TheStagMan

Just seen an article about this and looks like we have been unfair to the steward. He was enforcing a rule for all Netherlands clubs that banners asking for shirts are forbidden. It seems the steward then went to the dressing room, found Diaby and asked him to meet the boy to give him his shirt. The video with Diaby is a result of the stewards actions. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12680319/AZ-Alkmaar-say-steward-RIGHT-confiscate-bin-tearful-young-fans-banner-reveal-role-making-amends.html

Well, in the spirit of this competition (massively overcomplicating things for no reason), here are the rules: The teams are ranked by points won during the group stage. Three points are awarded for a win, one point is awarded for a tie and no points for a loss. According to UEFA, if tied on points the following tiebreaking criteria are applied: 1. higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question. 2. superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question. 3. higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question. 4. higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question. If after having applied criteria 1. through 4., teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1. through 4. 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 5. through 12. apply in the order given to the two or more teams still equal. 5. superior goal difference in all group matches. 6. higher number of goals scored in all group matches. 7. higher number of away goals scored in all group matches. 8. higher number of wins in all group matches. 9. higher number of away wins in all group matches. 10. lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points). 11. higher club coefficient. TL;DR Effectively head-to-head results..... So, if we end up level on points with them at the end of the group stage, we would have needed to beat them 1-0 or 2-1 at Villa park to be above them under rule 4, or just win by 2 goals outright to be above them under rule 2. We could also afford to have beaten them 3-2 if we have an overall better GD. Best plan is just to score more points than them.

Can we bring this referee back with us? He is decent.

Chaps, I don't want to jinx it, but I think we might win this!

OK, come on Villa, keep the ball and calm things down for a few minutes

He just clarified Premier League for the calendar year (i.e. under Unai's reign)

Might be total for the season including league and cups possibly, but yes, GD of +10 in the PL.

Starting to actually feel sorry for Alkmaar LOL

yeah, a mile offside

Youri definitely staking a claim

Fecking Hell Boubs Hopefully that stops us getting complacent.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice

Duran on the bench then. Not in the bomb squad!

My eyes!!!!!

Sorry, I have not been paying attention. Are we still supposed to be "rattled"?

This seems like a terrible decision for Birmingham City. I'm all for it.

12 minutes added on!!!

Good man Pau, making up for it

Fecking hate the dog heads

If McGinn makes it to the end of this match I will be amazed

Come on fellas... positivity We could be sitting pretty in third place after this game. UTV. Lets do this!!!

Fecking hell. Robert Downey Jr has let himself go.

14 years later, yes, he is still an idiot.

Nope. Great player but an utter embarrassment off the pitch. Don't want him back.

Tom Brady must be so proud of "his" players.