2014 World cup qualifiers

[Alf Bentley]

A couple of surprises in the African section:

 

- South Africa out, eliminated by Ethiopia

- Tunisia out, eliminated by Cape Verde Islands

- Morocco out, eliminated by Ivory Coast (not such a surprise)

 

So, 5 out of 10 from: Ethiopia, Cape Verde Islands, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon & Senegal

 

Do Cape Verde Islands pick up a few Portuguese of Cape Verde descent, I wonder, seeing as it was once a Portuguese colony?

[Corky]

A couple of surprises in the African section:

 

- South Africa out, eliminated by Ethiopia

- Tunisia out, eliminated by Cape Verde Islands

- Morocco out, eliminated by Ivory Coast (not such a surprise)

 

So, 5 out of 10 from: Ethiopia, Cape Verde Islands, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon & Senegal

 

Do Cape Verde Islands pick up a few Portuguese of Cape Verde descent, I wonder, seeing as it was once a Portuguese colony?

 

They only needed one more run..

 

 

Oh, sorry, wrong sport

[shen]

 

Do Cape Verde Islands pick up a few Portuguese of Cape Verde descent, I wonder, seeing as it was once a Portuguese colony?

 

More like the other way around (see Nani)

[Dan]

So no games at all between USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and either Jamaica/Panama/T&T? Listen: bribes can only get you so far in CONCACAF; you need to be able to provide kick-backs on the TV deals, too...

 

No seeding. If Mexico, Costa Rica & USA end up in the same group then so be it.

[Jordan]

No seeding. If Mexico, Costa Rica & USA end up in the same group then so be it.

I'm sure what five groups of teams would achieve considering we only get 3.5 spots at the World Cup and don't look like getting any more.

No seeding is not a very bright idea, either.

[Dan]

I'm sure what five groups of teams would achieve considering we only get 3.5 spots at the World Cup and don't look like getting any more.

No seeding is not a very bright idea, either.

 

Seeding is just an attempt at manufacturing bigger games. It's a terrible idea.

 

My bad on the number of spots you get, I assumed you got 5

[Uncle Albert]

Potentially the best first choice midfield in the British Isles.

Sorry this was posted some days a go but please elaborate on this?

[Jordan]

Seeding is just an attempt at manufacturing bigger games. It's a terrible idea.

My bad on the number of spots you get, I assumed you got 5

If so, do you think UEFA should throw all of its teams in one pot and select their groups completely from an entirely random draw?

[Finnegan]

Sorry this was posted some days a go but please elaborate on this?

I would take Bale, Jon Williams, Ramsey, Allen, Bellamy as a single unit over England, Scotland and Ireland's equivalent. Certainly given the age of Lampard and Gerrard.

We don't have a striker good enough for a prem side, really, and our defence is 50% solid and unspectacular and 50% dubious. We've got an awful manager with no vision and no inspirational quality and we've the strength in depth of Luxembourg.

But that midfield? All fit and playing? That's good enough for any major tournament and all but one of them are young, hungry lads with bags more potential. Literally the only thing about being Welsh that's half decent, in football terms.

Much better than the midfield Giggs had around him.

[Finnegan]

To add, given he's a bit of an unknown, I can seriously see little Jon Williams being a star. Can easily imagine him being snapped up by an Arsenal or Liverpool.

In fact, I'd love it if Rogers signed him to play with Allen. That's a Welsh Xavi and Iniesta right there to go with our Welsh Xabi Alonso ( Ramsey!)

[Dan]

If so, do you think UEFA should throw all of its teams in one pot and select their groups completely from an entirely random draw?

 

Yep. Explain why they shouldn't.

[Father Ted]

I would take Bale, Jon Williams, Ramsey, Allen, Bellamy as a single unit over England, Scotland and Ireland's equivalent. Certainly given the age of Lampard and Gerrard.

 

[Guest MattP]

I would take Bale, Jon Williams, Ramsey, Allen, Bellamy as a single unit over England, Scotland and Ireland's equivalent. Certainly given the age of Lampard and Gerrard.

 

You are really going to have to start producing some results if you are going to be claiming things like this.

[Finnegan]

You are really going to have to start producing some results if you are going to be claiming things like this.

Er, like you do?

Read the rest of the post. I fully understand our place in world football. I'm as massively dejected by Welsh football as I was during Toshack's reign. We're a laughing stock.

We got pumped by a third world country with a half decent talent in one Chelsea defender and nobody else of note and they'll probably beat us at home.

But collectively, even if only on paper, that's a superb midfield. It's not like you have much by world class to offer in comparison. Ted wants to see Townsend and Walcott starting for you.

I should stress, I'm as much talking about the future as the present. Lamps and Stevie G are top players but they're both box to box workhorses in their 30s and I've not found many honest England fans that are inspired by who's replacing them.

