Takeover (Covid-19/20)

I’m taking a positive outlook, Ashley loves to gamble and this is him doubling down on an already winning hand

 

Agreed. This is highly unlikely to be a speculative action on the part of Ashley. Speculative meaning a wild shot based on nothing but a belief. He will have something. Whether that something is enough only time will tell.

I don’t believe he is genuinely wanting to pursue this set of proceedings to the end as opposed to them being a tactic to increase the pressure on the PL to settle. It’s the threat of what could happen if proven which Ashley is probably hoping will force the PL to reach a settlement allowing the takeover to go through. That is also why I think he must have something as if there was nothing to it then the PL have got nothing to worry about and, therefore, doesn’t increase the pressure on the PL.

 

Jam are you sure?

the verdict in the High Court was that its own decision should be published (the one where the HC came down on the side of the PL in keeping the original Chairperson of the Arb Panel) the PL had fought that publication but they lost on that point.... but kept their pet Chairman.

PremLeague Arbitration rules say that “The proceedings of an arbitration convened under this Section X shall be confidential and shall be conducted in private.” - not clear whether that means their final decision also remains private to the parties as well; but if it does, then this Competition claim might be on the tails of a lost arbitration.

i want to be proved wrong.

 

Let’s look at the happenings in the last week or so:

Negative Spin

• New cheap kit deal announced. Ashley all over it.
• The timing, being on the same day as the HMRC legal dispute victory. (Possibly completely unconnected but I wanted more dots).
• The date being 22/04/21 being the day after the ESL announcement. Sneaky!
• Gayle new contract wtf. Ashley all over it.
• Schar contract extension. Good business? But he’s just been sent off (leaving him unavailable for the remainder of the season).
• Wanting to just loan Willock and not buy him for only 20m.
• Looking at a cheaper alternative to Willock in the lad from Hertlepool.
• Gattuso linked as new manager. Ashley all over it based on the fact Rafa was the consortium choice.
• ESL issue putting pressure on owners, especially billionaire ones.
• ASM sale rumours for 40m+, touted by Bruce.
• Bizarre flat performance against Arsenal which was not in suit of recent ones? Just plain odd.
• Government initiatives re football club ownership scrutiny. Off putting for a new big six player.
• And now this new claim which appears separate to the arbitration.

PIF have either walked away as it’s “too hot”.

Or they have said given the current climate we are only prepared to pay £200m. You seek compo for the rest.

Or they have walked away and have offered a deal for a big six club (unlikely).

Positive spin (all in bold because I think this is what it is)

• The timing is perfect. Hit them hard when they don’t want it.
• Legal case is in the public domain. It’s a big threat and is basically the “leverage option”.
• The PL currently do not want this coming out in public.
• The box six do not want this coming out in public.
• Corruption card is a nuke.

Remember legal action like this takes YEARS not months. So how would it benefit the arbitration? Directly it doesn’t. But it’s a force of hand move!

Summary Ashley is going in for the kill!

 

I suspect that NUFC's legal team has possibly uncovered evidence of foul play and so are using this as an opportunity to go after the PL on a different front.

Not sure why anyone thinks arbitration has been unsuccessful. We would know if NUFC had lost as Ashley would release a statement to that effect. He hasn't. He has simply said that he is going after the dark forces who attempted to sabotage the deal, namely Masters, Hoffman, their backers and the corrupt big six.

You don't launch a lawsuit under competition law unless you have significant evidence demonstrating unfair conduct/ cartel behaviour. The ESL is probably the watershed. I somehow don't think NUFC will be the only club. The ESL has given potential leverage to other clubs to go after the PL if evidence exists of collusion by them shoeing that their actions have directly benefited certain clubs and commercial partners. The conduct has to be deliberately motivated to thst goal.

This legal action could be the trojan horse that brings the PL down.

 

Is anyone else getting sick of this and just want it sorted one way or another now? It's boring and frankly I don't think I'd be half as upset if I found out it failed I was would have been this time last year.

I know these things take time but the constant hope and disappointment for well over a year now means my patience is starting to wear thin.

 

Nah, I love posting **** like this

And this

My life would be so empty.

 

I
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D
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It was agreed on the 31st this is just a smokescreen and a secondary attack

 

In other news but 6 Arsenal who where invited to join the ESL are currently now.......

NOT in any form
Of European football next season.

Funny that eh!

 

And they still looked like Barcelona vs our **** side

 

It is great to see isn't it. Arsenal aren't a top club. Just like Spurs. Spurs last won the league in the early 1960s ffs. A couple of Cup wins maketh them a big club not. And people call us deluded.

 

Yeah, always been two big clubs (LFC/MUFC), two with sugar daddies (MCFC/CFC), then a handful of challengers who come and go, including Arsenal most prominent among them. I wonder how the gooners feel about Wenger now?! Some managers make it look so easy.

 

The old saying - "be careful what you wish for." Wenger had them in the Champions League every season. Now look at them.

Basically it is like you say - two traditionally big clubs. Two with sugar daddies then the others. Historically I would lump Everton in given their trophy history. Everton are a big club who had a dip in the early 90's and 0's. They have been in the top flight since the 1920s I believe.

I may be biased though as I have a soft spot for them.

 

All this big club ****e is based on the last 30 years. It's all bullshit.. These are clubs that won the hands at the right time and held onto all the chips... There's nothing special about them.

It's all been about money and now they're saying theijes of Chelsea and man City have bought titles. They simply joined the table and bullied the bullys.

 

What is a big club exactly? Newcastle are a "big club." Villa are. Everton, Sunderland, Leeds. All have history. Us, Villa, Sunderland have history going back to the 19th century. Chelsea don't. Man City don't.

 

It's all bullshit football isn't about how big the clubs are it's about who's got the money and has been for decades.

I'd make a case the big clubs were the clubs that did well before money ruined the sport. The clubs that produced their own players and had a big support..

Man united and Liverpool are the only ones that stand out imo

 

Another vote down the drains

 

They stand out because of history as well as recent success - the very history the plastic fans and Sky Sports ****ers seemingly want to ignore. I think the point of the PL is the rich diversity - you could fill it with 20 teams chock full of history, stories and success, including the unwashed down the road, Forest, Ipswich, etc. It should be about all 20, evenly and fairly; the ones who've really been responsible for ****ing it all up are UEFA.