I wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel watching a City game for the first time since the guilty verdict. But watching that yesterday - the smug smiles to the camera, the away fans waving cash around, the banners, chants. It's just all a hollow sham. The whole Premier League season is.
It can still be saved, just. But in truth we all know it's probably going to continue to drag for a few months at least before we get anything close to clarity.
So we'll see those scenes again and again this season because they are a great team with great players who are going to keep winning. It's just going to make such a mockery of this season.
Every goal, every celebration, every glance at the league table, you just ask yourself the same questions. What does it mean? What's the point of this all? What's the point of spending our money to watch?
Of course we will still do it and come kick-off of most games. (when City aren't playing in them), we'll probably forget about it and get caught up in what we're watching.
But then the full-time whistle will go and it will start all over again.
So many seasons/moments have been lost for millions of fans around the world already because of what they've done and this season is going to be no different. Such a shame.
Love this story from Harry Redknapp who tells the story of how he missed out on a future star after signing Carl Richards instead:
“I bought Carl for £10,000, went to pick him up from Enfield and while he went in to say goodbye to his manager, he left me with his mate.”
“‘What are you signing him for?’ said this kid. ‘I’m 10 times better than him. I’ve got 26 goals this season, he’s only got 12. I’m different class than him. Why don’t you sign me?”
“I was worried. ‘I can’t buy you, I’m buying him,’ I told Carl’s mate, ‘but I’ll keep an eye out for you, don’t worry.”
“So we took Carl and he was absolutely useless. He could run, but that was about it. We played about six games, couldn’t win one. Carl was terrible.”
“After about four games of this, he came to see me. ‘I’ve got a mate,’ he said. ‘He was asking if he could have a trial. He’s a striker, like me.’
“‘And is he as good as you, Carl?’ I asked, suspiciously. ‘No, he’s not as good as me,’ he said, ‘but he’s decent.’
“‘Well, tell him not to f***ing bother then,’ I snapped, and that was the end of it.”
“The following Saturday, we went to play Crystal Palace. ‘My mate, the one who wanted a trial, he’s playing for Palace today,’ said Carl. ‘Oh good,’ I thought. ‘No problem there then.”
“Anyway, three goals later I realised Carl wasn’t much of a scout, either. His mate’s name? Ian Wright, who went on to score 238 league goals.”
#football #footballstory
And that brings the experiment to an end.
Across 17 Premier League seasons, we removed 627 Man City goals.
Seven titles changed hands 🏆:
Manchester United: +3
Liverpool: +3
Arsenal: +1
Obviously, removing these players would have changed far more than just the goals they scored.
But it shows just how different the Premier League could have looked without them.
✅ 828 league matches
⚽️ 1561 goals
Sit back, relax and enjoy every Premier League goal scored under Arsene 🤩
Let us know your favourite in the comments 👇
Matchday Mascots! ⚽️
We are looking for local junior teams to act as matchday mascots at our next home game against @BelperTownFC on the 10th of October! 💪
More details below! 👇
#UpTheIves
A man decided to bring a very timid stray dog home after meeting him at his workplace. Having spent his life living outside, the dog was terrified of people and constantly kept to himself.
After taking him to the vet and confirming that he didn’t have a microchip, the man patiently cared for him and gave him time to adjust. Little by little, the dog began to open up and realize that he had finally found a safe place to call home. 💖🐶