Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Zeppo on March 03, 2011, 01:53:49 PM
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Manchester City's Kolo Toure fails drugs test
Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has been suspended after testing positive for a specified substance. The 29-year-old was informed by the Football Association that an A sample he provided had returned positive.
City confirmed in a statement that Toure had been suspended "pending the outcome of the legal process". Ivory Coast international Toure, whose brother Yaya also plays for City, is a former club captain who joined City from Arsenal in July 2009.
(continue) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/9413738.stm)
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sounds like he took some cold medicine :sleepy:
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sounds like he took some cold medicine :sleepy:
Sounds about right; the non drowsy formula! :liar:
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
how yuh mean... he used to deal wid ah trini ting :-X
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
I don't recall but what Trini playing for Spurs? ???
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
It does not have to be TRINI football news, it's football news and that's what gave it merit to be on a football forum site. :beermug:
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I wonder if Yaya use the same cold medicine?
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he is ONLY 29!!! Seems as though my boy been around forever.
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he is ONLY 29!!! Seems as though my boy been around forever.
That is in African years!
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
I don't recall but what Trini playing for Spurs? ???
Wtf does that has to do with anything? How many trinis played for Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea? I've never posted any Spurs related news here nor started a 'Spurs forever' thread. There are plenty of sites I can go to to discuss spurs related news I don't need (nor desire) do that here.
Next time reply with something that makes some sense.
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
I don't recall but what Trini playing for Spurs? ???
Wtf does that has to do with anything? How many trinis played for Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea? I've never posted any Spurs related news here nor started a 'Spurs forever' thread. There are plenty of sites I can go to to discuss spurs related news I don't need (nor desire) do that here.
Next time reply with something that makes some sense.
It has to do with the fact you have the f*ckin nerve to complain about "non Trini football news " being posted on this forum, yet you have contributed to discussions on this forum that pertains to things that are "non Trini football news". Including discussions involving Spurs. So before you complain think abot how you have contributed to what you are complaining about.
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That is in African years!
lol
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i wonder who finishing higher this season..man city or toure?
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he is ONLY 29!!! Seems as though my boy been around forever.
That is in African years!
:rotfl
:i wonder who finishing higher this season..man city or toure?
:rotfl:
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
It does not have to be TRINI football news, it's football news and that's what gave it merit to be on a football forum site. :beermug:
Except when its from Jamaica ;)
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Allyuh feel Kolo Toure eh Jamaican ....
They love drugs, ask Buju and Bolt.
Except Buju get caught and Bolt know how to hide he own....
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
It does not have to be TRINI football news, it's football news and that's what gave it merit to be on a football forum site. :beermug:
Except when its from Jamaica ;)
well you should expect that, the rivalry is strong between both countries. ;D
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Man City defender Kolo Toure 'took wife's slimming aid'
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Kolo Toure's failed drugs test is a result of the player taking a "slimming product belonging to his wife". The Manchester City defender, 29, has been suspended after testing positive for a specified substance.
But Toure's ex-boss Wenger has spoken to the player and said: "He wants to control his weight a little bit because that's where he has some problems. "He has a clean life, is very honest, is always at home and is a family man."
(continue) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/9415174.stm)
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Man City defender Kolo Toure 'took wife's slimming aid'
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Kolo Toure's failed drugs test is a result of the player taking a "slimming product belonging to his wife". The Manchester City defender, 29, has been suspended after testing positive for a specified substance.
But Toure's ex-boss Wenger has spoken to the player and said: "He wants to control his weight a little bit because that's where he has some problems. "He has a clean life, is very honest, is always at home and is a family man."
(continue) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/9415174.stm)
Well yes; if that is his reason then what about Yaya? HE must have an overactive gland. :angel:
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So this is trini football news now ??? This forum is farce now yes >:(
I don't recall but what Trini playing for Spurs? ???
Wtf does that has to do with anything? How many trinis played for Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea? I've never posted any Spurs related news here nor started a 'Spurs forever' thread. There are plenty of sites I can go to to discuss spurs related news I don't need (nor desire) do that here.
Next time reply with something that makes some sense.
It has to do with the fact you have the f*ckin nerve to complain about "non Trini football news " being posted on this forum, yet you have contributed to discussions on this forum that pertains to things that are "non Trini football news". Including discussions involving Spurs. So before you complain think abot how you have contributed to what you are complaining about.
That's a fair point, I'll take my spurs talk elsewhere from now on.
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he is ONLY 29!!! Seems as though my boy been around forever.
That is in African years!
:rotfl
:i wonder who finishing higher this season..man city or toure?
:rotfl:
COSIGN!
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He should be banned for trying to take a short cut to lose weight!
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What next for Kolo Toure? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gordonfarquhar/2011/03/kolo_toure_what_happens_next.html)
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i wonder who finishing higher this season..man city or toure?
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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Muh Aguero shirt done bought!
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waggonist >:(
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waggonist >:(
I was thinking the same thing.
Isn't there an organization called AWATT (Anti-Waggonism Association of Trinidad and Tobago)?
This thread certainly consitutes a first degree offence if AWATT is still in existence.
;D
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waggonist >:(
De man build the wagon in stoppage time, jump in and picking up passengers before the final whistle blow.
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waggonist >:(
enemy of my enemy meh boy ............and my shit side(chelsea) have one more trophy dis year dan your shit side :P
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waggonist >:(
enemy of my enemy meh boy ............and my shit side(chelsea) have one more trophy dis year dan your shit side :P
:D
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waggonist >:(
enemy of my enemy meh boy ............and my shit side(chelsea) have one more trophy dis year dan your shit side :P
:rotfl: :rotfl:
Oh gaaarrddd oooyyyeee!!! Lefty yuh killing mih.....leave DHW alone nah....it real hard to lose a trophy in the space of 4 minutes.....ask Bayern Munich..... :devil: ;D
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waggonist >:(
enemy of my enemy meh boy ............and my shit side(chelsea) have one more trophy dis year dan your shit side :P
:rotfl: :rotfl:
Oh gaaarrddd oooyyyeee!!! Lefty yuh killing mih.....leave DHW alone nah....it real hard to lose a trophy in the space of 4 minutes.....ask Bayern Munich..... :devil: ;D
;D ;D :D ;)
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Watch them hating on Balotelli again.
Barton fighting man, and allyuh quiet. Balotelli tell he haters to shut up, he is the worst thing ever.
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Ah wonder if there are two PL trophies? Possible of course that United could have won and nobody knew until the dying mins that the title was City's. How then they get the trophy to the Etihad so quick for the post-game presentation? Was it always there and United woulda have to wait for it to arrive from the Etihad had they won? What if the other team was clear across England?
...anyways, great moment hearing the City fans singing "Hey Jude" at the trophy ceremony.
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Watch them hating on Balotelli again.
Barton fighting man, and allyuh quiet. Balotelli tell he haters to shut up, he is the worst thing ever.
I dunno why you and MEP and others persisting with this Barton comparison nah. Barton is a known idiot... we expect nothing better from him. We expect better from Balotelli. That doh mean everything Balotelli do men will be on his case, but doh act like he do deserve some ah de stick he does get. Comparing he to Barton allyuh sounding like the PP gov't... "well, de PNM used tuh do worse..."
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Where those five minutes of stoppage time came from at the Etihad? Mancini time?
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Where those five minutes of stoppage time came from at the Etihad? Mancini time?
How long it take to sort out the Barton incident... including getting him off the sidelines and down the tunnel? Actually, yuh know what, never mind... I kinda like hearing about de conspiracies against United.
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Ah wonder if there are two PL trophies? Possible of course that United could have won and nobody knew until the dying mins that the title was City's. How then they get the trophy to the Etihad so quick for the post-game presentation? Was it always there and United woulda have to wait for it to arrive from the Etihad had they won? What if the other team was clear across England?
