The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Toshack again, what is he playing at?
Mind you if the kid has played a competetive Under 21 game for us it makes no difference though, does it?

[Etienne]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

u21 games are no longer binding.

[TMA]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Cotterill looked pretty good on the right wing for Sheff United last night, so I'd guess that he and Toshack are set for a bust-up quite soon.

[Ray de Galles]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

So, if this team managed a 1-1 draw away to Azerbaijan in 2004 ;

Jones ,Delaney ,Melville ,Page ,Gabbidon ,Koumas (Earnshaw ,88 ) ,Savage ,Speed ,Pembridge (Oster ,45 ) ,Bellamy ,Hartson

I wonder what one drawn from this squad will manage on Saturday ;

TEAM NEWS:
Both Gareth Bale and Jack Collison have withdrawn from the squad that will face Azerbaijan on Saturday, both players have knee injuries. Also out are defender Sam Ricketts and Ched Evans both with back injuries.

The squad have trained on Tuesday morning. The team fly out on Tuesday afternoon and will arrive early on Wednesday morning in Baku.

Current Wales squad:

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Boaz Myhill (Hull City), Lewis Price (Derby County).

Defenders: Neal Eardley (Oldham Athletic), Chris Gunter (Tottenham Hotspur), Craig Morgan (Peterborough United) , Lewin Nyatanga (Derby County), Ashley Williams (Swansea City).

Midfielders: Joe Allen (Swansea City), David Edwards (Wolves), Owain Tudur Jones (Swansea City), Andy King (Leicester City), Joe Ledley (Cardiff City), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Shaun Macdonald (Swansea City).

Forwards: Simon Church (Reading), Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest), Sam Vokes (Wolves).

Probably another draw but I wouldn't mind checking the odds on a home win.

[Antepli Ejderha]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Fucking hell, that is a young squad.

Only Earnie has passed puberty.

[mirko bolesan]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

We're allowed seven subs for international matches. Looking at that squad it's likely that we won't field a full bench - or we'll have two keepers on there.

As per usual there's a far better Welsh side that have withdrawn from the squad than will actually play on Saturday:

Owan Fon Williams
Ricketts - Gabbidon - Collins - Bale
Davies - Collison - Edwards - Koumas
Evans - Bellamy

[Ray de Galles]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Toshack has been right all along as some of us have said. Progress is clear...
...This is the most promising time for Welsh football I can ever remember. Even after the first 4 qualifying matches for Euro 2004, because we had a tiny squad, no one coming through and we were a couple of injuries away from humiliation.

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

It's a fuck of a young squad, and the cause hasn't been helped by the withdrawl of Bale and Collison - two of the better young players!

There have been several rumours circulting as regards the withdrawl of some of the more senior players and Tosh's outburst prior to the Estonia game seems to suggest he's well ware of these rumours.

Since the Finland game, I have come to the conclusion that Tosh is a cunt - perhaps not for the same reasons as Harri, and perhaps a little bit late for Harri ... but feel free to gloat.

Ptang's quote is true

This is the most promising time for Welsh football I can ever remember. Even after the first 4 qualifying matches for Euro 2004, because we had a tiny squad, no one coming through and we were a couple of injuries away from humiliation

but I find it increasingly difficult to defend his youth policy when I get the distinct feeling that he could very well ruin their potential or dull their obvious enthusiasm for Wales.

[Ray de Galles]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

I can't even gloat, much as I would like to, as it's my national side that's down the toilet too.

I wonder if Toshack has actually got worse since the new contract or if the players just can't see the point of taking it any more for a post-season qualifier during a failed campaign.

[mirko bolesan]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Dear oh dear.

Wales searched for replacements, but the vast majority of potential call-ups had not been in training since the beginning of May while others were already on holiday.

All of which meant MacDonald, who has 18 Welsh Under-21 caps and spent half of last season on loan at League One outfit Yeovil, was the only player who could be found at such short notice to be added to the party.

[Ray de Galles]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Perhaps, in addition to giving the 80 Welsh supporters travelling free match tickets, the FAW could hold a lottery for a few places on the bench?

Actually, where's that story from, Wales Online?

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

I'm not sure that statement's actually true is it? I mean, who else would have been called up instead of MacDonald?

[Bored Of Education]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

I hear the Palestinian team are mocking us for our lack of available players.

I've said it before and I will say it again, is there no chance we can transfer to Concacaf or Oceania or something? If Israel can do it, surely we can

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Tosh doesn't sound too upbeat!

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Here's the squad we had last time round, I reckon we'll really miss Qari Spid, although Robert Ernsou will have some experience of having been there before!

[EDIT: damn you OTF for not allowing me to post a cedilla]

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

The other midfielder's back problems wouldn't have allaowed him to travel to Baku by all accounts.

Rumour has it that Qaret Roberts is on his way to play for a non-league Welsh club ...

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Team: Hennessey, Gunter, Eardley, Williams, Morgan, Nyatanga, Ledley, Ramsey, Church, Earnshaw, Edwards

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Great work from Earnie, Church causing problems in the area and Edwards slams home his second international goal. 1-0 Wales!

[Ray de Galles]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

I got in and turned the TV on 30 seconds before Earnie's exquisite cross for the goal. How are we playing?

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

To be fair, we're not playin too badly at all. Taking into account the heat and shit pitch we look fairly comfortable.

Ramsey does give the ball away too often for my liking though!

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

... oh, and the ref is letting them rough up Ramsey, Ledley and Earnie - the number 5 especially.

[Ray de Galles]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Is it that hot? The forecast early in the week was for 19 degrees, cloudy with possible rain.

[Ray de Galles]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

BBC Wales concentrating on Martinez story at half time. Don't suppose there's any chance the Jacks can tempt Toshack away as a replacement? Two birds with one stone for me there.

Fuck me, that twat Leighton James just suggested it too.

[Jorge Porbillas]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Leighton James has just suggested a Harri Saer wet-dream scenario.

He thinks Tosh should take over at Swansea if/when Martinez leaves for Wigan!

[Ray de Galles]

The Gareth Wales Baleathon is back, back, back!

Ha ha! Great minds there (me and you JP, not James obviously).

It IS fucking humid over there, 93% humidity.