Ouchmefoot

Wow, that was some shocking officiating. What a load of bullshit.

Spurs now just 3 points behind with two games in hand and a better GD. And they finish with Sheff Utd and Burnley  

Fifth place looking likely.

The wall was positioned perfectly to stop that route to goal. Just stand where you're meant to Zaniolo you ****

Worst ref I've seen this year, just really really bad for both teams. A total clown.

In the last 20 years, only once has 2.0ppg (76 points) not been enough for top 4. The exception was in 2013/2014 when Arsenal finished 4th  with 79 points. Everton were 5th on 72.

If we beat  Forest on Saturday we'll be exactly 2.0ppg (Played 26, Points 52). Just need to keep it going...

3 minutes ago, GlobalVillan said:

Am I the only one who thinks the ref was good today? At least for us?

15 others agree with you on the vote atm.

I gave 'very poor' for the officiating in general. VAR shafted us twice and free kicks were given for nothing. Thankfully, it didn't cost us this time (unlike man u and newcastle)

1 hour ago, ozvillafan said:

It's ManUre. We aren't in great form. We have injury concerns and a short bench. Ref will give them everything.

Not looking forward to this one.

We'll win this by 2+ goals. I'm buzzing for it

Dont get me wrong, we were crap and deserved to lose but that free kick wasn't a free kick and there should have been 10+ mins added time.

Never doubt Unai's powers

We have a real problem at the moment. There was a lot of playing badly but winning since Man City, apparently the sign of a good team. Now we're playing badly and dropping points.

If teams sit back we have real trouble to breaking them down and our high line leaves us vulnerable to the counter.

If teams high press we try to play quick balls and give it away in midfield (and our high line leaves us vulnerable to the counter).

I'm hoping Unai can turn it around on Saturday. If we really have a top 4 chance we need to be beating the team bottom of the league. Bailey has to start

Epic Emery half-time team talk, Bailey on...into the next round

Moussa 5ft7in

Duran 6ft1in

Put a wad on Baltimore pre-season but support 49ers so hoping for a top seed superbowl

Ugh. Away again  

On 01/01/2024 at 17:39, Pongo Waring said:

Villa are the bookies 9th favourite to win the FA Cup. Even Brighton have better odds than us to win it.

You can kinda understand it given our recent record in the FA cup. 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/pokalhistorie/verein/405

Now what? Do I hope for a Man Utd win? I can't bring myself to do that...maybe a draw

The bookies are getting worried  

Haha, MOTD2: I know Villa won but it's really a three horse race isn't it.

13 minutes ago, brommy said:

But if, after equal results between two teams, they are still level, it then goes to a difference in points (a) against other teams in the group, they wouldn't be level to even start the comparison.

It should state that it goes to goal difference (b) and then goals scored (c) and NOT even reference points (a).

Yep, I agree,

I think it means it moves to points, goal difference and then goals scored against the other teams in the group.

When Mings is fit again, stick 'em both in the England defence

On 11/11/2023 at 19:42, Lichfield Dean said:

Can you explain the 1-0 and 2-1 please? I get the 2 goal thing, because we would have won and lost against Legia and would have a better goal difference against them in those games. But if we win 1-0 why does that guarantee we win the group? Surely we'd have equal goal difference and equal goals scored, so then it becomes ordinary goal difference across the table doesn't it?

OK, having checked the official rules I was perhaps over optimistic about the 1-0, 2-1. Another site said that it went to away goals if scores are equal, which it turns out is wrong and only applies much later on (point g)

TL;DR yep you are right. 2 goal win = win group, 1-0, 2-1 = goal difference across the table after the Mostar game.

I found the official rules which are:

If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied in the order given to determine their rankings:

a. higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;
b. superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;
c. higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question;
d. if, after having applied criteria a) to c), teams still have an equal ranking, criteria a) to c) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria e) to k) apply in the order given to the two or more teams still equal;
e. superior goal difference in all group matches;
f. higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
g. higher number of away goals scored in all group matches;
h. higher number of wins in all group matches;
i. higher number of away wins in all group matches;
j. lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
k. higher club coefficient

This is from the official UEFA page (https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Europa-Conference-League-2023/24/Article-16-Equality-of-points-group-stage-Online)

If we beat Legia 1-0, 2-1 or by 2 goals we win the the group.

The Mostar game would then be irrelevant because only Legia could catch us and they would be placed below us because of the head-to-head record