Loco Rojo

If they'd got promoted but without RR and RM being around you'd hardly hear anything about it.

Power of the media love in.

Shame but never mind.

We're safe now (mathmatically not, but i can't see us going down now).

This season, for me, was all about staying in the league so i'm happy.

I'm more confident we can now re-shape the team at the end of the season for a campaign to build on next season. 

I'm happy with the job Nigel and his team are doing and am looking forward to next season.

Happy days.

[Tongue in check] but officials up and down the league take shit every week from players and fans and it's almost accepted. Sooner or later something like this is bound to happen. If officials got more respect (like in rugby) then something like this is unlikely to happen (who knows what Robertson was saying to him to prompt that reaction).

Credit for Robertson though for not falling to the ground and rolling around like he'd been snippered.

W-S-M Seagull prodding RR!

7 minutes ago, andy mead said:

This should have been foreseen and sorted out before season tickets being made available 

Do you honestly not trust the club? What do you think they'll do - take your money and do a runner without sorting out your ticket? 

**** sake, they're not fraudsters. 

There will be hundreds of fans in a similar situation to you and it will be absolutely fine.  

Fair enough. You can clearly see what he was trying to do when he went down and stuck out his leg so can't complain.

Sometimes you get away with it, sometimes you don't. 

Funny for 1 season then rinse and repeat the same gags and format forever more. 

Terrible show.

I think clubs who submit financials late should be put in front of a panel of self employed small business owners who have to self submit HMRC assessments by the deadline (or face strict consequences) to argue their case. 

The panel then get to decide the penalties and apply HMRC style consequences.

I wonder if that would put a quick end to the clubs bending/breaking by rules.

I'd love to hear some clubs [cough...Man City (allegedly)..cough] excuses for breaking the financial rules 100 times over the 9 year period. 

10 minutes ago, winsaw said:

Not after the way Zak has played tonight, he's totally regressed to the poor level he was at the start of the season, so disappointing to see it all go wrong for him on the big stage, 

Harsh. Classic OTIB.

Could be 5 or 6 and i don't care. Players have done us proud tonight. Well done lads and well done the fans too. Sounded really good.

Back to the league.

Was going wide?

25 minutes ago, bexhill reds said:

iTV commentators are ******* dreadful. Do your frikking research, it’s Cam Pring, I suspect the only person that calls him Cameron is his mum.

Well deserved Max, congratulations.

Really pleased with this and yet another example to our youngsters coming through of the first team opportunities here. 

How can football make such a meal out of something so simple. 

Cameras record it and multiple people can review it and in slow motion and still the get it wrong.

I'm disapionted that some on here seem to be defending the kid/s from running on the pitch.

The rules are very, very clear and cannot be confused. The club and authorities have made it as simple as possible for everyone - don't do it - the line is there, no need to cross it and no one can say they didn't know. End of.

Now, if as a parent, you think your little prince or princess is exempt and this very simple, easy to follow rule doesn't apply to you or yours, then you accept the consequences of your selfishness (ban, fine, manhandling, whatever it is).

You should be the ones apologising and disciplining your kid/s and yourself for allowing it.  Perhaps, even educate them a little.

Also consider the impact of your action of allowing your kid/s to do this potentally contributing to the club being fined.  Why would any fan want to risk this?

Really does suprise me that this issue causes a debate which some think it's ok to do.

Am i the only one that this sits uncomfirtably with? So many people have been injured, missing or have died in this tragedy but because he's a footballer and used to play in the PL he gets his own article - a bit like he is getting special 'celebrity status' attention.

It feels distastful and disrespectful to so many others impacted.

Not singling out OTIB as its the same over on the BBC.

Don't get me wrong, i'm pleased he's been rescued and is safe - as with many others they are rescuing.

One of the PLs pized assets. I can't see anything too impacting happening to them.  The footballing powers that be will want to protect the cash cow Premier League and vast sums of money it and teams like Man City attract.

