Ashley Williams is apparently going to be Wales’ captain for the game against Scotland. Don’t tell me Joe Ledley has dropped out too. Joe usually takes the armband when Craig Bellamy has pissed off somewhere. Five years ago Ashley was a waiter, now he’s the captain of Wales. But another report says Joe is expecting to be captain. Swansea won the derby and the Swansea player wins the awards, and now the Swansea player wins the armband. But is that fair? Or is my Cardiff bias showing?
There could be a number of Cardiff City players featuring in the Wales v Scotland game, which takes place at the Cardiff City Stadium. Two of them will be playing for Scotland. So they’ll be in the away dressing room at their own club. That can’t happen very often. Joe Ledley says many of them have made bets on the Wales v Scotland game and that he will lose quite a lot of money if Wales lose! But aren’t there better things they can do with their money? Gambling can be brilliant fun but that’s exactly the reason why I don’t do it.
I love Andy Dorman. I don’t know much about him as he plays in the Scottish League but it’s great to read about a player who’s so happy and excited about representing Wales. I just hope he gets to play, even if it’s just for a few minutes – even if he isn’t really good enough for competitive matches for Wales, this is a friendly and it could be his only chance. His love for the country and desire to play for them might well enhance his performance. I’m sure most of the other players love Wales but Andy has been so vocal about it. I’ll be sitting not that far from the substitutes’ bench. Maybe I should start a chant! There was a Welshman, his name was Andy, Andy Andy Andy DORMAN (to the tune of some song I don’t know)
Former Wales striker Malcolm Allen thinks Under-21 manager Brian Flynn and retired players Ryan Giggs and Gary Speed should take over from John Toshack as Wales manager. Brian Flynn has done a great job with the under-21s and if they keep going as they are, many of them might be playing with the full squad before long. But the Under-21s are in the middle of a campaign, it would be a shame for them to lose a manager who has helped them do so well. Ryan and Gary seem to have potential as a manager and I agree with getting them to work in a more minor category to begin with but maybe keeping Toshack and letting them work with him is the way to go.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Wales Award Winners
Ashley Williams of Swansea won both Footballer of the Year and Clubman of the Year.
Aaron Ramsey won Young Footballer of the Year.
Ashley is only the second player to pick up two awards in one ceremony. Da iawn!
Aaron Ramsey won Young Footballer of the Year.
Ashley is only the second player to pick up two awards in one ceremony. Da iawn!
Wales News
£15,000 tickets for Wales v Scotland have been sold so far. My ticket arrived today! It’s at the Cardiff City Stadium. Wales used to play in the Millennium Stadium but it never filled up because most Welsh people prefer rugby for some reason. Wales will also play at Swansea City and Wrexham’s grounds.
Wrexham? My national team playing at a Blue Square Premier Ground? Whatever next?
(I’m not being serious.)
Chris Gunter is having tests for glandular fever. Poor baby! I hope he’s feeling better soon. And not just because I want to see him play. Glandular fever sucks. He, Danny Gabbidon, and Andy King are big doubts but the South Wales Argus also says Neal Eardley is a big doubt and he was never in the squad.
In the same report, the South Wales Argus says that Joe Allen, Darcy Blake, Andy Dorman and Robert Earnshaw and Adam Matthews are ‘four players’. Does that mean we can have twelve players if they all play? Wales don’t need twelve players though. We’re going to win anyway!
John Toshack is not a doubt despite nearly being hit on the head with an advertising hoarding.
Cardiff City’s Adam Matthews ‘stuck out like a sore thumb’ when his former coach Matthew Crocker first saw him play. But doesn’t that mean he played badly?
Wrexham? My national team playing at a Blue Square Premier Ground? Whatever next?
(I’m not being serious.)
Chris Gunter is having tests for glandular fever. Poor baby! I hope he’s feeling better soon. And not just because I want to see him play. Glandular fever sucks. He, Danny Gabbidon, and Andy King are big doubts but the South Wales Argus also says Neal Eardley is a big doubt and he was never in the squad.
