£28 million? That’s a new Yerry Mina.

Thanks for the clarity, Paul. I probably jumped the gun there. I don’t know anything about politics apart from corruption. I presume Burnham would have to stay out of anything relating to Everton due to conflict of interest? I mean, Everton got shit all over and should demand answers. Not to mention league positions, etc. Surely the PM has to steer well clear? As for Manchester and not being a fan of the place or the people. It will/could affect a lot of working people. Sad, really.

Harry defines it in the article “a deep completion is defined as any non-cross pass that is successfully completed into a 20-metre radius of the opponent’s goal” Now a 20 metre radius is a 40 metre diameter according to my old maths teacher “Uncle Paddy” at De La Salle. So, as the pitch is 70 metres wide by 100 metres long (roughly) this effectively means he hoofed the ball into the oppositions half?

They didn’t seem too bothered that WE might be relegated and ultimately bankrupted and the legitimacy of remaining games then.

There’s also a problem with posted web addresses, I’m not able to copy them and the pop up appear but disappears immediately.

It WAS the fixed default ordering when the new layout became active, then changed, when Recent Comments was fixed?

Works okay for me, Eric.

Spot on Ajay, see my longer post on the unrelenting drive to accountability of the EPL rules under competition law. It will just take more time and the Governments Football Regulator.

What the F is a deep completion? 🤣

Hi Eric, “Can’t reply on nested comments.” I noticed this limitation. Looks like it only allows two levels of Reply to be posted directly bellow any comment. I think we can live with that, to be honest. It keeps the invidual reply strings short, which I think on the whole is preferrable. It should be more helpful and easy to see (once we fix the Newest order issue). If you are making anything other than a short direct reply, I think it might be best to post it as a new comment instead.

Michael, really nice piece. A lot of research, work and insight gone into that. As a ray of light, I share the following: I feel there is an underlying tidal wave, underpinned by fundamental legislation around competition law. The latest and perhaps even more precedent for the future of football is the alternative case and decision of Man City v Premier League. This is the case that City brought and won against the Premier League rules regarding Associated Party Transactions (APT) This was June 2024. This covered Etihad Aviation Group and Abu Dhabi Bank deals. Essentially the hearing agreed with City that the rules were flawed in both anti- competitive law and in process. The EPL now has a working group to amend their rules. This aligns with the latest report that Etihad are looking to take legal action against the EPL. Here is the link https://www.traverssmith.com/knowledge/knowledge-container/manchester-city-v-the-premier-league/

Dave, Close… but no cigar. His name was Moores… not Moore’s. No apostrohe. Next you’ll be writing Moye’s… What is it with your family? Tony keeps writing The Friedkin’s… there’s no apostrophe: the plural of Friedkin is Friedkins.

Dave I believe he sent the Littlewoods financial director to Anfield, so money could be made available for Shankly, who had threatened to walk. I often think he was too emotionally involved with Everton, whereas with the RS he just looked after his investment.

Eric – I seem to recall that PJ Told Walter Smith there was money so he bought Dacourt, Materazzi who were then sold the at the end of the season as there was no money. Sold Duncan Ferguson without telling the manager. Asset stripping is buying an undervalued company and selling off its individual assets—such as property, equipment, or brand names and then pay dividends from the sale of these assets. My understanding is that Kenwright bought the club, sold off the assets to bring in cash to keep the business alive rather than taking on loans, did not take out dividends (perhaps other shareholders can tell us how much dividend they got as per share it should have been the same as BK. I believe it was £0. The £20 per share from the sale of the women’s team and GP in 2025 does fall under the terms of asset stripping) but sat there as the value of the club rose from diddly squat in 2000 to a significant amount in 2014. That is not asset stripping.

Jarrad came on briefly in one of the England games

Least he’s getting into the right positions.

To some fools on here he wasn’t good enough for us?

