Actually, I don't get how this group works out if Man Utd lose and Basel win. Basel can't finish above Utd, as their head-to-head's worse, but the same applies to CSKA and Basel, as the Swiss team's ahead. Does it just go down to goal difference, then? If so, then it's a 5 goal swing. The rule's a bit poorly explained.
Excactly so, they are 9 goals better off than CSKA, so a 10 goal swing in the last would put Utd second. They are 6 goals better off than Basle and Basle have no more relevant games to play to improve GD (though they do have to beat Benfica or it's academic). 6-0 wouldn't do as Utd get through on goals scored, but a 7 goal reverse and it's down to 3rd Neither is likely to happen, sadly.
Matth may have been on the case ... http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...nited-champions-league-qualification-13941834
What happens if CSKA win 4-0 and Basel beat Benfica? Man Utd would have better head-to-head against Basel, who would have better head-to-head against CSKA, who would have it over Man Utd. Goal difference?
And Liverpool's group could also end in a 3 way tie. If Sevilla draw away in Maribor and Moscow win at Anfield, then all have 9 points. If Sevilla win and Liverpool lose, they are out, as Moscow would have a better head to head record and Sevilla more points. If Sevilla only draw, then Liverpool would have to lose by 5 goals at home to drop below Sevilla.
Should probably move all these musings to the UEFA watch article (I have the Chelsky scenario there) .
Of more importance though is our potential last 16 opponent 1 Basle or Moscow (could also be Utd, very unlikely though and we can't play them yet) 2 Bayern or PSG (an unlikely 4-0 win for Bayern over PSG would put them top) Would like to avoid either 3 Roma or Atletico (Roma only need to win at home to Carrier Bag) 4 Juventus or Sporting Sporting need a win in Barca and hope Juve don't beat Olympiacos 5 Sevilla or Spartak (could be Pool second, but we can't play them yet) 6 Shaktar or Napoli 7 Porto or Leipzig Obviously like to avoid Bayern (or the very unlikely possibility of PSG), but would fancy any other draw. None easy but none we'd be huge underdogs for.
Basel please - We owe them for the Europa defeat on pens and its a shortish journey and a match that over 2 legs (home in 2nd) that we should win.
We're forgetting the other possibility: Florentino Perez has a word and we somehow draw Los Ladrones. To be played under Francoist rules.
Increasingly, my first consideration is "where am I/members of my family least likely to get stabbed or beaten to a pulp?" It's an age thing......I used to be immortal, now, not so much. There are some red flagged destinations in that lot......particularly Roma, Sevilla and Napoli. I'd love Moscow or a Portuguese club. Given the cost, Mrs B would love Portugal.
If Utd got back to 4-4-2 with two wingers and a game plan of relentless attacking, this would never be an issue. 10 years ago Utd thrashed Roma 7-1 with the best display of attacking football I've seen. Oh for a return to that style of football.
Couldn't help notice a lot of Goons on r/soccer whinging that Koln are 1-0 up because the ref gave them a soft penalty. Didn't take long before their own advice of "Get over it" and "Stop complaining" was ignored, did it?
For the richest football club in the world to be playing the same football as WBA under Pulis is a terrible waste of resources. It's easy to rail against the sheer ridiculous extent of the spending of PSG and Citeh but it's hard not to admire their intent to play fabulous football. I don't see the angry little Portuguese bloke diverting from his increasingly boring and negative tactics. If anything, he's getting worse. Long term, that's not great for United. I'm not sure that it's great for English football either. Games like Liverpool v United are unwatchable. I don't bother any more. That shouldn't be the case. If the future funding of the Premier League is to be increasingly based upon foreign TV, we need a decent product to sell. It's not all about winning.......it really isn't
I think all managers stick to what they're used to and has worked for them. Unfortunately. some managers are pragmatists. It's about avoiding risk and settling for small, achievable targets. Utd's ambitions with the players available to Mourinho should be much higher in terms of results and performances .Pragmatism might have its place against better opponents, but too much respect is shown to lesser ones. Basel should have been put to the sword.
Everton with a strong side out 0-1. Cut to ribbons. I've heard that there were free tickets on offer to try and make it look less dreadful in the ground. It didn't work. It looks like the Taxpayers' Arena after the 5th goal's gone in.
1. Their B team ain't up to the job 2. More UEFA ranking points gone. Won't be long before their ranking slips low enough that they have the CL groups of death every season (IF they ever qualify again) .
