Rival Watch

[blythspartan]

It looks like Rotherham really mean business and I think Rafferty from Pompey will be a good signing for them.

It really highlights how desperately we need the takeover to be completed. Otherwise, we’ll lose out on our targets and the agents of our best players will be looking to get them out of the club.

[Mr Angry]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Manchester City get relegated down to L1 or even L2, and have all of their trophies stripped of them as part of the punishment when the Premier League FINALLY get around to having a look at those 115 charges...........

It would greatly surprise me if there is any footballing sanction of note at all! The PL won't have the balls to do it because they know they don't have the financial clout of an oil nation to see it through. The likely result will be a huge fine (which the dopers will find down the back of their solid gold sofas or in the coin trays of their Bugatti Veyrons) and a half-hearted slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, the smaller clubs will continue get points deducted for lesser offences as the the football pyramid gets more and more fragmented.

If that happens it's everyone, all on the pitch everywhere.

Sadly, thats the mentality within the game; there was disbelief that Nottingham Forest were deducted points DESPITE KNOWING what they were doing was clearly and obviously in breach of the rules - they (and others) fully expected a fine and a finger wagging warning to not do it again, and calculated that any fine would be less than the value to them of staying in the Premier League.

It is no coincidence that not only were this seasons top 2 in the Premier League the same as last season, but that 7 of the top 8 places were taken by the same teams (Chelsea replaced Brighton as the only change), nor that the 3 promoted sides were relegated (first time since 1998).

If the Premier League want to maintain their mantra of being "the best and most competitive League in the World" then they need to sort out the Financial doping that goes on.

Either the Authorities are serious about sorting out the financial side of the game, and how it impacts on the competitiveness of the Premier League (and increasingly, The Championship) or they aren't; the Man City case is the litmus test. Get this wrong and that absolutely green lights a Government appointed and sanctioned Regulator to come in with far reaching and sweeping powers.

[Mr Angry]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Manchester City get relegated down to L1 or even L2, and have all of their trophies stripped of them as part of the punishment when the Premier League FINALLY get around to having a look at those 115 charges...........

It would greatly surprise me if there is any footballing sanction of note at all! The PL won't have the balls to do it because they know they don't have the financial clout of an oil nation to see it through. The likely result will be a huge fine (which the dopers will find down the back of their solid gold sofas or in the coin trays of their Bugatti Veyrons) and a half-hearted slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, the smaller clubs will continue get points deducted for lesser offences as the the football pyramid gets more and more fragmented.

Just for the record, Man City's odds on being relegated have been slashed to 25/1.........................

Make of that what you will!

[Franchise FC]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Manchester City get relegated down to L1 or even L2, and have all of their trophies stripped of them as part of the punishment when the Premier League FINALLY get around to having a look at those 115 charges...........

It would greatly surprise me if there is any footballing sanction of note at all! The PL won't have the balls to do it because they know they don't have the financial clout of an oil nation to see it through. The likely result will be a huge fine (which the dopers will find down the back of their solid gold sofas or in the coin trays of their Bugatti Veyrons) and a half-hearted slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, the smaller clubs will continue get points deducted for lesser offences as the the football pyramid gets more and more fragmented.

Just for the record, Man City's odds on being relegated have been slashed to 25/1.........................

Make of that what you will!

All it means is someone has placed a big bet and the bookies are covering their arses

[Stranded]

It would greatly surprise me if there is any footballing sanction of note at all! The PL won't have the balls to do it because they know they don't have the financial clout of an oil nation to see it through. The likely result will be a huge fine (which the dopers will find down the back of their solid gold sofas or in the coin trays of their Bugatti Veyrons) and a half-hearted slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, the smaller clubs will continue get points deducted for lesser offences as the the football pyramid gets more and more fragmented.

Just for the record, Man City's odds on being relegated have been slashed to 25/1.........................

Make of that what you will!

All it means is someone has placed a big bet and the bookies are covering their arses

Quite. With the inquiry likely to be progressing during next season, if City were say 5000-1 or longer for relegation (which is realistic), then you will have quite a few people chancing a fiver on it, which will leave them potentially looking at a big payout. Very few people are going to bother at 25s.

[Crowbar6753]

Not a current rival of ours but have been over the years, Plymouth have installed "Wayne Rooney" as their "Head Coach"!!!!!! Well that's them pretty much Royally "Fu_ked" next season and pretty much guaranteed a fast track to Div 1

[Clyde1998]

Rotherham have already made five signings, all free transfers: Jonson Clarke-Harris (from Peterborough); Reece James (Sheff Wed); Shaun McWilliams (Northampton); Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth); Sean Raggett (Portsmouth). They'll be challenging towards the top this season.

[Snowflake Royal]

Rotherham have already made five signings, all free transfers: Jonson Clarke-Harris (from Peterborough); Reece James (Sheff Wed); Shaun McWilliams (Northampton); Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth); Sean Raggett (Portsmouth). They'll be challenging towards the top this season.

That was pretty much a given.

[Stranded]

Rotherham have already made five signings, all free transfers: Jonson Clarke-Harris (from Peterborough); Reece James (Sheff Wed); Shaun McWilliams (Northampton); Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth); Sean Raggett (Portsmouth). They'll be challenging towards the top this season.

