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DCDomer

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Qatari ownership coming to Man United. Ten Hag with unlimited funds will look like FIFA Career Mode
 

CTIDANDREW

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I'll be stunned if there is even a slap on the wrist let alone anything that would be considered serious punishment.
The biggest punishment they may face is how this effects their ability to recruit players for the future, and ability to keep their current players if this case continues in the court system for years to come.

It is no secret that City is way below their normal standard this year, and this black cloud hanging over the club cannot be looked at as anything but a big negative when they go to Jude Bellingham and / or Josko Gvaridol agent this summer and try to convince them to have their player join the club.

A few bad transfer windows in a row can set back any club for multiple years, just look at Manchester United before this current season to see the proof of that.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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The biggest punishment they may face is how this effects their ability to recruit players for the future, and ability to keep their current players if this case continues in the court system for years to come.

It is no secret that City is way below their normal standard this year, and this black cloud hanging over the club cannot be looked at as anything but a big negative when they go to Jude Bellingham and / or Josko Gvaridol agent this summer and try to convince them to have their player join the club.

A few bad transfer windows in a row can set back any club for multiple years, just look at Manchester United before this current season to see the proof of that.
That's not really a punishment. It's an indirect potential consequence.
 

NDRock

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Two things that don't add up in my mind after 24 hours of thinking and reading about this non-stop.

1. PL is mostly charging Manchester City with similar if not the same infractions that UEFA charged them with...which has already been litigated by CAS. Of course, the legal point of "time barred evidence" is on the PL side for their case against Manchester City as it wasn't for UEFA and their rules. It will be interesting how one independent governing body will rule against Manchester City when the largest sporting court in the world (CAS) already exonerated them when faced with the same evidence. Disclaimer *This point only makes sense, if the PL is charging Manchester City with the same evidence as UEFA, as it is my belief that if they had further evidence they would have leaked it by now which has not happened to my knowledge.

2. If it is true that Manchester City paid managerial staff and playing staff "off the books" why hasn't anyone ever come out and said anything. I could (100%) be naïve to this...but City has had plenty of relationships end terribly over the past 15 years. Mancini on the managerial side, and Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez, and Samir Nasri on the players side are the ones that stick out most to me.
I just find it hard to believe that these individuals or their agents wouldn't have said something to the Press or the PL about this to damage City and their ownership / board that fired them. It is possible someone on the inside, or previously was on the inside is cooperating with the PL investigation / charges and that is their smoking gun.

Regardless, even if Manchester City is exonerated for the second time on these charges...the damage is already done. Rival fans and media will forever call them cheaters even if they're able to clear their name. Headlines create narratives not long drawn out court cases and legal technicalities.

Dark times for the club, and I'm of the belief that if they're found guilty they should be punished severely.
I just have a hard time believing some of the best business minds in the world would cheat the rules so brazenly, but I'm very biased in my opinion on the matter so hard to have a clear head on all this.
I assume nobody wants to talk about “off the books” pay because they most likely didn’t pay taxes on it.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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Jiggafini19Deux

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I think it's pretty shitty that Pep Guardiola has to go in front of reporters and answer questions about all of this. They have a Chairman and CEO who should be doing that.

Guardiola manages the team. He should answer question about the players and about the football. The media obligations of Premier League managers is already time consuming enough. Having Guardiola up there answering for things that happened up the club before he was even there is really weak sauce.
 

Cackalacky2.0

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Gotta say TenHaag has done an amazing job righting ManU. If he isn’t the manager of the year I think Arteta is the only other choice. At the beginning of the year I didn’t see him righting that ship as quick as he did. His signings have largely been excellent and they are playing so good.

As far as Liverpool goes looks like the first team is starting to return to good health and results are following. Jota is just soooo good. Glad he is back. Gakpo Nunez and Salah look like they are gelling now. How good has Bajcetic been for an 18 yo?
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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70 years of Real Madrid summed up in one meme:

FphV9HYWcAMuygb


Just ride a couple of white hot players, set it and forget it.
 

nsisk157

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Spurs with a masterclass today. Have a run of all winnable games before hitting newcastle, united, and liverpool. Need 15/18 available points to secured spot in the table.
 

ACamp1900

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If Celtic hold the treble this year they’ll tie Gers overall trophy count,…
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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Paul Tierney shouldn't be refereeing U12 matches let alone the Premier League. I don't care who is playing, he's terrible.
 

GowerND11

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5 points clear at the top!

The run in doesn't look too bad, really hope Arteta doesn't try to go all in on the EL.
 

Old Man Mike

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In my opinion, what happened was that Henderson and Fabinho (and the young kid with them) finally recreated the Werewolves-hunting-in-packs Liverpool that once no one could deal with without cracking in Midfield. The two young strikers also joined the hunting pack, Salah didn't just rest on defense, Robertson happily bullied his side, and The Blood Hunt was on. All the deflections, firsts to the ball, ricochet romance net battering, DAMM that was fun. It was the most fun I've ever had watching a soccer match on TV.

There were only two downsides: Bobby's goal was almost a tearjerker, but it showcased that he is leaving. And The Boss wouldn't charge the stands after the game with the BOOM BOOM BOOM fist pumps. (I think tha he just doesn't think that his team has earned that much approval from him yet.)
 

Cackalacky2.0

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Salah passes God for most premier league goals. Crazy. No one is coming close to Ian Rush for most goals all comps but outpacing Fowler is amazing achievement.
 

phillyirish

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He is the absolute worst

Soccer would be 10x better if they implemented a rule stating that if your on the ground for more than 3 seconds, you have to come off the pitch to be evaluated. In this day of mental health and personal well being, it’s long overdue. Let’s see how much incentive there is too flop when it temporarily means your team will be down a man.
 
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