Football

Don't know if this is true or not, but fucking hell it's fucked up;

https://twitter.com/marksparko/status/1279000646335836163

Was reading about that yesterday, couldn't figure out where the payoff was for the owners... Such strange times were living in, it really is a free for all out there, isn't it?

if that happens Liverpool need a handicap system -20 points

Ta pun

If it's true, what a mockery it makes of the "fit and proper person" test if people can't even verify if this guy is real.

Shame for Wigan (though they're not really a real club anyway) and shame on Dave Whelan who had basically made the club what it was selling it so carelessly.

shame on Dave Whelan who had basically made the club what it was selling it so carelessly

He sold the club 2 years ago, bit fucked up to blame him for a scam that he has had nothing to do with.

His grandson is the current chairman.

Didn’t realise Joe Royle, Darren Royle and Dave Whelan were related. Unless I missed something in this sorry saga?

Didn't realise it was the A52 DERBY today.

What excuses are we all going for?

Well the implication is he sold it to a scammer. I suppose a scammer isn't going to tell you they're a scammer. But is a Hong Kong consortium funded by a professional gambler a safe pair lf hands for your passion project?

I think David Joyce (DW's grandson) resigned when he sold the club.

Cardboard fans > plastics?

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/03/football-quiz-can-you-match-the-club-to-their-cardboard-cutout-fans

Forest lol.

Absolutely no reason to give away that last minute foul.

Relieved to keep our unbeaten run going in this tough run-in. Not sure I can do with another Play-off drama this season though.

I politely disagree. If you sell your car to someone who uses that car 2 years later as a getaway car in a robbery that doesn’t make you complicit or an accessory to that robbery.

Would it have been different if it was a consortium fronted by, say a Peter Coates from Stoke on Trent?

Absolutely no reason to give away that last minute foul.

It's Forest - Derby, you have to foul the opposition whatever chance you get.

Hasn't it become something approaching the dirtiest match? More fouls or.aomething? I read about derbies, and how the Liverpool one had gone from the friendly derby to something else. And how nasty the atmosphere at the (premier) east Midlands derby has become.

Car analogy doesn't really work I don't think.

Owning an EFL club seems to very very rarely be a lucrative money-spinner, especially for a club without a real fanbase. So if a professional gambler with no obvious connections to English football at all, let alone Wigan, wants to take over your club - one that you've poured millions into to take them well above their natural position - surely you'd be asking questions.

Perhaps he's just been unlucky, and these deals just seem shady with hindsight.

But if you're trying to imply there's some kind of xenophobic attitude behind it, not at all.

Same with Steve Dale taking over Bury - not a football fan, and a guy who had never been to Bury in his life and having no discernable means of income. Why the fuck are people selling football clubs to these?

We were much better today and really good to see Barkley releasing the ball more quickly, I was beginning to groan every time it went to him... We've gotta hang on to Willian, he is still so influential for us... Pulisic playing like a boss, he's an assassin... No mercy...

Lots of positives, looking forward to next season...

Yeah I think Willian has shone since Hazard departed taking on more responsibility, I think he would be great to keep just for his experience alone. But he is fit as fiddle and still creating and scoring. He used to take a huge amount of grief on some chelsea chat sites haven't looked to see if there has been a change.

Always rated and been infuriated with Willian. Early years he seemed to hog the ball and release it a bit too late. Than he seemed to shoot on the edge of the box at every opportunity. Lately I just think he’s pure class. Overall a 8.475/10 for me.

Would easily offer him a rolling one year contract with auto renewal after 20 appearances.

Fuck knows but if I’m selling a house the only thing that I’m interested in is that the other party has the funds in place to complete the deal.

If they default on the mortgage two years later I don’t know how that could be my fault.

I think Willian had a little lull but at times he was the only man on the pitch when we were going through that horrific last season with Jose... As you say, he is pure class and has that can-magic-something-out-of-nothing quality which makes him essential for us... He spent too long in Hazard's shadow and I would argue he was just as important for us during that time, Eden got all the plaudits tho'...

It wasn't all about Hazard/Willian though. His Mum died suddenly and it affected him quite badly, the club let him go home for a while.

Ah yes forgot about that.

True, true... I think he's been great for us, some fans take him for granted but we'll miss him when he's gone...