PL charge City for alleged breaches of financial rules

[halfcenturyup]

It’s not a trial it’s a tribunal hearing maybe a list of witnesses has to be provided pre hearing maybe not? They don’t take the stand and maybe HH was on the list especially his position in the UAE government being busy I’m sure he would have to have it factored into his schedule

He also provided a witness statement to CAS.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I've moved on a little. Whilst still accepting there could be a negative side to any verdict, I'm waiting for the repercussions and the soul searching in the press, of why they brought the charges in the first place, and the possible motivation behind it.

How long should I wait?

The media just ignored the CAS result and pretended it never happened. The UEFA leaks probe was quietly dropped. The same will happen with the PL case.

 

[Gordyola]

Maybe the draft judgement is out and with the club and PL for comments. You have to allow for the Christmas period when SFA gets done in most offices, let alone the legal world. Maybe it goes public on an agreed date in January. My guess is that if the draft judgement is out there, comments won't be expected by return of post. More likely they would allow 3-4 weeks, which would take us the Christmas.

Note - I'm not claiming this to be anything more than a guess.

Not a good guess
The best info is that hearing ended last week, possibly another one to go
Considering the length of hearing and the amount of evidence produced the verdict will be long and of many pages. The judges will take many weeks to consider and will seek further guidance from experts. The verdict is more likely to be sent to both parties in months not weeks so more likely to be March or later rather than January. Also, it will be the verdict not a draft and unless there is a glaring error it will be published within days

 

[ysmsa]

Nothing to do with recruiting or squad management imho

Maybe, maybe not but there has been a noticeable drop in our high standards in this area.

Squad is currently unbalanced with the worst selection of midfielders attacking options to choose from in a long time

Nunes, Philips, Savinho, Doku cost a small fortune and have not improved or nowhere near maintained the level we had.

I would swap those 4 for Palmer and Alvarez in a heartbeat

 

[M18CTID]

I think its a little cute how they keep saying they start by saying "the only punishment the will find acceptable is" Like their opinion counts for anything.

Interesting that I have not seen a single post by any of their fans even considering that we may actually be innocent in all this.

That’s because they’re all cunts mate. And clueless cunts at that. Red Cafe is becoming as bad as RAWK when it comes to City and I never thought I’d say that as the moderating has been pretty decent on there in the past. However, it seems the moderators all go AWOL regarding this particular topic, given all the libellous comments that are allowed to remain on there.

Hopefully City are keeping all the receipts because once this is done, the people who run that forum and RAWK need teaching a fucking lesson. One that they’ll never forget.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Nothing to do with recruiting or squad management imho

That's a large part of it imho. Look at all the great midfield players over the last few years. Barry, Milner, Silva, Nasri, De Jong, Toure, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan (pre his move to Spain). We often had 3 of those in the starting XI. Who are those 3 now?

Yes, Rodri is injured but where are the replacements for him and KDB. The latter's replacement should have been in the squad 2 seasons ago, once KDB passed 30. Yet we've got makeweights like Kovacic and lightweights like Lewis (who's a converted, not that good, right-back). As much as we were all thrilled when Gundo came back, in the cold light of day it was a mistake.

Where are the experienced 26-28 year olds who can slot in quickly? Could we not have offered Palmer more game time, instead of buying Doku & Savinho, who are potentially exciting players but just not producing anywhere near enough currently?

The squad seems to be built around a lot of 30+ players and a lot of younger ones, whereas a good squad should have a concentration of players around their mid-20's, with the more experienced ones at 29+ being the leaders in the dressing room. To me, it's unarguable that we've absolutely taken our eyes off the ball in the last 2 or 3 seasons. Our squad profile is currently totally skewed.

And I also wonder whether CFG hasn't had a negative impact. We seem to have spent so much time and effort buying players for all these clubs and shifting them around here, there and everywhere. Manchester City is overwhelmingly the biggest club in CFG but I wonder if we get the biggest attention. Personally I don't give two fucks about the other clubs in the group. They actually suck up a lot of the money that City generates. I'd like to see 100% of the board and executive's attention spent on my club.

 

[Gordyola]

Maybe, maybe not but there has been a noticeable drop in our high standards in this area.

Squad is currently unbalanced with the worst selection of midfielders attacking options to choose from in a long time

Nunes, Philips, Savinho, Doku cost a small fortune and have not improved or nowhere near maintained the level we had.

