Here's the 28 man squad. Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies, Tyler Roberts and Paul Dummett out with injuries. Hennessey (Crystal Palace) Danny Ward (Leicester City) A. Davies (Barnsley) Mepham (Bournemouth) A. Williams (Everton) Ampadu (Chelsea) Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) Lawrence (Anderlecht) B. Williams (Barnsley) Rodon (Swansea City) Roberts (Swansea City) Gunter (Reading) Taylor (Aston Villa) Allen (Stoke City) Vaulks (Rotherham United) Levitt (Manchester United) Smith (Manchester City) Brooks (Bournemouth) J. Williams (Charlton Athletic) H. Wilson (Liverpool) D. James (Swansea City) Matondo (Schalke) Woodburn (Liverpool) T. Lawrence (Derby County) Bale (Real Madrid) Thomas (Leicester City) Vokes (Stoke City) Moore (Barnsley) The jury is still very much out on Ryan Giggs. We had a good result against Slovakia, but with the players we had out we didn't look to have too much of an idea of how we were playing. The team he's played in the friendlies hasn't won him any fans either, particularly the defeat he cost us against Albania. These are two difficult games away from home, particularly the Croatia game, where we can't afford to be anywhere near as negative as we were against Slovakia as the quality that they have will tell in a game like that. This is the team I'd go with, could easily go for Danny Ward ahead of Hennessey though. He just needs to make his mind up on who's the better keeper and stick with it, because neither will be playing regular football any time soon to go in to these games in form. I'd stick with Ash at centre half for these games as he has seemingly done well at the end of the season with Stoke and does provide us with that experience, when Joe Rodon gets back in to form though I'd have him starting alongside Mepham. Another close call but away to Croatia I'd go with Smith ahead of Harry Wilson and move Brooks further forward. Hennessey Roberts - Mepham - A. Williams (C) - Taylor Ampadu Smith - Allen Brooks - Bale - James
My team would be: Ward Roberts - Mepham - A. Williams (C) - Taylor Smith - Allen Brooks Wilson - Bale - James Go all guns blazing from kick-off and try to nick an early goal or two, then bring Ampadu on around the hour mark to see out a result. If things are going badly then we should be introducing Joniesta, Matondo or Woodburn ASAP to cause problems.
With Brooks and Bale you will cause any team problems going forward. Surely could nick a win against Hungary. Croatia? Will be tough!
I reckon Hungary will be the harder game, we haven't played them in nearly 15 years so they're an unknown quantity. We get drawn against teams like Croatia & Belgium every 5 minutes, so I think we'll play comfortably vs. Croatia despite their star-studded side.
I know we weren't far off getting something from the game, but tactically I thought it was really poor from us today. After they failed to beat Hungary, Croatia were under pressure to win and we should have been looking to do the basics right and then build on the counter. Instead our defence just wasn't set up well, I know I wanted the team to be more positive, but being positive doesn't mean not doing the basics correctly. The defensive line was incredibly high in the circumstances, and was also set up really wide, without enough support from an overstretched midfield which just left huge gaps all over the place. For the first goal, I thought Hennessey should have got that comfortably, his starting position wasn't nearly appropriate for how high the defence was, but even with his starting position he should have still got the ball. Not convinced by James Lawrence yet either, can't fault him for the goal, but he made a few mistakes in the game. In the first half, our only chances were on the counter attack anyway, and with Dan James and Bale's pace we'd have been fine getting chances on the break. For the Hungary game, I'd bring in Danny Ward and Ashley Williams. I'd also bring in Brooks for Vaulks, who had a good game when he came on. As much as you might want to give Bale freedom to play where he's comfortable, he's undoubtedly a better option centrally than Harry Wilson is, and he needs to be less selfish positionally. We're blessed with options out wide, but not centrally, particularly with Tyler Roberts injured, so he has to sacrifice for the team in Budapest. Ward Roberts - Mepham - Williams (C) - Davies Brooks - Allen - Smith H. Wilson - Bale - James
It's an okay team. I don't mind him rotating Gunter in, but I'd have definitely gone with Chris Mepham over James Lawrence. If Gareth Bale does insist on playing on the wing, then Tom Lawrence is a better option to play centrally than Harry Wilson. Centre of midfield looks strong, we just need to play to our strengths and don't do anything daft defensively early doors.
Giggs really doesn't have a clue does he. Purely appointed of reputation, and we've not played well in any of our qualifying matches. There doesn't seem to be any sort of a plan or strategy, and our team just looks tactically clueless and out of ideas. Under Coleman we came together to be far greater than the sum of our parts, now we look far weaker. Talent all over the pitch not being used effectively or to its strengths. What he see's in James Lawrence I don't know, who never looked comfortable at all, and often got it wrong when he was asked of. Nowhere near the level of Chris Mepham, who despite playing at a far higher level was left out. Just generally livid at the chance of qualifying we've thrown away, and to be honest just the chance we've got in general with this set of players that has been undermined by the FAW's appointment. Giggs out, Cookie back.
