What Arsenal have done in the New Year is worthy of praise, but their December going 3-1-3 and the second loss to Villa last month is what has cost them.
City's depth and fitness just can't be overcome.
Yes, they lost KDB at the start, and Haaland for nearly two months, but they were more than capable of covering and continuing to win.
City have dropped 8 total points since that Villa lost in the first week of December, going 17-4-0, and that's with Haaland out for all of the rest of December (Villa was his last game) and January.
None of us were going to compete with that.
City's depth and fitness just can't be overcome.
Yes, they lost KDB at the start, and Haaland for nearly two months, but they were more than capable of covering and continuing to win.
City have dropped 8 total points since that Villa lost in the first week of December, going 17-4-0, and that's with Haaland out for all of the rest of December (Villa was his last game) and January.
None of us were going to compete with that.
Yeah I can't really fault the team even if they dropped points against some teams we didn't expect to because that's always bound to happen at some point in the season. For most of the season we've been incredibly consistent and it's insane we could finish on 89 points with 28 wins (our best is 26) and still not win the title.
Speaking of football
Copy/pasting from the Swedish Ramble twitter because it’s a long thread.
There is one reason and one reason only why this case is not settled yet. When the PL launched the procedure for the 115 charges, City made sure that it got stuck in the courts for almost 3 years challenging every technical aspect it could to delay it.
A summary:
November-December 2018: The Premier League write to City requesting certain information and documents in relation to potential breaches of their rules — known as the information claim. City object to the request — after what has been published by Der Spiegel/the Football Leaks.
21 August 2019: The PL issue a complaint against City, since it has still not received the documents and information it has the right to receive under the Premier League Rules and which City refuse to give the PL access to. City responds by challenging the PL's disciplinary system, challenging a technicality (only highly regarded barristers could be elected for the commission).
22 October 2019: With the documents and information not forthcoming, the PL begin arbitration against the club seeking a declaration that they are contractually obliged to provide them. The club try to stop the arbitration by arguing to the tribunal involved that the PL had no power to start it. They also claim that the tribunal does not appear impartial.
26 June 2020: City issue an application in the Commercial Court repeating their argument that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction on the information claim and is tainted with “bias”.
2 November 2020: City’s claim that it has no obligation to to pass on the requested information and documents to the PL — is rejected. It’s clearly stated in the rules that they must do so. The order to provide them is however postponed pending the outcome of the Commercial Court case.
17 March 2021: In the Commercial Court, Mrs Justice Moulder more or less summarily dismisses the club's challenge to the jurisdiction and impartiality of the tribunal, dismantling the City’s lawyers arguments clearly hinting that it was felt that it had abused the public court system. She refuses permission to appeal her judgment.
24 March 2021: Mrs Justice Moulder said her judgment should be published, in order to reveal the lengths to which City had attempted to resist passing on information to the PL. City successfully seeked permission to appeal the decision to make the information public in the Court of Appeal. So we get another delay (I think you are starting to get the drift by now, it’s an appeal of an appeal of an appeal about a pure nonsense technicality. On a side
30 June 2021: The Court of Appeal opens its hearing into the club's appeal against publication. The Court of Appeal handed down its decision dismissing the appeal.
So it took the PL almost three years to just have it sorted out that it has the right to receive the information the Premier League Rules clearly states that City must submit to the PL. After this, we know that City made another challenge of the impartiality of an experienced barrister in no way connected to the Premier League, in KC Murray Rosen. How much delay this caused is unknown.
During this time, City was also sentenced by UEFA for failing to produce requested information and delaying procedures.
I am sure we all come across City PR people, at twitter, during City’s PCs, and so forth, telling us that the reason no decision have been made against City is because it is quote “complicated“. Decide for yourself!
Copy/pasting from the Swedish Ramble twitter because it’s a long thread.
There is one reason and one reason only why this case is not settled yet. When the PL launched the procedure for the 115 charges, City made sure that it got stuck in the courts for almost 3 years challenging every technical aspect it could to delay it.
A summary:
November-December 2018: The Premier League write to City requesting certain information and documents in relation to potential breaches of their rules — known as the information claim. City object to the request — after what has been published by Der Spiegel/the Football Leaks.
21 August 2019: The PL issue a complaint against City, since it has still not received the documents and information it has the right to receive under the Premier League Rules and which City refuse to give the PL access to. City responds by challenging the PL's disciplinary system, challenging a technicality (only highly regarded barristers could be elected for the commission).
22 October 2019: With the documents and information not forthcoming, the PL begin arbitration against the club seeking a declaration that they are contractually obliged to provide them. The club try to stop the arbitration by arguing to the tribunal involved that the PL had no power to start it. They also claim that the tribunal does not appear impartial.
26 June 2020: City issue an application in the Commercial Court repeating their argument that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction on the information claim and is tainted with “bias”.
2 November 2020: City’s claim that it has no obligation to to pass on the requested information and documents to the PL — is rejected. It’s clearly stated in the rules that they must do so. The order to provide them is however postponed pending the outcome of the Commercial Court case.
17 March 2021: In the Commercial Court, Mrs Justice Moulder more or less summarily dismisses the club's challenge to the jurisdiction and impartiality of the tribunal, dismantling the City’s lawyers arguments clearly hinting that it was felt that it had abused the public court system. She refuses permission to appeal her judgment.
