boohog

Conceptually, the idea of financial fair play originates from Leeds, Southampton, Sunderland etc, preventing overspending through debt or an owner burdening the club with unmanageable salaries and then essentially walking away and letting the club collapse. I think this is a point that is not often discussed as the rules predates city, but many fans believe the rules were put in place to maintain the hegemony of the 'legacy' clubs. The next layer which City are challenging was more explicit rules to prevent nation states essentially buying the competition through funneling money through controlled entities. Technically the existing rules should have prevented that, but I guess they weren't explicit enough Ultimately if Abu Dhabi decided to stop supporting City, once the sponsorships ended they would reset to maybe half what Liverpool United and Arsenal get since their viewership is mediocre. They'd very quickly be bust or have to firesale. I'd be surprised if they could generate the same income as Spurs or Villa (excluding success revenues). If they are successful, expect Aramco on NUFC's shirt and the largest sponsorship deal in football history. A billion quid is pocket change for them and Saudi, as they claimed with PIF (which is the sovereign wealth fund, and controls the majority of football clubs and the league in Saudi, as well as being the owner of Aramco, and changed NUFC's away kits to green) will claim that Aramco is independently run and not controlled by the state (which extracts 70 odd percent of their profits) etc etc. All meaningful competition in the league will be over. I'm not super confident about the result though. Money talks after all and ultimately I suspect government influence will result in a settlement and a slap on the wrist. God knows how long the Conservatives sucked on the Russian teat and looked the other way.

We aren't paying them interest or dividends. This is their exit plan. It was always going to be this way.

Indeed. Its either bankruptcy, or moral bankruptcy.

Why would he bother setting foot in the city? Even so they would need a tonne of Debt. It doesn't stack up if you're paying 10% interest, unless they get a pretty wealthy consortium together

The very same. His idiot son in particular.

Wound up. Dubai won't be buying us. Kuwait are barely capable of getting political consent to build a road. No chance.

Unfortunately this might be worse than it sounds. I've heard we were offered to the Hicks family who are trying to form a consortium to buy. Only saving grace is that the market for LBO debt is terrible at the moment and given rates, they probably can't afford to do it. That said, the Qataris will probably be in for us Saudi's pulled the trigger too early it seems.

Disagree, thought Firmino had a really good game. Mane just needs to start hitting a few rather than trickery. Needs confidence, he's clearly low and had a shocking game.

Bow chicka wow wow

Won it we have.

Ditto. No words for this at the moment. I just have a perma-footy-boner.

BiG sIgNiNgS

Pretty sure Liverpool is Hugh Laurie's second team (after Fulham)

VAR comes up as no goal for Alli's equaliser. Ref gives goal anyway. Excellent.