The "relegation zone"

[wback100]

Good weekend for us. No matter what happens tonight, we are out of the relegation zone, because of City's punishment. Hopefully gives us some confidence.

Overall, there are definitely two worse teams than us, and I suspect, quite a few more than that once we start getting a bit of luck.

Next 6 weeks seem very important though - we have a tough December, with home games against good teams and aways where we don't often get much/anything.

[hopper]

Think we need to focus on staying out of bottom 3 as we don't know the punishment yet and there will be appeals etc.

Can't assume it will be City +2 yet, though I agree there's every chance.

Not sure what result we want tonight. I would assume Coventry are more likely to go down than Spurs, but Spurs are a basketcase so who knows.

[C Block]

We need Spurs to put 6 or 7 past Coventry, and destroy every last bit of confidence they may have, Coventry winning would be a disaster for us.

[Whitestone]

There are no guarantees that City will be relegated. We just need to focus on Coventry and make sure we come away with all three points on Saturday.

[wback100]

There are no guarantees that City will be relegated. We just need to focus on Coventry and make sure we come away with all three points on Saturday.

Yes, we still have to play in this 19 team league, but it's nailed on they'll go down.

They'll try and "win" the league to rub noses in it, but it's already destroying confidence in the competition, and a fudge that keeps them in it would be really really bad for the entire thing. Could you imagine getting relegated and them not? Could you imagine coming second (or third) in the league thanks to points they took off you?

The big problem right now is they won't announce a provisional punishment. The longer it takes to do that the worse it all is.

[Whitestone]

There are no guarantees that City will be relegated. We just need to focus on Coventry and make sure we come away with all three points on Saturday.

Yes, we still have to play in this 19 team league, but it's nailed on they'll go down.

They'll try and "win" the league to rub noses in it, but it's already destroying confidence in the competition, and a fudge that keeps them in it would be really really bad for the entire thing. Could you imagine getting relegated and them not? Could you imagine coming second (or third) in the league thanks to points they took off you?

The big problem right now is they won't announce a provisional punishment. The longer it takes to do that the worse it all is.

I admire your confidence that they'll be relegated but it's dangerous making assumptions, particularly when the Premier League are involved in any decision making.

[Bronaldinho]

I think the league will start to take shape over the next month or two, so then we can start really assessing how we did.

I think we should have gone something from Chelsea, Palace, Sunderland and Ipswich which is quite the kick in the teeth - but then we did get points against United/Liverpool that maybe some people see as 0 point fixtures.

Get a good win against Coventry and you have City Villa Bournemouth Newcastle next - 2-3 wins from that run of games and everything feels different.

[Bocanegra]

There are no guarantees that City will be relegated. We just need to focus on Coventry and make sure we come away with all three points on Saturday.

Yes, we still have to play in this 19 team league, but it's nailed on they'll go down.

They'll try and "win" the league to rub noses in it, but it's already destroying confidence in the competition, and a fudge that keeps them in it would be really really bad for the entire thing. Could you imagine getting relegated and them not? Could you imagine coming second (or third) in the league thanks to points they took off you?

The big problem right now is they won't announce a provisional punishment. The longer it takes to do that the worse it all is.

In what way is it nailed down that they will go down...

[wback100]

In what way is it nailed down that they will go down...

We just can't have a situation where a team cheats to the tune of a billion pounds and continues as is. No punishment, a deferred punishment or one that keeps them in the league (e.g. drops them 10 spots) is a total joke, and I don't think the clubs that stuck to the rules will go for it. I know there's an expectation that the PL are weak, and can't afford to lose City etc, but I think they have no option but to bite the bullet and go super hard.

The easiest thing is for them to go with a single massive points deduction and a transfer embargo and leave it there.

[Fulham Tup North]

Coventry destroyed Newcastle ... who then got edged out by Villa ...
Crazy league this season.
Hope Spuds draw tonight ...
Coventry look nippy going forward...
Hopefully our possession game will nullify their attack.
Should be a good game Saturday.
COYW

[Angus Telford]

In what way is it nailed down that they will go down...

