The Football News Thread 2018/19 - everything not Wolves

[Tony Towner]

As a general rule the objection comes from existing stadia, I think people are fairly relaxed when it's a new one

 

[Langers]

Confirmed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan won't travel to the Europa League final because his safety can't be guaranteed.

It'd be so refreshing for UEFA (or FIFA for that matter) to stop chasing the cash and actually think about the integrity of the game. If they can't guarantee the safety of supporters - let alone players - then the location should be switched. This is absolutely farcical.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Arsenal can’t sell out their paltry allocation either as travel is such a nightmare.

 

[Tredman]

That's some bonkers shit. Surely UEFA are opening themselves up for a legal challenge if Arsenal lose and they couldnt play him.

 

[Kenny]

BT airing both the Champions League & Europa Finals for free via their app, Youtube and Virgin TV

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Excellent. I shall have a bit of that.

 

[Tony Towner]

As seems to be the way of things, an unqualified former player gets a role as Sporting Director - Cech at Chelsea

 

[Nando]

As seems to be the way of things, an unqualified former player gets a role as Sporting Director - Cech at Chelsea

Nothing untoward about the timing of this announcement whatsoever with a Europa League final on the horizon...

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

World Cup 2022 will be 32 teams and not 48.

 

[BillyDee]

Is the correct decision.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I bet they'd have loved to do it. However Qatar isn't up to hosting an expanded tournament (well, any tournament really, but we've been over this) and it's not like they can call on their neighbours to help out at the moment.

 

[Kenny]

Middlesbrough have stunned Derby by announcing their intention to sue the Championship club, days before the play-off final at Wembley.

Steve Gibson, the Middlesbrough owner, has taken drastic action in his dispute with Mel Morris by vowing to take legal action over what he insists are clear breaches of financial rules.

Gibson is alleging that Morris has broken the English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules and Middlesbrough officials contacted Derby on Friday to inform them of their stance.

Boro are understood to be furious that Derby reported a £14.6m profit in their 2017/18 accounts, after Morris sold the club’s Pride Park stadium and then leased it back. Gibson believes that Morris has flouted the rules.

....

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Hmmmmmmmm

That loophole hasn't been closed so I think Gibson has no chance. Plus Derby might not care by Monday night.

 

[Tony Towner]

Gibson is pissed he didn't think of it first. Of course it bends the rules and shows them up for the shit show that they are. They've not been broken though. Villa have flogged a car park back to their owners, if the EFL wants to ban this kind of activity then they need to explicitly outlaw it, but for those who have already done stuff, it's gone.

 

[Kenny]

I think Wednesday have done the same in terms of selling property to the owner.

 

[Johnny75]

There's a really simple way around this but for some reason the EFL refuse to do it. Wage caps for the lower divisions, cap shareholder/ owner loans and make them personally liable (personal guarantees for all creditors no matter how small) for the club's debts.

It wouldn't stop financial doping completely but it would make shithouse owners liable for the club's they own and think twice about pumping huge amounts of funds in as it's a personal risk.

 

[Keef]

Looking quite likely Coventry City will be playing next seasons home games at The blues ground next season,if a ground share agreement at the Ricoh falls through,which in all probability it will because of their owners being full on stupid with the court cases

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's an option and a very real one, but the EFL have NOT ratified that yet, SISU are just putting out statements to make it look like they have in the vain hope that it'll make Wasps climb down from their stance (which is as simple as "stop trying to sue us, you massive freaks").

The EFL have said they do not want Coventry playing more than six miles outside of the city itself. Clearly this fails on that front and the tiny rugby ground within Cov they were mooting has been totally ruled out now as Coventry Utd have signed a 10 year lease and are laying down a 4G pitch.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Caught up on the United Legends vs Bayern Legends game. Becks would genuinely still get in their team and current day G-Nev is still probably better than Ashley Young. Not even joking on either count.

Becks in particular looked fitter than Lukaku does. He's 44 and finished six (?) years ago. He doesn't need to try any more, Big Rom does and just doesn't bother.

 

[Kenny]

Reports that Ashley has agreed to sell Newcastle to the cousin of the Man City owner.