115 reasons why City's season is over - Or is it?
If any football writer claims to have no affiliation towards a particular club or have never actually supported a team, I simply wouldn't believe them.
Certainly, they will be expected to write with total impartiality at all times, and I'm sure many regularly achieve this. But with this latest news about Manchester City vs The Premier League and the notorious 115 charges, there will be few who will side with the current Premier League leaders.
Even though City are appealing and have issued yet another statement claiming their innocence, the papers and media are already full of speculation about what the punishment may be, or in their opinion what it should be.
More accurately I think, because City have dominated English football for the last decade, the media will be joining in with the fans of the other 19 clubs, including theirs, and hoping City's punishment takes them out of the running for at least a year.
So, before I give my opinion on all of this, I'm going to declare my allegiance.
I have been a City fan for almost 60 years.
So here's my impartial speculation! Sorry, totally biased view. Which might actually surprise you.
You might expect me start by defending the club's position and remind you of their statement proclaiming their innocence.
The truth is, I don't care.
I don't care if they broke the rules or didn't respond to enquiries on time.
I actually don't care if a player cost £100 million pounds or a tenner. It doesn't matter to me.
I only care what they do when they're on the pitch.
Their values are based on market forces and this is how all business works.
Our houses might not be worth the extortionate amount we paid for them, but because someone else was prepared to pay that amount. Sorry, but that's their value.
And people with more money can afford better houses. And City have a rich owner.
This is how it is.
Of course I understand that the Premier League wants to give those in smaller houses the chance to compete, so we have FFP. I get that. And if City have broke the rules, they must be punished.
But I actually don't think we will ever find out what City did or didn't do in relation to FFP. Simply because if these rules don't include the amount you spend on lawyers, I would imagine Sheik Mansour's legal war chest will be considerably larger than the Premier League's. I also have no doubt that these top lawyers are more than capable of finding constant grounds for a challenge or an appeal, then after convincing City's bosses it is a worthwhile option, immediately call their partners to go ahead and book that Caribbean cruise. And, if you have time, check out the actual price of that massive house you like in Prestbury.
The most likely outcome therefore being a settlement will be agreed after several appeals and protracted technical arguments. And all the lawyers will be richer.
So my message to City is this. Sort it or swallow it but do it swiftly. Pay the fine instead of the lawyers (it might be cheaper!)
Put the fans out of their misery.
The fans who have spent the last few years defending themselves against the rest of league who refuse to gives any credit for Pep's 20 trophies because of this 115 nonsense.
(By the way, its 114 now as they've dropped one of the charges, so you'll have to re-print your banners United fans)
Put the lawyers on to finding how to pacify the FA without admitting responsibility and opening up litigation from all the clubs that City beat along the way who claim to have lost out financially.
And to all those calling for a massive point deduction and seeing City be relegated from the Premier League. Just hold your horses a second guys.
I heard yesterday talk of a 20 point deduction being a fair punishment. Really?
Well lets just imagine for a second that happened and City let it happen, and they did this before the next league game.
There are 33 games left this season.
The average survival level, in the last 30 years is 35.53 points. Meaning City would have to average 1.6 points/game to stay up. Thats a win ratio of 53%.
Certainly achievable for a team playing like City are this season.
Furthermore, and this may be over ambitious, but the average points required to qualify for the Champions league is 69.6 (and actually has been as low as 60). Meaning City would have to average 2.6 points/game to qualify. A win ratio of 87%.
Or they could of course just win the Champions League and qualify anyway.
Painful Blues fans, I know. But, imagine getting a 20 point deduction and still finishing above United. And Tottenham.
Not as good as winning the league again, but quite funny!