...anyways, great moment hearing the City fans singing "Hey Jude" at the trophy ceremony.
They have a replica that the team that wins actually keeps and the actual trophy. In instances like this they have one at each stadium.
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Ah wonder if there are two PL trophies? Possible of course that United could have won and nobody knew until the dying mins that the title was City's. How then they get the trophy to the Etihad so quick for the post-game presentation? Was it always there and United woulda have to wait for it to arrive from the Etihad had they won? What if the other team was clear across England?
...anyways, great moment hearing the City fans singing "Hey Jude" at the trophy ceremony.
They would have kept it in Balotelli's Lamborghini and have him drive it to sunderland after the game...
Helicopter? Secret Premier league teleporter?
If I recall correctly, there are 2 trophies, the real one and the replica that the teams get to keep. The real one will be at the Etihad, b/c City were leading the table going in to the final day. I would expect that the replica was at the Stadium of Light.
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Ah wonder if there are two PL trophies? Possible of course that United could have won and nobody knew until the dying mins that the title was City's. How then they get the trophy to the Etihad so quick for the post-game presentation? Was it always there and United woulda have to wait for it to arrive from the Etihad had they won? What if the other team was clear across England?
...anyways, great moment hearing the City fans singing "Hey Jude" at the trophy ceremony.
They have a replica that the team that wins actually keeps and the actual trophy. In instances like this they have one at each stadium.
Thanks... you too Bitter :beermug:
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Congrats to the Man City die-hards! Wait, we doh have any of those here.
Aguero is de man, he make his legend this season and today. I buyin dat jersey too firebrand. Doh study DHW and dem, ask them which unsuccessful spell made them start to support Man U.
Now they have to prove to be a power in Europe as well. I lookin for a better showing there from them and Dortmund.
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Nasri: I made right decision in joining Manchester City from Arsenal
French midfielder took the full wrath of Gunners fans after acrimoniously leaving the Emirates Stadium in search of trophies but feels vindicated after Premier League triumph
13 May 2012 18:33:00
By Josh Clarke
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/05/13/3100454/nasri-i-made-right-decision-in-joining-manchester-city-from
Samir Nasri has declared that his move from Arsenal to Manchester City has been vindicated after his new club won the Premier League with a dramatic last-gasp victory over QPR.
It took stoppage-time goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero to swing the result City’s way, meaning that they pipped Manchester United to the league title – their first in 44 years - by way of goal difference.
The French winger invoked the wrath of Gunners fans when joining City last summer for £25 million but insists that Sunday's triumph more than justifies his decision to leave north London.
“I have never seen anything like it in my life,” an ecstatic Nasri told Sky Sports after the game.
“To score two goals like that and give us the title [in] the 94th minute - it's something amazing and I'm really happy.
“I knew that I made the right decision and tonight I want to celebrate with all the fans who are here.
“Tonight I will enjoy it with my family, my friends and all the fans. And tomorrow I will send them a message.”
Such was Nasri’s conviction that he would win trophies with Roberto Mancini's team he had previously made a public bet with vocal Arsenal fan Piers Morgan after the former newspaper editor criticised his transfer on Twitter.
The pair bet £10,000 on which of their clubs would be the first to win silverware following his departure, with the winner donating the fund to charity.
Morgan lost the bet, but the midfielder added: "I will give to charity tomorrow, because some children need this money."
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waggonist >:(
Congrats to the Man City die-hards! Wait, we doh have any of those here.
Aguero is de man, he make his legend this season and today. I buyin dat jersey too firebrand. Doh study DHW and dem, ask them which unsuccessful spell made them start to support Man U.
Now they have to prove to be a power in Europe as well. I lookin for a better showing there from them and Dortmund.
No hard feeling here nah Peong. I eh no waggonist...actually when it comes to club football I eh no club fanatic like dem men. I am just a fan of the game. Nobody eh really giving City ah bligh so as a neutral I decided to oblige...and in my opinion they fully deserve to win the title.
Aguero is a boss! I didn't really follow him at At. Madrid, but was impressed with him since he kick his first ball in de EPL and he cap off my appreciation for his skills with a title winning goal. Yuh doh hate dat, yuh buy dat!
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waggonist >:(
Congrats to the Man City die-hards! Wait, we doh have any of those here.
Aguero is de man, he make his legend this season and today. I buyin dat jersey too firebrand. Doh study DHW and dem, ask them which unsuccessful spell made them start to support Man U.
Now they have to prove to be a power in Europe as well. I lookin for a better showing there from them and Dortmund.
No hard feeling here nah Peong. I eh no waggonist...actually when it comes to club football I eh no club fanatic like dem men. I am just a fan of the game. Nobody eh really giving City ah bligh so as a neutral I decided to obliged...and in my opinion they fully deserve to win the title.
CO-SIGNNNNNN
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Stueps
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Stueps
Eh DHW...yuh see wha u going through dey, that is one reason I hold no allegiance to any club. Supporting de Soca Warriors is all de stress my heart could bear. But cheer up lad, at least all yuh have CL final next week, ah mean CL next year. ;D
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Stueps
Eh DHW...yuh see wha u going through dey, that is one reason I hold no allegiance to any club. Supporting de Soca Warriors is all de stress my heart could bear. But cheer up lad, at least all yuh have CL final next week, ah mean CL next year. ;D
:rotfl:
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
:applause:
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Breaking news:
Chelsea at risk of losing almost all their fans to Man City.
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
um so man vex cause teams can now do what is necessary to become contenders..........yes d salaries and buying offers were insane but the league have more real contenders now.... how in the flyin fuuck dat is ah bad thing ??? .......apart from d now screwed up transfer market economics.........and didn't d fellas play dey arse off........wham dey sidung an d ball go in d net for itself den....green eyes boy..... green eyes
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
What is overdo?
When teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid was cherry picking whichever players they wanted to it wasn't overdo then?
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
What is overdo?
When teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid was cherry picking whichever players they wanted to it wasn't overdo then?
Boom. Co-flickin-sign. People act like Man U didn't used to do the same thing. So iz only now that they don't have the most ammo to buy players that the market outta wack?
They helped create this monster. Let them keep searching for bargains now
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
What is overdo?
When teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid was cherry picking whichever players they wanted to it wasn't overdo then?
Thank you... and Real Madrid is my side eh... but sense is sense
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
What is overdo?
When teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid was cherry picking whichever players they wanted to it wasn't overdo then?
Leave Madrid outta dis. >:(
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
What is overdo?
When teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid was cherry picking whichever players they wanted to it wasn't overdo then?
Leave Madrid outta dis. >:(
Los Galacticos ? ::)
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
What is overdo?
When teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid was cherry picking whichever players they wanted to it wasn't overdo then?
Leave Madrid outta dis. >:(
Los Galacticos ? ::)
:devil:
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/zachslaton/2012/05/14/the-ultimate-triumph-of-the-benefactor-model/
The Impact of the Benefactors
Most of the debate over “buying titles” tends to focus on one aspect of the economic side of the game over others. Those hurling accusations of nefarious financial deeds often look at transfer spending, insinuating that certain clubs are actually buying the players they need to win the title. Others look to wages to either make the case that one club is worse than the others, or that all clubs are spending relatively the same amount of money. There are few sources that pull together the entire view of what clubs are spending on players.
One such online resource that takes such a complete view is the Transfer Price Index (TPI), a consortium of researchers (I am one of them) that utilize Graeme Riley’s excellent database that contains a record of every single transfer in the history of the English Premier League. The database allows the TPI to construct models based upon the squad and starting XI costs in current day values of transfers using transfer-specific inflation factors from season to season. This is the only publicly known database that is able to compare the cost of assembling each team in every Premier League season. These models demonstrate that the value of a squad (Sq£) or starting XI (£XI) in terms of its total current transfer purchase price (CTPP) is highly correlated to success in the Premier League.
