check on test results what so ever, strange
Re: " Wales complete Euro 2020 preparation with a draw "
Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:43 pm
Crayfish wrote:semmy wrote:How can we play with a false 9...we are not Man City or Spain....come on.....that first half was as bad as it gets.
Can someone explain to me exactly what a false nine is as opposed to a real nine and why is he called a false nine rather than a striker or attacking midfielder?
Its just a modern terminology? A centre forward is always a no 9 as team played without a recognised
striker the player designated
as a striker ramsey in this case is a false no 9 ....I remember scotland doing it years ago playing without a striker but false no 9 was not a term used then..
Re: " Wales complete Euro 2020 preparation with a draw "
Sat Jun 05, 2021 11:34 pm
Wales fans made an emotional return after 18 months away, but their team could only muster a goalless draw with Albania in their final friendly before Euro 2020.
While a crowd limited to 6,500 at Cardiff City Stadium provided the noise of a full house, the first half was a damp squib in which a disjointed Wales side struggled.
The half-time introduction of striker Kieffer Moore gave the hosts some much-needed attacking impetus, with Neco Williams forcing Albania goalkeeper Gentian Selmani into a fine save.
Despite that improvement, Wales could not summon the moment of quality to overcome spiky opponents ranked 49 places below them in the Fifa world rankings.
Although Wales would have liked to have prepared for next Saturday's opening Euro 2020 fixture against Switzerland with a more convincing performance, the second half was at least a marked upgrade on the first. And more importantly, they managed to avoid any late injuries and give several of their players a useful workout.
Ultimately, however, this game will be remembered for the return of Wales fans.
The last time Wales had played in front of their supporters was a 2-0 victory over Hungary in November 2019 which sealed qualification for Euro 2020.
With the pandemic causing the tournament to be postponed a year and denying the Red Wall the chance to follow their team, this was a reunion which set hearts racing.
Even with less than a fifth of their usual number, Wales' supporters sang their national anthem with a strength of feeling and volume which belied this fixture's status as a mere warm-up friendly.
Despite the rousing atmosphere, though, the match itself failed to ignite as a much-changed Wales side started slowly.
Interim manager Robert Page was testing a couple of ideas before facing Switzerland, such as playing Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey in a new role further forward as a false nine.
Ramsey struggled to adapt to his new position, dropping into deeper, more familiar areas of the pitch while some of his team-mates seemed unsure of their responsibilities in a 3-4-3 formation so fluid it bordered on shapeless at times.
The result was of no real importance. The purpose of this game was to hone tactical approaches and improve the fitness of players such as Ramsey and captain for the day Ben Davies, who were both working their way back to match sharpness after injuries.
Even with that in mind, however, the listless nature of Wales' first-half performance was a concern.
Several players looked lost in new roles and it was clear Page needed to make changes, which he did at half-time by introducing Cardiff City striker Moore and switching from the 3-4-3 system to a 4-2-3-1 formation which instantly looked more balanced.
While a crowd limited to 6,500 at Cardiff City Stadium provided the noise of a full house, the first half was a damp squib in which a disjointed Wales side struggled.
The half-time introduction of striker Kieffer Moore gave the hosts some much-needed attacking impetus, with Neco Williams forcing Albania goalkeeper Gentian Selmani into a fine save.
Despite that improvement, Wales could not summon the moment of quality to overcome spiky opponents ranked 49 places below them in the Fifa world rankings.
Although Wales would have liked to have prepared for next Saturday's opening Euro 2020 fixture against Switzerland with a more convincing performance, the second half was at least a marked upgrade on the first. And more importantly, they managed to avoid any late injuries and give several of their players a useful workout.
Ultimately, however, this game will be remembered for the return of Wales fans.
The last time Wales had played in front of their supporters was a 2-0 victory over Hungary in November 2019 which sealed qualification for Euro 2020.
With the pandemic causing the tournament to be postponed a year and denying the Red Wall the chance to follow their team, this was a reunion which set hearts racing.
Even with less than a fifth of their usual number, Wales' supporters sang their national anthem with a strength of feeling and volume which belied this fixture's status as a mere warm-up friendly.
Despite the rousing atmosphere, though, the match itself failed to ignite as a much-changed Wales side started slowly.
Interim manager Robert Page was testing a couple of ideas before facing Switzerland, such as playing Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey in a new role further forward as a false nine.
Ramsey struggled to adapt to his new position, dropping into deeper, more familiar areas of the pitch while some of his team-mates seemed unsure of their responsibilities in a 3-4-3 formation so fluid it bordered on shapeless at times.
The result was of no real importance. The purpose of this game was to hone tactical approaches and improve the fitness of players such as Ramsey and captain for the day Ben Davies, who were both working their way back to match sharpness after injuries.
Even with that in mind, however, the listless nature of Wales' first-half performance was a concern.
Several players looked lost in new roles and it was clear Page needed to make changes, which he did at half-time by introducing Cardiff City striker Moore and switching from the 3-4-3 system to a 4-2-3-1 formation which instantly looked more balanced.
Re: " Wales complete Euro 2020 preparation with a draw "
Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:41 am
Crayfish wrote:semmy wrote:How can we play with a false 9...we are not Man City or Spain....come on.....that first half was as bad as it gets.
Can someone explain to me exactly what a false nine is as opposed to a real nine and why is he called a false nine rather than a striker or attacking midfielder?
I’m guessing it’s the new name for the most forward thinking player of a packed midfield. Could be wrong tho
Re: " Wales complete Euro 2020 preparation with a draw "
Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:15 am
Why not play the person in their strongest and familiar role?
This is a tournament not a season long campaign.
False 9!? Strewth.
This is a tournament not a season long campaign.
False 9!? Strewth.
Re: " Wales complete Euro 2020 preparation with a draw "
Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:45 am
bluebirdoct1962 wrote:Crayfish wrote:semmy wrote:How can we play with a false 9...we are not Man City or Spain....come on.....that first half was as bad as it gets.
Can someone explain to me exactly what a false nine is as opposed to a real nine and why is he called a false nine rather than a striker or attacking midfielder?
I’m guessing it’s the new name for the most forward thinking player of a packed midfield. Could be wrong tho
Maybe we could start next season with a false No 10 a real No 9 and a No 8 who alternates between being false and real. If nothing else it should confuse the opposition.