It’s long been the case that time is of the essence in the unforgiving environment of the Premier League.
That will certainly ring true again for some between now and the end of the season with near weekly Premier League highlights regularly punctuated by pressures, controversies and, who knows, perhaps one of two managerial casualties.
Yet now there is another threat to throw into the mix; one which adds another dimension to the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds – the peril of points deductions.
The two clubs who must be most concerned right now are Everton and Nottingham Forest who were recently referred to an independent commission over alleged spending breaches.
Both clubs, along with each of their top-flight rivals, were required to submit accounts for the financial year that ended last summer by December 31 so the league could review the figures.
What happens next is anyone’s guess but, if found guilty by the commission, punishments could well be on the way.
In the case of Everton, further punishment.
November’s announcement that the Toffees had been docked 10 points (subject to appeal) had barely subsided when it emerged that the Merseysiders could face another deduction.
Reeling from the unprecedented punishment two months ago, they rallied superbly, winning four games in the top flight and drawing the other, but now the threat of relegation looms large again.
After breaching rules which say clubs can only overspend by £105 million over three seasons – they were ruled to be £19.5 million in excess of that – surely, they cannot be hit any harder?
It is another storyline in the all-consuming, hostile world of top flight football in England.
While we await the outcome of that, it appears the league’s profitability and sustainability rules are catching up on clubs higher up the standings too.
Certainly, it would appear billionaire owners are not preventing financial regulations from reaching Tyneside.
It’s widely reported Newcastle United need to sell before they can buy and that could see their captain and/or a fan favourite leaving for pastures new before the month is out.
As I write, the club is said to have turned down a bid from Bayern Munich for Kieran Trippier.
Newcastle’s first signing following their Saudi Arabian-backed takeover two years ago, and the first under manager Eddie Howe, has proved an inspired arrival and they will be reluctant to let him depart.
Perhaps then, they can stave off financial scrutiny by selling Miguel Almirón, supposedly the subject of interest from the Saudi Arabian team Al-Shabab.
If the Riyadh club comes up with an attractive offer for a player who turns 30 next month, it will leave Newcastle’s majority Saudi owners with a dilemma.
Selling Almirón would certainly make financial sense as they strive to create room to invest in new players while remaining within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
How Crystal Palace must wish they could have some of Newcastle’s issues.
It’s less than a year since veteran Roy Hodgson came in and turned around their fortunes, having an instant impact.
Despite one or two ludicrously suggesting his appointment, as a replacement for the sacked Patrick Vieira, demonstrated a lack of faith in black managers, let’s not forget Vieira won just one of his final 14 league games.
However, there can be short memories in this game.
Ten months on and some fans of the Eagles are showing a lack of respect towards the septuagenarian who is surely in his final job in football.
It wasn’t Hodgson who crossed the line at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime and was responsible for naïve defending.
It wasn’t Hodgson who decided to down tools twice with seconds left on the clock which turned a disappointing but respectable 3-0 reverse into an embarrassing 5-0 hiding.
The reaction of supporters who held up banners criticising Palace’s direction during the defeat at Arsenal will have hurt chairman Steve Parish in particular.
“Wasted potential on and off the pitch. Weak decisions taking us backwards,” stated one banner, aimed at the chairman, although it was Hodgson who had to answer the barrage of questions about his own future after the match.
Injuries to key players such as Michael Olise and Cheick Doucouré, who is out for the entire campaign, have laid bare the lack of investment in the past few seasons and sacking the manager would be too easy. He deserves respect.
From Newcastle to Nottingham, Everton to the Eagles, it is clear that each and every club is in a different moment right now with different pressures, but that clock continues to tick nevertheless.
I suppose that is why the Premier League is such a worldwide spectacle – on and off the pitch.
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