[realmadrid]

The latest world rankings came out today and despite going up the rankings by 1 place we are now 6 places lower than Wales

If anyone thought the next World cup group would be easy they should note we are now the 5th ranked nation in the group.

At least the Georgia result from 4 years ago is no longer in our ranking score.

[KnightswoodBear]

Wales jumping 45 places since the last figures just show how fucked up the ranking system is rather than how good or bad we are

[#Gary]

Our World Cup group didn't all of a sudden get harder because of a few ranking changes.

As far as I'm aware, no one has ever said it'd be easy - rather that we could quite as easily win it as we could finish last.

[Michael W]

So on account of two victories in their last qualifiers, Wales moved up 45 places?

That seems very generous to say the least.

[MTJ]

garymcc1874, on 19 October 2011 - 14:38, said:

Our World Cup group didn't all of a sudden get harder because of a few ranking changes.

As far as I'm aware, no one has ever said it'd be easy - rather that we could quite as easily win it as we could finish last.

No, but it will open the eyes of some dismissing them to the fact they aren't even close to any of the mug teams they shared that pot with.

This post has been edited by MTJ: 19 October 2011 - 14:52

[Aufc]

world rankings are a pile of shite

[Theeesel]

so much for our "continued imporvement"

[cheesy]

We shouldn't pay attention to these woeful ranking systems until they actually mean something. Until the draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers take place, they mean nothing to us.

Even at that, they'll still be woeful and off the mark anyway.

[chico]

Aufc, on 19 October 2011 - 15:02, said:

world rankings are a pile of shite

This.

[paddymcp]

cheesy, on 19 October 2011 - 16:39, said:

We shouldn't pay attention to these woeful ranking systems until they actually mean something. Until the draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers take place, they mean nothing to us.

Even at that, they'll still be woeful and off the mark anyway.

The results we get now still effect the ranking we achieve in about 2013/2014 when the draw is made for that Euros.

So in effect these results do matter.

[gordon the gopher]

I think it is a good thing that we have Wales rather than a San Marino as Wales are much more likely to take points from Belgium/Serbia/Craotia than a proper minnow country.

[Kejan]

gordon the gopher, on 19 October 2011 - 16:51, said:

I think it is a good thing that we have Wales rather than a San Marino as Wales are much more likely to take points from Belgium/Serbia/Craotia than a proper minnow country.

And take points from us too!

[HibeeJibee]

cheesy, on 19 October 2011 - 16:39, said:

We shouldn't pay attention to these woeful ranking systems until they actually mean something. Until the draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers take place, they mean nothing to us.

They mean something all the time. Even if Euro 2016 draw didn't use them, WC2018 draw will and it'd be based on friendly results from 2011-12 to 2014-15 inclusive. In otherwords, it always matters, identifying how things are headed.

[H_B]

Don't think it's that unreasonable.

I'd fancy Wales to beat Scotland if they played at a neutral venue tomorrow.

[itzdrk]

wales and scotland are about the same nowadays

[qos_75]

I'd fancy Scotland to beat Wales at the moment.

[paddymcp]

gordon the gopher, on 19 October 2011 - 16:51, said:

I think it is a good thing that we have Wales rather than a San Marino as Wales are much more likely to take points from Belgium/Serbia/Craotia than a proper minnow country.

The proverbial double edged sword.

I'd be inclined to say that Wales will be more up for playing Scotland and presumably have less call offs than against the other sides in the group.

[joe pineapples]

I'd find getting beaten by the welsh a total embarrassment. Whatever their so called ranking might be.

[Ludo *1]

I'm going to be extremely scientific and compare the teams that Scotland & Wales last fielded.

Wales:

Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams, Darcy Blake, Gareth Bale, Andrew Crofts, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy, Steve Morison.

Scotland:

McGregor, Hutton, Berra, Caldwell, Bardsley, Morrison, Fletcher Adam, Bannan Mackail-Smith, Naismith

Results:

McGregor > Hennessey.
Hutton > Gunter
Bardsley > Taylor
Berra < Williams
Caldwell > Blake
Morrison < Bale
Fletcher > Crofts
Adam > Allen
Bannan < Ramsey
Mackail-Smith < Bellamy
Naismith > Morison.

Therefore, Wales' only players that would get into the Scotland team are Bale, Bellamy & Williams. We are clearly superior.

[itzdrk]

Ludo *1, on 20 October 2011 - 00:11, said:

I'm going to be extremely scientific and compare the teams that Scotland & Wales last fielded.

Wales:

Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams, Darcy Blake, Gareth Bale, Andrew Crofts, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy, Steve Morison.

Scotland:

McGregor, Hutton, Berra, Caldwell, Bardsley, Morrison, Fletcher Adam, Bannan Mackail-Smith, Naismith

Results:

McGregor > Hennessey.
Hutton > Gunter
Bardsley > Taylor
Berra < Williams
Caldwell > Blake
Morrison < Bale
Fletcher > Crofts
Adam > Allen
Bannan < Ramsey
Mackail-Smith < Bellamy
Naismith > Morison.

Therefore, Wales' only players that would get into the Scotland team are Bale, Bellamy & Williams. We are clearly superior.

[aidan-bufc]

Theeesel, on 19 October 2011 - 16:16, said:

so much for our "continued imporvement"

Scotland still moved up 1 place in the rankings, and that's still an improvement you would think ...

[Ludo *1]

itzdrk, on 20 October 2011 - 00:15, said:

Blake struggles to get in the Cardiff squad in the Championship, and when he does, he plays at right back. Whereas Gary Coleman on the other hand, is now captain at Wigan and despite never performing above average for Scotland, he is half decent at Wigan.

[McKee]

No chance Hutton is better than Gunter either.

[McKee]

Ludo *1, on 20 October 2011 - 00:21, said:

Blake struggles to get in the Cardiff squad in the Championship, and when he does, he plays at right back. Whereas Gary Coleman on the other hand, is now captain at Wigan and despite never performing above average for Scotland, he is half decent at Wigan.

[Aufc]

Both teams are similar. Both have 2-3 stand out players surrounded by good to average players. I would say wales three best players are better than our three best players but we have a better all round team if that makes sense.