I would swap those 4 for Palmer and Alvarez in a heartbeat

I agree about the squad and this isn't the right thread I just don't agree the charges are relevant to it

 

[Brendan110_0]

That's a large part of it imho. Look at all the great midfield players over the last few years. Barry, Milner, Silva, Nasri, De Jong, Toure, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan (pre his move to Spain). We often had 3 of those in the starting XI.

Yes, Rodri is injured but where are the replacements for him and KDB. The latter's replacement should have been in the squad 2 seasons ago, once KDB passed 30. Yet we've got makeweights like Kovacic and lightweights like Lewis (who's a converted, not that good, right-back). As much as we were all thrilled when Gundo came back, in the cold light of day it was a mistake.

Where are the experienced 26-28 year olds who can slot in quickly? Could we not have offered Palmer more game time, instead of buying Doku & Savinho, who are potentially exciting players but just not producing anywhere near enough currently?

The squad seems to be built around a lot of 30+ players and a lot of younger ones, whereas a good squad should have a concentration of players around their mid-20's, with the more experienced ones at 29+ being the leaders in the dressing room. To me, it's unarguable that we've absolutely taken our eyes off the ball in the last 2 or 3 seasons. Our squad profile is currently totally skewed.

And I also wonder whether CFG hasn't had a negative impact. We seem to have spent so much time and effort buying players for all these clubs and shifting them around here, there and everywhere. Manchester City is overwhelmingly the biggest club in CFG but I wonder if we get the biggest attention. Personally I don't give two fucks about the other clubs in the group. They actually suck up a lot of the money that City generates. I'd like to see 100% of the board and executive's attention spent on my club.

Part of the issue here is the 115 dragging on, may be difficult to convince top tier players to sign until it's done and dusted so we've built up a considerable war chest.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Part of the issue here is the 115 dragging on, may be difficult to convince top tier players to sign until it's done and dusted so we've built up a considerable war chest.

It's possible but I don't think that's what players who we approach think about. And if any of them do ask, we'll be telling them what we've clearly told Pep.

 

[ysmsa]

I agree about the squad and this isn't the right tread I just don't agree the charges are relevant to it

The sooner the issue is resolved the better.

It must at some point affect the playing side of things, impossible for it not too. As I said, a smear campaign to fuck us.

I'll leave it there, cheers.

 

[Gordyola]

That's a large part of it imho. Look at all the great midfield players over the last few years. Barry, Milner, Silva, Nasri, De Jong, Toure, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan (pre his move to Spain). We often had 3 of those in the starting XI.

Yes, Rodri is injured but where are the replacements for him and KDB. The latter's replacement should have been in the squad 2 seasons ago, once KDB passed 30. Yet we've got makeweights like Kovacic and lightweights like Lewis (who's a converted, not that good, right-back). As much as we were all thrilled when Gundo came back, in the cold light of day it was a mistake.

Where are the experienced 26-28 year olds who can slot in quickly? Could we not have offered Palmer more game time, instead of buying Doku & Savinho, who are potentially exciting players but just not producing anywhere near enough currently?

The squad seems to be built around a lot of 30+ players and a lot of younger ones, whereas a good squad should have a concentration of players around their mid-20's, with the more experienced ones at 29+ being the leaders in the dressing room. To me, it's unarguable that we've absolutely taken our eyes off the ball in the last 2 or 3 seasons. Our squad profile is currently totally skewed.

And I also wonder whether CFG hasn't had a negative impact. We seem to have spent so much time and effort buying players for all these clubs and shifting them around here, there and everywhere. Manchester City is overwhelmingly the biggest club in CFG but I wonder if we get the biggest attention. Personally I don't give two fucks about the other clubs in the group. They actually suck up a lot of the money that City generates. I'd like to see 100% of the board and executive's attention spent on my club.

Agree about the squad The affect of PSR and APT on the spending is more relevant than the charges I don't have to tell you that the wage costs which are included in PSR are very limiting and we need to clear off the likes of Walker, yet we persuaded him to stay and gave him a three year extension what a monumental error that was and that's not hindsight talking

 

[.db.]

I agree about the squad and this isn't the right tread I just don't agree the charges are relevant to it

If a company wanted to employ me but had charges like this hanging over them… I wouldn’t go and work for them.

I don’t see how it’s any different with players we may potentially sign. I can see why players wouldn’t want to sign for us. Even if they had things written into their contracts if we were found guilty, I can see that they’d rather just not bother while this isn’t resolved.

If we are found innocent, I would be seeking compensation or retribution of some sort about this.

 

[ysmsa]

If a company wanted to employ me but had charges like this hanging over them… I wouldn’t go and work for them.

