Activate Another Lever and Still Lose to a Madrid Remontada - The Small Teams Thread

MiamiNative0722 · Feb 6, 2023

This genuinely could end with relegation, if alleged breaches are proven

If breaches are proven, titles stripped seen as unlikely due to prospective punishments not being "backward looking" but this is "unprecedented"

Biggest controversy PL has facedhttps://t.co/DOuDmV4HdU
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) February 6, 2023

Relegation for City a real possibility

SayWhatIWant · Feb 6, 2023

Hendrix22 said: ↑

There wouldn't be anything wrong if it didn't come from a Madrid icon and Ronaldo teammate.
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You guys put way too much weight on these words

Nathanial Essex · Feb 6, 2023

AppleBob86 said: ↑

Personally I think it’s a bit beyond that now.

There is talk of Pep walking away if he find the club has lied and is even odds-on to not be city manager come start of next season.

Feels there is a lot more to this that will come out over the next few days
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Pep finds out the club lied? Even us mere mortals on an internet forum, with no actual insight of the club or proper understanding of accounting know Manchester City were cooking the books!

REALFOREVER · Feb 6, 2023

Nir_O said: ↑

Also Liverpool are also 10th place and far from 4th place. If they won’t play CL.. this might may be a crucial factor
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This news on City and the Liverpool situation may have knocked out the top competition for Bellingham.

I guess there is nothing stopping Chelsea from spending another couple 100 million.

REALFOREVER · Feb 6, 2023

celito said: ↑

There is a quote from Pep being questioned about accusations of Man City's dealings a year or two ago and he said he'd walk if he found out the club lied to him. But I can't think he didn't imagine that there isn't shady business behind the scenes. Just a question of how much and how bad. That's just Pep covering his ears and looking the other way. If he doesn't know details, he can play innocent. Players and managers never really care too much about that part of the business, where the money is coming from, unless somebody else exposes it. If you've been involved in the sport long enough, you know there is all sorts of shady dealings that go on.
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There is no way I believe that Pep knows nothing.

AppleBob86 · Feb 6, 2023

celito said: ↑

There is a quote from Pep being questioned about accusations of Man City's dealings a year or two ago and he said he'd walk if he found out the club lied to him. But I can't think he didn't imagine that there isn't shady business behind the scenes. Just a question of how much and how bad. That's just Pep covering his ears and looking the other way. If he doesn't know details, he can play innocent. Players and managers never really care too much about that part of the business, where the money is coming from, unless somebody else exposes it. If you've been involved in the sport long enough, you know there is all sorts of shady dealings that go on.
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Pep looks tired full stop.

Before any of this I was giving him another two seasons at City at most.

He looks miserable

MiamiNative0722 · Feb 6, 2023

🔴🔵 Jérôme Rothen assure que le PSG n’a pas intérêt à prolonger le contrat de Lionel Messi, qui court actuellement jusqu’à la fin de la saison. https://t.co/pgr3jKtGOJ
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) February 6, 2023

Jerome Rothen says PSG isn’t interested in renewing Messi

AppleBob86 · Feb 6, 2023

MiamiNative0722 said: ↑

🔴🔵 Jérôme Rothen assure que le PSG n’a pas intérêt à prolonger le contrat de Lionel Messi, qui court actuellement jusqu’à la fin de la saison. https://t.co/pgr3jKtGOJ
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) February 6, 2023

Jerome Rothen says PSG isn’t interested in renewing Messi
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World Cup is finished now. Winding down time at PSG

Ssr9 · Feb 6, 2023

Haaland…Cancelo and Mahrez please and thank you.

