Morning all.
Yesterday was a busy news day as far as football goes. Brendan Rogers was sacked by Leicester City and the later in the day and after yet another defeat, Chelsea finally gave Graham Potter his marching orders. So that’s three Premier League managers gone in a matter of days. Odd timing for Chelsea to act really as they’re still in with a chance of winning the Champions League which is their only chance of playing Champions League football next season and even that’s slim in my opinion.
For Leicester City, it’s totally different as Premier League survival is all they have left to fight for. Three of nine clubs could be relegated as it’s that tight in the lower half of the League. Who’d have thought the 2016 League champions would decline so quickly. Who’d have thought after spending £500 odd million pounds within a year, Chelsea would decline at the speed they have?
Don’t get me wrong, just like any other football fan I’m sure, I love to see Arsenal buying players but I’ve never been an advocate of the buying for buying sake. A club has to buy what and who they need and not just behave like kids in a sweet shop having been deprived of sugar for a month. Chelsea have done just that in my opinion, swooped up any player and every player they can and without thought of who they have, who is coming through the academy or on loan or how they are all going to fit into a five or ten year plan. It’s all very well having 10 new and shiny buttons but if your shirt only needs two replacing, what happens to the other eight? Yep, into the sewing box for another day. Reap what you sow eh.
Back at Arsenal, it was another great day as the women, after a sluggish first half and trailing Man City 1-0, they came alive after the break. On the hour, Noelle Maritz played the ball into the City box, a bit of a scramble followed before the ball ended up at the feet of the Frida Maanum who must have thought ‘ thank you very much’. 1-1. The game changed from that moment on and Arsenal we’re looking strong. The winning goal, scored by Katie McCabe was stunning. A short corner played to our winger, a run towards the box and then a left footed strike which was simply too good for the City keeper to do anything about. Sheer brilliance.
I know the womens game isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, just as academy football isn’t but they are all Arsenal. They all want the club we all love, to be successful. If a PL player had scored a goal like Katie McCabe’s, the pundits would be full of praise, if was Kane, Sky Sports pundits would be talking about it for months, or at least until his next penalty. One thing about the woman’s game which is almost identical to that of the mens is that the standard of officiating is pretty poor. The Bayern game in the week was poorly officiated and yesterday’s referee was equally as poor. The womens team sit three points behind current leaders Man Utd but have a game in hand over them. Trouble is, Chelsea are in second place, also with a game in hand of Utd and they have two more points than us so it’s going to be a tight finish. Six League fixtures to go, one of which is against Chelsea on the 21st May. It might just be the title decider…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning all.
Iv’e reposted this comment from earlier on yesterday’s ongoing topic Club Debts.
It is no longer left to individual leagues or football associations to oversee/police what was called FFP (Financial Fair Play) but is now UEFA’s FSR (Financial Stability Regulations).
When clubs like Barcelona are still trading with outstanding debts of £1.5 billion, and have already drawn down on their expected earnings over the next three years, but are still planning on borrowing a further half billion pounds to rebuild the Nou Camp, to expect the league an F A investigate is unrealistic.
Only UEFA, has the power to ban clubs from European competitions, impose transfer bans and instruct leagues to deduct points and/or relegate them.
One thing that will immediately reduce debt is to ban clubs from buying players on the never never. Transfer fees should be paid in full before the purchasing club can register a new signing. Manchester United’s £1 billion debt includes a significant amount in delayed transfer payments.
Morning Cicero.
If the responsibility to deal with FFP is down to UEFA I wonder why it is the FA are the ones bringing charges against Man City. Or has this rule/law recently changed?
Morning Rico and all.
There are also stories going around, that Nottingham Forest may sack Steve Cooper if they don’t start winning soon.
Wouldn’t trust UEFA to enforce anything.The Spanish duo & oil clubs have had them in their back pocket for ages is the suspicion.FFP.hmmmmmmm
Morning Geoff, he’s not long signed a new contract so sacking him would be odd. Mind you….
Rico I am only guessing but maybe the FA have to raise it first then give the evidence to UEFA to do a full investigation.
If that was the case Geoff, the charges would have come from UEFA and not the Premier League.
Anyway, it matters not really, I just hope the case is based on more than just a wing and a prayer.
The Premier League started the City investigation and filed the charges under the FFP. rules. UEFA’s FSR came into effect in either 2021 or 2022 after the EPL charges had been laid.
Rumour has it that the players didn’t think that Potter was a big enough name for them , If so I doubt his number 2 will be either.
If I was a Premier League manager I would have a kind of reverse pre-nup built into my contract so that I was guaranteed a big payout when the board/players/fans got tired of me.
It seems the Boehly is negotiating to get out of the full deal , something on the lines of payments being reduced if Potter ends up at say Spurs although I doubt the Levy would be as generous as Boehly was after all he is well known for having short arms and long pockets..
Thanks for clearing that up Cicero.
Boelhy can hardly plead poverty over sacking Potter and his payout, not after the money he’s spent on players.
Rumour has it they want to beat Totts to Naglesman (spelling)
I read that Nagelsmaan was waiting to the end of the season in the hope of getting the Real Madrid job. I don’t think he interested in Spuds and if he has any sense whatsoever he will swerve Levy’s blandishments.
If he’s any sense he’d avoid Chelsea too.
So the weekend continued ,Spurs get Doucoure sent off following a tussle with Kane , then they get their customary penalty which Kane of course scores and then Moura goes off for a straight red and Keane equalises with a piledriver from 20 yards .
Spurs drop two points and St Totts is getting closer it’s just a matter of when.
Too many clubs blame the manager, and let the players get away with it.
New post up