The following article prompted me to start a new thread:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england

It came under a heading that Hodgson is about to name his squad, but the eyecatcher is that, despite being in as parlous a state of a footballing team as I can remember, England have just been promoted to third in the FIFA world cup rankings . Pure comedy moment.

[Try to avoid dominating this thread, Smokie ]

england are better than brazil, italy and portugal apparently. it's the hodgson effect.

The England women's team seems quite decent. Maybe FIFA got mixed up.

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

Third does seem a bit generous, but rankings don't see performances or quality of players, just results, and on that basis, we are right now, really no better, no worse, than we have ever been in recent history, or are likely to be.

fifa rankings don't count matches lost on penalties as defeats. apparently that's helped england's rating.

Obviously FIFA agree with me that penalties are a stupid way of ending a game ... .err hang on - arent they the ones who decided to settle games that way?

My eye is also raised, Smokie!

So what do you suggest....golden goal after 90 minutes?

You talk too much smokes

You talk too much smokes

The least said about scottish football the better. And english for that matter!

You talk too much smokes

The least said about scottish football the better. And english for that matter!

Don't bring us into it.

After Euro 2012 and London Olympics just the riveting thread we need.

Roy Hodgson 'sorry' for Rio Ferdinand Tube comments

England manager Roy Hodgson has "tried to get in touch" with Rio Ferdinand to apologise for telling people on the Tube that he was not going to pick the Manchester United defender for England's squad to face San Marino and Poland.

Hodgson was travelling to the Emirates to watch Arsenal play Olympiakos on Wednesday when he fell into conversation with some supporters.

"I am disappointed that a stray conversation has been reported in that way," said Hodgson. "All I remember was that I was talking to quite a lot of people on the Tube and one guy said 'is Rio in the next squad?' and I think I might have said 'I don't think so'. It's a mistake and I need to apologise for that.

Full story:- http://www.telegraph...e-comments.html

it's really, really funny this. roy isn't even capable of completing a tube journey without making a helmet of himself.

Love it. Hope he stays the manager for a long, long time.

My sympathies are entirely with Roy Hodgson on this matter. He was being polite when asked a question and off went some <deleted> to the papers with his comment.

My sympathies are entirely with Roy Hodgson on this matter. He was being polite when asked a question and off went some <deleted> to the papers with his comment.

He's the England manager <deleted>! He should know better.

My sympathies are entirely with Roy Hodgson on this matter. He was being polite when asked a question and off went some <deleted> to the papers with his comment.

He's the England manager <deleted>! He should know better.

apparently handling a room full of fleet street's most hardened, cynical hacks is child's play to him but put him in front of a punter with an iphone on public transport and he just goes all to pieces. he's an utter clown.

Stevie your biased views of Hodgson are embarrassing give it a rest mate.

I don't see Rodgers performing much better.....but do you think he is cuddly or something? or has the supporters of LFC turned another corner AGAIN.

Stevie your biased views of Hodgson are embarrassing give it a rest mate.

no they're not. they're correct. you're rather nailing the boring troll role on this forum though. keep up the good work.

I'm rather concerned you will get a tough draw in the playoffs and we'll be fighting you for sunbeds in Magaluf.

Edited October 9, 201213 yr by smokie36

San Marino are 150/1 to win.

Its soooo tempting!!

San Marino are 150/1 to win.

Its soooo tempting!!

But its not really is it! i think you'll watch this one and i reckon the majority of English on here won't bother.

Thats a better bet mate!

San Marino are 150/1 to win.

Its soooo tempting!!

But its not really is it! i think you'll watch this one and i reckon the majority of English on here won't bother.

Thats a better bet mate!

Are you sure, Scotland play at the same time don't they?

San Marino are 150/1 to win.

Its soooo tempting!!

But its not really is it! i think you'll watch this one and i reckon the majority of English on here won't bother.

Thats a better bet mate!

Are you sure, Scotland play at the same time don't they?

Even more sure now!

San Marino are 150/1 to win.

Its soooo tempting!!

But its not really is it! i think you'll watch this one and i reckon the majority of English on here won't bother.

Thats a better bet mate!

Are you sure, Scotland play at the same time don't they?

Does Scotland have a football team?

San Marino are 150/1 to win.

Its soooo tempting!!

But its not really is it! i think you'll watch this one and i reckon the majority of English on here won't bother.

Thats a better bet mate!

Are you sure, Scotland play at the same time don't they?

Does Scotland have a football team?

Not really a football team as such but then again do England? In fairness we seem to be talking the difference between comically bad in scotland and piss poor in England!

Edited October 12, 201213 yr by carmine

The Scotland game is going to be torture for me. I'd rather watch your lot struggle for 90 mins to score against the minnows to be honest....that would be a proper laugh so it would!

Thought of Bale having a good game sends a shiver down my spine Italiano style....