The Manchester City Thread

[aliman5000]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

I’m offended by nothing most of the time!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My partner is a Liverpool fan as are a number of my closest friends. You seem, like them, a completely rational football fan.

The rubbish I read from Adam however is beyond belief and now it’s in another thread!

[AdamBrunt]

Originally Posted by aliman5000

My partner is a Liverpool fan as are a number of my closest friends. You seem, like them, a completely rational football fan.

The rubbish I read from Adam however is beyond belief and now it’s in another thread!

Of course dear, whatever you say.

Here are some facts for you to digest:

City's pathetic response to the leaked video is shameful and factually incorrect. But totally in tune with a classless club.

City are under investigation from UEFA regarding breaking FFP rules. Der Spiegel has evidence that the last time this happened financial inducements were made to lessen the punishment.

City are under investigation from the FA, UEFA AND FIFA regarding breaking transfer rules.

But according to you they are doing nothing wrong and it's just Liverpool fans [ it's not just me - unless I control the national media who are all reporting this stuff to some degree except for the few who are happy to sweep it under the carpet ] playing the victim

[aliman5000]

Originally Posted by AdamBrunt

Of course dear, whatever you say.

Here are some facts for you to digest:

City's pathetic response to the leaked video is shameful and factually incorrect. But totally in tune with a classless club.

City are under investigation from UEFA regarding breaking FFP rules. Der Spiegel has evidence that the last time this happened financial inducements were made to lessen the punishment.

City are under investigation from the FA, UEFA AND FIFA regarding breaking transfer rules.

But according to you they are doing nothing wrong and it's just Liverpool fans [ it's not just me - unless I control the national media who are all reporting this stuff to some degree except for the few who are happy to sweep it under the carpet ] playing the victim

Micon is that you?

[Rob]

I think a few considered responses are required.

Originally Posted by monkeyman

It’s just a bad taste song and City are strictly small time apart from the money.

Not sure that we are small time without the money. Before the takeover, we were always well supported, and had a respectable trophy record that, whilst not up there with United, Liverpool and Arsenal, was better than many. So, the money has taken us from medium-time to the top table where the club has used the money far more wisely than certain clubs. We've also had our fair share of top players and iconic moments, so I think the "small-time" label is a bit off the mark.

Originally Posted by AdamBrunt

City's pathetic response to the leaked video is shameful and factually incorrect. But totally in tune with a classless club.

City are under investigation from UEFA regarding breaking FFP rules. Der Spiegel has evidence that the last time this happened financial inducements were made to lessen the punishment.

Classless in what way? I'm not going to defend what the owners do in their own country, but what can the fans do? The Glazers own United, John Henry owns you lot and we've got the Shiekh. You don't suddenly change clubs because of who owns you.

They've injected eye-watering amounts into the club - not just the players but the backroom staff, the director of football and structural approach, the facilities and the community. In terms of how they've used the money, I'm not sure any football fan could complain. I don't see anything classless in all of this. It's also worth noting that whilst it took massive cash injections to get us up and running, we now have a lower wage bill than Liverpool.

As for Der Spiegel - I'm as interested as anybody to see how it all pans out, and if the club has done anything wrong, we'll be punished and we'll have to accept it. However, UEFA have shot themselves in the foot with the various leaks - people who know far more about this kind of stuff than you or I say that confidentiality is key and stuff like the NYTimes article seriously undermines any potential action.

I'd have thought that with a Champions League final to look forward to, you'd be more concerned about your own team rather than wasting time being bitter about not winning the league because of a series of "unfair" events that are mostly in your mind.

[aliman5000]

Originally Posted by Rob

I'd have thought that with a Champions League final to look forward to, you'd be more concerned about your own team rather than wasting time being bitter about not winning the league because of a series of "unfair" events that are mostly in your mind.

[Rob]

OK, in actual news, we've now been referred to the CFCB adjudicatory chamber.
Rather than just saying "it's all ********", I see that now City are stating that the process has been poorly handled, evidence provided by the club has been ignored and that they are confident that when the evidence is looked at by an independent body, there will be a positive outcome.

or in other words. hang on to your hats because the gloves are off.