Recent discussions with Prof. Stephan Szymanski, one of the co-authors of Soccernomics, led to his generous sharing of the Premier League-era wage data subset from his far more extensive financial records that cover all four divisions of English soccer over a 40 year period. The TPI team added those numbers to the existing transfer data to come up with a metric entitled total team valuation (TTV) that represents the total cost to assemble and pay a team over a given season. Understanding the change in TTV allowed for the construction of inflation factors by season and the resultant current total team valuation (CTTV) in 2010/11 season pounds (the latest season for which data is available for all 20 Premier League teams). As both the TPI and Soccernomics have explained, it’s not how much a team spends in absolute terms but rather how much it spends relative to the other clubs in the league that raises its likelihood of success. Thus, what matters most is the values of multiple of median Sq£ (mSq£), multiple of median club wage bill, and multiple of median TTV (mTTV).
Whether or not Chelsea’s and Manchester City’s championships are the result of abnormal amounts of cash being spent on players and thus buying championships can be understood via an examination of the data behind the TTV model.
(http://blogs-images.forbes.com/zachslaton/files/2012/05/TTV-trends1.png)
And the net point of the article can be summed up in this paragraph:
To be very direct, Chelsea and Manchester City are built upon a foundation of money not found within the normal economic means of a soccer club. These two teams are funded by owners who are rich due to their activities outside of soccer, and other than meeting UEFA’s financial fair play rules seem to have little care for running a break even operation. Clubs without such rich benefactors can do very little to keep up – see the much more popular and higher revenue United’s feeble attempts that led them to fall to third in TTV by 2010/11. It is the use of such outside money that leads to accusations of Chelsea and City buying the titles they now have. Perhaps “buying” is an imprecise term, as all clubs must buy and pay players to win one. The more exact term would “financing the title with unsustainable debt and/or losses”.
Yes United used to spend money. Money that THEY made from their investments.
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/zachslaton/2012/05/14/the-ultimate-triumph-of-the-benefactor-model/
The Impact of the Benefactors
Most of the debate over “buying titles” tends to focus on one aspect of the economic side of the game over others. Those hurling accusations of nefarious financial deeds often look at transfer spending, insinuating that certain clubs are actually buying the players they need to win the title. Others look to wages to either make the case that one club is worse than the others, or that all clubs are spending relatively the same amount of money. There are few sources that pull together the entire view of what clubs are spending on players.
One such online resource that takes such a complete view is the Transfer Price Index (TPI), a consortium of researchers (I am one of them) that utilize Graeme Riley’s excellent database that contains a record of every single transfer in the history of the English Premier League. The database allows the TPI to construct models based upon the squad and starting XI costs in current day values of transfers using transfer-specific inflation factors from season to season. This is the only publicly known database that is able to compare the cost of assembling each team in every Premier League season. These models demonstrate that the value of a squad (Sq£) or starting XI (£XI) in terms of its total current transfer purchase price (CTPP) is highly correlated to success in the Premier League.
Recent discussions with Prof. Stephan Szymanski, one of the co-authors of Soccernomics, led to his generous sharing of the Premier League-era wage data subset from his far more extensive financial records that cover all four divisions of English soccer over a 40 year period. The TPI team added those numbers to the existing transfer data to come up with a metric entitled total team valuation (TTV) that represents the total cost to assemble and pay a team over a given season. Understanding the change in TTV allowed for the construction of inflation factors by season and the resultant current total team valuation (CTTV) in 2010/11 season pounds (the latest season for which data is available for all 20 Premier League teams). As both the TPI and Soccernomics have explained, it’s not how much a team spends in absolute terms but rather how much it spends relative to the other clubs in the league that raises its likelihood of success. Thus, what matters most is the values of multiple of median Sq£ (mSq£), multiple of median club wage bill, and multiple of median TTV (mTTV).
Whether or not Chelsea’s and Manchester City’s championships are the result of abnormal amounts of cash being spent on players and thus buying championships can be understood via an examination of the data behind the TTV model.
(http://blogs-images.forbes.com/zachslaton/files/2012/05/TTV-trends1.png)
And the net point of the article can be summed up in this paragraph:
To be very direct, Chelsea and Manchester City are built upon a foundation of money not found within the normal economic means of a soccer club. These two teams are funded by owners who are rich due to their activities outside of soccer, and other than meeting UEFA’s financial fair play rules seem to have little care for running a break even operation. Clubs without such rich benefactors can do very little to keep up – see the much more popular and higher revenue United’s feeble attempts that led them to fall to third in TTV by 2010/11. It is the use of such outside money that leads to accusations of Chelsea and City buying the titles they now have. Perhaps “buying” is an imprecise term, as all clubs must buy and pay players to win one. The more exact term would “financing the title with unsustainable debt and/or losses”.
Yes United used to spend money. Money that THEY made from their investments.
Thank you.
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
This.
Professional football has always been for sale... especially on the continent.
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they overdo d fackin thing and are part reason why the transfer market so frigged up..dey cant carve a history so i guess they hadda buy one..they still not makin a note in CL next year
This is rich... coming from a Juve supporter.
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nice video from arrival to celebrating http://www.mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Features/2012/May/City-v-QPR-Tunnel-cam#.T7DO7vtgN38.facebook (http://www.mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Features/2012/May/City-v-QPR-Tunnel-cam#.T7DO7vtgN38.facebook)
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"Everybody expected City to win, but they did it against 10 men for half an hour and with five extra :rotfl: :rotfl: minutes to help them", Ferguson conceded afterwards
LOL :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Sour grapes?
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All them millions spent to win on goal difference, Stueps.
And yes I sour like lime.
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All them millions spent to win on goal difference, Stueps.
And yes I sour like lime.
lemon
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"Everybody expected City to win, but they did it against 10 men for half an hour and with five extra :rotfl: :rotfl: minutes to help them", Ferguson conceded afterwards
LOL :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Sour grapes?
Yuh know if Manchester United was to win a title like dat....de response woulda be different.
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EPL for Sale just 1 Billion. :bs:
Name one team that win trophies without buying players, whether for $1 or $1 Billion.
This.
Professional football has always been for sale... especially on the continent.
Quite right.
Di Stefano, Maradona, Messi, Dwight, Riva, Rivera, Cryff, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Pele,etc, etc. All these guys movements went hand in hand with big money. No money, no love. Look City deserve this title. I am a die-hard Manu fan since 67. That is 1967. Had they won the title I would have been scratching mi head and saying "God is ManU". They were 1 min. away from winning the title. City show the same tenacity that Manu has shown over the past 20 yrs. Maybe something from U is rubbing off on City. In addition City beat U twice. And quite convincingly.
I have always said a players is worth whatever a team is WILLING to pay for him. Economics 101. If you willing to pay a million dollars, even though the blue book value quote is half a million, then the price is 1 mil. Manu management will have to find money to get a couple players. Maninly mid-field and probably an additional striker and defender. ManU fans, we should be glad we in next year CL. There was a time only winners used to go to CL.
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And some of these same people does lamblast Wenger for not breaking open the piggy bank.
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All them millions spent to win on goal difference, Stueps.
And yes I sour like lime.
lemon
And when life throws you lemons....make lemonade....cheer up DHW my good man!!!... ;D ;D
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Let me add some life to this thread! lol
(http://images.football.co.uk/Dynamic/News/300x300/8b26ec7989db1084f6efdfeb46965829.jpg)
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01508/SNN1401GH---5325_1508128a.jpg)
(http://www.windsorstar.com/sports/soccer/6614447.bin?size=620x400s)
Big Up!
