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Championship season 2025/26

Football Special

By Football Special
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saintant

saintant

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, gurru991 said:

Most Leicester fans recognize that the club has made a mess of the financial situation & expect a deduction to happen.  Regardless of Leicesters financial incompetence most of us feel that FFP favours the big clubs & is in place to maintain the status quo.

When we watch Chelsea sell the women's team to themselves or Man C do a billion pound deal with Puma while under investigation its easy to see how things work.

Agree with you. FFP is a complete joke full of loop holes which the rich clubs are able to use to their advantage. It's driving a bigger wedge between the Championship teams and those in the Premier League. As we have witnessed it is certainly making it ever harder for the 3 promoted teams to get any sort of foothold. FFP is ruining football.

  • Like 2
Roo1976

Roo1976

Posted
Posted

Its all gone very quietly on the Man City FFP. Why? the premier league need to present their facts and accusations sooner rather than later surely? It boggles the mind that the big clubs are still spending money as much as they do without sanctions,unlike those against Leicester. Newcastle the worlds richest club millions of times over still cant go out and spend like the likes of Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham and to some point Manure Utd. This has been going on for about 3-4 years and only the smaller clubs seem to  have been penalized, somewhat unfair to me...........................

  • Like 4
UpweySaint

UpweySaint

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, gurru991 said:

Most Leicester fans recognize that the club has made a mess of the financial situation & expect a deduction to happen.  Regardless of Leicesters financial incompetence most of us feel that FFP favours the big clubs & is in place to maintain the status quo.

When we watch Chelsea sell the women's team to themselves or Man C do a billion pound deal with Puma while under investigation its easy to see how things work.

Fair. The principle of clubs not spending more than they can afford is a good one but the system ‘as is’ feels rigged and the top clubs are incentivised to keep it as such.

  • Like 3
coalman

coalman

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Roo1976 said:

Its all gone very quietly on the Man City FFP. Why? the premier league need to present their facts and accusations sooner rather than later surely? It boggles the mind that the big clubs are still spending money as much as they do without sanctions,unlike those against Leicester. Newcastle the worlds richest club millions of times over still cant go out and spend like the likes of Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham and to some point Manure Utd. This has been going on for about 3-4 years and only the smaller clubs seem to  have been penalized, somewhat unfair to me...........................

Man City are suing the Premier League which I imagine slows things down as they'll be trying to claim that they could have earned more sponsorship money. The time honored tradition of the super rich when being asked to face up to their transgressions. 

  • Like 3
AlexLaw76

AlexLaw76

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Roo1976 said:

It’s all gone very quietly on the Man City FFP. Why? the premier league need to present their facts and accusations sooner rather than later surely? It boggles the mind that the big clubs are still spending money as much as they do without sanctions,unlike those against Leicester. Newcastle the worlds richest club millions of times over still cant go out and spend like the likes of Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham and to some point Manure Utd. This has been going on for about 3-4 years and only the smaller clubs seem to  have been penalized, somewhat unfair to me...........................

We all wanted a means of nation states not spending unlimited money, right?

Newcastle have the richest owners, but are far from the richest club. 
 

Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted
Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

 

I’d go for Stansfield but if we actually use Archer properly then he could be good for 20+. AA has done it before but again, will he be used beneficially to his strengths and where’s his mindset at? Stewart won’t be fit enough to start any more than 20-25 games tops. A cameo aka David Connolly 11/12, that would be good. 

chiknsmack

chiknsmack

Posted
Posted

What price Downs? I think Archer gets first shot at the job but I'm not sure he keeps it. I also rate Stewart and now that he's fully fit and healed and presumably has been doing the rehab/flexibility work to not have any concerns with his posterior chain (you see it so often with players - Stewart included - that they injure one part of the chain and then go on to have issues elsewhere along it) there's no reason he can't be fit and healthy all season.

These are the two markets I have available in NZ; a handicap market paying 18/1 on every team and an outright market. Leicester and Watford look the obvious bets in the handicap market. Watford are joint eighth favourites in the outright market at 25/1 but getting +21 in the handicap, the same as Millwall and Bristol City who are 40/1 and 50/1 respectively (though maybe the discrepancy is in the outright market and Watford should be closer to 50/1). If Leicester somehow dodge a points deduction they could be in the race for autos, in which case +13 looks good. But just like in the Twitter thread above with people going "Where's Sargent? He's easy money", there are off-field factors that won't be resolved for a while yet. Maybe it's a good hedge as a Saints fan; if there's a deduction for Leicester it improves the chances of Saints going up, if there's no deduction your handicap bet looks pretty good.

Screenshot2025-07-29141316.png.cab147516e7514bab58e938098dcf556.png

Fabrice29

Fabrice29

Posted
Posted (edited)
19 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

 

Think I'd be avoiding quite a few of those top runners for various reasons. Stansfield only 9 goals from outfield last season isn't great underlying stats. Kyogo is a interesting one but again Birmingham not the most attacking side. Downs over Wright for the price (23's?) is a better bet but Still not known for his attacking football or high scoring strikers apart from Balogun who was a class above most in the league at the time. Norwich under Manning have the same issue so I'd avoid top scorers from them/him. Hirst could be good but rather go for Szmodics at 15's. Really like Divin Mubama at 34/1 at Stoke though if I had to have a punt fwiw.

Edited by Fabrice29
SNSUN

SNSUN

Posted
Posted
12 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Think I'd be avoiding quite a few of those top runners for various reasons. Stansfield only 9 goals from outfield last season isn't great underlying stats. Kyogo is a interesting one but again Birmingham not the most attacking side. Downs over Wright for the price (23's?) is a better bet but Still not known for his attacking football or high scoring strikers apart from Balogun who was a class above most in the league at the time. Norwich under Manning have the same issue so I'd avoid top scorers from them/him. Hirst could be good but rather go for Szmodics at 15's. Really like Divin Mubama at 34/1 at Stoke though if I had to have a punt fwiw.

Mattias Kvistgaarden. You heard it here first. (And probably last).

But seriously Norwich could have a decent season and they are known from springing gems. Kvistgaarden has a good scoring record at Brondby in the last season and a half and should make the step up. As Norwich are the wife's team, I'll be keeping and eye out for him.

Fabrice29

Fabrice29

Posted
Posted
12 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Mattias Kvistgaarden. You heard it here first. (And probably last).

But seriously Norwich could have a decent season and they are known from springing gems. Kvistgaarden has a good scoring record at Brondby in the last season and a half and should make the step up. As Norwich are the wife's team, I'll be keeping and eye out for him.

Yeah decent shout. Think Norwich are the biggest threat outside the teams that went down personally but Mannings team don’t seem to produce enough goals from their strikers to threaten any top scorer lists. Last season Bristol Citys top effort was 12. 

saintant

saintant

Posted
Posted
48 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Think I'd be avoiding quite a few of those top runners for various reasons. Stansfield only 9 goals from outfield last season isn't great underlying stats. Kyogo is a interesting one but again Birmingham not the most attacking side. Downs over Wright for the price (23's?) is a better bet but Still not known for his attacking football or high scoring strikers apart from Balogun who was a class above most in the league at the time. Norwich under Manning have the same issue so I'd avoid top scorers from them/him. Hirst could be good but rather go for Szmodics at 15's. Really like Divin Mubama at 34/1 at Stoke though if I had to have a punt fwiw.

I think Stansfield is over rated. Will be interested to see how he does this season.

SW5 SAINT

SW5 SAINT

Posted
Posted
On 23/07/2025 at 16:01, Roo1976 said:

Its all gone very quietly on the Man City FFP. Why? the premier league need to present their facts and accusations sooner rather than later surely? It boggles the mind that the big clubs are still spending money as much as they do without sanctions,unlike those against Leicester. Newcastle the worlds richest club millions of times over still cant go out and spend like the likes of Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham and to some point Manure Utd. This has been going on for about 3-4 years and only the smaller clubs seem to  have been penalized, somewhat unfair to me...........................

City never seem to spend anything like as much as Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool. I think until Grealish their highest fee was in £60m range. To me at any rate it seems it’s just the original big four and Tottenham who seem to spend what they like without sanction…..

Fabrice29

Fabrice29

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, SW5 SAINT said:

City never seem to spend anything like as much as Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool. I think until Grealish their highest fee was in £60m range. To me at any rate it seems it’s just the original big four and Tottenham who seem to spend what they like without sanction…..

They have spent over 100m euros this summer already. They did it early enough people forget.

Doctoroncall

Doctoroncall

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Football Special said:

Real shame we haven't got them first game of the season again, have they got enough players to field a team? 

Currently only 11 first teamers 🥺

Have to feel for the fans, looking like 24th place already booked. 

OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, Football Special said:

Real shame we haven't got them first game of the season again, have they got enough players to field a team? 

