Wales V USA [Archive]

Jon Rhine

12 May 2003, 05:47 PM

This news (below) was posted on a Welsh fan site. Looks like the US will have a chance to look at Giggs up close and personal in what could be a great match.
This match could also serve to give US fans a real look at how we match to Euro teams besides the lumbering redwoods of Germany.
"Mark Hughes wants his big name stars to turn up and play against the USA on May 26th. For various reasons there are currently doubts over John Hartson, Robbie Savage, Gary Speed and Mark Delaney. Also there will be players involved in the play off finals.

Sparky will reduce the squad 20 after Wednesday this week. “Most important, I will be using this match to bed in ideas for our next Euro 2004 qualifier in Serbia-Montenegro in August. Because of that, I need the players there,” said Hughes.

nyrmetros

12 May 2003, 05:51 PM

There is only 1 Giggso!
Only 1 Giggso!

And don't forget Bellamo!
There is only 1 Bellamo!

:)

MLSNHTOWN

12 May 2003, 08:57 PM

This will be a good test for the USMNT. That midfield is world class. Hartson up top is quality as well. I can't wait.

braun

12 May 2003, 09:18 PM

Originally posted by MLSNHTOWN
This will be a good test for the USMNT. That midfield is world class. Hartson up top is quality as well. I can't wait.
Hartson is a maniac. While playing in the EPL he kicked a fellow player in the face during practice and drew blood.
The guy is raving!

Father Ted

14 May 2003, 12:06 PM

With a midfield of Davies-Savage-Speed-Giggs
and a forward line with Bellamy-Hartson...this is one tough team.

soccerfan

14 May 2003, 12:51 PM

I haven't seen Wales play in ages, but i would think they play the long style ball a direct game. I wonder how long will it take them to realize why the ball keeps going out of bounds so much.
I don't think they will be to comfy in Spartan Stadium. Advantage US.

CbR

14 May 2003, 01:48 PM

OT, but just imagine what they can be if the UK was one team

MarioKempes

14 May 2003, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by Father Ted
With a midfield of Davies-Savage-Speed-Giggs
and a forward line with Bellamy-Hartson...this is one tough team.

Agreed. This is a good test for our All-MLS dandies. The only question is whether Wales will show up drunk after a piss up.

appoo

14 May 2003, 03:12 PM

does Wales have a problem with depth? Or do they keep getting unlucky with the draw they get in qualifying for World Cup cuz they probably have a more...well-bred team than we did at World Cup. By well bred I mean that their players play at a higher level than ours do

RoverMax

14 May 2003, 04:46 PM

Chester FC

14 May 2003, 05:00 PM

Wales usually suffers from a lack of depth, which is not surprising given that the country has only a few million people.

So, the team typically has a few top class players and then filler plying their trade in the English first division etc.

The team now is pretty much EPL top to bottom, with first class talent in Giggs, Bellamy Davies and Hartson. This is a result of the luck of the draw of a number of good player coming up at the same time.

Too much talent in the midfield to just wack it up to Hartson. Should be a real challenge for the US. Rather a shame it's being played at Spartan. Though I get to go to the game, it's too small to see Giggs (and DMB) really use their pace.

Golazo

14 May 2003, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by appooOnU
does Wales have a problem with depth? Or do they keep getting unlucky with the draw they get in qualifying for World Cup cuz they probably have a more...well-bred team than we did at World Cup. By well bred I mean that their players play at a higher level than ours do

I have no idea about "usually", but i watched them in a WCQ (I think) against Spain before KJ02, and -- except for Giggs -- they looked like a bunch of high school kids getting schooled.

Clearly they will be bringing more talent than that this time around, but I wonder how much of that talent is younger than -- say -- 26, 27 and would have had minimal impact on KJ02 or Euro00 qualifying.

UncleSam527

14 May 2003, 11:26 PM

Originally posted by CbR
OT, but just imagine what they can be if the UK was one team
Now there's a frightening thought...

maverick

15 May 2003, 02:29 AM

Originally posted by CbR
OT, but just imagine what they can be if the UK was one team

But you STILL can only field 11 players at a time...

England - obviously the class of the bunch; would always provide the bulk of the roster.

Wales - Giggs is world class... a few other players might displace English players, but is it a true "upgrade" the way a Zidane would upgrade the English squad?

Scotland - May not even finish second in their Euro qualifying group. Young, inexperienced -- and largely of mediocre talent. MAYBE one of the current squad makes the "U.K. bench."

Northern Ireland - Please. Enough said.

Missing anything? My $0.02 on the subject...

Postmaster

16 May 2003, 10:00 AM

Didn't see this posted:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=267351&cc=5901

"Wales will be without their major stars for the friendly international against the USA in San Jose at the end of the month.

Ryan Giggs, Robbie Savage, John Hartson and Craig Bellamy will all be missing when Wales take the field in California on May 26, while skipper Gary Speed is also unlikely to play. "

DevilDave

16 May 2003, 11:07 AM

Yeah, here's the list of Welsh players skipping out on this one, as per the BBC & a Welsh fans site:

Kit Symons
John Hartson
Ryan Giggs
Robbie Savage
Darren Barnard
Mark Crossley
Danny Coyne
Nathan Blake
Robert Page
Rob Edwards
Mark Delaney
Robert Earnshaw
Rhys Weston
Danniel Gabbidon
Lee Fowler
Steve Jenkins
Craig Bellamy

A number of the above players will be with their respective teams during the Nationwide Div. 1 & 2 Playoff Finals, others are injured -- but a few of the "big boys" are skipping out altogether.

Gary Speed will travel, but is resting a hernia and probably won't play.

Suddenly this game doesn't seem nearly as attractive on paper as it did before. At least the West Brom players didn't pull out... :rolleyes:

voros

16 May 2003, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by maverick
But you STILL can only field 11 players at a time...

England - obviously the class of the bunch; would always provide the bulk of the roster.

Wales - Giggs is world class... a few other players might displace English players, but is it a true "upgrade" the way a Zidane would upgrade the English squad?

Scotland - May not even finish second in their Euro qualifying group. Young, inexperienced -- and largely of mediocre talent. MAYBE one of the current squad makes the "U.K. bench."

I think a fit Barry Ferguson makes England's starting XI. England isn't strong with playmakers in the central midfield and he'd fit that role nicely.

Martin Fischer

16 May 2003, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by voros
I think a fit Barry Ferguson makes England's starting XI. England isn't strong with playmakers in the central midfield and he'd fit that role nicely.

Fergunson over Scholes or Gerrard is not the way I see it.

Slash/ED

16 May 2003, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by DevilDave
Suddenly this game doesn't seem nearly as attractive on paper as it did before. At least the West Brom players didn't pull out... :rolleyes:

Jason Koumas is absolute class, easily West Broms best player this season, a mid field containing him and Davies easily still has the attacking power to worry anyone.

DevilDave

16 May 2003, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by Slash/ED
Jason Koumas is absolute class, easily West Broms best player this season, a mid field containing him and Davies easily still has the attacking power to worry anyone.

Oh, I'm sorry. Did I say "At least the West Brom players didn't pull out... :rolleyes:" ?

What I MEANT to say was, "Hey, the West Brom players will still be there!!! :D"

Yeah I know all about Koumas... as an Albion fan he's one of the reasons I'm very much looking forward to Memorial Day.

Giggs ain't coming??? Pffffft. Who cares?