Maybe we get to see that again soon

The sheer amount of churn in City's transfers in both midfield and attack is crazy. They've bought Grealish, Savinho, Doku, Marmoush, Cherki, Semenyo, Alvarez, Haaland, in the time in which our frontline has gone from Martinelli--Lacazette--Saka to Martinelli--Havertz--Saka.

Our lead has been yo-yoing for months. It only just got to 6 points due to two City draws, including one where they lost a 2-goal lead. We just lost two games: one away to the best team of the last decade, one at home to the best team in the league this calendar year, with a makeshift team. It’s ok.

Yeah, a downwards, clinical header into one of the corners. I haven’t seen too many of those from Havertz, sadly. More of a Merino thing!

It's always bugged me in the past when pundits analyse Arsenal games and note that "if only they had a poacher in the 6 yard box to put that in."

Yes, get that poacher, replace one of the current players, and watch the chance not come into existence.

That Havertz chance: I'm fairly sure Donnarumma saves it if it's below the bar. He nearly has a hand on it despite his feet being on the ground and the ball being over the bar. Better finishing would have seen better saves.

Well that settles it. No excuses, Burnley.

Troutstanding

It’s still the best position we’ve been in with 5 to play since 04

But it is possible given the games we have to play, just not massively do-able. It’s in Spurs’ hands to win the rest of their games 5-0 and end up close to mid table. But they practically are not able to do that.

So long as they don’t beat Burnley 5-0, we have the games to beef up our goal difference.

It’s hard to shake the past few weeks, but right now we have our best chance to win the League in 22 years and arguably our best chance to win the Champions League in 20 years.

Manchester City’s Premier League charges discussed by UK government and its embassy in Abu Dhabi The UK government has admitted its embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London have discussed the charges levelled at Manchester City by the Premier Lea...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/488...

Yeah, 115 has become a misnomer.

We’ve gone from 115 Premier League rule violations to sleeve sponsorship. They have things in common, like being things that exist in football.

Yeah, clubs have sponsors. Amazing isn’t it.

Haha, nice deflection.

Likewise, Arsenal fans never chose to have Thomas Partey play for us, and it hang over everything for several years, and still now he’s gone.

I don’t blame City fans, of course. They never chose any of this. Just like Newcastle fans never chose their owners. Juventus fans never chose the bribery. But it’s something that hangs over the success, and the fans’ denial of that reality is a coping strategy.

Right. But that success wasn’t properly earned. When this ultimately gets resolved, it’s like the world records that never were. You’re right in that these things happened, the joy at the time is real, but they’re now tinged with their illegitimacy. It’s why cheating is invariably unsatisfying.

I’m sure you can figure that out.

They're funny, these Man City fans. Very keen to profess their legal knowledge. The thing is, it's one thing to be anxious about not winning the league. It's another to be anxious about your club facing multiple relegations and the exodus of ownership, management and playing staff. Enjoy.

Manchester City have, rather than admitting guilt, tried to make the legal claim that the evidence of guilt was obtained illegally. Which is of course a very different type of response than to deny guilt. But it will hang over City, since the likely outcome is relegation, which would itself be mild.

It is what it is. Other clubs get points deductions after complying. Man City have done everything to avoid complying. The UAE have had meetings with the British Government to discuss the outcome, which is of course the natural thing to do when not guilty.

Manchester City were found guilty by UEFA. They avoided a European ban due to a statute of limitations. They won't be able to do that with the Premier League. They can kick the can down the road and countersue the league. But when their guilt is announced, the sentencing will be substantial.

That was underwhelming from West Ham. I don't think they're taking Spurs' relegation seriously enough.

European ban. They avoided a transfer ban for a previous breach of rules on player registration (they were fined for that). The UEFA ban was reversed by CAS on the basis of many of the incidents being too far in the past, despite guilt. The Premier League has no such time-barring on the 115 charges.

Another of those crafty Pep free hits.

Yeah, thanks for that.

I remember desperately wishing when Arteta took over that he could just make us competitive again. Now I feel like the guy who regrets not being more precise in his wording when speaking to the genie.