The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Their defense has been that bad all season though, it's just been masked by the freakish amount of goals they've been scoring.

Look at it this way:

Goals conceded -
Spurs - 51
United - 41
Arsenal - 41
Southampton - 45
West Ham - 49
Hull - 48
Liverpool - 49
Crystal Pulis - 46
Stoke - 51
Swansea - 53
Villa - 54

I mean hell, Newcastle, a team that has literally phoned in the every single game of this calendar year, has only conceded 8 more goals.

[KG]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

What I don't understand is why not set up shop at 3-0? Did Rodgers really think they were going to catch Citeh's goal difference? Worst case scenario, hope Citeh slip up mid-week and win by a goal and then chase like hell balls-to-the-wall in the last game if you get news that Citeh is ahead.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Looks like City will get hit with sanctions from UEFA. Of course, there will be appeals and what not, but this is a start.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/06/manchester-city-face-49m-fine-wage-cap-financial-fair-play

City could face a £49 million fine, and have their Champions League squad reduced to 21, from 25. That second part would be the most punishment, as 8 out of those 21 spots would have to be filled by homegrown players.

As for PSG, boom: http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1811094?cc=5901

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

I feel like that's a rather small punishment. It feels so underwhelming.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

I feel like that's a rather small punishment. It feels so underwhelming.

Allowing them not to participate in the CL would be great, of course, but I'm glad it's something, and maybe something means it's a start. I never believed this would be the start of any kind of salary cap, but I did believe the whole time UEFA would do something, even if it's small.

At this point, I'd rather see this than nothing at all.

[VTPack919]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Looks like City will get hit with sanctions from UEFA. Of course, there will be appeals and what not, but this is a start.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/06/manchester-city-face-49m-fine-wage-cap-financial-fair-play

City could face a £49 million fine, and have their Champions League squad reduced to 21, from 25. That second part would be the most punishment, as 8 out of those 21 spots would have to be filled by homegrown players.

As for PSG, boom: http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1811094?cc=5901

"Let them eat cake."


-PSG

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

I would've felt better if they had even just been dropped from the CL to the EL, nevermind completely gone from continental competition. I also admit it's tricky, as it's the first punishment doled out, so it can't be a complete whopper because if/when it shows to be ineffective, you don't want to end up SMUing a club.

My personal combination favorite from all the sites discussing this was a combination of Transfer restrictions and dropping from the CL to the EL, in addition to the fine and the squad reduction. (The dropping would read as dropping to lowest European Qualification spot in the home country, with everyone else basically moving up a slot) Even though I reckon that sort of punishment is a tad unrealistic, but it opens up the avenues for increasing punishments, such as going from transfer restrictions to transfer ban, dropping from continental football all together, bigger fine, etc. It sets a precedent for future punishment on repeat offenders, right now, I can't say there's much reason for Citeh to fret.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

It's a soft penalty because FFP isn't really meant to restrict rich clubs from spending money. It stops clubs from spending money they don't have and going into debt/going under.

It also stops any newer clubs from doing what City and Chelsea did, which is why the biggest clubs were also the biggest supporters of FFP. It has nothing to do with being noble and doing things the right way (spoiler: not a single top English club got there without some sort of massive cash injection/financial assistance at some point in their history. This includes Arsenal, United and Liverpool), it's about preventing more new clubs from threatening those top spots.

Without rich owner takeovers the league absolutely wouldn't be this competitive at the top. The United/Arsenal monopoly would have swung wildly out of hand, and the premier league would have eventually turned into La Liga but worse.

[Leon]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

It's a soft penalty because FFP isn't really meant to restrict rich clubs from spending money. It stops clubs from spending money they don't have and going into debt/going under.

It also stops any newer clubs from doing what City and Chelsea did, which is why the biggest clubs were also the biggest supporters of FFP. It has nothing to do with being noble and doing things the right way (spoiler: not a single top English club got there without some sort of massive cash injection/financial assistance at some point in their history. This includes Arsenal, United and Liverpool), it's about preventing more new clubs from threatening those top spots.

Without rich owner takeovers the league absolutely wouldn't be this competitive at the top. The United/Arsenal monopoly would have swung wildly out of hand, and the premier league would have eventually turned into La Liga but worse.

SPOILER ALERT: United MADE their own money throughout its history. The club got rich on its own merit, not because an owner loaned the club cash. I'm pretty damn sure Arsenal are the same way, along with Liverpool before Hicks & Gillete.

Anyway, in EPL news, glad to see Giggs give two academy players debuts against Hull - James Wilson and Tom Lawrence. Wilson bagged a brace with some deft finishing and Januzaj was beasting out there.

https://vine.co/v/M6Xm3KrD5mq

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

SPOILER ALERT: United MADE their own money throughout its history. The club got rich on its own merit, not because an owner loaned the club cash. I'm pretty damn sure Arsenal are the same way, along with Liverpool before Hicks & Gillete.

Anyway, in EPL news, glad to see Giggs give two academy players debuts against Hull - James Wilson and Tom Lawrence. Wilson bagged a brace with some deft finishing and Januzaj was beasting out there.

https://vine.co/v/M6Xm3KrD5mq

You need to go read up on the history of those three clubs if you honestly believe that.

[OneDrop]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

I'm pretty damn sure Arsenal are the same way

Not at all mate. Around 1930 we were known as the Bank of England club with Sir Henry Norris investing a lot. We've always had people investing into Arsenal.

[Leon]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

You need to go read up on the history of those three clubs if you honestly believe that.

Not at all mate. Around 1930 we were known as the Bank of England club with Sir Henry Norris investing a lot. We've always had people investing into Arsenal.

I'll believe the Arsenal fan.

Speaking about the club I support alone - investing into a club and having the team generate its own money is vastly different from an owner continuously pouring money into it just so it can acquire players and whatnot.

FFP protects the traditional elite? Don't really care what side of that you're on. The only part of FFP I care about is making clubs self-sustaining. In a perfect football world, clubs buy out of their own pocket and leave the competition on the pitch. Since we're totally far from that, the least it can do is ensure Sugar Daddy clubs survive if the owner suddenly closes the credit line.

[gerg1234]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Come on Villa. Just get one in!

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[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Norwich are relegated as Sunderland complete one of the greatest escapes in EPL history. What a turnaround by them. Took points from Chelsea, Man City, and Man United in the past few weeks to stay up.

[Mo]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread