I’m not registered but could read it. We found out Friday night and got told you are either in or out is the gist. No support for a sting theoryI don't want to register for that site but if its saying what I think its saying: City were panicked because they thought there was a real chance it would go ahead, then that would work for me.
The scenario that we connived with them for a new world order where Man Utd an Barcelona would be free of debt is suicidal. We wouldn't do that.
The only runners are:
1) Last minute panic followed by 2nd thoughts
2) A sting.
Both are credible. I favour the 2nd because we must have been looking for such an opportunity for months. Rewind 6 minths and recall how we felt, and we aren't on the board. I'd have been mentally scarred by that process. I don't think a club like City panics. The ESL has been kicking about for ages. We must have taken a position on this ages ago. I think the whole thing fell into our lap and we encouraged them to launch it on the basis that the English Champions elect would join, and then set about killing it almost immediately.
That's a very good pointWhat if your enemy was threatening your kids future if she didn't, and then she cut his balls off after he was done? :-)
I think we will look back on this bizarre season in years to come and will just put it all down to Covid madness. I am surprised (but understand why) so many fans feel shattered by what has happened. But personally I have never trusted any of the various people who have owned our club. I have low expectations and have been delighted (till this week) with the progress made under Sheikh Mansour.Don't underestimate the effect of Covid-19 on mental stability. I get very fed up at the moment. Very. Sure it's down to the isolation. Easy to get p'ssed off with things. But I loved City's performance last night in the face of massive stress. Wouldn't want to give that buzz up.
Oh dearI think we will look back on this bizarre season in years to come and will just put it all down to Covid madness. I am surprised (but understand why) so many fans feel shattered by what has happened. But personally I have never trusted any of the various people who have owned our club. I have low expectations and have been delighted (till this week) with the progress made under Sheikh Mansour.
Owners come and go. Owners are not the club. They are essentially investors or if you are lucky custodians. Manchester City Football Club is the fans, the players, the staff, and everyone else who is connected to the club and loves it. This could still prove to be our most successful season in history. We need to enjoy it. For me this week's chaos is just another ride on the City rollercoaster.
Clubs seek profits? Actually in this case you've got clubs now with £1B plus debts so this is more about a quick fix.
ESL has been kicking about for ages. They've threatened UEFA with it for ages. Sort City out or do as we say over X,Y or Z, or we'll leave.
City are dominant in the Premier League. Totally dominant. This side is set fair for a while. In the CL we are now in the semi-finals. If we moved to a ESL format and re-financed Barcelona, Man Utd etc it would be really dumb.
The sheer acrimony of spygate and esepcially the FFP saga makes me think that the club has been looking at ways of redressing the balance, and it's what it will achieve
Those who are disgusted that clubs should seek to act as monopolies and make a land-grab must have a very srrange outlook on the world. This is exactly what I expect of business and all these ESL's are exactly, and I mean exactly what was predicted many times as solutions for the cartel. I am surprised we joined as it doesn't make much sense for us, so the logical explanation is we took them down.
WHen Perez says we backed out and were undermining the English end of it, why would you doubt it? We know that's what happened.
You don't find this credible? I find it even less credible that a football club makes a decision like this and doesn't think it will create huge controversy. You wouldn't back down after 48 hours unless you were already of a mind to back down.
The other scenario is that City really thought this was going to succeed and that Real Madrid Man Utd etc were deadly serious and intent on it, in which case we might have thought "Sh't! If We don't join we have had it"
If that's what happened, I'd understand the logic but worry for the future as it would mean we were staffed by people who can't read the football landscape. As soon as I heard the news I knew it was doomed. I've never taken the ESL seriously. Never once, because I couldn't imagine anyone being so stupid as to think they would get away with it. But then you see Tottenham with £1b debts. Barca too. This is alarming. You can see why some clubs might want to try this. However it doesn't make any sense for City. The only thing that makes sense is that it fell into our lap and suited our purpose.
Absolutely everything on the above superb post.imagine the media backlash didn’t happen, sky were involved & GNev was talking about all of UEFAs failings & how this deal will save the football pyramid.
From everything I’ve seen the new UEFA deal was almost identical offering protectionism & ive only heard Pep criticise that.
I’m hoping the faux outrage has opened everyone’s eyes but as has been said by many they’ve been closed to what’s been going on for over 20 years.
where was the outrage that 4th place qualifies but 1st starts pre-qualification in July, where was the outrage about coefficient rules changing, ffp.
no wonder they thought they’d get away with it, they have been for years but they underestimated uefas & they sided with broadcasters who would also be left out in the cold.
we’ve been exposed as naive but we’ve managed to expose the greed of the main instigators. That is until they lead their charm objective & sky & bbc tell everyone how to think.