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Big up meh boi Balotelli with the assists. ;) ;)
We all know if he only made a mistake yesterday that resulted in City losing the press would have had his head. Not a word about his assist.. :bs: :bs: :bs:
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Geh City dey time in de sun... well deserved(geez 42yrs???). Party hard, cause next the red devils will once again resume their rightful place in Manchester football lore. :beermug: :beermug:
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QPR play decent, Cissie still good sah, de man was happy for Nasri after de game.
Zamora eh play one single ball, he done.
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QPR play decent, Cissie still good sah, de man was happy for Nasri after de game.
Zamora eh play one single ball, he done.
Daiz he rell pardna. Ah time ah bounce up both ah dem liming in de Bahamas wit two ting.
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Big up meh boi Balotelli with the assists. ;) ;)
We all know if he only made a mistake yesterday that resulted in City losing the press would have had his head. Not a word about his assist.. :bs: :bs: :bs:
Ah was waiting to hear/see how much attention was going to be paid to that little desperate lil' pass he make to Aguero: Not much if any at all, but is no scene, I still glad fuh him....Balo time to shine go come and he will make lots of people hush they mouth. the boy have talent to burn and he will mature and put a lot of the petty stuff behind him.
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Manchester City's Carlos Tevez parades 'RIP Fergie' sign
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18067191
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60236000/jpg/_60236076_tevez.jpg)
Manchester City have apologised after striker Carlos Tevez was pictured with a sign saying "RIP Fergie" during his side's Premier League title parade.
The former Manchester United forward poked fun at former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, as City paraded their trophy on an open-top bus through Manchester.
The sign was thought to refer to a 2009 response by Ferguson, when asked if United would ever be City's underdogs.
Ferguson said at the time: "Not in my lifetime".
A City spokeswoman said: "The creation of the tasteless material is in itself reprehensible and in accepting and brandishing it, Carlos has made a significant error of judgement.
"The club wishes to express its sincerest apologies to Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United Football Club for any offence or distress caused."
Tevez at City
Games - 100
Goals - 57
Medals - Premier League, FA Cup
Tevez, who left United in 2009 for City, said: "I got carried away in the excitement of the moment and I certainly didn't mean any disrespect to Sir Alex Ferguson, who I admire as a man and a manager."
The 28-year-old former Boca Juniors and Corinthians forward moved to English football in 2006, joining West Ham.
After helping them avoid relegation from the Premier League, he moved onto United, where he spent two seasons, winning two Premier League trophies and the Champions League. He scored 34 goals in 87 goals for the Red Devils.
But in the summer of 2009 he moved across Manchester to rivals City.
Tevez was top scorer in each of his first two years at Eastlands but this season was punctuated by a self-imposed spell back in Argentina after an argument with manager Roberto Mancini about his alleged refusal to warm up in a Champions League game with Bayern Munich.
Mancini had said Tevez would not feature for him again but brought him back in for the title run-in, with former City player Rodney Marsh saying: "Mancini will be sacked if Tevez plays and City don't win the title."
He impressed on his return to City, scoring four goals in 10 games, and featured in the final day win over QPR that clinched their maiden Premier League title.
And the striker has now said he could stay at the club months after it looked certain he would never play for City again.
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WTF is all this blasphemy ? posting Man City pics here ? look !!! :frustrated: :frustrated:
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Anyone but Man United I happy with to win the EPL.
Big up to Man City. They deserve it.
Fergie is a whining bitch, he could cry for everything.
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I know that many Man Utd supporters are sour, but Man Utd only has itself to blame. The last ten minutes against Everton brought City back into the race, and then Utd lost to City the following week playing very cagily and did not respond well when 1-0 down in the match against City at the Etihad.
With all that said, City almost choked the title away and in a way, City have Joey Barton to thank for its first title in 44 years as his despicable behaviour resulted in the five additional minutes for City to score the goals needed.
City's defensive lapses proved that its players almost let the occasion get to them. As commentators have remarked, the first title is always the hardest, and for so many at City, that have had to wait forty-four years, winning this title would seem like the first time.
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Manchester City's Carlos Tevez parades 'RIP Fergie' sign
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18067191
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60236000/jpg/_60236076_tevez.jpg)
Manchester City have apologised after striker Carlos Tevez was pictured with a sign saying "RIP Fergie" during his side's Premier League title parade.
The former Manchester United forward poked fun at former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, as City paraded their trophy on an open-top bus through Manchester.
The sign was thought to refer to a 2009 response by Ferguson, when asked if United would ever be City's underdogs.
Ferguson said at the time: "Not in my lifetime".
A City spokeswoman said: "The creation of the tasteless material is in itself reprehensible and in accepting and brandishing it, Carlos has made a significant error of judgement.
"The club wishes to express its sincerest apologies to Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United Football Club for any offence or distress caused."
Tevez at City
Games - 100
Goals - 57
Medals - Premier League, FA Cup
Tevez, who left United in 2009 for City, said: "I got carried away in the excitement of the moment and I certainly didn't mean any disrespect to Sir Alex Ferguson, who I admire as a man and a manager."
The 28-year-old former Boca Juniors and Corinthians forward moved to English football in 2006, joining West Ham.
After helping them avoid relegation from the Premier League, he moved onto United, where he spent two seasons, winning two Premier League trophies and the Champions League. He scored 34 goals in 87 goals for the Red Devils.
But in the summer of 2009 he moved across Manchester to rivals City.
Tevez was top scorer in each of his first two years at Eastlands but this season was punctuated by a self-imposed spell back in Argentina after an argument with manager Roberto Mancini about his alleged refusal to warm up in a Champions League game with Bayern Munich.
Mancini had said Tevez would not feature for him again but brought him back in for the title run-in, with former City player Rodney Marsh saying: "Mancini will be sacked if Tevez plays and City don't win the title."
He impressed on his return to City, scoring four goals in 10 games, and featured in the final day win over QPR that clinched their maiden Premier League title.
And the striker has now said he could stay at the club months after it looked certain he would never play for City again.
Argentina news papers claims it is not Tevez in the Pic. Funny though.
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between Fergie and King Kenny http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hkchDf3doW8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hkchDf3doW8)
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between Fergie and King Kenny http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hkchDf3doW8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hkchDf3doW8)
This shit is hilarious... allyuh have to check out the other vid when Fergie call Kenny to congratulate him on winning the Carling Cup :rotfl:
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Best fan reactions to Aguero's winner.
http://www.youtube.com/v/WrpDTnznE-E#!
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People criticize Man City for buying a championship, but when yuh check their roster player for player, it eh no extraordinary roster - it's just a collection of above-average to very good players with some ordinary ones sprinkled in too...
Study their star players - Silva real talented but he still lives in the shadow of Spain's top midfielders, Valencia, Nasri unfulflied potential at Arsenal, Balotelli hot and cold - never really exploded, Aguero was a big fish in a relatively small pond - not fully proven, Dzeko - same thing...and the list goes on... Yaya Toure to me was the only fully proven big player they picked up IMO
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People criticize Man City for buying a championship, but when yuh check their roster player for player, it eh no extraordinary roster - it's just a collection of above-average to very good players with some ordinary ones sprinkled in too...
Study their star players - Silva real talented but he still lives in the shadow of Spain's top midfielders, Valencia, Nasri unfulflied potential at Arsenal, Balotelli hot and cold - never really exploded, Aguero was a big fish in a relatively small pond - not fully proven, Dzeko - same thing...and the list goes on... Yaya Toure to me was the only fully proven big player they picked up IMO
Disagree with this, you kinda downplaying the talent that City have at their disposal...
Yaya, Silva, Aguero, Tevez and Kompany are world class players and would probably demand a starting place on any top team save Barcelona. I actually have Yaya up there as one of the best midfielders in the world today, Kompany as one of the best defenders and Silva has been world class for most of the season until he lose steam coming down to the end.
Besides that Balotelli imo is a definite game changer, i think people have yet to see the best of him. When he is plugged in he can be unstoppable.
