ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Are we already through to the next round?

Just saw that Zenit and Nuremberg have drawn 2-2. A quick glance at uefa.com tells that the top 3 teams advance. As it stands therefore, we can finish no worse than 3rd (assuming head-to-head record counts ahead of goal difference). An excuse for a pint? Perhaps.. Does anyone know what advantages come with finishing 1st or 2nd in the group? Could this be the start of a great month?
Lorcan Walsh, Copenhagen Posted 29/11/2007 at 17:55:41

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Lyndon Lloyd

If I recall correctly, it's goal difference, etc, that counts, not head-to-head results but I could be wrong. In any case, it seems as though the teams finishing first are pitted against teams finishing third, with the second place teams having to play those teams eliminated by finishing third in the Champions League groups.

Martin Cutler
1 Posted 29/11/2007 at 19:18:32

Took awhile to find this, but Lyndon is correct;

If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of all the group
matches, the following criteria will be applied to determine the rankings:
a) superior goal difference from all group matches played;
b) higher number of goals scored;
c) higher number of goals scored away

Rupert Coghlan
2 Posted 29/11/2007 at 19:40:30

Teams who finish 1st play a team that finished 3rd in the UEFA CUP league groups.

Teams that finish 2nd play a team who finished 3rd in the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE groups.

So lets win the group!

Simon Templeman
3 Posted 29/11/2007 at 20:13:59

Thanks for the clarification Rupert. Let's win this group and at least avoid Liverpool until the next round. You never know, we may get a decent ref!

Rupert Coghlan
4 Posted 29/11/2007 at 20:26:36

The way things are going, we could play Spurs!

Eric Hardman
5 Posted 29/11/2007 at 20:50:39

If AZ-Larissa ends as a draw or Larissa win we?re through but if AZ win it?s still all to play for. I agree we should win the group and avoid either champions league losers or Uefa Cup group winners for one more round.

Paul Heery
6 Posted 29/11/2007 at 21:00:09

A draw between Larissa and AZ is the only result that definitely sends us through. If AZ win, only Larissa are out of it. If Larissa win they can still end up on 6 points by beating Nuremberg, AZ can finish on 7 by beating us and Nuremberg and Zenit can finish on 8 by beating us, in which case it comes down to goal difference between us and Larissa. A pretty unlikely scenario, but it’s a funny old game....

Eric Hardman
7 Posted 29/11/2007 at 21:30:50

Paul :
I agree. You are right about the goal difference with Larissa, but that looks academic now.

Allan Hobbs
8 Posted 29/11/2007 at 22:13:27

Spurs are top of their group, its highly unlikely we’ll play them Rupert.

We should top our group, though 2nd place wouldn’t be a disaster and could still happen, especially if we don’t beat AZ. That said, AZ drew at home to Larissa tonight, and I’d say Larissa were a decent Championship side at best.

We’re the best team in our group by a stretch and we SHOULD win the group.

Joe McParland
9 Posted 29/11/2007 at 22:31:17

Allan AZ beat Larissa tonight.
The ideal scenario would be for 2 home wins next week then we would be guarenteed to win the group.

Allan Hobbs
10 Posted 29/11/2007 at 22:45:29

I meant beat them, sorry Joe, Zenit drew eh.

Jay Harris
11 Posted 30/11/2007 at 00:19:33

Sorry to be a doom merchant but if we lose to both AZ and Zenith we could be out as Nuremberg should beat Larissa and could beat AZ.
But as we all know nobody can predict what will happen and I?m sure any of them would willingly swap places with us right now.
COYB

Martin Wareham
12 Posted 30/11/2007 at 02:21:40

Actually for the next round teams from the same country can not be drawn against each other. From the Last 16 onwards there are no country restrictions so that is the earliest we could be drawn against Liverpool or Tottenham (if they get that far).

Tim Lewis
13 Posted 30/11/2007 at 01:54:09

After tonight's games I looked over the the remaining games in our group, and it looks like the 2-2 draw between Zenit and Nurnberg did us a favour. The bottom line is that if the Blues get one point from either of their remaining two games OR Nurenburg don't win both of their remaining two games then we are through.

Let's hope we don't get Villarreal in the next round ! But if we do, at least Rilquelme has gone to Boca!

Harjinder
14 Posted 30/11/2007 at 07:25:42

To me i think we should be expecting to top the group. With the squad and form we are in, it does not matter who we play. We should be playing and winning against big teams, cos we are BIG ourselves. Be it Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Spurs, it does not matter. I have full faith we can go all the way to the final....... Nil Satis.Nisi Optimum

Rupert Coghlan
15 Posted 30/11/2007 at 09:16:49

Dear Allan, when I made the comment about Spurs they were losing 2-0 at half time. Who knows, we may still finish 3rd if we lose both our games, and could therefore play them.

Rupert Coghlan
16 Posted 30/11/2007 at 09:18:41

Except we apparently can’t play Spurs, Liverpool or Bolton I’ve just read.

Dave Trudgeon
17 Posted 30/11/2007 at 09:38:58

I just hope we don?t play for a draw against zenit
a) cos that's always risky
b) they have too many attacking players for us to invite pressure
c) I'm goin the game and I want us to play good football ? haha!

Fred Kwong
18 Posted 30/11/2007 at 09:20:50

We will be the group winner next week if we beat Zenit and AZ fail to beat Nurnberg at Germany.

Go on lads......

Steve Johnson
19 Posted 30/11/2007 at 09:48:41

full details of the Group situation can be found here:

http://www.evertonresults.com/200708uefacgrpa.htm

Jeremy Benson
20 Posted 30/11/2007 at 12:47:29

I think many of you are missing the point; Zenit are the top seeds in the group, and therefore an Everton win is not as likely as is being made out.

Jay Harris
21 Posted 30/11/2007 at 13:59:56

I agreee with you Jeremy plus they have that liitle Russian Arshavin who I would like us to get in January.The draw with AZ will put them under presuure to do well at our place.
We need to approach that game sensibly as I am sure Moyes will emphasise.
COYB

Allan Hobbs
22 Posted 30/11/2007 at 14:04:31

Zenit may be the top seed, but thats not a true reflection of how good their team is vs ours. On paper we have a better side than them, we play in a much tougher league as well so I wouldn’t read too much into seedings.

Mike Oliver
23 Posted 30/11/2007 at 16:26:14

Zenit are the Russian champions so can’t be a pushover.

On qualification - a point and we’re through or if Nuremberg don’t win both of their last two games. However, thinking longer term the more wins we get the higher our UEFA ranking and the better our chances in future tournaments.

Rob Jones
24 Posted 01/12/2007 at 19:36:00

Mike do any Russian sides qualify for CL if Zenit are the champs and they?re only in the Uefa Cup?