Been reading about what a basket case Sheff Wed have turned in to. Only 4 out of the top 15 that played for them last year are still on their books, they're not allowed to sign anyone for three transfer windows, Danny has done a runner, and their main stand (ironically named after the owner) has been deemed unsafe. Two seasons ago their was one guy intent on showing us his belly every 5 minutes...where's he going to go? And when Chansiri sells Hillsborough to himself you know it's all gone tits up.

Wonder if their 'customers' will migrate to Sheff Utd!

Football Special

Football Special

Posted
  • Author
Posted
5 hours ago, Doctoroncall said:

Currently only 11 first teamers 🥺

Have to feel for the fans, looking like 24th place already booked. 

Awful for the fans, I've not checked but told they have most expensive season tickets and replica shirts, being mugged by a rogue owner 

sockeye

sockeye

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

My pal who is a Weds fan thinks they won’t start the season and may fold altogether. Desperate times for a great old club. 

The EFL must step in. It is like a slow moving car crash.

  • Like 2
Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, sockeye said:

The EFL must step in. It is like a slow moving car crash.

Quick to hand out points deductions (except Leicester) and transfer embargoes but when they need to put their screw up right in approving a rogue owner - silence.

On a smaller scale, see Morecambe.

Not that the PL were any better with us and allowing Gao through.

Edited by Gloucester Saint
  • Like 1
sockeye

sockeye

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

Step in and do what?

Anything they can to get Chansiri to sell. To what extent that would require, I don't know. At this point, he seems intent to strip the club down to nothing because he can't get a high enough fee.

Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Step in and do what?

Force administration - he’s missed so many payrolls and payments to football creditors they can enforce it. Or stoke HMRC into doing it if they’re feeling cowardly. Or find a Leon Crouch figure who has lent him money to put them into it.

Edited by Gloucester Saint
  • Like 1
Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Using what mechanism could they do that?

Withhold the Golden Share or whatever it’s called these days. They’ll need to play the first 3-4 games away anyway with kids as their iconic North Stand has failed safety inspections, or rather he won’t let it be done properly.

Kill your fans. Nice. Solak is inept but at least he’s not that bad. 

Poundings deduction comes with it but as with us in 08/09 it’s the least of the issues https://eflanalysis.com/news/finance-expert-explains-why-administration-is-best-outcome-for-dejphon-chansiri-and-sheffield-wednesday/

Edited by Gloucester Saint
Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, Badger said:

Didn’t the EFL force the sale of Reading, eventually? 

They did as new business interests in China pulled up red flags (no pun intended) https://www.stadiumrant.com/sell-or-sink-the-efl-forces-reading-fc/

I agree with Simon Church’s summation of the EFL board though https://rdg.today/former-reading-fc-player-describes-efl-as-f-morons-following-latest-takeover-statement/

  • Haha 1
Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Wouldn't that kill the club rather than save it?

Not necessarily if they retain the registration as they did with Reading but threaten disqualification if the owner doesn’t sell by X date. The issue there was that the owner played brinkmanship right to the last minute.

The EFL Board either needs more teeth, or to work more closely with football creditors and HMRC to force sales much earlier.

The National League has to deal with their piss poor governance after Morecambe’s relegation.

And the ground safety issues are more than enough to trigger FAPP. An iconic 9000 seater stand very dangerously rusted to bits. And thousands of people sat in that last season. I’ve been there to watch Saints over many years and it’s not had a penny piece in maintenance for at least 10 years. Given that stadium’s history, that’s astonishing.

Edited by Gloucester Saint
  • Like 1
hypochondriac

hypochondriac

Posted
Posted
48 minutes ago, Andy Hill said:

Playing Bazuma is no where near as bad as shoe horning in JS for another season. Hope I am wrong.

Disagree. Captain Jack can be binned with loads of decent replacements. Currently we have no adequate Bazunu replacement. 

  • Like 1
saintant

saintant

Posted
Posted
49 minutes ago, Andy Hill said:

Playing Bazuma is no where near as bad as shoe horning in JS for another season. Hope I am wrong.

The thought of the pair of them on the pitch together worries me.

  • Like 1
Doctoroncall

Doctoroncall

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, sockeye said:

Anything they can to get Chansiri to sell. To what extent that would require, I don't know. At this point, he seems intent to strip the club down to nothing because he can't get a high enough fee.

From what I understand he owes more than what is being offered, hence his stance. He’s desperate, likely to lose most of it, he owns the ground under a different company, so all pretty shit up there for any takeover or new club to form. 
 

 

Badger

Badger

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, Andy Hill said:

Playing Bazuma is no where near as bad as shoe horning in JS for another season. Hope I am wrong.

Just as bad, probably worse..

  • Like 1

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