The roster might not be a collection of star names like a Real Madrid or Barcelona but still in terms of talent and depth, no team in the EPL can compare. Look around at other top 4 EPL team's rosters and no team has that kinda talent at their disposal. Man United have Rooney and Vidic then alot of good players, Arsenal have Van Persie, Spurs have Bale, Adebayor and Van Der Vaart and Chelsea have Terry, Drogba, Lampard.
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People criticize Man City for buying a championship, but when yuh check their roster player for player, it eh no extraordinary roster - it's just a collection of above-average to very good players with some ordinary ones sprinkled in too...
Study their star players - Silva real talented but he still lives in the shadow of Spain's top midfielders, Valencia, Nasri unfulflied potential at Arsenal, Balotelli hot and cold - never really exploded, Aguero was a big fish in a relatively small pond - not fully proven, Dzeko - same thing...and the list goes on... Yaya Toure to me was the only fully proven big player they picked up IMO
I think Tevez will take exception ;D
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between Fergie and King Kenny http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hkchDf3doW8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hkchDf3doW8)
This shit is hilarious... allyuh have to check out the other vid when Fergie call Kenny to congratulate him on winning the Carling Cup :rotfl:
Tanx dan, I nearly f**kin dead when he say in manchester we call dat de mickey mooose cup :rotfl:
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People criticize Man City for buying a championship, but when yuh check their roster player for player, it eh no extraordinary roster - it's just a collection of above-average to very good players with some ordinary ones sprinkled in too...
Study their star players - Silva real talented but he still lives in the shadow of Spain's top midfielders, Valencia, Nasri unfulflied potential at Arsenal, Balotelli hot and cold - never really exploded, Aguero was a big fish in a relatively small pond - not fully proven, Dzeko - same thing...and the list goes on... Yaya Toure to me was the only fully proven big player they picked up IMO
Dat is shit talk plain and simple!!
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Disagree with this, you kinda downplaying the talent that City have at their disposal...
The squad is excellent. Apart from Toure Aguero is a player head and shoulders above the rest of the league. I think he underachieved this year as he was settling in. The ease with which he score two and set up one on his debut is what I expect to see more often next season. Even with the adjustment to the league he still score 20+ goals, which is rare for a new player to the league and Aguero real throwaway this year.
A couple years ago a Spanish journalist was talking about players who could reach Messi and Ronaldo level of performance (back when they was only scoring 30-40 goals a season) and his answer was Aguero. He is only 24 and he has the skills to do what RVP did this season, and more. A goal a game season is more than possible for Aguero.
Then I would add Silva. The closest thing to a classic playmaker of the 80’s like Platini. Is just that football change now that all these players end up creating from wider positions because teams want to shore up the middle. Add Kompany and Hart and the starting 11 have a lot going for it.
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People criticize Man City for buying a championship, but when yuh check their roster player for player, it eh no extraordinary roster - it's just a collection of above-average to very good players with some ordinary ones sprinkled in too...
Study their star players - Silva real talented but he still lives in the shadow of Spain's top midfielders, Valencia, Nasri unfulflied potential at Arsenal, Balotelli hot and cold - never really exploded, Aguero was a big fish in a relatively small pond - not fully proven, Dzeko - same thing...and the list goes on... Yaya Toure to me was the only fully proven big player they picked up IMO
Silva was one of the two best players at Valencia and a starter for Spain alongside, not behind all the other big stars. The best clubs in Europe tried to get him, Inter, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Man U and City.
To me Nasri is playing the same as at Arsenal. Maybe the occasions of his goals have had a more dramatic impact this season.
Balotelli was competing with Eto'o and Milito as a teenager at one of the top 3 clubs in Europe at the time.
Aguero was unproven? He was proven in La Liga.
Dzeko was the top scorer in Germany at some point and won the league the season before that.
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Nah I not downplaying them...I not saying that they don't have very good side - that's obvious come on -I just doh find their line up to be no kinda galacticos line up worthy of the kinda talk they does get - the difference is that they went from zero to hero real fast, but it have plenty men who feature significantly in their season run who just good...but ain't no-where near superstars
Lescott
Zabaletta
Kolarov
Richards
Barry
Milner
Clichy
...and more
Even DeJong, Balotelli, Nasri for e.g. - dem real good but if Madrid, Barca, Man U, Bayern, Milan picked them up they wouldn't be considered star signings...
Kompany their player of the season was not a star signing....that is return on investment
Aguero, Silva and Toure are the closest thing to blockbuster signings and of them, only Toure was poached off of a big side that was winning ting....
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Aguero was unproven? He was proven in La Liga.
You are right - I take that back - my bad,
.....and doh get me wrong Dzeko is real tears, and he killed it in the Bundes....but as far as headliner signings go, he was under the radar.
For me Man City was money well spent, and a fair amount of role players and shrewd buys were able put in a good shift...wasn't no Dwayne Wade, Lebron scene trying to buy a championship IMO.
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Vincent Kompany is a f00cking animal. De man to me is one of de best defenders in de world.
Agüero, Zabaleta, Negredo, Nasri and Navas is top players to.
Yaya Touré though is just top class.
I so happy Manchester United get wood today, they waste they money on Fellaini, good player just not for a top team. Kagawa, Rafael, Hernandez, Nani and Anderson should get more runs.
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Good win city, we deserved that ass wash. Moyes was a goat tonight, go buy the rest of Everton now!!
I am also skeptical of Moyes, but we have to give him time to adapt. It was a bad game overall, but the season is still early and some inconsistent play should be expected.
not in the damn Derby!! Do that with some other team. We have not beaten any of the top teams yet!
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David Moyes is in an unenviable position. It was always going to be difficult making the transition from Everton to a club with the history and level of media scrutiny such as Manchester United. Of course, there is the additional fact that he is going to struggle to come out of Alex Ferguson's shadow.
I hope the United fans give him time to adjust.
This will be an issue going forward because being a director, Fergie will always have some influence over the team. Moyes also admitted that he often goes into Fergie's office and gets advice. As much this sounds admirable at some point you have to start your own legacy without interference.
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Moyes=automatic scapegoat. No matter how big ManU players play...is Moyes fault, he didn't wind them up properly. Like Fergie team never get cutlass too.
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Moyes=automatic scapegoat. No matter how big ManU players play...is Moyes fault, he didn't wind them up properly. Like Fergie team never get cutlass too.
i was thinking the same.
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You all could swing Moyes nuts if you all want too. That was a garbage line up, and changes was not made to fix it. I cuss Fergie too and Moyes is no different. Fellaini was YAYA bitch today
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As I've always said Moyes is an average coach at that level and he has proven so today. Just as when he was with Everton he is bereft of ideas and is surrounded by guys with the tactical capabilities of gnats in a box.
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Look like Everton made the better transfer market moves.
BT Sport just said that Di Canio has gotten the sack.
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For the most part, I reserve judgment on Moyes, but part of the assessment turns on how Fellaini's tactical role is interpreted.
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You all could swing Moyes nuts if you all want too. That was a garbage line up, and changes was not made to fix it. I cuss Fergie too and Moyes is no different. Fellaini was YAYA bitch today
but how come lately, you on ppl swinging on ppl nuts so..that not like you...anyway, let's be clear , nobody doh swing on nobody nuts..nor breast, nor any type of hair... And I doh really care to know who you like neither,If yuh doh wha have a avg competitive discussion, just say so...I doh really care that much for this league , other than some of my countrymen playing there, is all..the rest is just to socialize with ppl here.. Not getting into no gutter talk to sound cool
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Is one man's fault...Ashley Young, as I see him in the starting lineup I steups.
I just want Young to stop ripping in practice so Moyes doh pick him and we'll be allright.