We just can't have a situation where a team cheats to the tune of a billion pounds and continues as is. No punishment, a deferred punishment or one that keeps them in the league (e.g. drops them 10 spots) is a total joke, and I don't think the clubs that stuck to the rules will go for it. I know there's an expectation that the PL are weak, and can't afford to lose City etc, but I think they have no option but to bite the bullet and go super hard.

The easiest thing is for them to go with a single massive points deduction and a transfer embargo and leave it there.

An appeal against the verdict is underway - no idea how long that'll take. If that's unsuccessful, they can still appeal the sanction itself, once confirmed. Then I understand there's even a slim chance of a further appeal to arbitration. Absolutely no way anyone can say with any confidence they'll be relegated this season. This time last year, there was the same expectation they'd go down, which obviously didn't materialise.

[Bocanegra]

In what way is it nailed down that they will go down...

We just can't have a situation where a team cheats to the tune of a billion pounds and continues as is. No punishment, a deferred punishment or one that keeps them in the league (e.g. drops them 10 spots) is a total joke, and I don't think the clubs that stuck to the rules will go for it. I know there's an expectation that the PL are weak, and can't afford to lose City etc, but I think they have no option but to bite the bullet and go super hard.

The easiest thing is for them to go with a single massive points deduction and a transfer embargo and leave it there.

I'm not disagreeing with that being a fair punishment, just the notion that it will happen this season, if at all.

[Somerset Fulham]

Whatever the result this evening, it absolutely 100% will not be a disaster for us.

[C Block]

Whatever the result this evening, it absolutely 100% will not be a disaster for us.

If Coventry win tonight and all the players are celebrating with their fans at the final whistle and their all on cloud 9,
I don't know how anyone can think that's a good thing,
I hope Spurs score 6

[sarnian]

In what way is it nailed down that they will go down...

We just can't have a situation where a team cheats to the tune of a billion pounds and continues as is. No punishment, a deferred punishment or one that keeps them in the league (e.g. drops them 10 spots) is a total joke, and I don't think the clubs that stuck to the rules will go for it. I know there's an expectation that the PL are weak, and can't afford to lose City etc, but I think they have no option but to bite the bullet and go super hard.

The easiest thing is for them to go with a single massive points deduction and a transfer embargo and leave it there.

An appeal against the verdict is underway - no idea how long that'll take. If that's unsuccessful, they can still appeal the sanction itself, once confirmed. Then I understand there's even a slim chance of a further appeal to arbitration. Absolutely no way anyone can say with any confidence they'll be relegated this season. This time last year, there was the same expectation they'd go down, which obviously didn't materialise.

Said before and will say it again, this will end up in the High Court and City will probably get away with it due to some legal technicality.


Hope I'm wrong but not hopeful.

[Deeping_white]

Whatever the result this evening, it absolutely 100% will not be a disaster for us.

If Coventry win tonight and all the players are celebrating with their fans at the final whistle and their all on cloud 9,
I don't know how anyone can think that's a good thing,
I hope Spurs score 6

Hull fans and players looked really happy when they beat United, didn't make any difference on Saturday did it

[St Eve]

I think we want a draw tonight. Coventry will always be in the mix whatever the result. A Spurs draw or even a defeat would send them into a panic, and likely looking for a new manager to fire in 6 months. They are away to Chelsea next week.

[Zoppa77]

I trust Citeh 0%. The money concerned is insane.
Massive sums of £ can buy you influence & "inconclusive"evidence. Such evidence can win or sway a decision in any court case. I hope for the correct outcome but am not holding my breath.

[FFC007]

I think we want a draw tonight. Coventry will always be in the mix whatever the result. A Spurs draw or even a defeat would send them into a panic, and likely looking for a new manager to fire in 6 months. They are away to Chelsea next week.

If Spurs lose de Zerbi is toast.

They could get Parker in. Ex Tottenham and all that.

[Jim©]

Coventry destroyed Newcastle ...

Whilst the scoreline looked like that, the actual game was very, very different. Newcastle absolutely battered them for long periods. Coventry had 5 shots on target I think and scored 4. We've had 20 in our last 4 league games and scored 3!