Ajay, the other 14 clubs have created this like Christine said above. The league had a chance to really have a equal playing field and let it slip

Well said Christy, they obviously bunged them a few quid

But they did and Everton where one of them

Why they need expelling

The Barry stat is very worrying

Michael that’s a very enlightening article, but unfortunately because of the desire to protect the ‘ big’ clubs nothing will change. Incidentally I don’t expect City supporters will mind a couple of years in the lower divisions after what they’ve enjoyed over the last 15 years.

I haven’t now Eric —Thanks again Eric— You are bit of a nosy bleeder though !

So that we can take part in the PL without any pressure to ever try to win it?

Hi Eric, I’ve asked how we can get Newest as the fixed default ordering, hopefully until we can get oldest installed.

Newest was the previous default but it seems someone changed it. Should be easy to change back.

If Parrot wants to be seriously considered for the Premier League he needs to choose his friends a bit better. That’s probably why a lot of clubs don’t want to take the risk – having the Irish mafia turning up at your training ground isn’t a good look.

Can’t copy and paste that link?

Bob, brilliant goal from Parrott. Seems to be enjoying himself in Spain as well.

You still missed one Dave!

Michael, I think this is one of your best writeups on this site. Real enlightening stuff, thanks man. You have articulated superbly how the elite clubs have ring-fenced themselves from upstarts entering into the hallowed space. We all accept that football is a business – so I am struggling to name one other business where the regulations prevent fair competition from disrupting the established players. Not one! Can anyone??

Michael I can’t let it go until someone writes that article you’re talking about!

Yes Philip just thanked Eric Myles for pointing out that huge bloomer, Moyes doesn’t let his right hand know what his left hand is doing never mind lending money out and what if Morag found out!

Thanks Eric – Moore’s for Moyes – I owe you one!

This is why JT will always have a place in my heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKQ8HJOOU60

Pro rata payments for all concerned and if they fold then the old 4th Division may get to welcome Ardwick27 FC

So a massive point deduction? To guarantee relegation? Then you have the question of their remaining games, playing in the league when relegation is certain, brings up questions about the legitimacy of them games with nothing to play for. I’d let them drag it out until the end of the season and apply all punishments then. I don’t agree that city generates money for other clubs, The PL generates the money with or without city .

I think you’re more likely to find they were ‘good times’. Johnson put £10 million of his OWN money into the Club, TWICE. That’s £20 million, from his own pocket, and left us in a financially good asset positive position. It was the next owner that asset stripped the Club.

You know posts can be edited at any time now Dave?

We need our new owners to get their affiliate companies and mates companies to provide sponsorship packages the way Fenway and Mansour have done.

Can’t reply on nested comments.

Did Johnson score the winner John?

I’,m still fuming Christy that the likely case is that we did not seriously consider Parrott in the window.

Burnham was NOT defending the owners. He was expressing his anxieties for Manchester if the UAE pulled out of the club and not for footy reasons but for the money UAE have sunk into the city.

Wasn’t the scale of Chelsea’s offending on a rather lower scale than Manchester Cheaty Brian?

This is a very good article Michael for those of us who struggle to get their head round things of a financial nature. I don’t think City will get expelled from the premier league – the external ramifications are too far reaching. Burnham hinted at this in his first statement. Some deal will be done. However If City don’t get a points deduction can we have our six points back

They all cheat to some extent. Its an imaterial point. They wont be expelled from the Prem

Well it might be poorer without a club boosted on lies and cheating, but that’s like saying the grand national would be better if all the horses were jacked up on steads, because the race would be quicker and more exciting. I’d rather have a decent honest club take their place . The league would be no worse, it’s a collective, bigger than any 1 club, the PL was OK when city weren’t in it, it will be just as good without them.

Christie. It’s not just the Everton manager who sees O’Brien as his 4th choice centre back. Tonight the Republic of Ireland manager also confirmed him as his 4th choice by dropping him and preferring Egan for the vital Austria game at Lansdowne Road. So, Collins, O’Shea and Egan are in front of him for RoI. However, what an absolutely stunning individual goal by Troy Parrott to open the scoring tonight. Anyone who missed it please try to get a replay from somewhere. For me it was the best individual goal that I have ever seen at Lansdown Road. Fingers crossed for the next Israel game in Serbia and 3 vital points.