Premier League 2024-2025

[tiempo]

I think at half time Arteta directed the players to park the bus as a f**k you to the football authorities, primarily referees as he didn't agree with the red card and other recent decisions, the managerial equivalent of running off with the ball, if we can't get a fair cut of it you won't get a watchable game, we now ascribe to win at all costs, by any means necessary, if we can't have a fair fight

I also think he's using it as a trick to further develop a siege mentality in what is mostly a young and impressionable group of men, he's typically gone for that younger profile so he can mould them to suit, rather than buying established players who might try and rock the boat if they though his methods were too kooky

In the end a lot of the comparisons have some degree of truth, there are similarities to Pep, Jurgen, Jose and others, they're all mad in their own way, you have to be to operate and more importantly believe and back yourself in that arena at that level, you have to dispense of any concerns over embarrassing yourself and do what you think its gonna take, that manifested itself in the tactical decision and second half performance, which was 60 seconds away from stealing all 3 points

Long story short, there's no right or wrong answer, many different ways to go about it

[GTP]

The media need to build someone up as rivals to Man City in order to sell the PL - previously it was Klopp's Liverpool, now it is Arteta's Arsenal. It can also be seen in the hype generated by Spurs at the start of last season when Angeball was all the rage.
As an Arsenal supporter I would agree that the plaudits aren't matched by achievement on the pitch i.e. winning trophies. Although given City's financial advantages it is much more difficult for any team to win a major trophy than previous eras.
The tactic in the second half on Sunday were a reaction to the situation I would say it will be a means of playing over 45 minutes that Arsenal never repeat.
Hopefully, Arteta will calm down a bit when if Arsenal keep 11 players on the pitch for a few matches.
 

[tiempo]

The media need to build someone up as rivals to Man City in order to sell the PL - previously it was Klopp's Liverpool, now it is Arteta's Arsenal. It can also be seen in the hype generated by Spurs at the start of last season when Angeball was all the rage.
As an Arsenal supporter I would agree that the plaudits aren't matched by achievement on the pitch i.e. winning trophies. Although given City's financial advantages it is much more difficult for any team to win a major trophy than previous eras.
The tactic in the second half on Sunday were a reaction to the situation I would say it will be a means of playing over 45 minutes that Arsenal never repeat.
Hopefully, Arteta will calm down a bit when if Arsenal keep 11 players on the pitch for a few matches.
 

Financial doping began with Chelsea and brought an abrupt end to Wengers golden era which undoubtedly would have continued, he never won 2 in a row but he would have won a few more standalone titles without doubt. Ferguson was able to compete as he had already created a dynasty and had the financial clout to compete. Citys continuation of Chelsea's bs denied Klopp and Liverpool a golden era that would have surpassed Wengers, Liverpool were definitely good for 2, 3 or 4 in a row. All a bit sickening really using the natural resources of various countries to distort a sporting competition thousands of miles away, they say Chelsea was the worlds most expensive life insurance policy, Roman became a lot more difficult to assassinate, not because it was more difficult to do but because he was aligned to a western brand and you can't draw attention to yourself quite like that

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Can we really accuse City of financial doping in recent years?

Who did they buy this year? Savinho?

They are operating off a small squad in comparison to some teams.

I personally like the way they are run; they have financially doped initially in the past to get here but I wouldn't put them in the same category as Chelsea.

If Pep leaves that team could be in bother.

[Mourne Red]

Can we really accuse City of financial doping in recent years?

Who did they buy this year? Savinho?

They are operating off a small squad in comparison to some teams.

I personally like the way they are run; they have financially doped initially in the past to get here but I wouldn't put them in the same category as Chelsea.

If Pep leaves that team could be in bother.

They bought Savinho under market value from a partner club - United couldn't buy the guy from Nice who are sister club but City could. 

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Can we really accuse City of financial doping in recent years?

Who did they buy this year? Savinho?

They are operating off a small squad in comparison to some teams.

I personally like the way they are run; they have financially doped initially in the past to get here but I wouldn't put them in the same category as Chelsea.

If Pep leaves that team could be in bother.

They bought Savinho under market value from a partner club - United couldn't buy the guy from Nice who are sister club but City could. 

Who were united after and why couldnt they buy him?

[Look-Up!]

Utd are feeling the pinch because they have wasted so much money last few years and got very little return on the field from their spending. They thought they would spend their way to the top. They didn't. This eventually had a knock on effect on their revenue streams which has left them maxed out and reality is finally starting to bite with them.

No other club could operate like this and survive as long as they have. People focus on City because they have actually performed on the pitch. Over performed you could argue.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Utd are feeling the pinch because they have wasted so much money last few years and got very little return on the field from their spending. They thought they would spend their way to the top. They didn't. This eventually had a knock on effect on their revenue streams which has left them maxed out and reality is finally starting to bite with them.

No other club could operate like this and survive as long as they have. People focus on City because they have actually performed on the pitch. Over performed you could argue.

I agree 100% City have been extremely intelligent in how they have invested their money and now they can sustain themselves without spending too much.

Incredible academy too which they can sell off a player or to every year to raise funds.