In the same report, the South Wales Argus says that Joe Allen, Darcy Blake, Andy Dorman and Robert Earnshaw and Adam Matthews are ‘four players’. Does that mean we can have twelve players if they all play? Wales don’t need twelve players though. We’re going to win anyway!
John Toshack is not a doubt despite nearly being hit on the head with an advertising hoarding.
Cardiff City’s Adam Matthews ‘stuck out like a sore thumb’ when his former coach Matthew Crocker first saw him play. But doesn’t that mean he played badly?
Wales Awards
Tonight (November 11th 2009) either Ryan Giggs, Wayne Hennessey or Ashley Williams will be named as Welsh Player of the Year at the FAW Awards. If Ryan wins, he will be the only the only retired international to win it. He will also be one of only three players to win the award three times. It won’t be an easy choice for the judges I’m sure as all three players have been brilliant this year but I think I’d go for Ryan.
Simon Church, Jack Collison and Aaron Ramsey are nominated for Young Welsh Player of the Year. Simon and Jack are now regulars for their clubs (Reading and West Ham) as well as for Wales, Aaron (Arsenal) is not far behind them which is a great achievement considering he plays for the best team in the world. I can't choose!
Joe Ledley could win Welsh Club Player of the Year for the third year running but maybe it’s time for someone else to win it – and Joe Allen and Ashley Williams are both strong contenders. I think I’ll go for Joe Ledley as he’s Cardiff and the other two are Swansea but again it’s going to be close and I won’t complain (much!) if one of the Swansea boys wins it.
Simon Church, Jack Collison and Aaron Ramsey are nominated for Young Welsh Player of the Year. Simon and Jack are now regulars for their clubs (Reading and West Ham) as well as for Wales, Aaron (Arsenal) is not far behind them which is a great achievement considering he plays for the best team in the world. I can't choose!
Joe Ledley could win Welsh Club Player of the Year for the third year running but maybe it’s time for someone else to win it – and Joe Allen and Ashley Williams are both strong contenders. I think I’ll go for Joe Ledley as he’s Cardiff and the other two are Swansea but again it’s going to be close and I won’t complain (much!) if one of the Swansea boys wins it.
Wales News
Ryan Giggs says he wants to manage Wales. He has also wondered about coming out of retirement. I would love him to come out of retirement but I kind of feel that after all the service he’s given to Wales it should be up to him. He retired but at least he waited until he was in his mid-thirties.
And if he wants to manage Wales maybe he could go to training sessions and help out. It would give him the chance to learn and it would be better than giving him the job before he’s properly ready. A lot of ex-players get rushed into management and it doesn’t always work out.
Ryan Shawcross’ old club Manchester United understandably want him back but Ryan is set to tell them where to go by signing a new contract at Stoke. And if you could sign yourself up for Wales while you’re at it, Ryan, I really will love you forever. Ryan was born in England but went to school in Wales. Unfortunately for Wales, his dream is to play for England.
St Mirren midfielder Andy Dorman says he’ll know more players in the Scotland side than in the Wales side. But that’s not so strange. It’s probably a bit like when Arsenal midfielder Theo Walcott plays for England against France.
Craig Bellamy is such a naughty boy. Manchester City are going on some training camp thing and he’s gone with them. Maybe he is just going to sit on the sidelines and rest his groin but if he wasn’t Welsh I’d be very very suspicious.
But at least Man City remembered to tell Wales about it this time.
John Toshack says he wants to retire if Wales have another ‘unsuccessful’ year. I just don’t think they did that badly. Fourth place was perfectly respectable, third place was still possible in the penultimate game, and they had key players out injured all the time, which is harder to deal with in a small country.
I really do think he has reason to be hopeful. Half his squad are under twenty-one, not all of them are getting regular first-team football and yet they’re playing really well. Imagine how good they’ll be once they are few years older and in the first team. And speaking of players who are under twenty-one, the current under-21 team are top of a group that includes Italy and Hungary. They can’t be that bad.
And if he wants to manage Wales maybe he could go to training sessions and help out. It would give him the chance to learn and it would be better than giving him the job before he’s properly ready. A lot of ex-players get rushed into management and it doesn’t always work out.
