50 minutes ago, dkw said:

I hope they win, the current rules are just about keeping the historical big boys at the top, unreachable. Keep the majority of money flowing there way, same as G14 group was, same as it always is. 

I do get that, but the only problem here is that this isn't going to help clubs throw a bit more money at trying to challenge for a trophy as it will simply allow the UAE and Saudi Arabia spend a trillion pounds a season. So to reduce the historical dominance of United and Liverpool, City can buy all the domestic trophies for as long as they wish.

And lets be honest, the historical big boys are no longer at the top. United, Liverpool, Arsenal are already a thousand miles adrift of the UAE. City are the top now and they've done it easily without having completely unlimited spending. So perhaps it makes absolutely no difference anyway. 

6 hours ago, Snedger said:

I do get that, but the only problem here is that this isn't going to help clubs throw a bit more money at trying to challenge for a trophy as it will simply allow the UAE and Saudi Arabia spend a trillion pounds a season. So to reduce the historical dominance of United and Liverpool, City can buy all the domestic trophies for as long as they wish.

And lets be honest, the historical big boys are no longer at the top. United, Liverpool, Arsenal are already a thousand miles adrift of the UAE. City are the top now and they've done it easily without having completely unlimited spending. So perhaps it makes absolutely no difference anyway. 

I hate that its being framed as looking after clubs though, protecting the game, protecting smaller clubs. Its blatantly bullsh*t, if they want to help clubs then bring in a salary cap, redistribute central funding more fairly, stop allowing big clubs to take academy players for an absolute pittance from smaller clubs, look after grass roots funding, extortionate ticket prices etc. They couldnt give a flying f**k about other lesser clubs in the slightest, and the FA are in it with them. I remember the likes of Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs pushing to stop the gate money sharing, nearly killed a load of clubs. Then the G14 nonsense about locking others out of europe, it was basically a super league in all but name.

Now the bigger boys have turned up and they are crying about it, so balls to the lot of them.

Edited June 5, 20242 yr by dkw

19 minutes ago, dkw said:

I hate that its being framed as looking after clubs though, protecting the game, protecting smaller clubs. Its blatantly bullsh*t, if they want to help clubs then bring in a salary cap, redistribute central funding more fairly, stop allowing big clubs to take academy players for an absolute pittance from smaller clubs, look after grass roots funding, extortionate ticket prices etc. They couldnt give a flying f**k about other lesser clubs in the slightest, and the FA are in it with them. I remember the likes of Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs pushing to stop the gate money sharing, nearly killed a load of clubs. Then the G14 nonsense about locking others out of europe, it was basically a super league in all but name.

Now the bigger boys have turned up and they are crying about it, so balls to the lot of them.

I completely agree with all you say, but I'm still not sure allowing one (or two) clubs that have literally limitless funds to spend, to spend it without any restraints is the answer to the problem.

But hey, quite a lot of Chelsea fans (on this forum at least) would be more than happy for City to win everything every year for ever just so Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs* never win anything ever again.

 

(* not sure why I included Spurs in that list as they'll never win anything anyway)

5 hours ago, Snedger said:

I completely agree with all you say, but I'm still not sure allowing one (or two) clubs that have literally limitless funds to spend, to spend it without any restraints is the answer to the problem.

But hey, quite a lot of Chelsea fans (on this forum at least) would be more than happy for City to win everything every year for ever just so Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs* never win anything ever again.

 

(* not sure why I included Spurs in that list as they'll never win anything anyway)

No at a certain point City fans would become too smug and then the opinion would change at the moment they are the new kids on the block,

 

On 05/06/2024 at 08:48, Snedger said:

As if todays football couldn’t get anymore depressing, we now have the richest, most powerful, most bent and most successful club using their state wealth to change the rules in the courts to guarantee they win every year. It’s that ONE season out of the last SEVEN where they didn’t win the league that must have really pissed them off.

City are losing the PR war. You can't describe yourselves as 'victims' when you've been dominating the English football landscape for the past decade.

I think for the good of the sport, they need to be punished. People said Abramovich was bad at a time where FFP and PSR didn't exist, but what City have been doing under Abu Dhabi is on a whole new level in comparison.

Cooking the books, inflating sponsorships etc. If they get away with it, the Premier League is essentially finished and I think the Super League will have a resurgence again.

8 hours ago, Jezz said:

City are losing the PR war. You can't describe yourselves as 'victims' when you've been dominating the English football landscape for the past decade.

