Football

[Gen]

Does pose some interesting scenarios though. What if city win champions league this year. Will the 5th placed team now be eligible. Etc etc

 

City were previously fined for similar offences. An whole they may appeal the sanction it appears they are guilty thus cheats.

 

On the one hand I do not agree with FFP at all as it artificially restricts the teams but on the other hand supporting a team that do not have access to unlimited amounts of money makes me acutely aware that mo et will ultimately destroy the game.

I don't know.. it's tricky..on one hand you have (like with any business) clubs that have through investment been able to put themselves in a situation to be able to be and stay at the top of the sport financially(industry) ..should they be punished for making themselves more appealing...if an owner wants to pump money into it..surely that is his risk to take?

 

On the other hand you have clubs who haven't done that and are crying foul because they can't compete financially..is it a shame, yeah.. but that's reality of life though.. it's a dog eat dog world out there.. in business as well.

 

It is the biggest sport in the world..more money won't destroy the sport.

 

Something that FFP has been good for is youth and women's development..as clubs receive incentives if they pump money into youth and women's as well as infrastructure... women's football is definitely benefitting from it.. which is very good.

Edited February 15, 2020 by Gen

[Gen]

Our captain is back.

 

https://twitter.com/AroundTurin/status/1229068065486376960?s=09

 

 

Not only was his play missed bit his leadership was sorely missed..

 

 

And Dybala with this gem of a free-kick

 

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1229054143211474944?s=19

 

Happy for an uncomplicated game without having to physically work too hard.. a very busy period coming up.

Edited February 16, 2020 by Gen

[RoddieJ]

What a free kick that was by Dybala :thumbs:

 

Meanwhile in Birmingham, Spurs struggled to get past Villa with Son having a ‘mare... only had 2 good touches throughout and came away with 2 goals :dunno how:

 

The whole Spurs side just lacked ideas, and it seems they forgot how to play football during this winter break...

 

Anyway, Lady Luck has a lot to today and now Spurs are 1 point off Cheatski, who come to North London next weekend... :thumbs:

[Gen]

I love this

 

Sarri on Chiellini coming on

[RoddieJ]

Yeah, that’s awesome for any club. There are just some players who pick themselves :thumbs:

 

Chiellini is pure class...

[Gen]

Yeah, that’s awesome for any club. There are just some players who pick themselves :thumbs:

 

Chiellini is pure class...

The crowd gave him a standing ovation..so special, we really missed him.. we've been a bit lost out there lately..really missed our captain..it will take time for him to be starting again..but hope he is ready for the important games... I would lie of I said I didn't shed a tear to see him back...6months after the ACL injury..that takes a lot of doing and even more so at 35.

 

My son and I laughed.. before Dybala took the free kick they showed Chiellini (he was still on the bench) and I told my son.. nah look Chiellini has made the calculations..Dybala will score that.

Edited February 16, 2020 by Gen

[Gen]

And Lazio could've easily had won that 4-1.. but they take the 3 points with a 2-1 win..inter coming close to the equaliser towards the end.. but for some heroic defending...incredible scenes at the Olympico..means a lot for them.

 

Lazio are definitely sitting in a very favourable position..no concerns over midweek games.. just focus on the Scudetto..

 

Milinkovic-Savic absolutely key for them

Edited February 16, 2020 by Gen

[coppi]

And Lazio could've easily had won that 4-1.. but they take the 3 points with a 2-1 win..inter coming close to the equaliser towards the end.. but for some heroic defending...incredible scenes at the Olympico..means a lot for them.

 

Lazio are definitely sitting in a very favourable position..no concerns over midweek games.. just focus on the Scudetto..

 

Milinkovic-Savic absolutely key for them

Lazio did us a little favour, I won't thank them though 

[coppi]

The crowd gave him a standing ovation..so special, we really missed him.. we've been a bit lost out there lately..really missed our captain..it will take time for him to be starting again..but hope he is ready for the important games... I would lie of I said I didn't shed a tear to see him back...6months after the ACL injury..that takes a lot of doing and even more so at 35.

 

My son and I laughed.. before Dybala took the free kick they showed Chiellini (he was still on the bench) and I told my son.. nah look Chiellini has made the calculations..Dybala will score that.