Ryan Shawcross’ old club Manchester United understandably want him back but Ryan is set to tell them where to go by signing a new contract at Stoke. And if you could sign yourself up for Wales while you’re at it, Ryan, I really will love you forever. Ryan was born in England but went to school in Wales. Unfortunately for Wales, his dream is to play for England.
St Mirren midfielder Andy Dorman says he’ll know more players in the Scotland side than in the Wales side. But that’s not so strange. It’s probably a bit like when Arsenal midfielder Theo Walcott plays for England against France.
Craig Bellamy is such a naughty boy. Manchester City are going on some training camp thing and he’s gone with them. Maybe he is just going to sit on the sidelines and rest his groin but if he wasn’t Welsh I’d be very very suspicious.
But at least Man City remembered to tell Wales about it this time.
John Toshack says he wants to retire if Wales have another ‘unsuccessful’ year. I just don’t think they did that badly. Fourth place was perfectly respectable, third place was still possible in the penultimate game, and they had key players out injured all the time, which is harder to deal with in a small country.
I really do think he has reason to be hopeful. Half his squad are under twenty-one, not all of them are getting regular first-team football and yet they’re playing really well. Imagine how good they’ll be once they are few years older and in the first team. And speaking of players who are under twenty-one, the current under-21 team are top of a group that includes Italy and Hungary. They can’t be that bad.
Wales v Scotland squad updates
The latest call-up as Darcy Blake, a Cardiff City player who is on loan at Plymouth Argyle.
The latest drop-out is Chris Gunter who has a virus and/or glandular fever. Part of me wants to give him a big hug. Part of me wants to stay as far away from him as possible.
His team-mate Robert Earnshaw is the latest doubt.
This is the current squad.
Goalkeepers: Jason Brown (Blackburn), David Cornell (Swansea), Wayne Hennessey (Wolves)
Defenders: Gareth Bale (Tottenham), Darcy Blake (Cardiff), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham), Adam Matthews (Cardiff), Craig Morgan (Peterborough), Lewin Nyatanga (Bristol City), Sam Ricketts (Bolton), Ashley Williams (Swansea)
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Swansea), David Cotterill (Sheff Utd), Andy Dorman (St Mirren), David Edwards (Wolves), Andy King (Leicester), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
Forwards: Simon Church (Reading), Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest), Jermaine Easter (MK Dons), Ched Evans (Sheff Utd), Sam Vokes (Wolves)
Doubts:
Robert Earnshaw (calf strain)
Danny Gabbidon (hip and calf, passed fit but didn’t even make the bench for West Ham at the weekend, so I have doubts even if the Wales medical staff don’t)
Andy King (wrist injury, could play in a cast)
The latest drop-out is Chris Gunter who has a virus and/or glandular fever. Part of me wants to give him a big hug. Part of me wants to stay as far away from him as possible.
His team-mate Robert Earnshaw is the latest doubt.
This is the current squad.
Goalkeepers: Jason Brown (Blackburn), David Cornell (Swansea), Wayne Hennessey (Wolves)
Defenders: Gareth Bale (Tottenham), Darcy Blake (Cardiff), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham), Adam Matthews (Cardiff), Craig Morgan (Peterborough), Lewin Nyatanga (Bristol City), Sam Ricketts (Bolton), Ashley Williams (Swansea)
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Swansea), David Cotterill (Sheff Utd), Andy Dorman (St Mirren), David Edwards (Wolves), Andy King (Leicester), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
Forwards: Simon Church (Reading), Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest), Jermaine Easter (MK Dons), Ched Evans (Sheff Utd), Sam Vokes (Wolves)
Doubts:
Robert Earnshaw (calf strain)
Danny Gabbidon (hip and calf, passed fit but didn’t even make the bench for West Ham at the weekend, so I have doubts even if the Wales medical staff don’t)
Andy King (wrist injury, could play in a cast)
Wales v Scotland: Withdrawals and Replacements
It always happens doesn't it? Put a player in the squad and their chance of getting injured quadruples itself.
James Collins (groin) and Simon Davies (foot) have withdrawn from the Wales squad after missing their weekend games with Aston Villa and Fulham.
