MSI's deal with West Ham had a possible third party influence on their team selection, which is the actual rule that was broken, whereas Sheffield United not only had third party influence in Watfords team, they also applied it by contractually stopping Steve Kabba playing against them later in the season. So, you are correct, it isn't the same, Sheffield United's breaking of the rule was much worse than ours was. Also the deals that had Mascherano & Tevez at Liverpool & Man Utd were pretty much the same until Liverpool bought Mascherano the following season. Tevez's third party ownership only ended when Man City bought him, so why no screams of outrage for 3rd party owned Tevez at Man Utd? This was all about McCabe trying to get some money, football fans were up in arms about it because McCabe kept screaming about it and most people are too stupid to bother checking anything written in The Sun or The Mail.
You signed two footballers who ordinarily would be out of your league, by getting into bed with some corrupt buggers. You cheated a system that was not prepared for the loop hole. You stayed up due to that panning out well, and now are bleating on about a clause that is deemed common place in loans, if not on signings. I'd suggest taking off the tinted specs and thanking your lucky stars. We went into admin because a bank pulled the plug on our mortgage for StMarys, I doubt you are even greatful that the tax payer has paid for your arena. But go on, surprise me. Just how many helping hands does one club need. I would have implemented a points deduction for you that season, just to make the rules clear.
Footballs worst kept secret. People owning the rights to the players, makes some very uneasy situations. The EPL have outlawed it, but you just know there's people in the shadows still trying to exploit.
It is very common, especially with South American players, a large % of youth players at all the top flight South American teams will have third party owners. I think it is only banned in England, though I'm not exactly sure why.
The thing which sets the Tevez deal apart, is not only was the deal not legit, they also let him leave for Utd and score that goal that had catastrophic consequence for Sheffield Utd. Can't believe any whu fans would have the nerve to complain. £30m fine, peanuts.
Dwight Gayle, Billy Sharp and Che Adams combined for 69 goals last year in the Championship, which is a nice total indeed. Through more than half a PL season, they have combined to score 1.
I'm not going to knock Che today after laying on the winning goal for Danny at Leicester, 2 assists in as many matches as well.
Not really knocking him. It's just illustrative of the rather massive gap between being a Championship and Premier League striker.
B'mouth - Watford tomorrow is massive. I think the Hornets will be mentally tougher and take the points. Worrying times for the cherries.
