Re: Gary Speed has died
 

It's got to be some one they have a chance of beating...

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

I knew someone would have a cheap pop - the event wouldn't be about winning or losing, it's a memorial game celebrating his life.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

and that's why they chose Costa Rica, hardly a fitting memorial for one of the Premier league and Wales' favourite sons now is it.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

More likely that it was the only team able to get a game together so close to the event. It's not like teams can just drop everything.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

Wasn't it the team he made his debut for Wales against? That might have something to do with it.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

You know what Russ I bet thousands still turn up for him regardless of the opposition, he was unlike almost every other modern day footballer in that he was genuinely liked by all who met him. Had I been organising it though I'd have had a prem 11 consisting of players past and present from teams he played for and a Wales 11 consisting of the same, just would have been a little more fitting imo.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

I agree but at this stage of the season which teams would allow their players to be available for it? Yes it's a good cause but a very important time of the year for many teams.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

I get your point, Russ.
But the date is a Wednesday. Surely any club can spare a player for one Wednesday's morning training and live without them for a few more hours (if they don't have an evening match that day) .
The bigger risk would be an injury to the player - which is quite unlikely given the nature of the match.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

I disagree - an injury can occur from turning quickly, running off too fast etc. No club will want to risk a player getting injured at this stage of the season in what will be (let's be honest here...) to most clubs, a fairly unimportant match. I'm not saying they wouldn't respect Speed's memory, but I can't see anyone considering it a priority.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

You disagree that I said that a bigger risk would be an injury?
The nature of the game would be "a friendly" and any footballer who can't move or position himself properly on the pitch has no need to be on the pitch for that match.

My soon-to-be-ex messed his knee up in training the day before playing Man Utd. He never played again.

But the players will be showing respect and not being so competative if they've been briefed properly.

Having said that: I can trip over a matchstick sometimes, and if you take it away I'll fall over the gap :D

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

This is going way off-topic but a player can get injured from just sprinting for a ball, nothing to do with how competitively he's playing. I'm not saying each tackle should be a Vinny Jones, but I'm sure Speed would not want players pussy-footing around in a game in his honour.

Re: Gary Speed has died
 

You'll be teaching me to suck eggs next :D