These groin injuries must be catching as Craig Bellamy has one too. It’s amazing how he always seems to get an injury before a Wales friendly.
Jack Collison (West Ham) is out with another knee problem after being substituted at half-time in his last match. I don’t know whether to hope it’s the same knee or a different one. If it’s the same knee, it might mean it hasn’t properly recovered. If it’s the other knee, he might end up with two dodgy knees. Why don’t footballers have three knees? Poor Jack. He’s had a really difficult few months.
Andy King, who limped off the pitch with an arm injury during Leicester’s match against West Brom (I’m quoting the Telegraph), might be able to play in a protective cast - as Joe Ledley did recently for Wales. Poor Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon probably doesn’t have that option.
Chris Gunter has a virus but might be recovered in time for the match. I do hope so as he’s one of my favourite Wales players and it would be a shame not to see him. His Nottingham Forest team-mate Robert Earnshaw is one of four new call-ups. Robert holds the distinction of being possibly Wales’ only player who can score penalties. Let’s hope he doesn’t have any germs or he could start an epidemic, and then who’s going to play for Wales?
There will probably be a lot of banter between the Cardiff and Swansea lads after Swansea beat Cardiff at the weekend – and this will only increase now Swansea’s Joe Allen and Cardiff’s Adam Matthews have joined the squad. Joe was on the winning side but Adam’s assist might have picked him up more fantasy football points.
Andy Dorman of St Mirren has also been called up for Wales. He became eligible a few weeks ago when it was decided that any player with five years of compulsory education in Wales could play for the football side. Andy is one of a dying breed of footballers who really wants to play for his country. I hope he has a great career with Wales.
Danny Gabbidon has been passed fit despite missing the West Ham match yesterday. I’m surprised, but the Wales doctors are probably Welsh too, so they probably know what they’re doing.
To all the other Wales players – don’t do anything that might result in an injury. Don’t walk anywhere. Don’t even move. Don’t go too near Chris Gunter. Just stay fit.
James Collins (groin) and Simon Davies (foot) have withdrawn from the Wales squad after missing their weekend games with Aston Villa and Fulham.
These groin injuries must be catching as Craig Bellamy has one too. It’s amazing how he always seems to get an injury before a Wales friendly.
Jack Collison (West Ham) is out with another knee problem after being substituted at half-time in his last match. I don’t know whether to hope it’s the same knee or a different one. If it’s the same knee, it might mean it hasn’t properly recovered. If it’s the other knee, he might end up with two dodgy knees. Why don’t footballers have three knees? Poor Jack. He’s had a really difficult few months.
Andy King, who limped off the pitch with an arm injury during Leicester’s match against West Brom (I’m quoting the Telegraph), might be able to play in a protective cast - as Joe Ledley did recently for Wales. Poor Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon probably doesn’t have that option.
Chris Gunter has a virus but might be recovered in time for the match. I do hope so as he’s one of my favourite Wales players and it would be a shame not to see him. His Nottingham Forest team-mate Robert Earnshaw is one of four new call-ups. Robert holds the distinction of being possibly Wales’ only player who can score penalties. Let’s hope he doesn’t have any germs or he could start an epidemic, and then who’s going to play for Wales?
There will probably be a lot of banter between the Cardiff and Swansea lads after Swansea beat Cardiff at the weekend – and this will only increase now Swansea’s Joe Allen and Cardiff’s Adam Matthews have joined the squad. Joe was on the winning side but Adam’s assist might have picked him up more fantasy football points.
Andy Dorman of St Mirren has also been called up for Wales. He became eligible a few weeks ago when it was decided that any player with five years of compulsory education in Wales could play for the football side. Andy is one of a dying breed of footballers who really wants to play for his country. I hope he has a great career with Wales.
Danny Gabbidon has been passed fit despite missing the West Ham match yesterday. I’m surprised, but the Wales doctors are probably Welsh too, so they probably know what they’re doing.
To all the other Wales players – don’t do anything that might result in an injury. Don’t walk anywhere. Don’t even move. Don’t go too near Chris Gunter. Just stay fit.
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