Armchair Pundit

Is this a direct result of teams like Notts Forest, etc actually questioning the competition legalities of FFP/PSR and consulting legal teams? NDM knows.

Would UEFA want to hamstring the interest in their leagues/competitions by blocking big spending teams from leagues that have wised up to the FFP/PSR nonsense?

What the hell is a luxury tax???

Isak and Bruno must get pissed off with all their efforts going to waste. It's tonight's sort of fuck-up that could sew the seeds of possible summer moves to teams that might actually win things (or at least grind out results!).

2 easy points lost there, shit result against a shit team. Won't be sad to see them relegated this year.

Wish someone would break Young's leg, whining little fuck

Should have been put to bed ages ago, our lot dicking around too much. Still, the ref's been way too soft and been letting the scouse wanks get away with no end. Hate Everton, hate Dyche, they deserve fuck all from this match, diving fucks.

Not another injury, shirley?

"Ashley Young, he eats bird shit" That's all I hear when I see him or hear his name.

Seems like a pretty energetic team to be fair, will be interesting to see how the younger lads approach this.

I mean, I'd hope not, I just don't trust any of them.

I don't doubt any of that or disagree with it. My take would be more on how anyone can prove or disprove he's already working on the sly for the Mancs, be it via an intermediary or otherwise. Whether something is against a law or not doesn't stop people breaking said law, what's the worse that would happen to him? A fine? I'm sure Man Utd would be able to cover whatever pittance it'd be if it came to it. Is a fine going to be more than suggested compensation? Besides, as I said, I don't see any way of catching them out, unless the intermediary used blabbed.

Not sure being at home is an indicator of whether a job is easy or not. Besides, I'm think a large portion of his job would likely be utilising his access to a network of people, communicating and research - most of which probably don't require face to face contact, especially if his existing knowledge base is largely from experience.

As much as I don't like Everton (and I really don't like Everton), I dislike and disagree with the whole FFP nonsense more.

I still don't see how it can be assured that Ashworth isn't working, albeit indirectly, for Man Utd already. I know he's contracted to us currently, but how do they stop him working on the sly via an intermediary? I don't trust him and I don't trust Man Utd (or the FA for that matter, they'd probably facilitate it if they could!).

Still think a 10 month worldwide ban is completely disproportionate to the crime, especially seeing as none of the matches bet on were any that he played in.

All down to the witches that were hung by the old gallows gate during the siege of Newcastle in the English civil war...

I'm inclined to believe there's a lot of truth in this, the lack of being able to adequately rotate the squad is a strong possibility - too much, too soon, with not enough quality depth.

Something decidedly iffy with all the continuous injuries we have, especially this season. Whether it's down to crap medical facilities, inadequate staff or bad training regimes, something must be causing it.

The pessimist in me thinks that even if it was the beginning of the end for FFP, there would still be some unfair ruling put in place that would stop us from spending the same as the already established clubs, regardless of how much our owners could afford.

So, what's the general consensus on this? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13188487/Premier-League-clubs-shot-EFL-deal.html (Couldn't see the article anywhere else)

I just want to know how we've gone from the defense we had last season, the defense we've had this season... And where was Longstaff tonight? Worse than the invisible man!

An extension to the ban would be ridiculously out of proportion with what he's been done for... though I'm sure the scumbag six are likely pressuring the FA in the same way they pressure the Prem.

I keep seeing stories over the last couple of days about Ashworth supposedly already doing work on behalf of Man Utd... but he's supposed to still be on garden leave and we've not received any compo to change that, unless I've missed something?! (... I'm presuming it's just the usual lazy journalism, but I hope our owners are keeping a close eye on it, would love to catch Man Utd out and get them hit with misconduct)

That's them and Liverpool today then, though I doubt Villa got as much help from the officials as Liverpool did.