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You all could swing Moyes nuts if you all want too. That was a garbage line up, and changes was not made to fix it. I cuss Fergie too and Moyes is no different. Fellaini was YAYA bitch today
but how come lately, you on ppl swinging on ppl nuts so..that not like you...anyway, let's be clear , nobody doh swing on nobody nuts..nor breast, nor any type of hair... And I doh really care to know who you like neither,If yuh doh wha have a avg competitive discussion, just say so...I doh really care that much for this league , other than some of my countrymen playing there, is all..the rest is just to socialize with ppl here.. Not getting into no gutter talk to sound cool
Don't take it personal, my comments were not directed at you in particular. I have not been a supporter of Moyes and Fellaini coming to Man.United from the start. I made it clear that I was against it, while admitting for the sake of this team it works and I'll be the first to eat my words.
With that said, every time I say something negative about either individual, I become a villain. So my comments was for anyone who don't want to respect my opinion and think I should be able to disagree with Moyes tactics and player selection without people jumping on me for it. If I think he was wrong, I'll say so, if someone think he is our new savior, then that's their opinion. :beermug:
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Don't take it personal, my comments were not directed at you in particular. I have not been a supporter of Moyes and Fellaini coming to Man.United from the start. I made it clear that I was against it, while admitting for the sake of this team it works and I'll be the first to eat my words.
With that said, every time I say something negative about either individual, I become a villain. So my comments was for anyone who don't want to respect my opinion and think I should be able to disagree with Moyes tactics and player selection without people jumping on me for it. If I think he was wrong, I'll say so, if someone think he is our new savior, then that's their opinion. :beermug:
I not here to defend Moyes... but could it be that the team just isn't that good? How come is all Moyes fault? As I tell allyuh earlier... is no coincidence that Ferguson all of a sudden decide to retire with the legend of his genius still intact.
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why the hell didnt Moyes stick with the line up against Bayern?? he could have put Hernandez up front with Rooney since RVP injured :banginghead: :banginghead: :cursing: :cursing:
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Don't take it personal, my comments were not directed at you in particular. I have not been a supporter of Moyes and Fellaini coming to Man.United from the start. I made it clear that I was against it, while admitting for the sake of this team it works and I'll be the first to eat my words.
With that said, every time I say something negative about either individual, I become a villain. So my comments was for anyone who don't want to respect my opinion and think I should be able to disagree with Moyes tactics and player selection without people jumping on me for it. If I think he was wrong, I'll say so, if someone think he is our new savior, then that's their opinion. :beermug:
I not here to defend Moyes... but could it be that the team just isn't that good? How come is all Moyes fault? As I tell allyuh earlier... is no coincidence that Ferguson all of a sudden decide to retire with the legend of his genius still intact.
With Van Persie injured this MANU outfit struggled. Rooney had too much to do.
The other thing is where he had Felliani picking up from , in my opinion he should always play a little deeper in the back and not just behind the attack.
Apart from that I can't fault Moyes after all he is still tonian
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Manchester City to appeal 2-year UEFA competition ban for FFP violations
By Rob Dawson
Correspondent
Manchester City will appeal UEFA's decision to ban the club for two seasons from European competition -- including the Champions League -- after the governing body found them guilty of breaching financial fair play rules.
UEFA has announced on Friday that the reigning Premier League champions will be excluded from the Champions League for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns and have also been fined €30 million for "overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts" and failing "to cooperate in the investigation," according to findings by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber.
In response, City said they were "disappointed but not surprised" by the ruling and gave notice of their intention to lodge an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
A UEFA statement issued on Friday night that partly read: "The Adjudicatory Chamber, having considered all the evidence, has found that Manchester City Football Club committed serious breaches of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations by overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.
"The Adjudicatory Chamber has also found that in breach of the regulations the Club failed to cooperate in the investigation of this case by the CFCB.
"The Adjudicatory Chamber has imposed disciplinary measures on Manchester City Football Club directing that it shall be excluded from participation in UEFA club competitions in the next two seasons (ie. the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons) and pay a fine of €30 million."
City, who face Real Madrid in the last-16 of this season's competition, issued their own statement shortly afterward to declare their anger at how the case has been handled by Europe's governing body.
"Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today's announcement by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber.
"The club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position.
"In December 2018, the UEFA Chief Investigator publicly previewed the outcome and sanction he intended to be delivered to Manchester City, before any investigation had even begun. The subsequent flawed and consistently leaked UEFA process he oversaw has meant that there was little doubt in the result that he would deliver.
"The club has formally complained to the UEFA Disciplinary body, a complaint which was validated by a CAS ruling.
"Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA. With this prejudicial process now over, the club will pursue an impartial judgment as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity."
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Isn't this the same violation that Chelsea had?
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Isn't this the same violation that Chelsea had?
No, Chelsea got banned for selling under age players.
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What Manchester City's UEFA competition ban means and what might happen next
Gabriele Marcotti
Senior Writer, ESPN FC
The independent Adjudicatory Chamber of UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) has decided to ban Manchester City from UEFA competition for two seasons while hitting them with a €30 million ($32.5m) fine. The club were found to have committed "serious breaches" of Financial Fair Play (FFP) while submitting inaccurate information to UEFA between 2012 and 2016. They were also found to have "failed to cooperate" with the investigation.
Q: So what does this mean? That Manchester City won't be playing Real Madrid in the Champions League in 10 days' time?
A: No. The earliest that the ban could be enforced is from next season, which would mean they miss out on 2020-21 and 2021-22. So City can still win the Champions League this season, but there's a lot that needs to happen first.
Q: Like what?
A: City have already said they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. Based on FFP regulations, a CAS decision is the final word on the subject. They have the power to confirm the ban, reduce it or send it back to the CFCB.
They'll need to examine all the material and come up with a verdict pretty quickly, most likely by early July, because that's when the Europa League second qualifying round is and a possible City exclusion impacts other clubs. But, it might not end with CAS.
Q: How so?
A: City could take this out of a sporting court and into a civil court. The Swiss Supreme Court would presumably have jurisdiction over UEFA. The club believe the investigation was "flawed" and that UEFA were out to get them from the start, acting as judge, jury and executioner.
Leaving sporting justice behind and moving into the "real world" is nearly unprecedented, and it would open a massive can of worms, as well as likely delaying everything. Theoretically, a Swiss court could force UEFA to reinstate City while they adjudicate the case.
Q: Were City treated unfairly?
A: I think it's impossible to tell from the outside, and if you're on the inside, you're likely to be biased one way or the other. So that's for the courts to decide. I don't think City's issue is so much with the Adjudicatory Chamber of the CFCB, though. Their five members are mostly very senior judges who come from outside the world of football, some of them sit on the European Court of Justice, too. They simply adjudicate based on the evidence presented. They're not UEFA employees, they're independent judges who come in and issue a ruling.
City's issue is with the Investigatory Chamber, who act as prosecutors at the hearing. They're the ones who collect the evidence and frame it for the court. City already brought a case to CAS, arguing the Investigatory Chamber was responsible for leaking information to the media. That one was turned down (if you like reading legal documents, knock yourself out) but it offers a good measure of the acrimony between the club and the CFCB.
Q: Why are City being punished now if these breaches occurred years ago? Weren't they already punished for this in 2014?
A: Yeah, but that was before Football Leaks in 2018. The publication of private documents and emails by the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel effectively reopened the case. They appeared to show that City effectively cooked the books by overstating income from "related parties" and engaged in various shenanigans to hide costs. Those documents were almost certainly hacked, and City haven't taken a view on whether or not they're authentic, but it was enough for UEFA to reopen the investigation. Effectively UEFA asked for more evidence to back up the information City submitted in light of what was suggested in the documents. Also, some of the documents relate to 2015 and 2016 and those were years in which City were not sanctioned by FFP.
Q: Is that why the punishment is so harsh?
A: We won't know until we get the written reasons, but just judging from the statement put out by the CFCB, it would appear that way. The CFCB claims City cooked the books and failed to cooperate when questioned about it. And if the books were cooked, well, they may have breached in subsequent seasons too.
