WALES v SCOTLAND SQUAD (Goalkeepers & Defenders)

Well this was the original squad. Obviously things turned out a bit differently.

I’m going to see this match! This is actually the first time I’ve ever seen my team play live. It’s not easy getting to matches when you’re disabled and you live in England. I’m trying not to worry about the fact that Arsenal never win when I attend matches. There’s no reason to assume that extends to Wales too. Most of my favourite players are in the squad so I hope I’ll get to see some of them at least. I won’t say which ones my favourites are (except maybe my very very very favourites) because I don’t want the others to get jealous but I love them all really.

Goalkeepers: Jason Brown (Blackburn Rovers), David Cornell (Swansea City), Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton W).
Leagues One and Two are still in action so maybe Owain Fon Williams and Lewis Price’s teams weren’t keen to let them go. Boaz Myhill is injured so he can’t play. But Jason Brown is a real Premier League goalkeeper who did well in the Carling Cup (he let in two goals but what does that matter when Blackburn scored five?). David Cornell has played for the under-19s for Wales so while he’s inexperienced he’s not completely new to playing for his country.
I’d start off with Wayne then maybe give Jason a chance later on.

Defenders: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur), James Collins (Aston Villa), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham United), Chris Gunter (Nottingham Forest), Craig Morgan )Peterborough United), Lewin Nyatanga (Bristol City), Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers), Ashley Williams (Swansea City)
James Collins is one of the more experienced defenders so he’ll be missed if he doesn’t recover from his groin injury. Danny Gabbidon, his team-mate at West Ham and Cardiff and the best man at his wedding, wasn’t even on the bench for West Ham’s match against Everton and hasn’t played for a couple of weeks so he could be rusty if he is fit. But there’s still experience in the side – Gareth Bale made his debut at sixteen so with nearly four years of experience he’s probably a senior player. Chris Gunter is another good young player who’s been playing for a while and there’s also Sam Ricketts who’s been playing regularly for Bolton since his move from Hull. No Adam Matthews though, that’s a shame.
I’d start off with Gareth and Chris at full back with James and Danny in the centre if fit. (Yes I’m playing 442. Even with two star wing backs I’m not that convinced by five at the back.) If Danny and James aren’t fit I’d either play Lewin and Ashley in the centre or move Chris into the centre and play Sam on the right. I’d bring Sam on for some part of the game if he doesn’t start.