In fact, it's only because I've popped up to take a dig that anybody's stopped being highly.negative about English football and bothered to defend it. Reading this forum normally you'd swear you're all following Macedo-... ah, crap.

[Guest MattP]

Er, like you do?

Read the rest of the post. I fully understand our place in world football. I'm as massively dejected by Welsh football as I was during Toshack's reign. We're a laughing stock.

We got pumped by a third world country with a half decent talent in one Chelsea defender and nobody else of note and they'll probably beat us at home.

But collectively, even if only on paper, that's a superb midfield. It's not like you have much by world class to offer in comparison. Ted wants to see Townsend and Walcott starting for you.

I should stress, I'm as much talking about the future as the present. Lamps and Stevie G are top players but they're both box to box workhorses in their 30s and I've not found many honest England fans that are inspired by who's replacing them.

In fact, it's only because I've popped up to take a dig that anybody's stopped being highly.negative about English football and bothered to defend it. Reading this forum normally you'd swear you're all following Macedo-... ah, crap.

 

Well yeah, as shit as we are we got to the last 8 of the Euros last time and last 16 of a World Cup.

 

That's a million miles away from a team who are about 15 points off the top of their group after 7-8 qualifying games and have only beaten Scotland of any note recently.

 

We've got some tough times ahead no doubt but players like Hart, Wilshire, Walcott, Rooney, Cahill, Baines etc etc should still see us at least making play offs or just getting to major tournaments, you are still an absolute mile off and I don't see that changing for a long time.

[Finnegan]

Well yeah, as shit as we are we got to the last 8 of the Euros last time and last 16 of a World Cup.

 

That's a million miles away from a team who are about 15 points off the top of their group after 7-8 qualifying games and have only beaten Scotland of any note recently.

 

We've got some tough times ahead no doubt but players like Hart, Wilshire, Walcott, Rooney, Cahill, Baines etc etc should still see us at least making play offs or just getting to major tournaments, you are still an absolute mile off and I don't see that changing for a long time.

 

But I'm not at any point claiming we're a good side. I made a throw-away statement about having a good midfield - as a singular unit (largely carried by Bale and Ramsey) - and nothing more.

 

As I said, we've a very average defence and absolutely no goalscoring forward of note what so ever. Even at Championship level. We've also got a diabolical manager and to top it all off, the above midfield have played together about once in the last 2985420842 internationals. Allen, Ramsey and Bale are perpetually being withdrawn by their domestic sides for "injuries." 

[Uncle Albert]

In fairness Joe Allen does actually have a legitamet injury.

I'm not going to write a response in comparing the Welsh and English midfield, would turn into such a pointless argument, I know deep down you wouldn't choose the Welsh midfield if you had the choice Finners.

A good start to the season and people are now amazed by Aaron Ramsay, reality will soon kick in and the Arsenal and Welsh contingent will once again realise how poor he is.

[Finnegan]

I'm not arguing with anyone that thinks Ramsey is a poor player, either, so we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Uncle Albert]

This is the same Aaron Ramsay who was booed for much of the season from his own home supporters? I'm sure it is.

Mate if you can't see he's being played at Arsenal because of their lack in depth then you're more blinded than I thought, if Podolski hadn't got injured then Ramsay would not be getting in that Arsenal side after international break with the inclusion of Ozil, that's fact as well.

Sagna ---- Mertesacker ---- Koscielny ---- Gibbs

Arteta ---- Wilshire

Walcott ---------- Ozil ----------- Cazorla

Giroud

Don't kid yourself into thinking Ramsay is something spectacular because he is starting for Arsenal.

[Finnegan]

Was first choice before his injury, rated very highly by Wenger and the Gooners. Has taken him a long time to get form and fitness back but he's very much getting closer to his old self and fully deserves the plaudits currently.

[Uncle Albert]

Was first choice before his injury, rated very highly by Wenger and the Gooners. Has taken him a long time to get form and fitness back but he's very much getting closer to his old self and fully deserves the plaudits currently.

Simple yes or no question coming up, will Aaron Ramsay start over any of these four players in a central position, Jack Wilshire, Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla or Mesut Ozil?

[Tom17LCFC]

I genuinely do rate Ramsey and obviously Bale, but Bellamy, Williams and Allen?! In a few years there's no doubt Williams will blossom (providing he continues in the prem which I'm sure he will) but for now there's absolutely no chance I'd take the Wales midfield over ours.

[Finnegan]

Er, yes, if he keeps up current form I don't see why not.

Like I said, Wenger rates him highly and has stuck by the lad a lot, even when his form was woeful post-injury.

[Uncle Albert]

Haha **** off.

Ramsay over any of them is embarrassing.

We'll see how much he rates Ramsay when they're all fully fit.

[Stadt]

Ramsey is a good player and probably is at the same level as Arteta but Cazorla and Özil are far superior, Wilshere is currently better than Ramsey but that could change.