Men's Soccer (Football) Thread [ARCHIVED] Soccer • Page 1964

There was a really good point made that I heard on a podcast today.

They were talking about how rival fans of teams in a title race with Man City often default to hoping City win it. Because the overwhelming feeling amongst fans is that City winning doesn’t really count. We all know they’re financially doped up to their eyeballs, with fake sponsors, hidden bonuses, and external contacts to boost wages.

So when City win over Liverpool/Arsenal, the other 18 just shrug and don’t have to feel bad. And I know it’s true, because I’ve heard fans of all sorts of clubs articulate that exact sentiment over the last few years.

 

Again, not gonna go into my own take on City too much.

Are they exceptionally well run, to a degree perhaps never seen before? Yes.

Do they play brilliant football? Yes.

Should they be relegated if found guilty of some of their financial charges? Absolutely, but they’ll find a way to wriggle out of it.

 

It's really fucking annoying seeing people complain about one team when the whole sport has been marching toward this for the last 30 years. This could have been stopped a long time ago but the bigger clubs wanted to keep a bigger piece of the pie for themselves. Both in England and Europe as a whole.

 

I totally get that, but find me the 100+ financial doping charges that Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Aston Villa or any other PL club have.

 

we’re all trying to figure out who did this .jpeg

 

Abramovich?

 

Seems like no one cared until City got their ownership group.

 

The problem is that City have unlimited chances to fuck up as many deals as they want and it wouldn’t hurt a bit. For all of the successful signings City have made, they can just write off a Mangala or a Mendy contract and replace them with an Ake and an Akanji in perpetuity. There are no stakes to the City project. Not only do they have a safety net if a signing doesn’t work out, that safety net is a trampoline.

 

Believe me, people cared. Chelsea arguably got all this kind of reaction more than City have. But I guess that subsided because whereas City are well run, Chelsea operate like a market stall.

 

In more fun news, one of the idiots that stormed the pitch at the Espanyol - Barcelona was standing for election. He’s been made to stand down after being witnessed kicking a TV camera.

 

Yeah the woe is me/persecution complex from a newer era City fan is absolutely rich considering Chelsea got raked absolutely over the coals 20 years ago.

 

Ah, one of THOSE times where I want Liverpool to win. Pure bliss for me, I can assure you.

 

But if it was that big of an issue why wasn't it stopped or rules actually enforced at the time?

 

Honestly I was only 10 or so at the time and just getting into the league/sport myself so can only speak to the intense fan sentiment and reaction at the time. I genuinely grew up with a “Chelsea are the villains” mindset even more so than Liverpool as an upcoming United supporter. I’m sure our elder statesmen and those who have been following since birth might know better.

 

the reemergence of curtis jones over the last six weeks or so has been incredible to witness

first time trying the lfctv live commentary because i just was not up to listening to martin tyler. it's been a good time, luckily was able to get a near perfect sync between the audio and the nbc video feed

 

Leicester can't keep up with the Jones'

 

well done

 

Wow, what a goal.

 

hat trick of assists for Mo

what a team performance

 

I'm really hoping Liverpool doesn't sneak into the top 4.

 

At the time that Chelsea changed the landscape with their take on buying success (they weren't the first, they just changed the magnitude), I don't think there was any form of FFP. They weren't breaking any rules.

As for why the FFP rules have been a failure so far, take your pick from inept governing bodies, corrupt governing bodies and nations taking on governing bodies...

 

It's hard to know who exactly is responsible for the building of a good squad, but Steidten has be the director at Leverkusen in a time where their recruitment has been fantastic. Interesting that we've recently been linked to Xabi Alonso as well. Curious if it becomes a package deal or if it's just coincidence.

I think I prefer Slot or Amorim for manager, but if Xabi/Steidten have formed a good relationship then it'd make for an intriguing duo.

 

Really interesting video by the Tifo boys

 

Oh I know about Blackburn winning their title.

FFP in its current form is clearly a joke. The concept makes sense but until they start enforcing it to a T the sport will continue down its current path.