Manchester City Charges and Trial

[KingThistle]

Having read through the threads over the last few weeks, there are some great football minds and I've enjoyed reading much. On that, I'd be really interested in views, opinions and standpoints on the "Football Trial of the Century" as it's being billed - Man City and their 115 charges. What do you know? What do you think? How will it pan out? What should the penalties be?

Discuss!

[My Blood Is Blue]

I’m think they’ll get a fine so it looks like they’ve been punished, possibly a points deduction for next season, but not enough points to take them out of the top 4. Maybe a token transfer ban as well.

Ultimately, I think they’ll end up accepting a punishment that allows the PL to make it look like they’ve ‘won’ but ultimately won’t hurt Man City that much.

[Ham]

45 minutes ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

I’m think they’ll get a fine so it looks like they’ve been punished, possibly a points deduction for next season, but not enough points to take them out of the top 4. Maybe a token transfer ban as well.

Ultimately, I think they’ll end up accepting a punishment that allows the PL to make it look like they’ve ‘won’ but ultimately won’t hurt Man City that much.

It depends on what they get convicted of, if anything. 

If it's deliberately faking sponsorships and then covering it up by refusing to cooperate and thereafter threatening the PL with megabucks lawyers then they could be in for a Rangers style punishment. 

 

 

[My Blood Is Blue]

41 minutes ago, Ham said:

It depends on what they get convicted of, if anything. 

If it's deliberately faking sponsorships and then covering it up by refusing to cooperate and thereafter threatening the PL with megabucks lawyers then they could be in for a Rangers style punishment. 

 

 

I just don’t see it happening. I think they’ll agree to accept some of the charges in a deal to then not have to accept others that may cause something like that to happen.

We’ll see, I just have no faith in the PL to see it all through.

I expect they’ll take it out on us afterwards somehow.

[thevelourfog]

They're, imo, effectively guaranteed a significant punishment just on the charges related to their compliance with the initial investigations. Large fine and small points deduction on that, really struggle to see what defence they can make for refusing to turn over evidence they were obliged to share and the commission will have to send a message on that.

The broader charges, though ... I have absolutely no clue and I'm not sure anyone, even those involved, do. The PL almost can't win. Which is exactly what City (who, let's face it, are really obviously guilty of breaking the FFP/PSR rules and are not alone in that) have relied on.

[JaneB]

Manchester City: Verdict reached in Premier League APT legal case - BBC Sport

[east lower]

Round 1 to Man City and they are going after the PL for damages 🤣.

We’ll now see how brave the PL are with Round 2.

Smells like deal time to me.

[Ham]

This benefits us based upon the fact that we've supported them. 

 

[xceleryx]

Not necessarily connected to the charges, but looks as if Txiki Begiristain is going to be stepping down at the end of the season. Ornstein stating it was pre-planned, with successor lined up for early 2025 across a 6 month handover period.

Wonder if this means Pep will look to also leave in the not so distant future? Even if Man City escape any sort of punishment.

[Sciatika]

I think Pep is a bit bored now and will leave for a new challenge—something a bit different, maybe the Spanish national team.

[Bert19]

On 08/10/2024 at 18:06, east lower said:

Round 1 to Man City and they are going after the PL for damages 🤣.

We’ll now see how brave the PL are with Round 2.

Smells like deal time to me.

Tbh, it always felt to me like they had to go to City and make a deal.  

It doesn't look good if the Prem relegate their most valuable Club and City are never going to really cooperate if that's still on the table as an option.  

City's ownership probably have very expensive lawyers on retainer and have the wealth to keep the PL in court cases for years if they feel like it.  And the powers that be at the PL only really care about money and the profit of the product. 

They probably should have gone to City and said "We know you did X Y Z. Cop to these charges, accept the punishment and then we'll forget the rest." 

Something like a two window transfer ban, 20 points next season and a £100-150m fine distributed equally among the Football League clubs feels doable and might show some goodwill to the rest of the League for a change. 

So we can expect this to drag on for ages to basically no real punishment

[jasonb]

On 09/10/2024 at 08:49, Sciatika said:

I think Pep is a bit bored now and will leave for a new challenge—something a bit different, maybe the Spanish national team.

Given his pro-Catalan political views just can't see him ever being Spanish national manager.

[east lower]

On 09/10/2024 at 17:49, Sciatika said:

I think Pep is a bit bored now and will leave for a new challenge—something a bit different, maybe the Spanish national team.

I believe that any person who operates with the intensity that’s required to succeed at the very top level of their chosen profession, and football is intense enough at PL level anyway - Reaches a time when they burn themselves out and maybe this is the beginning of the end for him because of that.

The sporting director leaving Man City (his ex-Barcelona man) and their reliance on Rodri to drag them through games, maybe other factors.

[chara]

3 hours ago, east lower said:

I believe that any person who operates with the intensity that’s required to succeed at the very top level of their chosen profession, and football is intense enough at PL level anyway - Reaches a time when they burn themselves out and maybe this is the beginning of the end for him because of that.

The sporting director leaving Man City (his ex-Barcelona man) and their reliance on Rodri to drag them through games, maybe other factors.

Agree, I also think the ever present influence of KDB has been missed and although Kova has been solid for them the deadly spark seems to be missing.

Not a time to write Citeh off but the fear factor has diminished. 

[east lower]

Yes, De Bruyne and his injury related absences have also caused an acccumulation  of pressure onto Guardiola, a challenge that he conquered. But the combination of KFB and Rodri being absent is a step too far.

Their reliance on Rodri was clear last season, as the numbers showed the only games that they lost were games where he was missing. That’s why I thought they’d struggle when the extent of his injury became clear. Although I thought that the Gooners would be the ones who’d take over and not the ones from the city of self pity.

Out in Australia, arrived yesterday and haven’t got my head straight yet in terms of world times in other regions, can respect the challenges you and a few other members face as regards timings more so now.

[My Blood Is Blue]

Man City starting the points deduction early 

[My Blood Is Blue]

In all seriousness, I do think this could be Pep’s last season at Man City. 

[Blue Moon]

6 minutes ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

In all seriousness, I do think this should be Pep’s last season at Man City. 

Fixed it for you. If he’s so dependent on Rodri, their Board surely can’t accept that? And the Cyborg totally lost it. Again.