Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
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The team news for today's match:
Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, A Williams, Davies; Richards, King, Edwards, Taylor; Ramsey, Bale; Robson-Kanu.
Subs: Ward, O Williams, Chester, MacDonald, Church, Vokes, Vaughan, Cotterrill, Collins, Lawrence, J Williams, Henley.
Israel: Marciano; Dasa, Ben Haim, Tibi, Ben Harush, Dgani; Bitton, Natcho, Kayal, Zahavi; Dabbur.
Subs: Levi, Halmov, Meshumar, Melikson, Hemed, Buzaglo, Ben Haim, Davidzada, Vermouth, Tzedek, Sahar, Kehat.
Good morning, Bob. I just finished a refreshing shower after walkies with Sparky and mowing the lawn on a typically steamy September morning.
There are plenty of other games kicking off at 5pm, and indeed at 7.45pm, including Turkey v Holland and Norway v Croatia. We’ll be keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the Cardiff City Stadium. How are we all feeling? Excited? Terrified? Sort of over this whole Euro 2016 thing already? Get in touch.
The latest news is that England have become the first team to qualify for the Euros. They could be followed by Wales and Iceland if they defeat Israel and Kazakhstan respectively. Who would have thought that they could be the second and third teams to qualify?
Afternoon, MUR - it's great to have you on board. I'm hoping that UWS might join us as well. Steamy up here in Fred-town as well.
Qualifying is very interesting. I guess having extra teams qualify means that qualification is kept alive longer and that interest is not lost by the time the Octoberfest matches roll along.
It seems as if Switzerland are now in poll position after that dramatic last minute win yesterday.
Cheers mate. I hope he does too. Hopefully Autumn comes along sooner rather than later.
It seems that way. Slovenia blew it with a slovenly late performance melting faster than Swiss chocolate. The best they can hope for is a playoff position and currently they are a point behind Estonia.
Fairly simple scenario today - win, and Wales are in. Draw or lose, and they’ll endure a wait until October’s final qualifiers (away to Bosnia and at home to Andorra) to book their ticket.
Gareth Bale is carrying this team full of Championship players and Prem bench warmers.
Iceland can book their place with a win vs Kazakhstan who have made a marathon journey similar to one that you and UWS made to Hawaii.
They certainly did - I've rarely seen a side collapse like that.
Other than Bale, Wales's best players are Swansea defenders Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor along with Ramsey and Andy King in midfield. Otherwise, a team that has punched far above it's weight compared to previous teams that have failed in the past.
Those Israeli goals were ridiculously easy. It will be a different proposition in Cardiff. Their key players will be in the center of defense where the experienced Tal Ben Haim and Celtic's Nair Biton play.
Credit to the Swiss manager, whose subs were involved in all three goals and spotted more holes in the defense than Swiss cheese. The Slovenly team saw their lead evaporate quicker than Swiss cuckoo clock.
A key match in Group A is Turkey vs Holland where both teams are battling for a playoff spot. I think Gus Hiddinck had a spell in charge of Turkey. RVP and Wesley Schneijder are based there too. I think that says it all if that's the best Dutch selection available.
They're off from sunny Cardiff.
A beautiful day for watching and playing a football match during afternoon tea.
And Wales get us underway. You're absolutely right that Wales are a group of journeyman apart from Bale and perhaps Ramsey.
Yes - bright sunshine in Cardiff which is making for some poor shadowy television imagery.
Ramsey has a volley blocked for a corner that started with a long ball from Ashley Williams.Ramsey shoots straight to the keeper after a one two off a short corner.
The Israelis are battling the surprisingly disappointing Bosnians for a playoff spot. Bosnia could overtake Israel with a defeat vs Andorra later today
Good, bright starts from the Welsh. Ramsey looks particularly in the mood. Surely they can't cock this one up.
We cannot overlook the excellent job done by Cookie Coleman as manager
It has been an excellent start. An early goal could kill off the match against an Israeli team that don't look so much in the mood.
Well wide by Hal Robson-Kanu off a tackle won in midfield by Ramsey.
The loss of Joe Ledley is a vital loss as he would have been a great holding player, but Cookie seems to have it under control
Cookie has been excellent; he deserves all the plaudits.
Oh - Ramsey should have scored there from the rebound; couldn't keep his header down.
OH!!! Two good missed chance for the Welsh as the pressing game is working really well. Ashley Richards won a tackle in midfield and put Andy King thorugh He shot against the keeper and Ramsey headed over a wide open goal. One of them should have given the Dragons the lead.
Robson-Kanu wins a corner and a waste as Ashley Williams is called for a hold.
Turkey take the lead vs the Dutch and move ahead of the Dutch into a playoff spot.
