Luck of the Irish - Wales v Republic of Ireland 17.11.07

As the final Euro 2008 qualifier in Cardiff came to an end on Saturday evening the sense of relief provided by Jason Koumas and his dramatic late penalty obscured the usual feeling of disappointment that comes at the end of a campaign. The Irish fans, who were fantastic throughout, were finally silenced and for around five minutes the Millennium Stadium held the sort of atmosphere I would love to see at all of our home games. I sat in the North Stand for a change and it was miles better than where I usually buy tickets for. It was mostly made up of adults who were up for a sing song but all very good natured. And best of all it's the cheapest seating area! Had a great night in Cardiff afterwards. Got talking to some top Irish fans about the match in Hard Rock Cafe, I went round each one asking who they wanted as their next manager and why like I was interviewing them for Football Focus!!!

Under circumstances I don't think Wales could have done much better on Saturday. The loss of Bellamy and Bale were hard enough to cover but to lose Earnshaw and Nyatanga so close to kick off would have given Toshack a headache. Starting with both Earley and Gunter could have blown up in his face but they pulled it off. I thought tactically things went well enough and we took the forced substitution of Carl Robinson in our stride. In fact one of the main plus points for me was the introduction of Dave Edwards. He made a few mistakes, which is to be expect on his first cap, but he looked hungry. I know I'm getting well ahead of myself here but after ten minutes I was thinking we have to start with him against Germany! We're amazingly short on midfielders and with the promising batch in the Under 21s far off maturity you have to at least consider giving Edwards a chance in the friendly against Norway in February. Chris Gunter also looked confident in both the left and right back positions and wasn't scared of going forward when needed. You could perhaps criticise Toshack for bringing on Easter before Cotterill. I couldn't really understand that one, Easter obviously had a great season last year but he's hardly kicked a ball this one. Problem is as well he's never really looked like scoring in the games he's played for Wales. Hopefully he can prove himself at a higher level while on loan at Plymouth and keep his place as the fourth choice striker.

Jason Koumas showed why he will always be in the starting eleven for Wales. He can at times seem so disinterested during a game but then pop up just when you need him. His header of Saturday was a peach and it showed his versatility when it comes to goal scoring. He was a constant threat against Ireland forcing a couple of good saves from long distance. As many Welsh fans predicted he picked up another yellow card which stops him from playing in Germany. Koumas has a poor attendance record for Wales away games and this has led to rumours beginning to circulate about him having a Dennis Bergkamp style fear of flying. This would explain a lot about his international career but I believe if he came out and admitted to having a phobia most Welsh fans would be sympathetic and get off his back. Best working something out with him than losing him completely. That said it could be a load of rubbish and Koumas just might prefer spending the odd international break at home with his missus.

Anyway onto to Germany for the last one minus most of our first choice team. You would have to say a thrashing is on the cards but don't worry Welsh fans check out this conspiracy about Wednesdays match put forward on the Sporting Life website-

Germany, it has been suggested, might not want to win the group now because it would make them one of the four top seeds. That would see them alongside hosts Austria, Switzerland and holders Greece.
If Germany contrive to finish second on Wednesday, they would then give themselves the chance of meeting one of those three decidedly weak sides in next summer's finals, rather than being forced to avoid them by the seeding.

First the JFK assassination and now this! I just don't know who to trust anymore!

Geezers Need Excitement

You may be aware that Wales defeated England, let me repeat that, "Wales defeated England" in a fast and open game. After jeering our English friends (well taken lads!), the losing of my voice and the sinking of several ales, a bit of a scuffle ensued, bit of beer flying, followed by the glass - yes that's the feeling of a glass hitting me on the back of the head - landlord vaults the bar! By now we were very pissed in that "we can take on the world" mood, and errrr, we just watched as the trouble was herded out onto the street.

Did anybody watch "The Championship" on ITV the other weekend? My post glass round the head and recovery hangover was turning on to see the MK Dons late winner v Wrexham - the ball didn't cross the line, the linesman didnt signal goal, the referee didn't signal goal. A great double save from Ingham, yet the person responsible for "pressing the button to play music when a goal is scored", pressed the button, 'then' the goal was given by the linesman! Let's keep "playing music when there is a score" for sports such as Ice Hockey and the likes - not league 2 (div 4) football.

I did enjoy 'the' local derby match of the other weekend though, as Conwy Utd entertained Llandudno Junction. Conwy running out 2-1 winners, creeping up the league, 5 games in-hand, oh no, i sound like a proper fan.

I'd been to watch Llandudno v Llangefni a couple of weeks ago (top of the table clash), impressed by Chris Johnson, Llandudno centre back, though I did a double take as he ran out in the tangerine Conwy Utd strip! Llandudno with a slim chance of promotion to the Welsh Premier this season, currently 4th in the direct North Wales feeder league i.e. The Championship of N.Wales. He'd drop a league to play for Conwy United?! The matter was cleared up chatting to the Conwy bench (I was in school with most of them); if Llandudno don't have a game, some of their players have contracts making them eligible for Conwy Utd; keeping match fitness - totally legal under the FAW rules at that level! The Dudno manager and coaching staff stood amongst us, scouting. Slightly scary that I know the faces and names of the players in these lower Welsh leagues.

Speaking of lower Welsh league players, got to mention Matt Christie who plays football with us on "Wednesday nights", for being spotted by Glan Conwy FC coach, and getting his first couple of games under his belt - it was only because their coach saw him skin past me "once" that he was offered to sign for them, obviously :) Fair play Matt, great to see you on the back page of the Weekly News this week as Glan Conwy won their Semi Final in Mid-Wales to get to the FAW Trophy Final! Great achievement! See you Wednesday night to try and frustrate you some more, at least I know the calibre of player i'm up against now, FAW Trophy finalist and League 1 in the Welsh Pyramid... gives me hope of playing for "Kinmel Aztecs" - Div 4 of the Clwyd League, the bottom of the entire FAW pile... technically it would take them 7 seasons to get to Welsh Premier if they won every league consecutively, I love stuff like that. I should update Wikipedia with this stuff - does anybody care though? Probably not.

Weekend just gone then. Wales v Ireland, Euro Qualifier... not the best. Wrexhams Steve Evans held his own, but i never realised just how slow he was compared to the rest. I kept a keen eye on him throughout, "what a tackle" on Duff, he's all heart and perhaps over-aggressive & over-committed (3 red cards this season too) yet kept Keane quiet. A "my thoughts on defending" post later in the week I think...

The weekend sport did have an upside; Wrexham winning away 0-1, and Steve McNumpty and his team of world footballing 'names' and talents couldnt beat (or even score past) Israel; a team with such luminary figures as "Spungin", "Ziv (so want to pronounce that as Viz)", "Tamuz"...