Unbelievable

Longstaff again close

Hand ball? No VAR though

Ref needs to make a mark here

Missed it though didn’t he? Clear yellow

Dirty fuckers

Very controlled performance so far, let’s hope we can keep it up

Dirty bastards

Good run Gordon

What’s going on?

Botman

We’re all over them

Man, almost a goal!

Good cross Tripps

Strong start. Corner

Howay the lads!

Unless there are unexpected developments (like long term target becoming available on the cheap unexpectedly, more season ending injuries), yes, and rightfully so.

I think “fair” would be the same limits apply for all clubs, not this odd version with “fair market value” is higher for clubs that already have better deals in place. At least allow all clubs to spend the same as long as their owners can afford it or they can commercially loan it from banks against normal market conditions (and afford the interest and repayments).

Maybe I phrased the original post badly. I meant there could be a deadlock where the PL want to strip City of titles and relegate them, but if they do City threaten to legally challenge FFP and blow the whole thing up. Such a Mexican standoff would explain why other clubs are getting penalised while the City investigation seems to take forever.

By time to recover properly you mean until the start of next season? Because unless I’m grossly mistaken our squad registered numbers do not allow the addition of three additional first team players without taking the same number out.

I didn’t say that. I said if City were to challenge FFP legally to fight getting titles docked and being relegated a few divisions that would go against the interests of the PL and the big six (including City if they won, but to threaten to nuke the lot costs them nothing and probably allows them to get away scott free with their multiple breaches).

Let’s approach this in another manner: in whose interest would it be to allow City to challenge FFP if they were so inclined? The PL? The big six minus City? The big six including City..? Answer: none of the above.

Pretty clear in my speculative theory City are perhaps the biggest winners of all in that scenario. They would get to keep their titles AND the advantage they’ve got from their overspend, which will continue to give them an edge for a long time going forward. Plus they’d get to keep FFP, FMV and all that nonsense to stop the likes of us doing as they have done without suffering any repercussions.

“He” would be me, so feel free to explain why it would be nonsense. I’d argue the top six have more vested interest in keeping the status quo as is than to see City punished severely at the expense of losing their carefully crafted, anti-competitive, market manipulation mechanisms. In fact, it gives the other five some leverage over City, which may come in handy in the future. The whole thing stinks, as evidenced by Everton and (probably) Bournemouth getting slaughtered for spending a bit too much of their own(ers) money.

Pretty obvious who they are…