Q: Could City just go to court and argue this whole Financial Fair Play nonsense is illegal and an example of restraint of trade?
A: They could certainly try, but even if they win, it would raise the question of why they went along with it for nearly a decade. And ultimately, UEFA's defence -- "this is our competition, these are our rules, if you want to play in it you need to respect them" -- is pretty strong. Nobody is forcing City to compete in the Champions League.
Q: OK, so if City are banned, what is the fallout going to be?
A: Well, for starters, the team finishing fifth in this year's Premier League will get a spot in the Champions League (assuming City finish in the top four). Right now, that team is Sheffield United, which would be quite the story.
Beyond that, it is going to be a mighty financial blow to the club. Apart from the €30m ($32.5m) fine, they'll be without Champions League revenue for two seasons. That always depends on how far they advance, of course, but considering they made €93m ($100m) last season and prize money has gone up, you'd imagine it will be around $200m or more. Throw in the loss of gate receipts and reduced exposure hurting sponsorship deals (some contracts automatically get reduced if you don't qualify for the Champions League) and the total could easily be north of $300m. That's more than 25 percent of what the club's likely revenue is going to be across those two seasons.
Q: Ouch!
A: Ouch, indeed. But it doesn't end there. If you're making 25 percent less money, you will need to cut costs accordingly. And that might mean sacrificing some players. Then there's the evident fact that some players may wish to move because they don't want to go two years without Champions League football. That applies to the manager, Pep Guardiola, as well. He talked only this week about how badly he wants to win his third Champions League.
Q: What about this story that City could be in trouble with the Premier League, too?
A: Theoretically, that's a risk too. The Premier League has a licensing system that is predicated upon submitting genuine accounts. While the Premier League doesn't have the same FFP rules as UEFA, accounts are accounts. If those submitted to UEFA are deemed to be fraudulent and City sent the same ones to the Premier League, then they could be in trouble there too. I doubt they'd get expelled, but could face a hefty fine and maybe a points penalty.
Q: I've read some pretty dramatic stuff about how if UEFA hadn't been so hard on City it would have undermined their credibility and likely spelled the end of FFP.
A: Yeah, I think that's a bit over the top. As I said, City weren't just sentenced for breaching FFP, they were sentenced for misstating their accounts, cooking the books and not cooperating. Those aren't FFP violations, that's accounting fraud. It goes way beyond what we've seen so far.
I don't see how they had a choice.
Conversely, if CAS upholds City's argument, that they acted in good faith all along and that UEFA were exercising some kind of biased vendetta against them (perhaps at the prompting of some of City's rivals) and their accounts are true and fine and on the level, then, yes, FFP is in serious trouble. At least in its current form.
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Source: Pep Guardiola worried for Manchester City players after UEFA ban
Rodrigo Faez
Madrid correspondent
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is worried how the club's two-year Champions League ban will affect his players but he wants to remain at the club "as long as he is happy," a source has told ESPN.
UEFA announced on Friday that the reigning Premier League champions will be excluded from European competition for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns and have also been fined €30 million ($33 million) for "overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts" and failing "to cooperate in the investigation," according to findings by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber.
In response, City said they were "disappointed but not surprised" by the ruling and gave notice of their intention to lodge an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Sources close to Guardiola told ESPN that the Spaniard knew the club would be informed of the ban on Friday morning but that he remains calm as the club prepares its appeal.
Nonetheless, Guardiola understands why some players would want to leave should they face the prospect of not playing in European competition, according to the source.
UEFA stated that the club "committed serious breaches of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations by overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016."
Guardiola is said to be calm over his status since that timeframe was before his arrival to the club in 2016, the source said.
The club -- owned by the state-backed Abu Dhabi United Group -- is expected to meet to see what decisions, if any, the board will take on CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain. While his future is not linked to Soriano or Begiristain, Guardiola wants to be informed on every step taken.
Guardiola's and Begiristain's relationship extends from their time at Barcelona, where Guardiola coached from 2008-12.
City, who face Real Madrid in the last-16 of this season's competition, issued their own statement shortly afterward to declare their anger at how the case has been handled by Europe's governing body.
"Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA. With this prejudicial process now over, the club will pursue an impartial judgment as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity," the club said in a statement.
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Emma Saunders, former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown, ex Wolves winger Michael Kightly, Senior Football Reporter Ian Dennis & Football Reporter for BBC Sport Simon Stone discuss the news that Manchester City have been banned from European club competition for the next two seasons after being found to have committed "serious breaches" of UEFA's club licensing and financial fair play regulations.
They look at the future of City’s players and if this could spell the end of Pep Guardiola’s reign at the club.
Listen here (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p083f4nk).
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With 5th place offering better goodies, I'm anticipating the emergence of Mourinho the bloodhound. Of the remaining matches this round, three are particularly significant in the assault on the table (Arsenal v Castle, Spurs v Villa and Chelsea v Man Utd). Of course it could be slightly intriguing should City lose to West Ham - given the implications that would have for Brighton, Bournemouth, likely Villa and definitely City's dressing room.
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Manchester City ban: 'Complete wow!'
Reuters
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he had sympathy for his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola in the wake of the English champions' two-year ban from European football dished out by UEFA for allegedly breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
With City's domestic title challenge all but over -- Liverpool 25 points ahead after beating Norwich City 1-0 away on Saturday -- Klopp said the news on Friday about the European ban for the Manchester club had taken him by surprise.
"It was a shock. Complete wow!" he told Sky Sports after the match. "The only thing I can say is about football. What they have done on the football pitch is exceptional. The rest, I don't know.
"I really feel for them, Pep and the players, but that is how it is. They can appeal so we will see what happens then. It is obviously serious.
"But the football they played was exceptional and will always be exceptional."
European soccer's governing body UEFA said City had committed "serious breaches" of its FFP regulations by "overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016."
City denied any wrongdoing and said they will appeal to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
When asked about his own team's success on Saturday, Klopp could only call it "insane."
Liverpool need 15 more points to wrap-up the Premier League trophy and the only question is when, not if, Liverpool will be crowned as English champions for the first time in 30 years.
"It's so insane I don't understand it," Klopp said. "I'm not smart enough, it's difficult. Never had that before and I've no clue how it happened really. It's just we are focused on what we are doing and it feels really good.
"It's outstanding. It's so difficult. You go in after the game and analyse the game and then say, 'Oh yeah, yeah, we won the game congratulations.' It's outstanding. You count the points and it's three more. It's unbelievable."
Klopp's side were not at their clinical best against a battling Norwich side who held out for almost 80 minutes before substitute Sadio Mane drilled home a late winner.
"Fabinho coming on was very important for the organisation. Sadio was fresh and he helped us to win the game, which was outstanding. I have to watch the goal back but I'm pretty sure it was a fantastic finish," added Klopp.
"I could tell in all the players faces that they weren't nervous, they were enjoying it, and if one team was going to score it was going to be us."
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Arsene Wenger: Manchester City should have respected the rules
By Mark Staniforth, PA, Berlin
PA Media: Sport
Arsene Wenger has no sympathy for Manchester City after the club were banned from European competition for two seasons having been found to have breached financial fair play rules.
The former Arsenal boss, who is credited with coining the phrase “financial doping”, insists City’s punishment – which also includes a £25million fine – is necessary to uphold the spirit of the game.
Speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards in Berlin, Wenger said: “The rules are what they are and you have to respect them.
“People who are caught trying to get around the rules in more or less legal ways have to be punished, if it is proven that this has been done on purpose.
“I think sport is basically to win by respecting the rules – we celebrate the best in every sport and we want to know that they respect the rules.
“If there is no respect for the rules it is not real sport. If you go into a competition it is a sign that you respect the rules.”
