26/27 football thread

[tiger_rick]

10 minutes ago, Jazzy G said:

They'll get a fine. 

I really don't think that can be justified given that 7 charges alone are for PSR charges, for which Everton and Forest have received points deductions. I think they get a huge fine for their non-cooperation and a big points deduction, 30+, for the breaches. I also think it's gonna be next year due to appeals and you'd imagine they'll try and go to CAS as they did after UEFA found them guilty previously.

Man City's statement taking the moral high ground is a piece of work. I really hate these fuckers. I hope they're relegated to non-league.

Quote

The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023.

The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.

 

[gmoney]

I've no ill will against City as a club really, but I don't see how you can't absolutely stuff them for this. I don't think bombing them to non league is out of the question.

[SuperBacon]

The identity of the Man City insider Mikel A. from the Basque area will forever remain a mystery.

This from last year by financial expert Kieran Maguire is interesting.

You can't really relegate them as the EFL don't have to accept them, but you can deduct them enough points to make relegation a certainty. 

On the one hand would be incredibly funny, but City away is a guaranteed 3 points for Spurs so there is that to consider.

[I Bent My Wookie]

Spurs parading the 2020/21 Premier League trophy around the ground on the opening day of the 2027/28 Championship will be a surreal but definitely feasible sight

[SuperBacon]

4 minutes ago, gmoney said:

I've no ill will against City as a club really, but I don't see how you can't absolutely stuff them for this. I don't think bombing them to non league is out of the question.

I think a 25 year prison sentence for Enzo Fernandez on top of this would be justified to be honest. 

[Jazzy G]

Everton and Forest aren't huge global brands like City though. They're big clubs with rich histories, but they don't have City's resources. Or lawyers. 

I agree that they should have the book thrown at them, but they'll just keep everything tied up for so long that by the time it reaches that stage the CAS will say too much time has passed for any meaningful punishment to be issued apart from a fine.

All relegating them is going to do is lead to a side that could have had a shot at automatic promotion having to try through the play-offs, or a side that could have gone up through the playoffs missing out because City are taking one of the top places. 

The financial repercussions for clubs affected by City getting relegated are potentially catastrophic depending on how far down the league you send them.

On the flip side they'd potentially all get a day out at the Etihad, and some cash from that but would it be as much as they'd get if they were promoted? 

Plus, there'd be all that "Hello, hello, City are back, city are back." to put up with then they do get back to the Premier League. 

City will get a fine and a transfer embargo. Maybe a points deduction, but how many points do you deduct for it to actually mean something? 40? 50? Force them to liquidate the club and start again. 

[Devon Malcolm]

2 hours ago, gmoney said:

I've no ill will against City as a club really, but I don't see how you can't absolutely stuff them for this. I don't think bombing them to non league is out of the question.

If they send them to the North-West Counties league (division 1 - north) they can play Maine Road!

[Sergio Mendacious]

5 hours ago, Jazzy G said:

Everton and Forest aren't huge global brands like City though. They're big clubs with rich histories, but they don't have City's resources. Or lawyers. 

I agree that they should have the book thrown at them, but they'll just keep everything tied up for so long that by the time it reaches that stage the CAS will say too much time has passed for any meaningful punishment to be issued apart from a fine.

All relegating them is going to do is lead to a side that could have had a shot at automatic promotion having to try through the play-offs, or a side that could have gone up through the playoffs missing out because City are taking one of the top places. 

The financial repercussions for clubs affected by City getting relegated are potentially catastrophic depending on how far down the league you send them.

On the flip side they'd potentially all get a day out at the Etihad, and some cash from that but would it be as much as they'd get if they were promoted? 

Plus, there'd be all that "Hello, hello, City are back, city are back." to put up with then they do get back to the Premier League. 

City will get a fine and a transfer embargo. Maybe a points deduction, but how many points do you deduct for it to actually mean something? 40? 50? Force them to liquidate the club and start again. 

[IANdrewDiceClay]

I dont see how other clubs dont sue them. The revenue clubs have missed out on because of them would be massive. Everton finishing 5th in 2014. Leicester finishing 5th in 2021, Sunderland losing the League Cup final to them in 2014 and so on. Surely those teams must be thinking "we've been done over here."

[SuperBacon]

20 minutes ago, IANdrewDiceClay said:

I dont see how other clubs dont sue them. The revenue clubs have missed out on because of them would be massive. Everton finishing 5th in 2014. Leicester finishing 5th in 2021, Sunderland losing the League Cup final to them in 2014 and so on. Surely those teams must be thinking "we've been done over here."

Theoretically every club during this period, including relegated clubs could and back in November 2024 United, Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal lodged legal notices to seek compensation if City were found guilty. This could get very messy, and there's only one man I want leading our legal team: 

[SpiritOfTheForest]

I witnessed a nice part of football history today. I went along to Torres' match against FC Vado here in Sassari. Who are FC Vado, you might wonder? Well, they were the first ever winners of the Coppa Italia back in 1922, long since slipped into obscurity. Sort of like an Italian Dumbarton, I suppose (I bet that's the first time that comparison has ever been made).  There's a nice little article about their triumph here if you're interested https://www.gentlemanultra.com/2016/05/21/may-21st-2016/ 

While pretty cool to see such a notable historical side, the game itself was a bit toothless. In fact, in the last 4 matches I've been to at the Vanni Sanna, I have seen one goal. The previous 4 results being:

0-0

0-0

1-0

0-0 (today)

Watching football in Italy is magic though, at least at Torres. 28 degrees this afternoon, 10 euro entry for the Curva Nord with the ultras, plentiful cold beer available for 3 euros a pop and a real vibe of colour and song.  I'm moving back to Scotland in November and I imagine that when I'm sitting shivering in the pishing rain and wind at Gayfield away with zero chane of a bevvy, I will miss the way the Italians do it. Even when it's 0-0 it's a fun day/evening out. Forza Torres!

 

P.S, Sassari Torres are also the team where one Gianfranco Zola broke through! 

[RedTwoster]

Scotland may have only drawn today, but that match definitely left me feeling optimistic about the Pocognoli era. They weren’t great in the first half, but with better finishing we’d have won the match with several goals to our name in the second. It was a much more enjoyable approach than any we took during the Steve Clarke era.

The main downside is that we have the worst crop of goalkeeping options I can remember. Going from having Gordon, McGregor and Marshall available at the same time to Angus Gunn as your preferred option is a sensational decline.