Good Morning. It's Wednesday 17th May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Everton to escape imminent FFP punishment (until next season) Any punishment Everton receive for (allegedly) breaking financial fair play rules are unlikely to be implemented until next season, according to a report in the 'Liverpool World' this morning. The footballing bigwigs are loathed to bring forward their case. They like nothing more than to dot the i's, cross the t's and shuffle their paperwork, whilst gasconading in their own self-importance. The Toffees have been charged with overspending, after reporting losses of £371.8 m over the past three years; well over three times the amount Premier League rules allow (£105 m). Everton vehemently deny any wrong doing, and will defend their position, meaning a long drawn out Court case could ensue. please log in to view this image Bookies narrow odds on Leeds relegation With Southampton already down, we look at the bookies odds to see who will join them, next season in the Championship. 19th place Leicester City are now the odds on favourites at 1/8 followed by Leeds at 2/5, slightly shorter than a week ago (8/15). With only two games left, it's not surprising to see the clubs which occupy the relegation slots with the shortest odds, though 1/8 seems a little harsh on Dean Smith's team, as they're only a point below Leeds. Next in line are Nottingham Forest at 5/2, followed shortly by Everton 10/3. The tricky trees are two points above Everton, and three above Leeds, but have shorter odds than the toffee's by way of their fixture list. Forest are not expected to get much change from the visit of Arsenal, yet Everton are slight favourites at Molineux. please log in to view this image Pundit predicts the great escape for Leeds Football pundit Gary Neville has predicted that Leeds and Everton will survive the drop at the expense of Leicester City and Nottingham Forest. The former Manchester Utd, and England defender has reckons Leeds will pick up four points from their final two games, whilst the best Forest can expect is a draw on the final game of the season against Crystal Palace. "I don’t think 34 points will be enough. I think one more point might do it for them [Forest], but look, we’ve seen madness in the last few weeks with relegation, from Bournemouth to what happened with Everton at Brighton." "I never have a clue what is going to happen down there at this stage of the season. I don’t like Forest’s games, even though they look like they’ve only got a 25 per cent chance of going down." "I think Everton’s games are good, and I think that Leeds will fancy their chances enormously against Tottenham at home. Arsenal have still got massive quality and the reality is I still think they’ll go there and make it difficult for Forest, and still they’ll win, and I don’t think they’ll win at Crystal Palace." "Forest, their games I don’t like. Everton and Leeds have got games that they’ll win one of them - Wolves or Bournemouth - and I think that Leeds can beat Tottenham at home. I think it’s between Leicester and Forest now." "I think Everton and Leeds can both get four points there, I really do. Leicester have got an extra game, we’ll see what happens tonight but I’m with Gary. "Forest can maybe get a point out of those two games, we don’t know, but as I said in terms of looking at the fixtures, Everton and Leeds look okay." please log in to view this image
Morning all. Eleven days and it'll be all done and dusted. Be glad to see the end of this season personally.
On the Everton front there is now a legal case being pursued by Burnley Leeds, Leicester, Forest, Southampton. Burnley will argue that Everton cheating meant they were relegated and lost £100m. The other clubs in a separate case have an action for £300m, this will be perused by 3 of the clubs who go down the one who survives will pull out.
WHU Antonio spoke to Callum Wilson about facing Leeds under big Sam: “So, you want some inside info, yeah,” responded Wilson to Antonio asking him about how Leeds play under their new manager. “Let me see what I can do for you. “They are a side where they are on the front foot. They will press. They will rat around. Try and get in your face. Tackle. Break up play. Make the game scrappy. When you are trying to play your nice football, they want it to become a bit of a fight. A bit of a mess really. “They are good at set-pieces. Crosses into the box, like the two goals we conceded. Long throws. That’s the kind of game that it is. They are fighting for their lives. They have got that desire.
Good at set pieces, crosses into the box, long throws? I want some of his Jamaican Woodbine if that is Leeds he is talking about
Thought that was the same talk as last season. Never happened then. If it was Leeds of course we would be non-league by now after point deductions, fines and other sanctions.
Toney case just been resolved - 8 month ban starting immediately. Ivan Toney banned: Brentford striker suspended for eight months over betting - BBC Sport