Billy Dean
Player Valuation: £70m
Could well still be plenty of interesting turns in this group yet. I wouldn't rule Iran out just yet personally. Also I don't fully trust England to sail easily through all 3 games.
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
- Thread starter GrandOldTeam
- Start date
- Status
Yep. I wasn't really focussing on Ramsey to be honest, but Bale really was atrocious, a pure passenger and looked physically unfit to be on the field. Had zero impact on the game, penalty aside. Maybe if they'd have had 11 fit players on the field they wouldn't have needed a late penalty to scrape a draw.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
These players aren;t even getting game time before the world cup. The manager looks like he wants to keep a private members club going though, so he'll play both again against Iran.
Bale is just a set piece specialist now. Ramsey looks completely shot.
Will all former Everton players stop scoring please, it just makes things worse for us still suffering.
Exactly - this current squad have none of those qualities you normally associate with punching above our weight typical American sides.
We actually have footballing talent now, but at the expense, generally of those other qualities.
Big picture our weakness at CB ultimately cost us the 3 points here. And also, as others have mentioned, I don't think it was a managerial decision to sit back and hold on in the second half - i just think the game got really physical and our players were knackered. The amount of times Pulisic was on the break, with space, but pulled back and kept possession was dumbfounding for most of us.
I think our players were just totally out of gas
Then you’ve seen little of Wales in recent years . Undoubtedly Bale is past his best, “ talisman” can be a much misused word but that is what he is for Wales. Possibly the most vital member of any team there , unlike Messi he can drag his country to victory even if not playing well .
Wales continue to punch above their weight, greater than the sum of the parts etc. There is no way Bale will or should be dropped. His influence on the younger players is massive in terms of incorporating them into the team and getting them to express themselves .
Finally , there is literally no one to replace him in the side.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
Bale did no inspiring last night. He got in front of a thick American centre back who gifted Wales their equaliser. That's about his contribution.
International tournaments are a time for new talent to emerge.
If I was the Welsh manager I'd rest Bale up for Iran, because he'll be useless with two massive games in 5 days, and then play him against England where his leadership will count more and he's rested up. Who knows: if England hand Bale a free kick around the box Wales could hold out.
barneygumble
Player Valuation: £70m
Don’t they say of the best players that even when they have a poor game, they still contribute?
One chance, one goal. Arguably someone would consider that a success.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
Wales got lucky really.
IMO Wales are better than that. Second half they picked up the tempo and also passed more accurately. But they really were carrying Ramsey and Bale. The match was there for the winning. Bale should have made way for Moore at HT not James.
barneygumble
Player Valuation: £70m
Wales are better than that.
Think had they lost, you’d have pointed the finger at Rob Page. Done a fantastic job, but the weird decision to throw a lightweight Dan James upfront was bizarre.
You don’t take Bale off, in the same way you don’t take Messi or Ronaldo off. They can always just have that one flick of brilliance and turn a game.
Idiots
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
Detained for carrying swords and shields?
That's heavy handed and a denial of human rights.
4737carlin
Player Valuation: £90m
- Status