That was pretty much a given.

Yep, but most of those will not have come cheap on the wages front. Promotion likely a must (before the guaranteed relegation next season).

[Snowflake Royal]

Rotherham have already made five signings, all free transfers: Jonson Clarke-Harris (from Peterborough); Reece James (Sheff Wed); Shaun McWilliams (Northampton); Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth); Sean Raggett (Portsmouth). They'll be challenging towards the top this season.

That was pretty much a given.

Yep, but most of those will not have come cheap on the wages front. Promotion likely a must (before the guaranteed relegation next season).

They survive for a couple of seasons sometimes... just like they sometimes go a few seasons without promotion.

[Stranded]

That was pretty much a given.

Yep, but most of those will not have come cheap on the wages front. Promotion likely a must (before the guaranteed relegation next season).

They survive for a couple of seasons sometimes... just like they sometimes go a few seasons without promotion.

True however since 2012/13 then have spent 5 seasons in L1 or L2 - they have been promoted in each of those 5 seasons. That's a frankly mental run of lower division success, and the sort that will stop one day.

For reference, the other 7 seasons have been in the Championship - 4 ending in relegation.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yep, but most of those will not have come cheap on the wages front. Promotion likely a must (before the guaranteed relegation next season).

They survive for a couple of seasons sometimes... just like they sometimes go a few seasons without promotion.

True however since 2012/13 then have spent 5 seasons in L1 or L2 - they have been promoted in each of those 5 seasons. That's a frankly mental run of lower division success, and the sort that will stop one day.

For reference, the other 7 seasons have been in the Championship - 4 ending in relegation.

Never boring for them!

[Stranded]

They survive for a couple of seasons sometimes... just like they sometimes go a few seasons without promotion.

True however since 2012/13 then have spent 5 seasons in L1 or L2 - they have been promoted in each of those 5 seasons. That's a frankly mental run of lower division success, and the sort that will stop one day.

For reference, the other 7 seasons have been in the Championship - 4 ending in relegation.

Never boring for them!

Yep - and 2 of the 3 seasons they stayed up, they finished 21st though survived by 6 and 9 points respectively.

[South Coast Royal]

Rotherham have already made five signings, all free transfers: Jonson Clarke-Harris (from Peterborough); Reece James (Sheff Wed); Shaun McWilliams (Northampton); Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth); Sean Raggett (Portsmouth). They'll be challenging towards the top this season.

Some astute signings there by Steve Evans who knows his way around the lower leagues.
In view of their record over the years Rotherham represent a fair bet for promotion.

[Sutekh]

Rotherham have already made five signings, all free transfers: Jonson Clarke-Harris (from Peterborough); Reece James (Sheff Wed); Shaun McWilliams (Northampton); Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth); Sean Raggett (Portsmouth). They'll be challenging towards the top this season.

Some astute signings there by Steve Evans who knows his way around the lower leagues.
In view of their record over the years Rotherham represent a fair bet for promotion.

Personally them and Brum would be my top two next season, manage to finish above them and you'll be promoted.

[Clyde1998]

Rotherham have already made five signings, all free transfers: Jonson Clarke-Harris (from Peterborough); Reece James (Sheff Wed); Shaun McWilliams (Northampton); Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth); Sean Raggett (Portsmouth). They'll be challenging towards the top this season.

Some astute signings there by Steve Evans who knows his way around the lower leagues.
In view of their record over the years Rotherham represent a fair bet for promotion.

Personally them and Brum would be my top two next season, manage to finish above them and you'll be promoted.

I'd say Birmingham are a bit of an unknown - similar to us last summer (albeit Brum have a higher starting level). If they keep a large part of their current first team squad, they'll definitely be at the top - but whether they can financially is the question.

At this stage last season, we still had Naby Sarr, Tom Ince and Andy Carroll, as well as the belief we'd be free from the transfer embargos and financial restrictions. They did have a takeover fairly recently, so I would expect their owners to still be interested in funding the club, but whether there are EFL restrictions around the corner could be a determining factor as to how well they do this season.

At this very early stage (based on the players at the teams now), I think the top six will be (in any order): Birmingham, Bolton, Charlton, Huddersfield, Rotherham and one of Barnsley, Blackpool or Peterborough. In League One, sides do appear to have a much larger turnover than in the Championship - so this could change very quickly.

According to the Wikipedia squads: Burton, Cambridge, Crawley and Shrewsbury each only have ten professional outfield players contracted for next season so far (Shrewsbury without any goalkeepers); Bristol Rovers and Exeter both have thirteen; Leyton Orient, Mansfield and Wigan all have fifteen. There's a lot of sides that need to sign a lot of players to even be competitive next season.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

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[Clyde1998]

Not sure this completely comes under 'rivals', but Millwall goalkeeper, and Montenegro international, Matija Sarkic has died: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... 22z9lgdlxo

Horrible to see.

[Orion1871]

Crossover with the ex players thread. Crawley continue they're weird summer by allowing Liam Kelly to join MK Dons.

[Panas]

Birmingham's (rumoured) spend is now at £10 million this summer. And that includes a low-ish fee for Alfie May who will almost certainly have needed a massive wage to join.

I suppose it'll probably work, but it has got more than a bit of 'financial oblivion in two years' about it.