Raconteur

It’s funny watching City fall apart, but it’s a pretty shitty way for David Silva to finish his career there. Seven minutes of chasing the game? You’d think he’d be a bit pissed at Pep...

What a miss!!!

Point me towards the nearest SD store so I can get Hendrick on a new top

I feel like I read they weren't willing to pay the wages he wanted - which would make him an odd target for SDFC

Think Pardew-Llambias

I understand Sheffield United made changes to their ownership structure during the past 17 weeks, shortly after someone asked the same question you did. That could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure it’s not. And I guess, when it comes down to it, the main difference is that I took a swig of one of those fucking cans I was told to buy and washed the bad taste out of my mouth. I’m at peace with the PL being openly corrupt, that Ashley is here for the short-medium term at least. It fucking sucks, but it’s like getting mad at the tide. Not true, really - I’m not at peace. I quibble like a proper cunt when I disagree with some people here

I was all set to post a thumbs up and acknowledge defeat, then I remembered West Ham must have been included in the Top Six without me noticing Did the PL/FA have any involvement in the Olympic Stadium? Nope. Well, there you go. Well, sure, then your point stands. Wembley was dodgy as fuck - even worse was letting them have two home grounds in the same season. Yup, clear case of... dodginess. Don’t know it convinces me the PL acts corruptly on behalf of the Top Six, but I’ll certainly accept that it was a corrupt decision that benefitted one of the Top Six. Truth be told, I’m partly hostile to the notion of a Top Six cartel because, well, when was the last time the Top Six finished in the top six positions. Tottenham might well have been CL finalists last year, but does the PL really care if they are challenged (or supplanted) by Leicester or Wolves in the medium term? Arsenal were one of the top tier clubs in the PL almost since it’s inception, but when did they last challenge for more than a CL place? Like, I get Top 6 bleating, just don’t get why it supposedly gets listened to.

I was all set to post a thumbs up and acknowledge defeat, then I remembered West Ham must have been included in the Top Six without me noticing

I said they need to resolve their governance issues. They might think they’re sweet, but the PL doesn’t agree. Any other acquisition is comparing apples and oranges. Even a fantasy PIF bid for Milan (mooted a few weeks ago) would be an entirely different commercial transaction, with different contexts - Serie A seems to be courting KSA favour, and would therefore be more inclined to accept the exact governance structure that the PL rejected didn’t approve. I’d still like to see some evidence of governance issues they’ve had with other transactions, they seemed to be widely acknowledged as a separate entity across the world even by the WTO. All the evidence suggests the PL have conveniently used this as an excuse to delay and ultimately derail the deal. Also I’d like to know how you believe the PIF’s ownership model for us differs from Man City’s ? Neither I (nor the PL) give a flying fuck about any other transaction have ever done - except where it might relate to their acquisition of NUFC. That means I have an interest in BeOutQ and ArabSat as well - because however much people say “No guilty verdict ever”, I’m not alone in thinking those distinctions are... complete bullshit. And Man City is equally as irrelevant. UAE weren’t being sued by current PL partners, nor had the PL previously attempted to sue UAE entities, when Mansour bought them. I 1000% agree the PL contrived a result here - but for the deliberate and specific reason to say to KSA “Fuck you guys, no.” Because they have stolen from the PLs buddies. “No guilty verdict”, “WTO exoneration”, “no direct links”... yup, and Trump had a bigger inauguration than Obama.

You’re arguing that two of the Top Six get results, but five of the Top Six, plus four others, are outweighed by City alone? ANYBODY lobbies AGAINST the top 6, get told to politely fuck off. Okay, I can accept the logical structure of your argument. But I guess I have trouble believing that the PL told Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool (plus us and three others) to fuck off re City, but then said giddy up to Tottenham and Liverpool alone re us. I don’t think any of the Top Six clubs have the sort of power to intervene that many assume. Sure, they have some leverage in some contexts - they will always threaten to break away and form a super league and attempt to hold that over the PLs head, but they’ve been talking about it for 30 years, and hasn’t happened for a lot of good reasons. I just can’t see an argument that Tottenham or Liverpool could make that would move the PL an inch. What leverage does Daniel fucking Levy have?

Much appreciated Fifth favourite (ish). 1/4 to stay seems... unlikely to attract much action!

No socks = no good. Hard pass.

Seems like a lot of people think Messi will leave Barca in the off season. But, realistically, there’s not many clubs that could or would try to sign him. I had this idea to start a thread “Where will Messi play in 20/21 and why?” On one hand, it would be good to talk about something that’s not the takeover. On the other, it’s hard to give a fuck about football at the moment. I hope to God it doesn’t happen, but if someone could point me towards a “Messi to PSG” market, I’d be much obliged...

I said they need to resolve their governance issues. They might think they’re sweet, but the PL doesn’t agree. Any other acquisition is comparing apples and oranges. Even a fantasy PIF bid for Milan (mooted a few weeks ago) would be an entirely different commercial transaction, with different contexts - Serie A seems to be courting KSA favour, and would therefore be more inclined to accept the exact governance structure that the PL rejected didn’t approve.

This, people who choose to believe the PL is not a cartel choose to ignore how the latest CEO was selected. But when the Saudis return to purchase Man U for 3 billion in 2 years, they might realise they were a tad naive. If they spent the intervening three years sorting out their broadcasting and governance issues, purchase the next round of rights - and then decide Man U is a better proposition at that time - would you take them passing the O&D test then as evidence of cartel behaviour? The PIF flaw has, apparently, been revealed as fatally flawed. Both the PL and one of their their biggest commercial partners were in legal conflict with KSA entities prior to launching their bid. There's about ten thousand questions related to that, but those prior lawsuits are a fact - and that has, seemingly, influenced their behaviour more than anything any club might have said.

You’re arguing that two of the Top Six get results, but five of the Top Six, plus four others, are outweighed by City alone?

Wasn’t he the one who Man U got millions for as a teenager even though he never played for them (a million years ago)?

They need more than The Best Manager Available. They’re so much more fucked than that. Setien was an odd choice from the start.

this shit is really starting to bother me like i refuse to believe the PL, who have a brand to promote and manage, would be sitting there not wanting more competition and better teams/players in the division rather than have more absolute non entities like us stinking the place up not having it, it's fucking embarrassing as was that wor flags thing fwiw Absolutely this. It’s related to the Top Six Clique banding together to scupper the deal. Yeah, nah. According to Staveley (...), Liverpool and Tottenham lobbied against it - and how much weight can you put on their lobbying? After all, we were one of nine clubs to lobby against City’s overturning of their transfer ban, and that didn’t amount to a pinch of shit.

Before we all shoot ourselves, I think it’s important to remember that “this time” is very different from all the preceding fakeovers. Ashley has proved himself to be a willing seller for the first time - and all indications are that he’s cash desperate. That might be the only positive to take from the whole experience. Maybe Staveley will put together another consortium - she has revealed herself to be a desperate purchaser. Here’s hoping she can find someone with deep pockets that isn’t already on the PL’s shit list.

He's Staveley's fella

Seems nothing more than a cock-tease

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-matty-longstaff-talks-18767993 In talks to start pre-season training, apparently EDIT: For those who don't want PCAIDS

I’d put this in the Braindead Twitter thread, except it appeared in an actual story - Cronaldo to Barca (?) https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/cristiano-ronaldos-camp-respond-barcelona-22517755

Tom Allan has signed a new contract and will go out on loan for the 20/21 season. Looks like he won’t be challenging Big Joe for a starting position