Dre_00 said:

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Haha

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What's it you say? We play best in full on desperation mode?

And that tie puts Spurs in 20th on GD. Let's keep our woes in perspective.

Mathguy64 said:

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Dre_00 said:

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Haha

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What's it you say? We get lucky in full on desperation mode?

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FIFY

I'll be honest, I'm probably more mad about that than a lot of losses. Incredibly disappointing effort overall today; you can work a little harder going into an international break.

27 shots, 6 on goal. More than half of the shots were from outside the box. Saw way too many lottery ticket shots from outside the box and aimless crosses into a center forward that didn't exist.

Just bad.

On the bright side, we get a 3 week break before watching this nonsense again.

Distance covered was 117.9 vs. 111.3; and possession was 43% to 57%, so you'd expect the team out of possession to run a little more. (All per Sofascore stats). Maybe I'm just being pissy because it felt worse than that, I don't know.

We were supremely lucky to steal a point today. Just not good enough across the board

Sesko has apparently reinjured his shin, so hopefully the 3 weeks off will give him time to recover, otherwise get ready for more Cunha false 9

Rashford and Mainoo both withdrew due to injury but hopefully it's one of those "I ache and just want a break" injuries and they'll be back in 3 weeks.

This should help the club.

Ineos to mothball three chemical plants as high energy costs hit production https://t.co/i8l5CBjJ7y

— Giovanni Staunovo🛢 (@staunovo) September 22, 2026

I don't think it matters, although to the extent people were hoping Ratcliffe would buy out the Glazers eventually, it sure doesn't help make that more likely.

I assumed Mainoo discovered he was allergic to Thomas Tuchel.

Showstopper said:

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I don't think it matters, although to the extent people were hoping Ratcliffe would buy out the Glazers eventually, it sure doesn't help make that more likely.

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It only matters in so much that there is no help coming for this club. Jim is singleminded in his focus on building a new stadium. It's the only play they have to generate revenue that meets the league requirements.

There will be no big spending windows for years to come.

I know we are feeling bad, rightfully so, but generating revenue isn't exactly the problem.

#MUFC announce record revenue of £677.6m for 25/26, despite no Europe. Pre-interest profit for year £22.6m, compared to loss of £18.4m in 24/25.

But overall loss of £43m. Big factor is £44m payment to cover long-term interest + refinancing on Glazer debt. More @TheAthleticFC

— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) September 23, 2026

Like Patrick Ewing once said when asked why multimillionaire NBA players would go on strike for higher wages when they were making S20 plus million a year, "Yeah we make a lot of money. Bult we spend a lot of money too."

Have lost 450m since 2019

Total debt increased by 52m last season even with the revenue increase

Nearly 700m in total debt...had to refinance debt at a interest rate of 5.36%. They were at 300m before the pandemic.


Financially screwed is the technical term I believe. Champions League revenue this season could help but they appear to be fast approaching the ceiling in regards to revenue generation unless they get much better at selling players.

Listen, I get being pissy because I am too. But there was an operating profit last year. The overall loss came from stuff like the debt being financed in dollars while the reporting is in pounds, so when the dollar increases relative to the pound you get an accounting loss because the book value of debt just increased artificially from exchange rate. If/when the reverse happens, there is an artificial profit, but it's not real, it's just whichever direction currently floated that year, basically. Like we aren't running better in years where the pound is strong relative to the dollar.

I wish the Glazers would sell, but they haven't. I wish the UK would require that owners of clubs bought through leverage buyouts to actually produce the money (which would effectively force a sale) but they haven't. But I looked at the numbers yesterday, and frankly the financials are better than it's been since COVID.

If your profitability is tied to the whims of the USD/GBP exchange rate, then I would say you're in a precarious situation. Or to put it another way, if the USD/GBP exchange rate had stayed exactly flat YoY, then they sill would have reported a loss. Yeah, they really shouldn't be blamed for currency conversions going against them rather than for them, but that's also far from the reason why their financial report is a problem.

They're guiding for EBITDA to be more or less the same in 2027 as it was in 2026 (in spite of the coming CL income). Their debt repayment is going to go up by at least 10m due to the refinancing at a higher interest rate. Unless their guidance increases (no clue what that guidance assumes as far as CL performance), next year won't be any better regardless of what the exchange rate does.

You are aware that when people borrow big money, they typically go to the US market to do it? I'm sorry it isn't the 1700's and the sun does set on the British Empire. I don't know if you've noticed, but other than City, the top clubs in the Premier League do use US financing.

Nm

Have a nice day Showstopper

It's telling that at the first season break we are arguing club finances rather than player performances.

The Manchester United Yo-Yo seasons continue unabated.

115 115 Man City,
115 115 I say,
115 115 Man City,
Cheating football the City way.


Officially guilty all counts. (Edit: new reports saying 114 out of 115; close enough)

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City found guilty on virtually all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. #MCFC expected to appeal against verdict issued by independent commission. Sanctions undecided, process ongoing @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/Muxqp4beK9

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 25, 2026

Dorgu out for "several weeks"
Mazraoui "a doubt"
Sesko is still out

So, Shaw and Dalot for 50+ games is fool proof, right guys? If you disagree then can I interest you in a Shaw/Baleba timeshare at LB? You know, that guy that was supposed to the Casemiro replacement in midfield?

In fairness, if you are two deep in positions, which is the default depth generally, it means if one gets hurt you are stuck looking at backup protection from other positions or reserves (which I suppose they ended up not loaning Amass for that reason even though he's physically not that big). I just don't really love Dorgu as a left back; I think if he makes it, it will be at winger. But that's just my opinion; I wasn't personally counting him as the backup left back in the summer.

I've actually shifted to thinking backup striker is the larger need… not that we can do anything about either until January. (Edit: a player that could play both CB and LB would be a good late Christmas present as well… although we probably end up with nada if history is a guide).

We will end with nobody in Jan while City does 2 incoming transfers for $100MM each.

Apparently the "years since City won trophy" counter is back at OT. Only now it is nearly ticking over to 51. Gotta love the banter.

Won't be posting because I'm trying to watch the A&M game and United…

I could be just doubling up my disappointment early in the weekend…

This is 18' of a pure on **** show.

We literally cannot clear it out of our own end. We can't even get out of our own way. The regression from the second half of last season is mind boggling.

Yeah we suck; not sure how we are still level. Spurs forwards suck too? I guess?

That was objectively bad. The spacing was all wrong. Two guys in the same space for balls. Shock means no guys in the space at all for balls. Everyone had the first touch of a U13 player.

It should be 2 or 3-0 right now. A better team than Spurs would have it there.

Getting played off the pitch sby Spurs ant home after a 3 week break is one of the worst looks a club can have.

Much like the Aggies. We just aren't very good.

If Spurs had a goalscorer, this would be a bloodbath right now.