[Football] Would the Premier League be better off without Manchester City?

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Bozza

You can change this
Helpful Moderator
Jul 4, 2003
57,313
Back in Sussex
This caught my eye as we got a small mention...

"How has it reached this nadir that the crown of English football has become a plaything of the uber-wealthy, a rulebook to be toyed with by expensive lawyers, a set of values and procedures pulled apart by a football club unsatisfied with merely blowing away the competition on the pitch but wanting complete control off it?​
If Manchester City hate the rules so much, why don’t they leave the Premier League?​
They wouldn’t be missed. Honestly."​

(Remember, sites such as https://archive.ph/ can be useful)

I must admit, the suggestion has both merit and appeal.
 




Titanic

Super Moderator
Helpful Moderator
Jul 5, 2003
39,930
West Sussex
It's not just them, is it? I would be quite happy to see the back of any club that isn't owned by a lifelong local fan. (y)
 




A1X

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 1, 2017
20,561
Deepest, darkest Sussex
Yes. Unequivocally.
 










Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
2,546
Yes. In their case its that simple.
 






Hovegull

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2022
580
Definitely - but to me they are still the smaller Manchester club bouncing around in the second division, only really famous cause of Liam and Noel.
 


Simster

"the man's an arse"
Jul 7, 2003
54,955
Surrey
No. Regardless of the people running them, Manchester City were always a proper club.

I would much rather there was a fit and proper test worth its name though. The sad thing is that City's owners have poured investment into the city itself as much as the obscene riches on the pitch (which can only be a good thing), but their cheating through expensive lawyers are what we'll remember this period by.
 






beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
36,025
No. Regardless of the people running them, Manchester City were always a proper club.

I would much rather there was a fit and proper test worth its name though. The sad thing is that City's owners have poured investment into the city itself as much as the obscene riches on the pitch (which can only be a good thing), but their cheating through expensive lawyers are what we'll remember this period by.
fit and proper is just some rules that mean owners isn't a known crook or bankrupt. what you mean is you want some rules to exclude certain people. what should the rules be?
 


Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
8,630
Unfortunately, money talks and with it the PL's standing in world football
Is that what we should be aiming for though? PL hegemony over other leagues? It is desirable or healthy that low ranking PL clubs can lord it over euro challenging La Liga or Serie A clubs by taking their players at will?

What is most important in my opinion is the overall health of the game of football around the world. And in football as well as in global economics, a reduction in wealth inequality is the only way to achieve that end
 




Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
2,546
Heart says yes, head says no.

Unfortunately, money talks and with it the PL's standing in world football

Do have proper fans too, many are still quite modest despite everything
The best thing that could happen to the PL is to lose some of its standing in world football. Its a runaway speculation fuelled locomotive that needs to be reigned in before it crashes.
 


Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
8,630
fit and proper is just some rules that mean owners isn't a known crook or bankrupt. what you mean is you want some rules to exclude certain people. what should the rules be?
And it's hard to enforce a fit and proper owners test, when with some clubs, it's increasingly difficult to determine who the actual owners are
 


BBassic

I changed this.
Jul 28, 2011
13,062
For me it's less about getting rid of City and more about getting rid of what they have come to represent - this idea that money can buy success and the rules don't apply.

That said, I won't be complaining if City have to be made an example of.
 


Iggle Piggle

Well-known member
Sep 3, 2010
5,967
No. You know the Champions League format everyone is moaning about? Well, it would be that every Saturday if teams like City left the Premier league. We know the big Spanish and Italian clubs are itching for a Super league, this would just bring it all a step closer.

Leaving the Premier league to the likes of us sounds great in principle but it wouldn't have the financial backing, TV deals and it certainly wouldn't have the best players.
 
Last edited:




chickens

Have you considered masterly inactivity?
NSC Patron
Oct 12, 2022
2,701
This caught my eye as we got a small mention...

"How has it reached this nadir that the crown of English football has become a plaything of the uber-wealthy, a rulebook to be toyed with by expensive lawyers, a set of values and procedures pulled apart by a football club unsatisfied with merely blowing away the competition on the pitch but wanting complete control off it?​
If Manchester City hate the rules so much, why don’t they leave the Premier League?​
They wouldn’t be missed. Honestly."​

(Remember, sites such as https://archive.ph/ can be useful)

I must admit, the suggestion has both merit and appeal.

I’m in favour. Once a sporting competition is being determined by lawyers, it’s largely lost.

I believe that Manchester City’s actions bring the game into disrepute, and I would personally like to see them expelled from the structure. The problem is that we’ve allowed these leeches in, and now they’re inside sucking the life out of the host.
 


Simster

"the man's an arse"
Jul 7, 2003
54,955
Surrey
fit and proper is just some rules that mean owners isn't a known crook or bankrupt. what you mean is you want some rules to exclude certain people. what should the rules be?
Difficult, but I think you could probably exclude majority ownership by people from countries with terrible human rights records along with known crooks and bankrupts.

But obviously it would need a lot of thought because this flagrant abuse of the rules and subsequent bullying by lawyers isn't doing the game any favours.
 


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