Good thread on what's been going on,[Link]

Transferring money from an oil rich state to a deprived (?) area of Northern England is ok by me and Andy Burnham but a bit socialist surely?

Yeah Porthcawl I asked last night whether we invented the "you know what you are" chant or whether it had existed before we played the franchise. Anyone know?

OI - of course, their investment in East Manchester and their ownership of Man City are two completely distinct and separate things.

scousers yesterday chanting, you know what you are, I've heard it somewhere before

If Man City lose their appeal, then, given the magnitude of their rule breaking, the longevity of it, the obfuscation since the investigation began (which is why it has taken so long), they should be made an example of. All honours won since the financial doping began should be rescinded (whether these are awarded to runners-up is a question for another day), a huge fine and expulsion from the football pyramid. I believe they should then need to apply to the Manchester Football League Division Two (level 13) and restart from there. We committed no crime but had to restart at the bottom - anything less for City would be unreasonable.

Nick "keefy - It has clearly, successfully, bought influence." Me "The people of East Manchester seem quite pleased as well." My reference was very clearly about the investment in East Manchester, which is what on the whole has brought them influence cf. Burnham's remarks. But anyway I'm glad we both agree that the club should be punished and approve of the owners improving conditions in the area.

Just hope it gets sorted this season.

Afternoon all. Re: legality of using hacked emails for Citeh, the CAS were happy for them to be allowed - [Link]

Spit - that is true in US - but not in UK. Evidence obtained by theft or other unlawful means is generally admissible in a UK court if it is relevant to the case, though the court has the discretion to exclude it.

OI - no-one is suggesting people's lives shouldn't be improved. That's such a disingenuous argument. I am saying that the Man City owners have used that for their own political game, in such a way that when someone like me says, "sportswashing", someone else defends them. FWIW, the conversation was absolutely about Manchester City after my first response to what the point of the PL is, to which you now seem to be proving. Bread and circuses and ignore all the blood-letting.

Ta very much jersey boys playing them tom night there still unbeaten now 27 games after Wombles record on YouTube 745

Nice trips them windsor games,think we played someone else there as well,Slough?

P99, drew at home, won away. [Link]

CW what was the scores when we played Windsor and Eaton when we reformed?

I agree with RK City are just the first club to be caught cheating they’re certainly not likely to be the only ones doing it. In related news good luck to Bury AFC in their FA Cup 4th qualifying round match against Harrogate next Saturday - it’s live on TV too.

City would appeal any sanctions and win in court, as information was stolen so they got caught out. Cant be used in court apparently as information was gained by illegal method.

Thanks OI

Apologies, McKenzie only got close to 40 billion but she has managed to give away well more than half of it by the end of 2025 apparently.

If City are the only club breaching the rules by disguising ownership income as commercial, i would be very surprised. It appears that they only got caught out by some guy hacking their system and gaining access to emails. What is the role of auditors and the FA/EFL in ensuring compliance. When i were bean-counter, the audit was solely about compliance to Companies Acts. Do football clubs have to prove compliance to Prem/EFL rules or are we relying on hackers and ex staffers?

TF - Carnegie was a robber baron of the 19th century who spent some of his ill-gotten gains on libraries, halls etc, to improve his reputation. Gates has invested billions from selling crap overpriced software in vaccinations (how does his intent compare to Dolly's in that situation?) and other health fields. McKenzie Scott is really another category, being busy trying to give away as much of the 60 odd billion she got from Bezos in the divorce as she can. And she then married a high school science teacher. All 'bad' money used for good causes, an idea I totally support.

But we aren't talking about Manchester City, who I agree need to be punished, to help out the other over-financed and happy to skirt the rules clubs. We are talking about the money spent away from the stadium on improving the East Manchester area. I consider it amoral to suggest that people probably worse off than us shouldn't have their lives improved by investment from outside.

And, regardless, that guy puts his right arm out to knock it into the player.

Red Kite - inflatables have been back in fashion for years. You've only got to look out over the south coast to know that. 😎

I thought all Franchise fans had difficulties of some sort. :-)