The absence of the Dutch in this expanded format would be a massive shock
Harusch fouls Robson-Kanu by the corner flag
MArciano punches away the free kick by Bale.
That's crazy stuff from the Dutch - what are they playing at?
Andy King wins a corner off a long solo run
Robson-Kanu heads wide off a cross from Ramsey
The Czechs take the lead in Latvia to further the gap between them and the Dutch and Turks . Absolutely true about the Dutch
I imagine that the Gooner is having a great visit to Fred Town. Is he watching the matches?
Wales certainly picking up their fair share of corners but they need to take advantage of them.
Yeah - we're really enjoying it.
Ben Haim heads away yet another Welsh corner.The Welsh do well to stop an Israeli counter and Dabbur stupidly gets a yellow for deliberately preventing the Welsh taking a free kick. It's too early in the match for that
I'm glad to hear it. I wish I was up there.
The match is almost like a training exercise.
JFH's Burton Albion lost their match of the season as a newly promoted L1 team , losing 1-2 vs Coventry
A loud Welsh male voice chorus going on now - sounds marvelous.
It's a fantastic atmosphere and something that's been missing for years. The chorus is normally reserved for rugby matches. It's great to see.
The Israelis are not really pressing their claim at all; just parking the bus at the moment.
This match has almost been like training exercise, but the welsh need to capitalize on this .
I think they will consider a point a good result ahead of their local derby vs Cyprus next month
Have you noticed that there are not one but two Tal Ben Haim's on the Israeli side?
Ben Haim I is trooping off the pitch to a chorus of boos and he's not too happy about it. Getting treatment for that clash on the nose.
Tal Ben HAim upset with the challenge , as if he's never been guilty in his career.
So good they named it twice!
More goals in Group A as the Turks go two up vs the Dutch and the Czechs go two up in Latvia.
Indeed. More desperate stuff for Holland. The Turks have taken two lead and the Czechs have extended their lead in Latvia.
Is the Tal Ben Haim, who formerly played in the Prem I or II?
The Czechs solidify second place , a qualifying spot, while the Turks claim hold to a playoff spot.
I think Israel feel that a draw is good because that will move them four points ahead of Cyprus and figure that the Belgians will win in Cyprus later today. Then a win vs Cyprus will create a seven point gap and seal a playoff spot.
Absolutely - a draw suits Israel to a tee.
I think Ben Haim I is the former Prem player.
Bosnia will surely defeat Andorra, but would be two points behind Israel if this match finishes a draw and Israel would be at least two points ahead of Bosnia if they defeat Cyprus, heading into the final match day.
A wasted free kick from Ramsey. The Gooner will not be pleased with that one.
That makes sense . I instead of II should be handed to someone with Prem experience.
I wonder if UWS is enjoying the final days of his summer vacation.
Cookie Coleman will feel that there was too much mustard on that pass from Robson-Kanu.
He texted me that he'd gotten his Depay "Pi" t-shirt, so he's home from the Hawaii and West Coast adventures.
Azerbaijan take the lead in Malta in what is the MOTD.
I did too. I will wear once it cools down or wait till our first academic meet on October 24th.
Too hot for a t-shirt?!
If Cookie take his jacket to the dry cleaners, will that result in some poor results in France next summer?
The fizz has really gone out of the Welsh at this point. They really need to get into the dressing room and get geed up by Cookie.
Not in the cool environs of Harlingen! Sorry I forgot that I'm in Harlingen , TX not Harlingen Netherlands, LOL! They're our sister city.
I agree, but it could be won late like they did in Cyprus on Thursday.
The pitch must be really dry based on all the bounces the ball takes.
Your sister city will not be happy today, as the Dutch look to be crashing out of the Euros.
A minute of stoppage time.
Dasa picks up a silly yellow for time wasting. Another stupid yellow by the Israelis
I agree. The sister will be yelling and griping.
It's 0-0 at the half as the Welsh have dominated possession , but have found it tough to break down a really well organized Israeli side.
I think Israel mad e a halftime substitution.
Ben HAim II and Tomer Hamed , a striker have come on as it's actually a double switcheroo.
If results hold ion Group A then the Czechs will become the second team to clinch qualification to France and Iceland would only need a draw to also clinch qualification.
Dasa is offside off a long ball.
Norway take the lead vs Croatia
That's an important goal for Norway as they move top of the qualifying group, one point ahead of Italy and Croatia in a very tight group. Italy host Bulgaria later today.
We're back after a half-time lunch break courtesy of Kate.
Sorry Boys
I'm busy getting Matt ready for Siena
I am about but can't be on the computer!
Robson-Kanu heads well over off a cross from Ashley Richards.
More of the same from Wales - lots of possession and pressure but they just need one good finish.
Good afternoon, UWS.
I'm sure it was a top class lunch.