[Lee Brown]

Originally Posted by Rob

It's also worth noting that whilst it took massive cash injections to get us up and running, we now have a lower wage bill than Liverpool.

Do City fans just repeat nonsense like this in a bid to make it appear more real?

The Der Speigel 'leaks' make clear that City have moved/sold their players image rights into a separate company to both count it as income (for FFP) and coincidentally to lower their wage bill. They also have most players on performance-related contracts, and given their success are clearly paying out significant bonuses on top of their basic salaries.

So, while their basic salaries (which don't include image right payments and performance bonuses, and cover only 448 staff) may be lower that Liverpool's total (which covers every employee, some 800 staff apparently), it's nonsense to suggest that their eventual wage bill is lower than Liverpool's.

Every City fan really knows that, but you're content to peddle the lie to cover your circumvention of FFP.

[Rob]

I'm not trying the peddle anything - it was something i read the other day. There was a league table of wages and City were third, behind United and Liverpool. I accept your point about the bonuses though.

I didn't come up with the table - I must have missed it when announced but when I checked, it was on the BBC news earlier this year.

Not sure why you're trying to pin FFP circumvention on me by the way. Unlike the vast majority of rival fans, I haven't had access to the UEFA documents detailing our supposed crimes, so I genuinely don't know whether we've breached any regulations.

[The Bear]

All all clubs try to circumvent FFP, with varying degrees of success.

When Wolves were promoted we had bought players such as Neves and Jota who had Champions League experience, but paid them large promotion bonuses instead of big wages to help keep FFP in line.

[AdamBrunt]

Originally Posted by The Bear

All all clubs try to circumvent FFP, with varying degrees of success.

When Wolves were promoted we had bought players such as Neves and Jota who had Champions League experience, but paid them large promotion bonuses instead of big wages to help keep FFP in line.

Did Wolves tell the authorities they'd got an Ł85M sponsorship deal which was actually only worth Ł7M ?

I think it is a bit of a nonsense to say all clubs break FFP when everyone knows it is just a select few

[The Bear]

I didn't say all clubs break them, but they all try whatever they think they can get away with. Some push the envelope more than others obviously, with some inevitably going over the line at times.

[Rob]

Fantastic finish to a brilliant season. Some of the football has been dazzling but it's been combined with some practicality and steel when needed.

There have been some amazing performances from the likes of Ederson, Laporte (Spurs QF aside), Fernandinho, Sterling and Aguero. Gundogan deserves a special mention for the way he stepped in when Fernandinho was injured - he's always been a good player but the way he's played these past few months: his reading of the game and his range of passing, has been top-drawer.

Best of all has been Bernardo Silva. To watch him feathering that ball with the outside of his foot as he ties defenders in knots is a thing of beauty. And he combines that with the tenacity of a bulldog. And absolute steal at Ł43M. Can't wait to see him and De Bruyne working in tandem next year.

[jockosjungle]

Hats off great season.

I remember chatting to some City fans in a pub at the station after just getting relegated from the PL, this was back in the day when you had no phones and you had to ask fellow fans "how did you get on?" to find scores as you made your way home. I really don't begrudge them a bit of success now.

I do wonder where all these fans were when you were in League 1 though

Great season, made all the greater than you weren't champions in all but name by Christmas.

Winning so many games in a row to retain the title, call City for their money if you like, but there really is far more to it than money, as Man Utd are finding out.

[DeadYankee]

League 2 club.

[Rob]

That's an unexpected move from Kompany, but I guess he must have known about it for a while. Great opportunity for him, though and nobody deserves it more than him.

[Bravoman]

Great season, think Kompany will be a big miss for you next year even though he didn’t make too many appearances in the league next year. I can see Anderlecht being your feeder club next year for young players...a bit like Derby and Chelsea this season.

Who do you play in the charity shield next year? Runners up in the Prem or FA Cup?

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Bravoman

Who do you play in the charity shield next year? Runners up in the Premier or FA Cup?

Liverpool.

[Bravoman]

Originally Posted by Rob

Liverpool.

Could be a good game to start the season

[Rob]

This made me laugh (a lot more than Sunday's result anyway).

"Alderaan or Watford"

https://www.theguardian.com/football...star-dark-side

[Ravioli]

I will forever hum the imperial march when I see Pep now