FFP

[KevinGage]

If we were that tight up against the FFP wall I don't think we'd have signed a project player like Nemo @ Red Star Belgrade and possibly even Rogers.

We have to assume the NSWE know what they're doing until they prove otherwise.

They've given a pretty good impression of knowing what they're doing these past six years.

[PaulWinch again]

If we were that tight up against the FFP wall I don't think we'd have signed a project player like Nemo @ Red Star Belgrade and possibly even Rogers.

We have to assume the NSWE know what they're doing until they prove otherwise.

They've given a pretty good impression of knowing what they're doing these past six years.

Alternatively they saw those deals as better value given the FFP concerns. Either way if Ned hits the ground running like Morgan that’ll be nice.

[Somniloquism]

If we were that tight up against the FFP wall I don't think we'd have signed a project player like Nemo @ Red Star Belgrade and possibly even Rogers.

We have to assume the NSWE know what they're doing until they prove otherwise.

They've given a pretty good impression of knowing what they're doing these past six years.

Alternatively they saw those deals as better value given the FFP concerns. Either way if Ned hits the ground running like Morgan that’ll be nice.

If he hits the ground it will probably because the ACL has given out.

[Dante Lavelli]

If we want to spend money, that’s true, right? Like most teams. I suppose Champions League qualification might have relieved some pressure on us to sell to balance the books.

I actually think that’s a decent write up.  Captures the arc of the season well.

[ASHTONVILLA]

The Guardian still going with the line that we will have to sell.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/18/aston-villa-back-in-big-time-on-their-own-merits

The tone of that article is fairly typical of the Guardian.  The political coverage is usually engaging and interesting, but I’m increasingly annoyed by their football coverage. 

It's the opposite for me.

It's a leftist comic, but the footy coverage isn't too bad. I don't see much objectionable about the article, and it is very similar to one by Percy in the Telegraph and the coverage in the Athletic.

Who knows if they know anything, but the consensus does seem to be that we will need to flog a big player in the summer. Emery himself seemed to hint at the same recently, with comments along the lines of 'first we need to balance the books and then spend' or words to that effect.

I don't think I would be surprised if we sold one of Luiz and Ramsey (but not both), and maybe also Duran if a good offer comes in. If a 'swap' deal is on with Chelsea between Duran and Gallagher (Percy mentioned this recently) then I'd take it as well, and use Archer as back up for a season.

In any event, the team will be stronger next season with the returning players so long as we address the Kamara sized hole in the squad. It is clear that neither Iroegbunam or Dendonker can replace him adequately, so we need someone that can for the first half of the season at least. Maybe a loan and also buy a younger player so that next season we always have two options and le the loanee go at the end of the season.

[Drummond]

The UK government has admitted that its embassy in Abu Dhabi & the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office have discussed the charges levelled at Man City by the PL, but are refusing to disclose because it could risk UK's relationship with UAE.

[New York Times]

Here.. https://twitter.com/FootyAccums/status/1792543295844880775?s=19

Fuck me.

[Toronto Villa]

Man City are either going to get off with it all or will suffer the softest of all penalties because it will be claimed the majority of the charges cannot be proved. It will be the most token of gestures if they get anything at all. A state should never be able to operate a sporting entity. The proper punishment would be to rule against sovereign ownership and that the owners would need to sell. That of course will never happen to them or Newcastle.

[edgysatsuma89]

Who could have foreseen that States owning football clubs would murky the waters between sport and politics? :O

[ChicagoLion]

Man City are either going to get off with it all or will suffer the softest of all penalties because it will be claimed the majority of the charges cannot be proved. It will be the most token of gestures if they get anything at all.

I keep seeing this, but somehow the PL has got to reconcile any decision with the other 16 clubs and in particular Liverpool and Manure, you can probably throw Arsenal into the mix also.
The concern is that the sports media appear so complicit with the scandal and what looks like a huge cover up.
The reason it is taking so long is that the PL is unable to get an agreement between the other clubs and Citeh as to what the punishment should be.

[Nev]

I've seen reports that acknowledge the 115 but then say something like "from a footballing perspective though, you can't deny that they have been the best" as if the monetary aspect didn't have any bearing on this and it's infuriating. I agree that the media is complicit, particularly when they dress this up as some sort of "against the odds" fairy-tale.

But while states can own Football clubs there will be no level playing field. As much as the PL is a great league, from a competitive view, a team winning the title four times in row is far from healthy and the end of this season was as flat as you can imagine.

[Smithy]

Man City are either going to get off with it all or will suffer the softest of all penalties because it will be claimed the majority of the charges cannot be proved. It will be the most token of gestures if they get anything at all.

I keep seeing this, but somehow the PL has got to reconcile any decision with the other 16 clubs and in particular Liverpool and Manure, you can probably throw Arsenal into the mix also.
The concern is that the sports media appear so complicit with the scandal and what looks like a huge cover up.
The reason it is taking so long is that the PL is unable to get an agreement between the other clubs and Citeh as to what the punishment should be.

I genuinely don't understand why they would be having difficulty agreeing a punishment.  A year ago I could understand a lack of agreement over the punishment, maybe. But now? If ANY of the 115 charges is proven, and proves they actually went beyond the FFP limit when they shouldn't have, then the points deduction precedent is now right there and available.  Everton and Forest have paved the way for Man City to be punished.  It's the number of points that's in question, I guess?

My concern is that they could have all of these charges proven, and still probably get nothing more than a points deduction that guarantees mid-table, and they'd STILL qualify for Europe that season through a cup win. If they'd been docked 40 points this season, they'd still have finished 10th. Even a massive points deduction will mean their punishment will effectively be nothing more than one season where they can't fight for the title, and maybe one season outside the Champions League (unless they win it the season before, in which case they don't even get that punishment). If they win a domestic cup they'd still be in Europe, too.

I genuinely don't know how they make the punishment sufficient enough that it ends up being more than just a one-season 'blip'? It won't happen, but something that puts them back far enough that they have to rebuild within today's FFP framework, like the rest of us.  Maybe each years offenses get taken in different premier league years? I believe the 115 charges span 9 years, so the points deductions are spread out over those 9 years, effectively making them uncompetitive for the decade in which they were cheating?  It'll never happen, but nice to think that it might...

[Rigadon]

It has to be points deductions in line with the ones already handed out (so in Man City’s case loads of points).  I think it’ll be something like a 40 point deduction from the start of a season - something that (as Smithy says above) would sound harsh enough but would actually mean them in mid table for a year and probable cup winners with European qualification as a result. Other clubs in the top half might be ok with that if it increases their own likelihood of European football for that season,  and the preservation of the ‘integrity’ (marketability) of the premier league itself. 

[Goldenballs]

Whatever it is, they'll appeal it and kick the can further down the road.

[rob_bridge]

They need to be stripped of all domestic titles and cups since whenever the charges were brought.

And not award to anyone else

[sid1964]

There is no way they are getting a 40 point deduction - just listened to an interesting discussion with Simon Jordan about the charges, he claims that only 5 - 10 charges are relevant