City stated on Friday evening that they were “disappointed but not surprised” by the decision from the adjudicatory chamber of the Club Financial Control Body.
They described the process as “flawed and consistently leaked” and said they would commence appeal proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity.
The future of City’s manager Pep Guardiola has been the subject of speculation since the news of the ban broke, and he will not appear before the media on Tuesday to preview the match against West Ham.
The game, originally due to have been played on February 9, was postponed because of Storm Ciara and because the rearranged date comes within the same match round, there is no need for either club to hold a second preview press conference.
It has been reported that Guardiola has told friends he intends to stay at City despite the announcement of the two-year ban.
Wenger’s long reign at Arsenal coincided with City’s emergence as a global superpower, and led to a procession of stars including Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri swapping the Emirates Stadium for the Etihad.
But Wenger would not be drawn on the suggestion that City should be punished further by being stripped of the silverware they earned during the period in question.
He added: “I don’t know the rule well enough to know what kind of punishment has to be made. But this is the sanction that is planned if the clubs don’t respect the rule.”
City have already vowed to launch an appeal to the court of arbitration for sport, alleging that the process was “prejudicial”.
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Pep Guardiola: Manchester City haven't broken rules, I've seen proof
By Rob Dawson (ESPN).
MADRID -- Pep Guardiola says he has been shown proof Manchester City are innocent of the financial irregularities that has seen the club hit with a European ban.
City, who face Real Madrid in the last-16 of the Champions League on Wednesday, have been handed a two-year suspension after being found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play regulations by UEFA.
The club, who intend to appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, have often cited "irrefutable evidence" that they have not violated FFP regulations, and speaking at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening, Guardiola revealed he has been given a run down of the case by City chiefs.
"We were under suspicion for a long time, we have the right to appeal and I trust the people in my club," said Guardiola. "They explain the reasons, they showed me the arguments and the proofs. We are optimistic that finally if we deserve to be in the Champions League we can do it next season, if finally it doesn't happen we have to accept and move forward.
"My trust is with the club. I know them. We are going to see what happens with CAS."
Guardiola, who has won the Champions League twice while in charge at Barcelona but has never been beyond the quarterfinals with City, insists his players should not need a potential ban as extra motivation as they attempt to progress at the expense of the Zinedine Zidane's 13-times winners.
David Silva said the squad's focus was only the game rather than the implications of a possible suspension, but with his time at the Etihad Stadium coming to an end in the summer, the 34-year-old admitted the Champions League is a trophy he is still desperate to win.
"We want to win the competition and we didn't win it," said Silva, "I want to win Champions League. Having the second leg at home is better because we are with our fans. In order to [to go back with a chance of progressing] we need to have a good match and a good result [here]."
Guardiola has been boosted ahead of the first leg against Real Madrid, who have won just one of their last four games, by the return of Raheem Sterling. The winger has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury but is ready to start against the Spanish giants.
"He's fit," said Guardiola. "His natural condition, his a regeneration is amazing. He said to us he could have played against West Ham and Leicester but the doctor said be careful. He's fit, he's ready."
Manchester City have formally lodged their appeal against UEFA's two-season ban from the Champions League to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
City said they were "disappointed but not surprised" by the ruling and have now formally lodged their appeal to CAS, the highest court in sport, who said: "It is not possible to indicate at this time when a final award in this matter will be issued."
City face Real Madrid in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg on Wednesday, their first match in the competition since the ban was announced.
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Manchester City escape Champions League ban after CAS appeal
ESPN
Manchester City have won their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over alleged financial fair play violations and are free to play in the Champions League next season, it was announced on Monday.
City were originally banned from European competitions for two seasons but won their appeal to CAS, meaning fifth place in the Premier League will no longer qualify for the Champions League. Manchester United occupy fifth in the table as it stands, behind third-place Chelsea and fourth-place Leicester City.
An initial fine of €30 million was also reduced to €10m following Monday's verdict. The CAS said that most of the alleged breaches were not established or time-bound.
The Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had previously found that City "committed serious breaches" of FFP regulations -- which limit the net losses that clubs can accrue over a three-year period -- between 2012 and 2016 and failed to cooperate with the subsequent investigation.
City took their case to CAS on June 8 after the initial ban and fine were issued to them by the adjudicatory chamber of the independent CFCB.
On Monday, the CAS statement said that charges related to concealment of equity funding "were clearly more significant violations than obstructing the CFCB's investigations," so it felt it was not appropriate to impose a ban on participating in UEFA's club competitions.
"However, considering i) the financial resources of MCFC; ii) the importance of the cooperation of clubs in investigations conducted by the CFCB, because of its limited investigative means; and iii) MCFC's disregard of such principle and its obstruction of the investigations, the CAS Panel found that a significant fine should be imposed on MCFC and considered it appropriate to reduce UEFA's initial fine by 2/3, i.e. to the amount of EUR 10 million."
A Manchester City statement on Monday read: "Whilst Manchester City and its legal advisors are yet to review the full ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Club welcomes the implications of today's ruling as a validation of the Club's position and the body of evidence that it was able to present. The Club wishes to thank the panel members for their diligence and the due process that they administered."
The CFCB had found that City "committed serious breaches" of FFP regulations -- which limit the net losses that clubs can accrue over a three-year period -- between 2012 and 2016 and failed to cooperate with the subsequent investigation.
It was said that the club overstated "its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016."
In response, City claimed the process was "flawed" and said there was "irrefutable evidence" that would lead to them winning an appeal. FFP was introduced by UEFA at the start of the 2011-12 campaign as a way of stopping clubs falling into financial difficulties by overspending.
Ahead of Monday's verdict, manager Pep Guardiola had said he was "so confident" that City would get the ban overturned.
"The intention is every season to play in the Champions League as best as possible, it's not about Monday," Guardiola said.
Despite the verdict and ongoing questions over how FFP is implemented, UEFA said in a statement it has been a force of good for the game.
"Over the last few years, Financial Fair Play has played a significant role in protecting clubs and helping them become financially sustainable and UEFA and ECA [European Club Association] remain committed to its principles," a UEFA statement read.
"UEFA will be making no further comments on the matter."
City are also still able to compete in this season's Champions League. They hold a 2-1 first-leg lead over Real Madrid in the round of 16, and will play either Juventus or Lyon in the quarterfinals if they progress.
La Liga president Javier Tebas, who has long been a critic of City, expressed his unhappiness with the decision on Monday and said it was time to examine the role of CAS.
"We have to reassess whether the CAS is the appropriate body to which to appeal institutional decisions in football," he added. "Switzerland [where the CAS is located] is a country with a great history of arbitration; the CAS is not up to standard."
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Sterling's appearance versus Watford (Tuesday, July 21, 2020) is his 200th for the club. Gabriel Jesus also hits a notable landmark today: 150 appearances.
Kyle Walker is on 450 appearances as a pro across all clubs.
Q: what is the order in which these players were signed by City?
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Sterling's appearance versus Watford (Tuesday, July 21, 2020) is his 200th for the club. Gabriel Jesus also hits a notable landmark today: 150 appearances.
Kyle Walker is on 450 appearances as a pro across all clubs.
Q: what is the order in which these players were signed by City?
Off the top of my head, no google search: 1) Sterling, 2) Walker & 3) Gabriel Jesus
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Sterling's appearance versus Watford (Tuesday, July 21, 2020) is his 200th for the club. Gabriel Jesus also hits a notable landmark today: 150 appearances.
Kyle Walker is on 450 appearances as a pro across all clubs.
Q: what is the order in which these players were signed by City?
Off the top of my head, no google search: 1) Sterling, 2) Walker & 3) Gabriel Jesus
Sterling, Jesus, Walker. 2015, 2016 and 2017. To add to the mix, both Sterling and Walker share a signing anniversary ... signed on the same date.