Wales v Slovakia, Wales v Cyprus

[Taffy]

With two home games ahead it's now crucial that we get some positive results to make our mark on the group.

However, I see that Giggs is out of the first game, at least, and Collins, Delaney and Ricketts are missing from our defence which will leave us struggling for cover at the back. We don't have the strongest of squads anyway, and strength in depth isn't something we have either, so to miss key players like the ones mentioned above won't help our chances of success at home to two of the 'weaker' teams in our group.

It looks like we only have Gabbidon and Nyatanga to choose in the centre with Duffy and possibly Bale or Ledley coming into the full back positions. We may have to use Rob Edwards as a centre back if we want to continue playing 3 central defenders in our defence, but only Tosh and his coaches know what's on offer for these two vital games.

Realistically looking at it, we ain't gonna qualify yet again, but these qualifying campaigns also sorts out our seeding groups for future competitions, so it's vital that we do well against the teams that we should be beating at home.

A couple of wins would be fantastic and a huge boost to the squad and the country as a whole, but it's going to be tough with so many key players missing through injury.

My guess as a line-up for the Slovakia game is:

-------------Jones
---Edwards-Gabbidon-Nyatanga
Duffy-----------------------Bale/Ledley
----Davies-Robinson-Koumas
--------Bellamy-Earnshaw

[Rocket]

i shall be there, still confuses me as to why Hartson isn't in the squad.

thats not too bad a team, but a little bit weak if we need to make any subs.

[Kaip]

Steve.............are you in Cardiff saturday for the match

[Taffy]

No mate, couldn't be bothered going this time - rather spend my cash in the local all afternoon!

You going? How much of a crowd are they expecting?

Will let you and Rhods buy me a pint in Cardiff soon if I pop down to one of the games though!

[Taffy]

i shall be there, still confuses me as to why Hartson isn't in the squad.

thats not too bad a team, but a little bit weak if we need to make any subs.

Hartson would give us a lot more options if he was picked, and, as you say Rhods, the bench will be weak for these games especially with all the injuries we've had.

[Taffy]

This is the squad for the two games:

Wales squad for Euro 2008 qualifiers against Slovakia (7 Oct; Millennium Stadium, Cardiff; 1500 BST) and Cyprus (11 Oct; Millennium Stadium, Cardiff; 2000 BST):

Goalkeepers: Paul Jones (QPR), Jason Brown (Blackburn), Lewis Price (Ipswich)
Defenders: Gareth Bale (Southampton), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham), Richard Duffy (Portsmouth), Rob Edwards (Wolves), Lewin Nyatanga (Derby), Ryan Valentine (Wrexham), Craig Morgan (MK Dons)
Midfielders: Mark Jones (Wrexham), Andrew Crofts (Gillingham), Simon Davies (Everton), Carl Fletcher (Crystal Palace), Jason Koumas (West Brom), Carl Robinson (Norwich), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), David Vaughan (Crewe), Paul Parry (Cardiff), Arron Davies (Yeovil), Chris Llewellyn (Wrexham)
Strikers: Craig Bellamy (Liverpool, capt in Giggs' absence), David Cotterill (Wigan), Rob Earnshaw (Norwich), Ryan Giggs (Man Utd, capt).

It doesn't leave us with much experience for the bench with only the likes of Fletcher (who's carrying an injury), Vaughan and Parry adding much experience if needed.

Although, the new lads coming in will be given a great chance to prove themselves and maybe force their way into the reckoning for future games, so I suppose it's a chance to impress which may bring the best out of some of them!

Will be tough to beat Sovakia though - I have more faith in them for the Cyprus game.

[Los Rojos]

i shall be there, still confuses me as to why Hartson isn't in the squad.

thats not too bad a team, but a little bit weak if we need to make any subs.

It'd be a much better starting line-up if you had Savage in for Robinson

Sav and Tosh should visit a marriage guidance counsellor and just sort it out once and for all.

[Los Rojos]

It looks like we only have Gabbidon and Nyatanga to choose in the centre with Duffy and possibly Bale or Ledley coming into the full back positions. We may have to use Rob Edwards as a centre back if we want to continue playing 3 central defenders in our defence, but only Tosh and his coaches know what's on offer for these two vital games.

Didn't Robert Page get recalled for this one?

[Los Rojos]

Didn't Robert Page get recalled for this one?

Just done a search and found out he retired 3 days after being recalled.

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/28092006/...es-career.html

I've been avoiding all football news since Saturday's debacle.

[Taffy]

Just done a search and found out he retired 3 days after being recalled.

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/28092006/...es-career.html

I've been avoiding all football news since Saturday's debacle.

Yeah he's now retired.

You'd have thought he'd have mentioned something to Tosh beforehand, but he may have been shocked by the call-up so probably never felt the need to tell him.

Savage would make a big difference to our midfield, but that one will never be resolved between him and tosh.

[Los Rojos]

Savage would make a big difference to our midfield, but that one will never be resolved between him and tosh.

I know and it's a shame. They're probably both as much to blame.

[Taffy]

I know and it's a shame. They're probably both as much to blame.

Yep.

[Joey Jones]

With two home games ahead it's now crucial that we get some positive results to make our mark on the group.

However, I see that Giggs is out of the first game, at least, and Collins, Delaney and Ricketts are missing from our defence which will leave us struggling for cover at the back. We don't have the strongest of squads anyway, and strength in depth isn't something we have either, so to miss key players like the ones mentioned above won't help our chances of success at home to two of the 'weaker' teams in our group.

It looks like we only have Gabbidon and Nyatanga to choose in the centre with Duffy and possibly Bale or Ledley coming into the full back positions. We may have to use Rob Edwards as a centre back if we want to continue playing 3 central defenders in our defence, but only Tosh and his coaches know what's on offer for these two vital games.

Realistically looking at it, we ain't gonna qualify yet again, but these qualifying campaigns also sorts out our seeding groups for future competitions, so it's vital that we do well against the teams that we should be beating at home.

A couple of wins would be fantastic and a huge boost to the squad and the country as a whole, but it's going to be tough with so many key players missing through injury.

My guess as a line-up for the Slovakia game is:

-------------Jones
---Edwards-Gabbidon-Nyatanga
Duffy-----------------------Bale/Ledley
----Davies-Robinson-Koumas
--------Bellamy-Earnshaw

My guess for the team is that Tosh will revert to a 4-4-2:

Jones

Duffy Gabbidon Nyatanga Bale

Koumas Davies Robinson Ledley

Bellamy Earnie

If this is the team that starts four of them are still eligible for the U21's so it shows that Tosh's youth policy is working.

I can see Paul Parry being involved in the game at some time as he's been in good form for Cardiff this season.

What do you think the outcome of the forthcoming two games will be? Is it realistic for us to get 6 points?

[Kaip]

I`d be a happy bunny with 6 points

[Rocket]

i'd take 4