I don’t see how it’s any different with players we may potentially sign. I can see why players wouldn’t want to sign for us. Even if they had things written into their contracts if we were found guilty, I can see that they’d rather just not bother while this isn’t resolved.

Lot of truth in that,

We have a situation at work with all teams under review. There are opportunities for people to move but no one will until the overall review is concluded. Could end up worse off.

 

[Norman kneejerk]

That's a large part of it imho. Look at all the great midfield players over the last few years. Barry, Milner, Silva, Nasri, De Jong, Toure, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan (pre his move to Spain). We often had 3 of those in the starting XI. Who are those 3 now?

Yes, Rodri is injured but where are the replacements for him and KDB. The latter's replacement should have been in the squad 2 seasons ago, once KDB passed 30. Yet we've got makeweights like Kovacic and lightweights like Lewis (who's a converted, not that good, right-back). As much as we were all thrilled when Gundo came back, in the cold light of day it was a mistake.

Where are the experienced 26-28 year olds who can slot in quickly? Could we not have offered Palmer more game time, instead of buying Doku & Savinho, who are potentially exciting players but just not producing anywhere near enough currently?

The squad seems to be built around a lot of 30+ players and a lot of younger ones, whereas a good squad should have a concentration of players around their mid-20's, with the more experienced ones at 29+ being the leaders in the dressing room. To me, it's unarguable that we've absolutely taken our eyes off the ball in the last 2 or 3 seasons. Our squad profile is currently totally skewed.

And I also wonder whether CFG hasn't had a negative impact. We seem to have spent so much time and effort buying players for all these clubs and shifting them around here, there and everywhere. Manchester City is overwhelmingly the biggest club in CFG but I wonder if we get the biggest attention. Personally I don't give two fucks about the other clubs in the group. They actually suck up a lot of the money that City generates. I'd like to see 100% of the board and executive's attention spent on my club.

Good points.
I suppose Phillips and Nunes were meant to be the senior players replacements carrying the team but clearly aren't. And the last major signing before that Grealish has been ok but not really pivotal so it's all caught up on us. Poor buying and selling.

 

[cheekybids]

Maybe, maybe not but there has been a noticeable drop in our high standards in this area.

Squad is currently unbalanced with the worst selection of midfielders attacking options to choose from in a long time

Nunes, Philips, Savinho, Doku cost a small fortune and have not improved or nowhere near maintained the level we had.

I would swap those 4 for Palmer and Alvarez in a heartbeat

We’ve had the worst injuries & our new signings traditionally take a year before hey bed in but we’ve had to play them from the off. Savio would have been behind Bobb & Doku behind Grealish.

Our luck this season Palmer & Alvarez would be injured as well.

Last November we drew 4:4 with Chelsea, 1:1 with the Dippers, 3:3 with Spurs & got battered by Villa although 1 nil should have been 5.

Just when I thought we couldn’t avoid another fuck up, Phil gives away a 96th minute pen b palace.

We forget all that, just like we do people not rating Rodri, Bernie, Stones, Grealish & many more.

 

[M18CTID]

The sooner the issue is resolved the better.

It must at some point affect the playing side of things, impossible for it not too. As I said, a smear campaign to fuck us.

I'll leave it there, cheers.

Given that our form picked up hugely when the charges were announced, it could be that the club have been told they’re getting cleared so there’s no siege mentality anymore and that’s why our form has gone to shit ;)

 

[Kippaxpete]

Can we get this thread back on topic please? All valid opinions; just not here!

 

[Saddleworth2]

Two seasons is plenty. We were in a worse position before Pep joined and he won 100 points in his second season.

Besides, he'll be here beyond 2027 anyway.

We weren’t in a worse position. He had a spine of prime Stones, Fern, David, Kdb, Kun and Raheem. That’s miles better than we have just now. I think it will take us at least two very good transfer windows with the right players available to buy. The new boy has a lot to do.

 

[Centurions]

Lot of truth supposition in that,

We have a situation at work with all teams under review. There are opportunities for people to move but no one will until the overall review is concluded. Could end up worse off.

Corrected...

 

[mexico1970]

I thought the whole point of the club's footballing structure was that the manager is just another cog in the wheel (albeit the most important).

The idea is that the style of football (IE -possession-based and attacking) is the same from the youngest youth teams to to the first team.

This should mean that any signings made in the next 2.5 years would also suit the next manager, whose style will be similar to Pep's and the wider club's.

The only flaw in that is that there is only one Pep, managers have tried to emulate him and they've failed.

If it were that easy many would have done it, and if it was that fruitful where are the players from the academy? The size of our academy we should have players kicking the doors in and ready to go.