Philippe Senderos

[Pat McMahon]

Ranked 8th? Blimey. Didn't know that. Still, Senderos isn't a regular starter for them. I really wish him well at Villa but can't help thinking he won't add much more than what we already have. I really hope I'm wrong.

Switzerland's ranking of 8th is partly due to the complicated FIFA ranking system which I think is based on results, the ranking of the opponent and the importance of the match (tournament games have more ranking than qualifiers, which in turn have more ranking than friendlies).

At the time of the draw last December I read that Brazil were ranked 11th in the world, and Switzerland were 7th, above Italy, for example. Judicious use of friendlies is one factor in this - choosing the right opponents to gain maximum points and putting out a strong rather than an experimental team to ensure victory.

[silhillvilla]

Factoring in friendly results into FIFA rankings is mad and misleading . See England for example who are one of the worlds best form friendly sides but come a "real" game we are a joke !

[UK Redsox]

Ranked 8th? Blimey. Didn't know that. Still, Senderos isn't a regular starter for them. I really wish him well at Villa but can't help thinking he won't add much more than what we already have. I really hope I'm wrong.

Switzerland's ranking of 8th is partly due to the complicated FIFA ranking system which I think is based on results, the ranking of the opponent and the importance of the match (tournament games have more ranking than qualifiers, which in turn have more ranking than friendlies).

At the time of the draw last December I read that Brazil were ranked 11th in the world, and Switzerland were 7th, above Italy, for example. Judicious use of friendlies is one factor in this - choosing the right opponents to gain maximum points and putting out a strong rather than an experimental team to ensure victory.

Switzerland should be praised for taking that approach.

[Pat McMahon]

Ranked 8th? Blimey. Didn't know that. Still, Senderos isn't a regular starter for them. I really wish him well at Villa but can't help thinking he won't add much more than what we already have. I really hope I'm wrong.

Switzerland's ranking of 8th is partly due to the complicated FIFA ranking system which I think is based on results, the ranking of the opponent and the importance of the match (tournament games have more ranking than qualifiers, which in turn have more ranking than friendlies).

At the time of the draw last December I read that Brazil were ranked 11th in the world, and Switzerland were 7th, above Italy, for example. Judicious use of friendlies is one factor in this - choosing the right opponents to gain maximum points and putting out a strong rather than an experimental team to ensure victory.

Switzerland should be praised for taking that approach.

If I were at the FA it would certainly be high in my thinking too, TV.

The FA however need to raise revenue to pay off Wembley so focus on crowd pleasing opposition which tends to be tougher teams - Chile and Germany last autumn spring to mind. The manager also seems to be under constant pressure not to "overplay" top players so we use friendlies as a means of bedding in new players and formations (ho ho ho) with less focus on the result.

[pauliewalnuts]

What practical effect does a higher FIFA ranking actually have for a country, though? Other than prestige, I mean?

[Dave]

Tournament seedings? Doesn't guarantee that you'll end up in an easy group, but you're better off going in as top seeds than not.

[paul_e]

tournament seedings.

[Matt Collins]

Yes Switzerland were top seeds. Even with France as second seeds they still got a pretty easy group

We'd have got a much easier group if we'd been seeded top

[Toronto Villa]

well done big Phil today. I thought he was very good and made life quite easy for his partner Ron Vlaar. Vlaar looks so much more composed with an experienced defender next to him. He's not cleaning up for Baker, and it allows him to stay in his position.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Yeah he was superb. I like the way he and Vlaar were fist bumping each other as well. Solid partnership.

[Toronto Villa]

As much as all are excited by Okore, he's a young kid with tremendous promise. It would good to allow him time work his way into the first XI. Senderos won't be brilliant every week but he'll be solid most of the time. A good CB partner will be critical to his form.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Agreed. Although I find the idea of Vlaar, Okore & Senderos all on top form fighting for places to be a very exciting prospect

[TheTimVilla]

According to my (Swiss) wife, the correct way to pronounce his surname is to emphasise the second syllable and say it 'air'.

[Percy McCarthy]

One day, many years in the future, wise men as yet unborn will crack one of the great mysteries of the universe, namely what happened ten minutes after kick-off against Stoke to turn a team who were playing well into the bag of shite that finished the season.

Stoke is the common denominator, weird, it's where it all went tits up when 2-0 up & cruising in 2009.

Simply consider the monumental history altering impact of that last Stoke goal. All of the things that came of that. Moscow fallout, crushing decline from what appeared sure CL qualification, players leaving, manager walking out, near financial ruin, immense fan disillusionment. So many horrible things in large part down to "that goal"

There was a Stoke fan sitting next to me that day. I sussed him when they scored their first, spotting a clenched fist out of the corner of my eye. But I didn't mind, he'd behaved all game. When they equalised he gave himself away a little bit more, with a supressed 'yessss'.

If I'd have known how it was all going to pan out I'd have chinned him.

[pauliewalnuts]

One day, many years in the future, wise men as yet unborn will crack one of the great mysteries of the universe, namely what happened ten minutes after kick-off against Stoke to turn a team who were playing well into the bag of shite that finished the season.

Stoke is the common denominator, weird, it's where it all went tits up when 2-0 up & cruising in 2009.

Simply consider the monumental history altering impact of that last Stoke goal. All of the things that came of that. Moscow fallout, crushing decline from what appeared sure CL qualification, players leaving, manager walking out, near financial ruin, immense fan disillusionment. So many horrible things in large part down to "that goal"

There was a Stoke fan sitting next to me that day. I sussed him when they scored their first, spotting a clenched fist out of the corner of my eye. But I didn't mind, he'd behaved all game. When they equalised he gave himself away a little bit more, with a supressed 'yessss'.

If I'd have known how it was all going to pan out I'd have chinned him.

Walking out of the ground that day was the most depressed I think I've been after a game at any point in the last 20 years. I think everyone else felt the same, we all knew what it meant, really.

I fucking hate Stoke.