Play stops as there was a clash of heads between Bale and Celtic's Biton.
Play resumes as this is the only scoreless qualifier at the moment
Oh - right on the edge of box foul there. Just inches away from a pen.
Bale is over this one - this one has to go in.
Robson_kanu is tripped by Dagani on the boundary of the box and the D. The free kick is inches outside the box and Dagani is booked.
Bale curls it about a foot over. It was always going to be difficult to keep it down from that distance.
Ashley Richards is the first Welsh player booked. That seems harsh.
Malta tie it up vs Azerbaijan in the battle of seaside resort nations.
Bale wins a corner off a nice through ball from Ramsey and Biton is booked for a foul on Robson-Kanu earlier in the possession.
The Israelis really dishing out the challenges now. More yellow cards.
MArciamo saves a close range header from Andy King off the corner. Either side of the keeper and Wales would have taken the lead.
This is the only teatime kickoff without a goal. This is typical of our luck.
Robson-Kanu is incensed that the handball wasn't called there - and rightly so, the replay shows that it should have been a pen.
Robson-Kanu wants hand ball from the cross from Bale then a save from MArciano. Wales take a short corner.
Norway go two up vs Croatia and are now top of a very tight group. The Italians host Bulgaria later today
Israel finally have an attempt and it's well over and not very tasty from Natcho.
Cookie Coleman needs to make some changes as this match winds down and the Dragons are unable to break down this stubborn defense.
Now that I look at the replay, the Welsh can count themselves unlucky to not get a penalty., especially with the fifth official very well positioned.
I agree - that was a stone cold penalty.
Malta have come from behind to take a 2-1 lead vs Azerbaijan as they look for their first win in the group.A loss ruins any chance Azerbaijan have of getting a playoff spot.
Latvia pull one back vs the Czechs as they now trail 1-2. Will the Czechs have to put qualification on ice?
Still 15 minutes for the Welsh to pull this one back.
Will you be around for any of the action tomorrow?
Looks like Simon Church is preparing to come on.
And the evil Don comes on for Robson-Kanu.
It's about bloody time as Cookie pulls his fingers out of his arse. Simon Church is about to come on. Will he provide divine intervention? He is on for Robson-Kanu , his Reading teammate, who gets a standing ovation.
Unlikely, mate, as we'll be setting up for a party in the afternoon. What time are the matches?
I didn't realize that Church had moved . He was with Robson-Kanu and Chris Gunther at Reading last season.
The ones tomorrow will kickoff at 2:45 PM EDT. I will be home alone tomorrow since the girls have school.
He made an evil summer move to MK Dons.
School on Labor Day!!
Ashley Williams and Nair Biton clash as it's a Swansea vs Celtic battle in that one.
My district is off tomorrow, but the girls district and some other districts have school tomorrow. The trade off is that the girls have a full week off for Thanksgiving.
Gareth Bale shoots well over from long range in an attack that stemmed from a rare Israeli corner.
Andy King coming off now - and our old boy Sam Vokes coming on now.
Another really late substitution as Sam Vokes is on for Andy King . Bob will be livid about this change.
Azerbaijan score to make it Desmond in Malta.
Turkey seal victory vs the Dutch as they go three up late on.
Great shot from Bale but no one was following in on the rebound. Cleared out.
As much as I hate the Fake Dons, that signing was good business on their part.
The other matches in this group are Bosnia vs Andorra and Cyprus vs Belgium, both to kickoff in about an hour.
Simon Church wins a late corner.
The corner is easily caught by Marciano.
And another corner sails into Marciano's hands - the delivery just hasn't been good enough.
Four minutes of stoppage time.
Another Welsh corner.
Another corner from Ramsey is too close the keeper.
Marciano punches away the corner from Ramsey then a foul is called against the Dragons.
Into stoppage time now - four minutes to come.
Israel's wasting time here with a late, late substitution. UWS hates those.
Sahar, the former Chelsea reserve, is on for Zahavi
Ramsey has a long range effort deflected straight to Marciano
Bugger! Wales have it in the net but Church had drifted offside.
BLOODY HELL ! Simon Church has a goal disallowed for offside in the final seconds and it finishes 0-0 as Wales are held by a really well organized Israeli side.
I'm off now, mate - great chatting with you.
Norway have defeated Croatia 2-0 and are top of a tight Group H for the time being.
Cheers mate. Enjoy the rest of your day
Congratulations to the Czechs who hung on to win 1-2 in Latvia and have clinched qualification for the Euros.
The Turks have thrashed the Dutch 3-0 and the Oranges may be spectators this summer.It finishes Desmond between Malta and Azerbaijan.
That's it for me as the Welsh are frustrated as they are held 0-0, still leaving them one win away from clinching qualification.
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