The Biscuitman · Feb 6, 2023

A decent write up on where we are with the Man City situation

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...questions-answered?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Seoul Villan · Feb 6, 2023

MiamiNative0722 said: ↑

🔴🔵 Jérôme Rothen assure que le PSG n’a pas intérêt à prolonger le contrat de Lionel Messi, qui court actuellement jusqu’à la fin de la saison. https://t.co/pgr3jKtGOJ
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) February 6, 2023

Jerome Rothen says PSG isn’t interested in renewing Messi
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Or, he’s not interested in an extension? He’s going to demand a massive payday wherever he ends up; Middle East probably…

celito · Feb 6, 2023

REALFOREVER said: ↑

There is no way I believe that Pep knows nothing.
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He probably doesn't know but also didn't really want to know. At most he probably asked management if they are playing within the rules, they answer yes, and he says fine, I "believe" you. The less he knows the better for him. Even if he wanted to know, he'd have no access information. Look at the EPL, takes them 4 years to come to an accusation. Unless they really didn't need that long and something changed politically and they decided to act on something they already knew and had proof for a while. Often things only become public when the wrong person finds out or someone who isn't happy anymore and decided to spill the beans.

temesgen · Feb 6, 2023

The Biscuitman said: ↑

A decent write up on where we are with the Man City situation

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...questions-answered?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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Vinnie really messed this up

Lyra · Feb 6, 2023

Neymar wins the Samba Gold award, which is given to the best Brazilian player in Europe.

It's the sixth time in nine years he's won it 🤙 pic.twitter.com/Lg3lmb81SW
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 6, 2023

Toro70 · Feb 6, 2023

BREAKING: UEFA say they will NOT strip Manchester City of their Champions League titles.

Raul-7 · Feb 6, 2023

Surprise...Surprise.

dooda · Feb 7, 2023

How long before City give Florentino a call about rejoining the Super League?

hector_br · Feb 7, 2023

Guardiola would NEVER be involved in any criminal acts. Like Messi, he's a saint among us mortals. Just like Barcelona was more than a club, and now there's a bunch of them in jail.

The Biscuitman · Feb 7, 2023

dooda said: ↑

How long before City give Florentino a call about rejoining the Super League?
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if anything I could see a football version of the LIV Golf thing.

4x4s · Feb 7, 2023

MiamiNative0722 said: ↑

🔴🔵 Jérôme Rothen assure que le PSG n’a pas intérêt à prolonger le contrat de Lionel Messi, qui court actuellement jusqu’à la fin de la saison. https://t.co/pgr3jKtGOJ
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) February 6, 2023

Jerome Rothen says PSG isn’t interested in renewing Messi
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Rothen is a MASSIVE hot take and click bait merchant.

Liked him as a player though.

4x4s · Feb 7, 2023

hector_br said: ↑

Guardiola would NEVER be involved in any criminal acts. Like Messi, he's a saint among us mortals. Just like Barcelona was more than a club, and now there's a bunch of them in jail.
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When Barcelona offered Figo a local delicacy "El head of El pig" and some Madrid fans were offended because of the way it was served. People are so thankless to those gestures of kindness.

We don't deserve Guardiola. Such a wonderful human being.

Doni · Feb 7, 2023

4x4s said: ↑

Rothen is a MASSIVE hot take and click bait merchant.

Liked him as a player though.
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Every time I see him and other Monaco players from that era it reminds me of that 3-1 defeat in ‘04 in Monaco. Should have reached the final with that team.

BocaFan · Feb 7, 2023

OMM13 said: ↑

Is the Premier League itself making these allegations or some independent entity? Because I think the PL would like to keep this on the low. Theoretically they could make retroactive point deductions and strip their titles but I think the PL wouldn't want to undermine a decades worth of results. 100 financial infarctions is serious though and this can't go unpunished. Maybe a big "fine" and a transfer ban for a year or two. Still a slap on the wrist considering all the success they've had.
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Yeah, agreed. Retroactive punishments mainly punish the league and its fans. Even fans of other clubs don't win. Sure, it might give them something to sing about at the grounds, but it's not like Man Utd will have a parade this summer for winning the 2012 title.

If there are point deductions it should be applied for this or (more likely) next season.

4x4s · Feb 7, 2023

You can't unf*** somebody. That's what retroactive punishments are attempting to do.

Lyra · Feb 7, 2023

Victor Osimhen has beaten Cristiano Ronaldo's record for the highest vertical leap for a header in Serie A 😲 pic.twitter.com/tJjQbn6L48
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 7, 2023

Ronaldo vs Man U in UCL: 2.93m