Other clubs have spent similar amounts of money and are in a mess.

[gawa316]

Confirmation that Rodri is gone for the season

[lurganblue]

Confirmation that Rodri is gone for the season

Villa confirm that Mings and Bouba Kamara are back training and will play u21 action this weekend. Nice boost to that squad.  Both with serious knee injuries last season, like Rodri. Rodri will be a serious loss to City.

[TabClear]

Confirmation that Rodri is gone for the season

Real Sociedad rubbing their hands now. Although given Zubimendi has a £50m release clause, if both City and Liverpool were to meet that amount, I assume the player is free to play them off against each other for his package at no benefit to the selling club?

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Villa have a brilliant squad to be fair to them

[Blowitupref]

Utd are feeling the pinch because they have wasted so much money last few years and got very little return on the field from their spending. They thought they would spend their way to the top. They didn't. This eventually had a knock on effect on their revenue streams which has left them maxed out and reality is finally starting to bite with them.

No other club could operate like this and survive as long as they have. People focus on City because they have actually performed on the pitch. Over performed you could argue.

I agree 100% City have been extremely intelligent in how they have invested their money and now they can sustain themselves without spending too much.

Incredible academy too which they can sell off a player or to every year to raise funds.

Other clubs have spent similar amounts of money and are in a mess.

Since becoming Man City's manager in 2016, Guardiola has spent over 1 billion on new players in the transfer market. 115 charges to their name for breaking financial fair play rules and remains to be seen how that trial goes. A bad outcome and Pep and most of the high profile players will jump ship before it sinks.

[Look-Up!]

Utd are feeling the pinch because they have wasted so much money last few years and got very little return on the field from their spending. They thought they would spend their way to the top. They didn't. This eventually had a knock on effect on their revenue streams which has left them maxed out and reality is finally starting to bite with them.

No other club could operate like this and survive as long as they have. People focus on City because they have actually performed on the pitch. Over performed you could argue.

I agree 100% City have been extremely intelligent in how they have invested their money and now they can sustain themselves without spending too much.

Incredible academy too which they can sell off a player or to every year to raise funds.

Other clubs have spent similar amounts of money and are in a mess.

Since becoming Man City's manager in 2016, Guardiola has spent over 1 billion on new players in the transfer market. 115 charges to their name for breaking financial fair play rules and remains to be seen how that trial goes. A bad outcome and Pep and most of the high profile players will jump ship before it sinks.

Big difference is Pep has worked with and improved his players and signed very few flops. So he has recuperated a lot of that 1bn in sales so the net spend is actually very good. I think he's down in 10th place for net spend in the league compared to other clubs all while winning 4 in a row plus the treble. What Chelsea and Utd have spent alongside him is criminal considering how they have performed on the field in that time.

Another big indicator is wages. City have a huge bill but they are consistently winning and getting to the business end of CL so that's sustainable. What Chelsea and Utd are at is not. Look at Utd's top earners. 5 are on over 200K a week but only 1 you could say is a first teamer. 3 are over 300k and only 1 first teamer. Throw in Maguire on 190k. How many at City could you say are similarly flopped? Maybe Grealish but he has actually chipped in at crucial moments in campaigns with vital goals.

You don't have to like the manager, club or owners but to say their success is down to financial doping is very very blinkered thinking. 

[Blowitupref]

Utd are feeling the pinch because they have wasted so much money last few years and got very little return on the field from their spending. They thought they would spend their way to the top. They didn't. This eventually had a knock on effect on their revenue streams which has left them maxed out and reality is finally starting to bite with them.

No other club could operate like this and survive as long as they have. People focus on City because they have actually performed on the pitch. Over performed you could argue.

I agree 100% City have been extremely intelligent in how they have invested their money and now they can sustain themselves without spending too much.

Incredible academy too which they can sell off a player or to every year to raise funds.

Other clubs have spent similar amounts of money and are in a mess.

Since becoming Man City's manager in 2016, Guardiola has spent over 1 billion on new players in the transfer market. 115 charges to their name for breaking financial fair play rules and remains to be seen how that trial goes. A bad outcome and Pep and most of the high profile players will jump ship before it sinks.

Big difference is Pep has worked with and improved his players and signed very few flops. So he has recuperated a lot of that 1bn in sales so the net spend is actually very good. I think he's down in 10th place for net spend in the league compared to other clubs all while winning 4 in a row plus the treble. What Chelsea and Utd have spent alongside him is criminal considering how they have performed on the field in that time.

Another big indicator is wages. City have a huge bill but they are consistently winning and getting to the business end of CL so that's sustainable. What Chelsea and Utd are at is not. Look at Utd's top earners. 5 are on over 200K a week but only 1 you could say is a first teamer. 3 are over 300k and only 1 first teamer. Throw in Maguire on 190k. How many at City could you say are similarly flopped? Maybe Grealish but he has actually chipped in at crucial moments in campaigns with vital goals.

You don't have to like the manager, club or owners but to say their success is down to financial doping is very very blinkered thinking. 

He went through a good number of goalkeepers and full backs before finding ones that suited his system.