When we where at the stadium in January at the Cagliari game we witnessed all we could wish for, even a Ronaldo hatrick...................but we missed il Capitano and il ex-Capitano on the field

Edited February 17, 2020 by coppi

[Gen]

When we where at the stadium in January at the Cagliari game we witnessed all we could wish for, even a Ronaldo hatrick...................but we missed il Capitano and il ex-Capitano on the field

That must have been an incredible experience.. I remembered that you were planning on the trip..so special, glad you had a fantastic time

[Gen]

Lazio did us a little favour, I won't thank them though

They are very dangerous we can not afford to slip up again.

[Andrew Steer]

Football is a business... big business. It's been that way for decades. You can't stop that...
People may long for the purity of the good old days, but they'll still watch Champions League over the Championship 99 times out of 100

 

FFP is a farce... selectively applied and largely designed to keep the big teams on top. I hope City's lawyers end this delusion once and for all.

 

Where was all this FIFA red tape when Barca and Real were state funded? Barca ran as a tax free entity for decades until recently... they can take all their sanctimonious BS and stick it where the sun don't shine.

[IceCreamMan]

My colleague is a huge watford fan. Paid 145 quid a ticket for last years FA cup final. Man City were cheating by the looks of things. They should be penalised. 

 

Big story this season was Saracens. Maybe City should face similar sanction although i dont think the PL has actually been involved as yet. 

 

FFP has a reason for being in place, it should be respected. Unfortunately football has become about the ego of the team owner. 

Edited February 17, 2020 by IceCreamMan

[Skubarra]

Football is a business... big business. It's been that way for decades. You can't stop that...

People may long for the purity of the good old days, but they'll still watch Champions League over the Championship 99 times out of 100

 

FFP is a farce... selectively applied and largely designed to keep the big teams on top. I hope City's lawyers end this delusion once and for all.

 

Where was all this FIFA red tape when Barca and Real were state funded? Barca ran as a tax free entity for decades until recently... they can take all their sanctimonious BS and stick it where the sun don't shine.

 

Have mixed feelings about this - agree 100% FFP is a farce designed to keep the status quo and stop new teams from rising to the top

 

That said, if City signed up for the rules and then flagrantly violated them then they can't complain about the sanctions. Ignoring rules you don't like and see how long you can get away with is a risky choice.. Especially if you are the only one in your league doing it.

[Andrew Steer]

Have mixed feelings about this - agree 100% FFP is a farce designed to keep the status quo and stop new teams from rising to the top

 

That said, if City signed up for the rules and then flagrantly violated them then they can't complain about the sanctions. Ignoring rules you don't like and see how long you can get away with is a risky choice.. Especially if you are the only one in your league doing it.

I agree in some ways, but I'm also pretty certain they aren't the only ones doing it... Cities record signing is De Bruyne for 55mil, that's not even in the top 20 most expensive players. They've bought smart for the large part... quality at the right price. 

 

Just as a quick example, how are Inter suddenly affording all these players they've just reeled in? They've had no success of late to boost the coffers... many of the big Italian clubs walking a lovely tight rope with their debt - they've even got more than my Spurs who just spent near on a billion on a stadium.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes%27_list_of_the_most_valuable_football_clubs

 

City are just upsetting the grand order, just like Chelsea did with Abramovich... I'm happy to see it, even as a Spurs fan for whom a 5th place Champions league spot might prove pretty useful. 

 

 

 

[Andrew Steer]

My colleague is a huge watford fan. Paid 145 quid a ticket for last years FA cup final. Man City were cheating by the looks of things. They should be penalised. 

 

Big story this season was Saracens. Maybe City should face similar sanction although i dont think the PL has actually been involved as yet. 

 

FFP has a reason for being in place, it should be respected. Unfortunately football has become about the ego of the team owner. 

Think about it this way... Saints get a proper backer, you stop selling all your best players, keep hold of your many brilliant academy graduates, sign a few class additions to fill the gaps and start competing for Europe like you probably deserve to... instead of losing all your players and fighting tooth and nail each year to stay in the prem.

 

The horse has bolted, ages ago... money is in the league and it's not going anywhere. At least give the teams who missed the big jump in professionalism a fair chance to get themselves on a par with the top tier of teams