England drop to 20th in the Rankings

[Stadt]

If Bale, Ramsey, Allen and Williams are all fit I'd be disappointed if we didn't beat them at home and at least challenge for a point away.

It's time to start performing like the sum of our parts and not bottling every challenging game. Beyond Dzeko they're bobbins. They may be hard working and organised and all of that but there's no reason we can't be too.

We've the personnel to come second in that group. No excuses now.

I didn't expect that from you.

[Dan]

Didn't realise we were to travel to Scotland and Ireland. That should be fun.

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

That may be more the case with Wales, who lack enough depth in squad - Scotland have played on the World stage before, though.

However, I would never rule out such a scenario. All depends on the groups they're drawn into and/or an exploit.

To put it in a more twisted way: At the current rate, Wales and Scotland are more likely to qualify for a European Championship than England.

[Manwell Pablo]

In terms of topping the group avoiding defeat against Switzerland in the first game should probably do it, can't see us losing to them at Wembley. Unlike most I think topping the group will be a bit harder than a lot make out (given there is a complete disregard for the Swiss team on this forum for some reason) but I think we'll manage it.

We should qualify regardless wouldn't have thought Slovenia will be good enough to threaten us or the Swiss, the other three really are cannon fodder, we should be taking 6 points of all of them, if we don't finish in the top two the situation is several times worse than I originally thought

[AKCJ]

I'm neither surprised or bothered.

[Grandad.]

If Bale, Ramsey, Allen and Williams are all fit I'd be disappointed if we didn't beat them at home and at least challenge for a point away.

It's time to start performing like the sum of our parts and not bottling every challenging game. Beyond Dzeko they're bobbins. They may be hard working and organised and all of that but there's no reason we can't be too.

We've the personnel to come second in that group. No excuses now.

When you say Williams, you don't mean Ashley Williams do you?

Will Ben Davies be a starter for you? Seen Liverpool linked with him, liked the look of him last season, when I did see him play.

Didn't realise we were to travel to Scotland and Ireland. That should be fun.

I'm going to Glasgow, train up on the day, be a fantastic day out.

[Finnegan]

When you say Williams, you don't mean Ashley Williams do you?

Will Ben Davies be a starter for you? Seen Liverpool linked with him, liked the look of him last season, when I did see him play.

I'm going to Glasgow, train up on the day, be a fantastic day out.

I mean Ashley Williams. He's not world class, I wasn't implying he was of Bale or even Ramsey's quality. But he's a solid, premiership defender and that makes him a rare Welsh commodity.

Ben Davies should and likely will be our first choice now, yes. We're alright on full backs, we've got some real promise and none of it's very old. Neil Taylor's probably the wily veteran of our current crop and he's twenty five. I like Declan John a lot, I think he's going to have a great career and I'd like to see Adam Matthews get a move to the Premier League, he's good enough.

But Davies could really do a job in the top half, would be a good fit for Liverpool I think and I'd like to see him work with Brendan Rodgers. You and he could both do worse. Likes to get forward, plenty of energy, good athlete, actually quite a good footballer as well - I've seen him cut in and hit them looking more like a winger.

[Finnegan]

Really I think you are a million miles away from Bosnia. They are 3/1 to win the group, Wales are 50/1! Obviously Bale and Ramsey are top notch but I don't think a single other player in the 11 gets into Bosnia's team.

I think you're fighting for third with Israel. Which could be a huge bonus now given you might get two home games.

Our odds are a fair reflection of our group pitted up against our track record and I wouldn't argue that. The fact of the matter is that our form has been underwhelming under Coleman, as has our selection options. I don't feel inspired by him and I'm not confident that the players - the best players - are inspired to play for him.

I stand by what I said - or at least, what I felt I was implying - our best eleven shows up we're better than Bosnia. Straight up. I'm not even having the argument that we aren't, Bale makes sides like theirs look ordinary on his own. No, one player can't win you a world cup, not against the likes of Germany, France, Argentina, et all. But against Bosnia? Israel? Andorra? I've seen him do it to teams of their calibre.

The real danger is that he plays less than half our qualifiers, Ramsey plays even less, Allen's expected to carry us on his own and our best attacker ends up being Simon Church for most of our games. That's Wales, that's who we are and that's why we're 50/1. We have zero depth and end up calling on Championship reserves and League One starlets when push comes to shove. That's been our record since Sparky stepped down and it only briefly looked like wavering under Speedo.

But I've got faint optimism about this campaign. I think our increased odds of qualifying will motivate the players. I think Bale is genuinely passionate about playing for his country and I'm hoping the rest of the side are genuinely passionate about playing with Bale. It may not be the best stratagem but eh.

That said, I was optimistic before our last Euro qualifying campaign and we went and flopped against Montenegro (who I still insist are shit.) So what do I know?

[Grandad.]

Ben Davies should and likely will be our first choice now, yes. We're alright on full backs, we've got some real promise and none of it's very old. Neil Taylor's probably the wily veteran of our current crop and he's twenty five. I like Declan John a lot, I think he's going to have a great career and I'd like to see Adam Matthews get a move to the Premier League, he's good enough.

But Davies could really do a job in the top half, would be a good fit for Liverpool I think and I'd like to see him work with Brendan Rodgers. You and he could both do worse. Likes to get forward, plenty of energy, good athlete, actually quite a good footballer as well - I've seen him cut in and hit them looking more like a winger.

We've just had an £8 million bid turned down for him this evening, Swansea are going to play hard ball and want more after Suarez going.

[Guest Col city fan]

The England Football Team 2014:

[Bert]

That may be more the case with Wales, who lack enough depth in squad - Scotland have played on the World stage before, though.

However, I would never rule out such a scenario. All depends on the groups they're drawn into and/or an exploit.

 

To put it in a more twisted way: At the current rate, Wales and Scotland are more likely to qualify for a European Championship than England.

I really hope you're trolling with this.

Scotland and Wales to England are what England are to Germany.

[Finnegan]

I really hope you're trolling with this.

Scotland and Wales to England are what England are to Germany.

Uhm, probably more like what Slovakia or Belarus are to Germany. Let's be honest.

[Beliall]

 

they probably give the FA more money to play against a prestigious nation like England, we'd have to pay to take on the good teams.

 

Because you get no ranking points if you lose them.

 

The ranking system is rubbish as you will get a much better ranking if you play fewer friendlies, that doesn't mean we should pick friendlies to help our rank though, it means they should change the ranking system.

Thanks.

[MC Prussian]

I really hope you're trolling with this.

Scotland and Wales to England are what England are to Germany.

I was trying to figure out how far POTM logic would get me, of course it was just a tease.

No way will England finish third or fourth in the EC 2016 qualifying group. With a few exceptions, you usually walk it easily and I expect no less this time around.