That I accept but I have to admit I find the away goal ruling farcical in the group stage. It seems incredible that the team that has scored the most goals (16) in the group stage and accumulated the most points (10) not to qualify won't make it. Since when is 2-1 > 3-2? Isn't the whole purpose of a group stage to measure how you do against all other opposition in that league (Goal Difference)? Anyway our own faults for not beating Juventus at home and now City aren't in the EL we'll be by a top 2/3 team in this competition,
I agree that away goals is an unsatisfying idea, but qualification must be based on head to head results, otherwise whoever plays the minnows in the last game has a huge advantage given that they would know how many goals they need to score and the opposition might know they have no chance of qualification for the knock out round or Europa League. Perhaps you could consider goal difference but only within a mini-league of those eligible for qualification (i.e. not counting the minnows).
Its all well and good talking about scoring 16 goals of which 10 came against the poorest team. Your downfall was scoring 6 in the other 4 matches against your equals. The second stat does not make your team look as entertaining as the goals 'for' column may suggest. Or the 10 points you gained of which you gained 6 against a piss poor team and 4 points in 4 matches against your equals. This is why the 'head to head' rule is applied.
Juve was our big mistake. Still, we're out now so need to win the lesser one and seriously concentrate on the PL. Without top 4, which is no certainty, we will be really buggered next year. I'd write off the FA, play the kids and concentrate on the league, like the other top 4 teams do.
Letting Juventus back in it when we were 2-0 up has now proved to be fatal. Still we will now be getting JT and Lamps back and the scoreline and Torres performance bode well for getting us back in it!
We all understand that but in head to head we were even with Shaktar save for they scored more away goals. Surely the fact we outscored them in the group should be seen as better than the away goal rule. We only have ourselves to blame but the rule is a bit silly.
FWIW - the rules are the rules and we know them beforehand so we should play with them in mind throughout the competition. This is what Spuds did not understand re their 'robbed' fourth place last year. I am happy with this particular rule tbh - we should have played better.
The rules are known to all before the tournament starts. They are based on the head to head of the teams trying to go through. which is the best way to do it. Otherwise a weak team like the danish side, distorts the results. Also your argument about outscoring Shaktar is a bit tenious. You scored 3 at home and 1 away. They scored 2 at home and 2 away. Both scored 4 goals each but Shaktar scored 2 goals at SB which is the better achievement
I think we were just unhappy that the rules allowed an inferior side to qualify based on a lucky cup run. Based on Chelsea's efforts this year I hope they change the rules to allow the best sides to get through based on season long league form.
The only difference if 5pu1s had been in our group instead of us is that Nordsjaelland would have had a chance at a Europa League place.
also, what do you mean based on chelsea's efforts this season? We were 2 points off top spot and went out on GD, we're also 3rd in the league in front of you lot. We're going through a blip oh and inferior side? 5-1/4-2 disagrees.
We went out on having scored one away goal less than Shakhtar. Had we beat them at the Bridge 2-1, or lost there 3-2 we would have gone through on overall goal difference as our's was better than Shakhtar's. Head to head we each had a win and the same goal difference, they just had one more away goal scored.
Last night highlighted why head to heads are a better way to settle teams who finished level on points. It wouldn't have been fair on Shakhtar to go out on goal difference after you thrashed Nordsjallend who had nothing to play for in their last match. Away goals might seem a harsh way to go out but so are penalties, so is going out after bad refereeing calls, etc and it's still fairer than GD which is easily skewed, even by just one match.
I have to agree that Spurs are quite a decent side - sadly they are inferior to CFC from a performance perspective - this is immediately evident to all but the most myopic. For evidence I suggest you look at the two respective trophy cabinets, PL standings since inception and the UEFA co-efficients across the last decade or so. Without mentioning money, billionaire owners etc could you please supply the concrete objective evidence as to why why Spurs are superior to CFC in your view. Re the CL itself - I think you'll find that we have a tad more credibility than Spurs with their one (futile) punt at it - or do you count the quarter final place that you achieved as superior to our decade of performing to a high level in this competition? You really do not have any argument of merit.
Head to head is better than goal difference. I just happen to think goal difference is better than the away goal rule in a group situation. Had we won 1-0 at the bridge and lost 5-0 in Shaktar I'd have no complaints. But we each scored 4 goals and won a game each head to head. It should then revert to goal difference. As for playing an already eliminated team last, that's just luck of the draw in the same way Shaktar underperformed lasy night knowing they were through. It doesn't matter squat but ultimately we had a better goal difference and more goals scored and went out on away goals; even harsher than pens.
We actually did better than most of the 2nd place teams including the Goons. Was a tough group and unfortunate to go out on away goals. Rules is rules though and I for one am looking forward to the U-Ropey, a lovely trip to Amsterdam would be wonderful whether it's vs Ajax or the final Astounding how on the manc board, the thick ****s who said they had far too much 'class' to take the micky out of us for dropping into U-Ropey (shwan, ivor etc) are doing just that
We got more points in the PL last season which is indicative that you were worse than us over the whole season.
well they said we mocked them last year and they'd never do such a thing because they are full of class.
