Fantasy football - let's make PSR fun

 After the expected rejection of Nottingham Forest's appeal by the Premier League kangaroo court we await the verdict on Everton's appeal against their 2nd charge (which shouldn't matter at all unless the penalty is increased by a factor of 5). And then the expected charge against Leicester - which is ridiculous as they long since sold their best players to Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. And, having given us the biggest fairy tale in football by winning the Premier League, all for daring to try to compete with the elite they had just gatecrashed. Truly a charge against Leicester would be offensive. (On the other hand, would it be fair to drop it having penalised Everton and Forest?)

After all that, sometime in the next decade, we'll get the result of the 115 charges against Manchester City and someone will eventually decide whether Chelsea have actually broken any rules or were just taking the micky.

Anyway, bear with me while I go on a flight of fancy and consider the following scenario. 

The premise is that, as in Everton's first hearing, part way through City's hearing this (ha ha) summer they realise they're nicked. They can carry on fighting to limit the damage to say 60 charges out of 115 or cut a deal.

 

Given the sanction on Everton (6pts for 1 charge) City are looking at a 360 point deduction.

The league make clear this would not get extinguished after one season, with City finishing on say minus 280 points. The negative balance would roll over as many seasons as necessary until it is all used up. So City are looking at 4 consecutive demotions (or worse). 

 

But, to avoid interminable legal challenges and to make things much more interesting they are offered a deal. 

 

They can compulsorily trade one player to each of the other premier league clubs for a mandatory one season loan before those clubs can cash in on the player, getting their compensation for being cheated. 

 

The premier league clubs would each get to pick a player from City's squad, based on an NFL style draft, starting with the club that finishes in 17th place this season and working up. City get a player back for the equivalent position in exchange so the squads don't get unbalanced. The clubs that own the players continue to pay their wages for the season, so there is no affordability problem for the other premier clubs. The 3 promoted clubs get the last 3 picks but don't have to provide a player in exchange.

 

So the first question is, who would each of the clubs pick? Because they can cash in after a year older players like de Bruyne and Walker wouldn't be attractive. Let's give it a go assuming the table finishes much as it is now.

 

Forest finish 17th and go first, so pick Haaland, as they are set up to play with a big fella and have wingers. In exchange City get Wood.

 

Next Everton, who need creativity, pick Foden to play on the right and City get their former youth player, Jack Harrison. (I know he's on loan from Leeds but let it ride).

 

Brentford needs goals so pick Alvarez for Wissa.

 

Palace don't want to swap forwards like Eze and Olise for the remaining City attackers so pick Rodri for Will Hughes.

 

At Fulham Marco Silva likes a footballer so swaps Iwobi to get Bernardo Silva

 

Brighton like to play out so go for Stones for Dunk

 

Wolves go for Ederson for Sa.

 

Bournemouth get Diaz for Kerkez.

 

West Ham get Doku for Cornet

 

Chelsea go for Gvardiol for Badiashile

 

Man U get Ake for McGuire

 

Newcastle get Akanji for Botman

 

Spurs go for de Bruyne (who nobody fancied on account of age) for Lo Celso

 

Villa get their ex player Grealish back for Bailey

 

Liverpool think about trading Endo but decide to pass

 

Arsenal get Nunes for Partey

 

The promoted clubs go for Walker, Ortega and Kovacic (I know I haven't really got this draft right, but bear with me).

 

The second question is how would it work out? Maybe Forest would finish in the top half getting at least 50% more goals than this year with Haaland for Wood.

 

Everton still struggle while Foden stands with hands on hips as Pickford keeps sending the ball 10 feet over his head into the stands.

 

Most of the clubs don't do much better for their one loanee but it's an interesting season. 

Mainly because of the crucial 3rd question, which is - how does Pep get on coaching this team and bench? 

 

Sa; Rico Lewis, Dunk, Botman, Kerkez; Iwobi, Partey, Hughes; Wissa, Wood, Bailey. Subs from Lo Celso, Harrison, McGuire, Badiashile, Oscar Bobb, Gomez, Carson, Cornet.

 

Plenty of premier league experience there, but enough to get 40 points and definitely avoid relegation? Then all bets are would be off, it's back to business as usual and City could rebuild their squad. Slowly and they couldn't immediately buy back any of their old players, they'd have to do it all again.

 

So if you were advising Manchester City, do you go for the deal?

Maybe they'd haggle and go for it but only if it was a season long loan and then they got all their players back. In which case de Bruyne would be snapped up for a year by someone in lower mid table. 

Should they go for the deal? Would Pep stay and would someone used to coaching elite players get performances out of a squad of donkeys (relatively speaking)? Which teams would benefit from one significantly better player transplanted in?

 

A fantasy maybe but it makes as much sense as what's actually slowly unfolding.

I think I prefer my version of the future!