I think for the good of the sport, they need to be punished. People said Abramovich was bad at a time where FFP and PSR didn't exist, but what City have been doing under Abu Dhabi is on a whole new level in comparison.

Cooking the books, inflating sponsorships etc. If they get away with it, the Premier League is essentially finished and I think the Super League will have a resurgence again.

Yeah the tide has turned on city now. Lots of commentary on them now. 

Barney Ronay nails it in The Guardian.

On 04/06/2024 at 22:44, JM7 said:

I like to think that we’re not as dodgy as City. Yes we will exploit loopholes legally but we don’t seem to have crossed any lines - so far. 
 

Bohley etc need to look at the bigger picture. Are they really saying they’re happy for City and Newcastle to spend what they want or remove any restrictions? It would be disastrous and they are living in dream land if they think they can compete with them. 

LIKE SELLING THE HOTELS TO THEMSELVES?

19 hours ago, dkw said:

I hate that its being framed as looking after clubs though, protecting the game, protecting smaller clubs. Its blatantly bullsh*t, if they want to help clubs then bring in a salary cap, redistribute central funding more fairly, stop allowing big clubs to take academy players for an absolute pittance from smaller clubs, look after grass roots funding, extortionate ticket prices etc. They couldnt give a flying f**k about other lesser clubs in the slightest, and the FA are in it with them. I remember the likes of Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs pushing to stop the gate money sharing, nearly killed a load of clubs. Then the G14 nonsense about locking others out of europe, it was basically a super league in all but name.

Now the bigger boys have turned up and they are crying about it, so balls to the lot of them.

And yet, if City wins, those (very valid and commendable) points you make become even more unachievable. If we want to make the PL and football fairer, supporting City is the last thing we need to do. And that doesn't mean supporting the PL, but forcing the PL towards the other end of the spectrum City wants to go.

1 hour ago, dermott said:

Barney Ronay nails it in The Guardian.

Was going to post the same link:

Quote

The direct analogy would be the British government buying, say Royal Antwerp, splurging billions of pounds of its GDP on winning the Belgian league while Antwerp’s fans say this is all great, and Antwerp thanks you Grant Shapps, before eventually suing the Belgian league into oblivion for refusing to allow us, the UK government, to rewrite its rules.

 

Please, please make it so. This would be hilarious

 

 

Even United are not that stupid, are they?

Quote

Manchester United managerial candidates were left 'astounded by low wages' and 'unimpressed by the club's transfer budget' before the decision was made to keep Erik ten Hag.

(Source: @TimesSport) pic.twitter.com/aB4wJPWgrV

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 13, 2024

 

18 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

Not really suprise. You can analyze united performance last year using eye test, stat, or result and It is impossible for you to say he should keep the job. 

Edited June 14, 20242 yr by Bob stark

RIP Kevin Campbell ... only 54 ... 

RIP Millwall GK Matija Sarkic as well ... and he was only 26 !

15 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

RIP Kevin Campbell ... only 54 ... 

RIP Millwall GK Matija Sarkic as well ... and he was only 26 !

Crikey. I remember him when he was understudy to Ian Wright at Arsenal and then that incredible run of goals when he joined Everton. RIP Kevin Campbell. 54 is no age.

May they both RIP.

 

Apparently he's looking to sell out of Nice. Hardly a sparkling track record there. We'll see.

Evil c**t.

Doesn't pay tax and has just left 200+ families without an income.

This c**t should be taxed to the hilt and thrown in jail.

Despicable c**t.

I think they know there is a rat in the system briefing the press, remember Mourinho finding his team selection on-line and LVG dismissal being known by the press 24 hours before the official announcement.

Though this sounds very harsh.

17 hours ago, Gordon Bennett said:

Evil c**t.

Doesn't pay tax and has just left 200+ families without an income.

This c**t should be taxed to the hilt and thrown in jail.

Despicable c**t.

Up there with James Dyson. Football club-owning aside.

The fates have decided: Craig Bellamy at Bayern was indeed too ridiculous:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/08/craig-bellamy-to-take-over-as-wales-manager-and-target-world-cup-spot

52 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

The fates have decided: Craig Bellamy at Bayern was indeed too ridiculous:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/08/craig-bellamy-to-take-over-as-wales-manager-and-target-world-cup-spot

Mmm. Thierry Henry obviously turned them down. Can't imagine why. Poisoned chalice, Craig. The Bale-Ramsey days are gone. The bulk of the squad play sub-Championship football if they play at all.