The Kraken

I remember when we got the punishment from the EFL, I know it’s a different governing body but the speakers man said that the 4 point deduction was for the league transgressions, and with punishments like that they always try to look forward rather than back. With Man City, while I firmly expect a relatively light punishment, I’d be 99% sure that any punishment will only affect future competitions and will not look to strip them of anything.

It’s a moot point now, the game is set to go ahead.

It’s being directly instigated by the players, the Irish FA want the game to proceed. If it doesn’t, it will be directly down to a number of individual players refusing to play and convincing the whole squad to also withdraw and not play.

I don’t think a US system would have stopped this. City are guilty of over inflating sponsorship deals, and also of paying substantial sums to club staff through other companies outside of the City group, so that those wages don’t appear in PSR calculations. It’s skullduggery on an obscene level to cheat the financial rules already in place.

What should happen is that they get a Rangers style punishment and sent down to League 2. Some of the charges are awful, it’s way beyond overspending, it’s a huge deception, corruption and then cover up of finances from Man City. What will actually likely happen will be a massive dilution and Everton’s punishment will stay as being more severe. Much like Chelsea just got a slap on the wrist, but on a much bigger scale.

And Shea Charles bangs in a winner in the 98th minute!

Yes, and it buys more time to sort out a replacement.

Given how none of the charges relate to last season, I assume we won’t.

Been watching the Georgia v Norn Ireland game. Very impressed with Pierce Charles in goal, Shea’s brother obvs. Always thought he looked decent but a bit small and potentially a bit of the Bazunus about him (great with his feet etc). But fair play, he’s having a very decent game out there.

I don’t think sport republic can hang their hat on any manager they have appointed since taking over, aside from Tonda. So that’s a factor. But, unless the club were given a firm assurance that he was getting banned (which I doubt they were), it’s a very difficult scenario. Some owners would’ve kicked him to the curb immediately, which would have been understandable. Ours didn’t, and it’s equally understandable why. So, for me, no bother on the decision making. It was always a risk but we’ve had a reasonable start to the season and, if we have to replace a manager mid season, it’s not a complete disaster by any means. Eckert came in before Xmas and turned an ailing side around, get a decent manager (yes, not a given) and we’re not even an ailing side.

Go easy now, he could have breached UK GDPR after all.

I thought I read before, can’t remember where, that the hearing would be Thursday with then announcement most likely out on Friday.

Yeah, that's originally how I considered it could go, basing on the Canada ban. But, I don't know, somehow I just feel the actual duration would be more important to them than equating the number of games. A year or a season, I just see more likely. The only good thing is, I have absolutely no basis in fact for feeling that, so hopefully I'm waaaaay off beam with what they intend to do.

I don't disagree with any of that, I'm not saying it makes sense, just the feeling I have about it. It's all completely hat stand, and the fact it has been allowed to drag on anywhere near this long is an effing disgrace.

I don't quite see how they give a "middle-ground" punishment like that. A season long ban, yes I get that. Also a touchline ban I'd understand for that sort of duration; but as @Turkish has said before, it's hard to see how a touchline ban could be valid when the offence wasn't committed on the pitch. I just don't see a ban where its "take a total break from football for 6-8 weeks then welcome back". I think most likely it'll be something massive: a ban for minimum until the end of the season is what I can see coming. Disproportionate, but the FA flexing their muscles and doing something significant, cos they can. All fingers crossed it will be something at the other end of the scale, but my optimism for that has really waned in the past few days and I'm now considering that extremely unlikely. To the point that I'm thinking our best outcome is the long suspension but that it is appealed immediately, Tonda is allowed to work during the appeal, and he appeal rumbles on for a few more months.