24 March 2021: Mrs Justice Moulder said her judgment should be published, in order to reveal the lengths to which City had attempted to resist passing on information to the PL. City successfully seeked permission to appeal the decision to make the information public in the Court of Appeal. So we get another delay (I think you are starting to get the drift by now, it’s an appeal of an appeal of an appeal about a pure nonsense technicality. On a side
30 June 2021: The Court of Appeal opens its hearing into the club's appeal against publication. The Court of Appeal handed down its decision dismissing the appeal.
So it took the PL almost three years to just have it sorted out that it has the right to receive the information the Premier League Rules clearly states that City must submit to the PL. After this, we know that City made another challenge of the impartiality of an experienced barrister in no way connected to the Premier League, in KC Murray Rosen. How much delay this caused is unknown.
During this time, City was also sentenced by UEFA for failing to produce requested information and delaying procedures.
I am sure we all come across City PR people, at twitter, during City’s PCs, and so forth, telling us that the reason no decision have been made against City is because it is quote “complicated“. Decide for yourself!
I’m no Horse but reading all that makes me conclude that
A) City getting stripped and relegated to Serie A
B) We’re signing Mbop
A) City getting stripped and relegated to Serie A
B) We’re signing Mbop
By Oddinho Go To PostI am sure we all come across City PR people, at twitter, during City’s PCs, and so forth, telling us that the reason no decision have been made against City is because it is quote “complicated“. Decide for yourself!
I mean, it is complicated. It would be complicated without the delay tactics and it would still have taken a very long time to resolve, but yes...the delay tactics are effective in well, delaying
“by now, it’s an appeal of an appeal of an appeal about a pure nonsense technicality.”
A.) Welcome to high-powered lawyerdom! Every single one of them does this for any case where it can be done.
B.) What makes one technicality more nonsense than others?
C.) It’s a shame some rando decided to use the Swiss Ramble’s incredibly well deserved reputation and run with it when they clearly lack anything comparable to his ability to present information impartially.
A.) Welcome to high-powered lawyerdom! Every single one of them does this for any case where it can be done.
B.) What makes one technicality more nonsense than others?
C.) It’s a shame some rando decided to use the Swiss Ramble’s incredibly well deserved reputation and run with it when they clearly lack anything comparable to his ability to present information impartially.
Big audition for a Bundesliga job.
There's a fair bit to be concerned about Liverpool's general style of play over the last few years, wrt lack of steel, how susceptible we are to counters. A few years ago I wanted Pep to replace Klopp.
By bud Go To Postwe go again, lads.West Ham will be lucky if the game doesn't end in double figures, no hope of them getting a result at all.
one last time.
By Plasma Go To PostWest Ham will be lucky if the game doesn't end in double figures, no hope of them getting a result at all.I don’t suspect many City fans will be feeling overly comfortable about this game at all. Too many scares on the final day of the season. Fingers crossed.
I think even if they fight they'll get battered.
Their form and Moyes' record away against good teams will see to that.
Their form and Moyes' record away against good teams will see to that.
Boehly is just operating on another level entirely. What a genius. Americans showing these stuck up Europeans the game of soccer.
By Cleff Go To PostKobbieMight as well invite Greenwood.
no
By Perfect Blue Go To PostLmaoThis has been a long time coming, Disso. Pretend to be shocked when we all wake up to find out that CL knockout matches are going to played outside of Europe, starting in Saudi.
Sure why not
Was thinking about how I was having a nice day and then realised Manchester United are playing later. Bitterly disappointing.
By inky Go To Postthey should abolish British refs instead, cause that's the actual issue👆🏾
By inky Go To Postthey should abolish British refs instead, cause that's the actual issue
Unlike [NO NATIONALITY APPLICABLE] refs.
By JesalR Go To PostJust not going to happen is it.Nope, and it shouldn't.
By Scum Go To PostThis has been a long time coming, Disso. Pretend to be shocked when we all wake up to find out that CL knockout matches are going to played outside of Europe, starting in Saudi.Gonna be SICK
Hopefully we have the JP Morgan Tesla UEFA Champions League sponsored by Amazon being played in the US so I can watch at a reasonable hour.
By inky Go To Postthey should abolish Britain instead, cause that's the actual issue🙏🏻
By inky Go To Postthey should abolish British refs instead, cause that's the actual issueIf only
By Laboured Go To PostUnlike [NO NATIONALITY APPLICABLE] refs.what did you just say about polish refs m0?
I thought VAR was something that leagues are stuck with once they agree to it.
Still don't really understand why the trialling for it seemed so insignificant considering how much of a game-changer it is. Expect semi-automated offsides will be a massive improvement at least, the worst thing about it (even more than the frustration of objectively bad decisions still being made imo) is the amount of time it's taking to draw lines.
Still don't really understand why the trialling for it seemed so insignificant considering how much of a game-changer it is. Expect semi-automated offsides will be a massive improvement at least, the worst thing about it (even more than the frustration of objectively bad decisions still being made imo) is the amount of time it's taking to draw lines.
just train the refs better and cap the time ffs
travesties like the offside in the bernabeu against bayern should not happen
travesties like the offside in the bernabeu against bayern should not happen
Martins love for Wolves knows no bounds. lool
By JesalR Go To PostJust not going to happen is it.It’s just going to be the excuse needed to talk about officiating improvements.
