Morning all.
Nottingham Forest and Everton have been charged with breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules. This is the second charge for Everton so they must be fearing the outcome having been handed out a massive ten point deduction penalty just two months ago for the very same thing. Premier League clubs are permitted to lose a maximum of £105m over a three-season period (£35m a season). Due to Forest spending two seasons in the Championship within the latest assessment period, the maximum loss they were permitted was £61m.
The Premier League says both clubs have confirmed they are in breach of the rules for the assessment period ending season 2022/23.
I’m all for the points deduction rather than fines because it hurts clubs more. Take Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle Utd – money is no object for them so a fine teaches them nothing whereas losing points, hits hard.
I think this recent clamp down, or rather, proper application of the rules, is good for the game but it’s just a shame that it’s taken as long as it has. In my opinion, it was obvious the days of playing the game on a level financial playing field were over from the day Roman Abramovich stepped foot into Chelsea and after years of owners throwing bad money after bad money, enough has finally become enough. Trouble is, it’s all feels like a little bit too late to me. City and Chelsea have been the biggest winners as far as buying winning trophies go. Everton and Forest today, who’s next I wonder.
Anyway, let’s hope Arsenal’s financial geniuses are on the ball because points are hard enough to come by as it is so the last thing we need is to be in trouble for overspending. It highlights why it’s so important to be back in the Champions League though and why we need to secure at least 4th place again this season. Either that or win the Champions League itself. Top 4 it is then….
I suppose all the goings on with FFP, it’s not surprising that this winter transfer window has been pretty quiet. So far anyway, although I suspect there’ll be a flurry of late deals over the last few days. Palace are reported to still be very keen on signing Eddie Nketiah although Arsenal don’t seem to be as keen to sell him. Why would they sell him if they can’t get a replacement this month. We as a club need to strengthen the squad, not weaken it. This isn’t a good time to sell any player unless someone better is definitely being signed.
I read that Nottingham Forest are reviewing the Nuno Tavares loan contract and there’s a chance he could be sent back to Arsenal. Having featured in just four games for Forest, it’s looking highly unlikely they’ll part with the reported £12 million price tag Arsenal have set. They need to balance their books, not add to their financial woes. Still, Forest only have themselves to blame because behaving like kids in a sweet shop in the transfer window after securing promotion a couple of years ago was not the best of ideas.
Interestingly, Marquinhos, who is away with Brazil for a few weeks, is now listed in the first team squad on Arsenal.com so perhaps this means he’s staying put rather than going back out on loan. That might change before the end of January but I think it’s unusual for the club to list a player who is definitely departing again.
Could he yet get minutes for Arsenal during the second half of the season? Could Tavares should Forest send him back? I’m not suggesting they should by the way but unless Zinchenko soon returns and we go through the next four months without suffers any more injuries, one or both might be a “solution”.
Anyway, just something to talk about…
Catch up in the comments.
Cedric is a better option than Tavares and yet we are letting him go for nothing! Nobody in England will pay for Tavares, they have seen his repeated failings.
Nketiah? Sell and use money for Onana. I would rather than u21 a try than persevere with EN.
The title is long gone with these players and appalling style of play. Half a season to ensure top 4. Get us back to being solid. Then clear out in the summer- ESR, Marquinos, Cedric, Kiwior, Havertz (what a good plan ridding Xhaka, Nket if he is still lingering, injury plagued Partey,Zinchenko and Tommi, Elneny and a dozen youngsters who are showing no signs of 1st team possibilities like Patino,
Five points off top and the title gone?
Selling a striker and signing a midfielder isn’t going to increase our goal tally.
Disagree re the younger players too. One or two might make it but giving up on them so early would be unwise imo.
Al M That’s about 20 you want shot of , any stewards or tea ladies to go ? I would agree if you mentioned the catering crews .
The problem is that you have to have back ups to your first 15 and one at a time they don’t drop the standard too low but when you need 3 or 4 they do. I am surprised that Jorginho survived the night of your long knives.
To replace them would need a spending spree like Nottingham Forests and you can see where that got them . The unproven kids won’t raise enough value and the dead beats are virtually give aways.
Your love for Xhaka has to be based on his last season where he was undoubtedly playing for a transfer . Suddenly he turned into an asset from 6 years or so of liability . I still haven’t forgotten his stupidity with his spat with Alexander Arnold that ultimately cost us the impetus and the league.
Me neither Potter re Xhaka.
Title is long gone ? 5 points with half a season to go??. He must be fun at parties.
I thought it was a weird, negative view Nigel. If there was just a few fixtures left, fair enough but a whole lot can happen yet.
Five points off of the top, we’re all doomed…
FFP, clubs will keep breaking it untill the book is thrown at Man C who still claim they have done nothing wrong.
bit early to wipeing this season off, maybe if we loose the next 2or 3 games and the teams above us keep winning.
Morning all.
New post up