Fine at most in my opinon + i bet this will take years to get through the legal process and various challenges and appeals that it'll be old news by the time the slap on the wrist is given.

The moaning on here! What do people think is going to happen to prices (ST and match day) if City ever get to the PL?

I still think we need to be pragmatic here.  We're had a good transfer window on paper and i like what Nigel and the team are doing. We've been able to free up wages (releasing Klose and Martin) and bring in some fresh faces, but they will need time to settle and integrate with the team and Nigel's tactics and instructions.

Hopefully OTIB won't have a melt down after 5 minutes in our next game if the new guys have scored a hatrick of goals or assists!

16 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Google translate

 

Good to see the article suggesting they'll cover the wages too. So assume saving us c£150k (my calculation could be way off) between now and the end of June plus the compensation? Every little helps.

It's a real shame it may end like this though as i think he's a great player and would've loved for him to stay.

Also, doesn't the window for transfers abroad stay open for a bit longer beyond Tuesdays domestic deadline?

Wow - insane how short that was.

Only 59 days in the job.  Zero wins in 9 puts the pressure on.

8 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

I understand reality. I've been a corporate lawyer for ten years, I know just what business is and how the capitalist dog-eat-dog world works.

However, I put it to you that this attitude, this historic modus operandi, this is why football is in the state it is and why we are where we are. Where clubs can exploit loopholes in financial controls, cherry pick bright talents from lower clubs half way through a season, and generally do what they will because they have deeper pockets (whether in real terms or on paper), smarter lawyers and accountants, and are immune from any backlash. Football is not the same as other industries. Clubs do not exist in a vacuum and the whole pyramid operates as an ecosystem despite rivalries and competition. If any part of that system becomes too dominant or too weak, the whole system suffers.

This isn't the thread for the full argument, and I apologise to those who came here for pure Semenyo-related news. I'll shut up now.

However - it can change.

I can't disagree with your frustration, but the business of football is all about greed and wealth (whether that's financial, status or obtaining the best players). 

It'll never change (or enough) to make it more sustainable for the lower leagues because there's too much greed for making the PL the best.  The whole sport is driven by getting to the top, stepping on others to get there and being rewarded for it. 

If i'm honest, it's difficult for me to complain about what's fair or unfair when being on the receiving end, when i know our club would do the same.

Like you say, i'm sure it could change - anything can - but those in charge wouldn't want it to, or would make it impossible if it meant damaging the brand financially.

28 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

I well know why it's possible. I've made my opinions and thoughts on how to try and fix it well known on the forum, and have spoken to the club and to fan groups about this subject as well. I'm not just moaning about it on here. I am actively trying to do something about it (so far as I can). It's still crap. 

Hand on heart I hope we would try not to raid the Championship. Brentford have 'only' done so in respect of taking Lewis-Potter from Hull for £19m. It is possible to stay in the Premier League, and do well there, without taking advantage of desperate clubs in the division below. Football clubs do not exist in isolation and a stronger pyramid with better depth and a wider spread of talent is to the ultimate benefit of fans of all clubs, and ultimately creates a better product for the broadcasters. 

No disrespect intended, but i disagree completely (i guess that's what a forum is all about).

We'd be attempting to 'raid' which ever club we could to try to get the best players we felt could help save our PL status - and we'd be trying to do it for as cheap as possible (or at least i hope we would). 

I don't believe for one second there would be any sort of principles of honour or lost sleep from City for trying to take the best talent from lower divisions if we were in Bournemouths position. 

In fact, i would prefer we did that (if it meant we could get the best players that improved us/could develop) rather than we spend larger sums of money on players in the PL/from abroad.

All clubs would do the same. That's just football and business. 

13 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

It's crap that even relegation threatened Premier League teams are able to cherry pick our brightest talents, double or treble their wages, and chuck £10m our way for fun. I do not blame players in the slightest for taking the payrise, getting a few months of top flight football on their CV, and then probably playing at the very top of the Championship if/when they do get relegated. 

Still shit though.

We'd be doing the same to save our PL status if positions were reversed. Just business.