FFP

[Percy McCarthy]

^^ UEFA also have the football earnings rule, which is even more stringent than PL PSR. €60m losses over three years I think it is.

[aev]

^^ UEFA also have the football earnings rule, which is even more stringent than PL PSR. €60m losses over three years I think it is.

Yep, whilst a win for MC may be good for us in the PL we are still fooked in Europe.

And aren’t our troubles getting the European rules adhered to (I had assumed we had loads of PSR room now)?

[tomd2103]

Is it me, or has the landscape in the Premier League seemed to have just changed dramatically over this summer?  Over the past few seasons us and Newcastle looked like we were set to challenge the 'big six' and even Forest were up there last season. 

It just seems this summer though that the three clubs mentioned above have hit a financial wall, while the 'top six' clubs have been able to spend freely.  As it is, the chances of clubs like us finishing in the top four now seem quite remote. 

[andyh]

^^
Maybe is the fact that all 3 clubs have qualified for Europe and it’s the European rules that are killing us, so it’s more noticeable?

[Percy McCarthy]

^^ UEFA also have the football earnings rule, which is even more stringent than PL PSR. €60m losses over three years I think it is.

And aren’t our troubles getting the European rules adhered to (I had assumed we had loads of PSR room now)?

Agree with both points.

Investment, imagination, recruitment and coaching are the only ways to beat the fix.

[tomd2103]

^^
Maybe is the fact that all 3 clubs have qualified for Europe and it’s the European rules that are killing us, so it’s more noticeable?

Good point, but we've seen other clubs who might have been on the verge of pushing for European spots in the league (Brighton, Bournemouth, Palace etc.) also selling their best players this summer. 

Of course it might not work out that way, but it just feels like that top four from last season have pulled away this summer.

[Dave]

As it is, the chances of clubs like us finishing in the top four now seem quite remote.

Eight different teams have finished in the top four in the last four years.

I'd bet that's the most variance since the Premier League started.

[Steve67]

As it is, the chances of clubs like us finishing in the top four now seem quite remote.

Eight different teams have finished in the top four in the last four years.

I'd bet that's the most variance since the Premier League started.

Sustaining it is another matter entirely. 

[Dave]

As it is, the chances of clubs like us finishing in the top four now seem quite remote.

Eight different teams have finished in the top four in the last four years.

I'd bet that's the most variance since the Premier League started.

Sustaining it is another matter entirely.

"Villa not doing it consistently" isn't the same complaint as "it's harder for other teams to do it"

[Stu]

I'm pretty bored by it all. Didn't check the Newcastle score until a few hours after the game. Caveat is that I'm driving around Europe, but usually I'd still be locked on to it and fight to find a bar. Completely disengaged this summer too.

Think it's the capitalist nature of the game being advertised so unavoidably. Not sure how many fucks I have left to give at this stage. I'd rather watch competitive sport than figures on a spreadsheet projected on to a pitch.

Loving the golf and cricket though. Masters was top level drama and England - India great. Looking forward to the Ashes. Don't know who Villa have next.

Same. Got tickets for the last day of the open at Royal Birkdale in the ballot a couple of weeks ago!

Football can fuck off. There’s a monopoly been created and anti-competition rules been put in place to prevent any change to the monopoly. Plus tickets are too expensive and kick off times are bullshit. Leave it to the tourists and get a new hobby.

[ozzjim]

As it is, the chances of clubs like us finishing in the top four now seem quite remote.

Eight different teams have finished in the top four in the last four years.

I'd bet that's the most variance since the Premier League started.

I would put decent money on that being no more than 6 over the next 4.

[Dave]

I remember the days when nobody was ever going to finish in the top four ever again apart from Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

[cdbearsfan]

Yeah, Man City broke into that elite by spending loads of money, which would-be competitors are no longer allowed to do.

[Dave]

Spurs did before Man City did.

[VancouverLion]

And Chelsea before they both did.