MNVillan Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 I do not envy the position Prem officials are in. No matter what decision they make, somebody is going to be upset. The only thing I can see saving them is some sort of government mandate. For instance, a ban on groups of more than 20 until September. Even then, officials would have to decide whether to scrap this season or the next one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent_Bob Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 38 minutes ago, nick76 said: I agree with this. Greed will likely force the wrong decision unfortunately. I know voiding the season is not ideal and maybe my glasses are slightly biased but I've tried to view this without this bias and either they void this season or they have a two year one season solution. Jamming games in somehow in a timeframe we dont know and keeps getting worse is greed talking. What they CAN do is a kind of positive discrimination. And that is to add a round or two with UCL qualification. Which means teams high up on the table get a fair chance of qualifying. They could also choose to promote teams without relegating teams. But the best thing is to scrap this season and have a proper 2020/21 season. Even if it has to start with the opening games being played behind closed gates. Greed is on the side of voiding this season in exchange for a proper 20/21 season. But if they do it now it means refunding season ticket holders, refunding Sky etc. So greed is also on the side of not taking the obvious decision today, but play for time and pretend they will finish the season for the time being. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Steve Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 It’s a stalling tactic. The government’s position hasn’t changed so there’s likelihood of any football for the foreseeable future. It’s a tough ask but it comes off as pure greed. They cannot expect there to be a fair playing field when key players return from injuries and the loss of supporters. For the FA and EFL, they will look to deflect blame on the government when it’s eventually cancelled. Hundreds died in Italy yesterday. This is so much bigger than football. The myopia and grandstanding is a growing embarrassment. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNVillan Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 9 minutes ago, The_Steve said: It’s a stalling tactic. The government’s position hasn’t changed so there’s likelihood of any football for the foreseeable future. It’s a tough ask but it comes off as pure greed. They cannot expect there to be a fair playing field when key players return from injuries and the loss of supporters. For the FA and EFL, they will look to deflect blame on the government when it’s eventually cancelled. Hundreds died in Italy yesterday. This is so much bigger than football. The myopia and grandstanding is a growing embarrassment. Yep, I completely agree. They’re making it publicly seem like there’s an intention to finish the season, and buying time until an external force (likely, the government) “forces” them into making a certain decision. Then they will have a scapegoat to point towards when the decision inevitably upsets somebody. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Platt Posted March 19, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted March 19, 2020 How about looking it like this. I have paid Sky and BT subscriptions for 7 out 9 months of the season if its voided. They have sold rights all over the world so have got their money from that too also they have got advertising revenue from every game so far. They might be able to claim pro rata. If next season is cancelled we all cancel our sky/bt subscriptions they have nothing to sell on to overseas and they do not get any advertising revenue. If I were sky/bt I would go for voiding this season and getting extra games from next to make up for it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 So the PL maintain a determination to finish this season at, it would seem any cost. That's embarrassing and it doesn't say anything positive about those decision maker's, who seem happy to ignore everything that is happening, outside the world of PL football. They have just decided to kick the can down the road again. We have yet to get to the peak of the impact of this virus on our nation and when we get there, whether a season is completed or not, may not be the most burning issue outside of the corridors of power at the PL. We might even face another wave of this virus next winter, so the chances of finishing next season (if we ever get round to starting it), might well be as bleak as the realistic chances of satisfactorily concluding this one. There are more important decisions than this, being made around the world at the moment, it's fortunate for us that the PL aren't making them! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted March 19, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted March 19, 2020 All I see is the word 'integrity' being passed around...that is not how you spell 'money'! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post OutByEaster? Posted March 19, 2020 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2020 After 30th June and player movement, it's difficult to say this is the same competition - there's the possibility that players will be playing against the teams they were playing for a few weeks ago. If it doesn't get done by 30th June I don't see how they can finish it. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post villabromsgrove Posted March 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2020 We're all talking about what the Premier League are going to decide .... BUT .... It's not up to the Premier League, it's up to the Coronavirus. The UK will not be free of Covid-19 or return to normality anytime in the next six months and maybe considerably longer. The PL bosses are currently rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, and will eventually have to accept the stark reality that this season is sunk. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post villabromsgrove Posted March 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2020 Just a few facts to think about. There are currently less than 3,000 reported case of people with coronavirus in the UK, and there is a population of 66,000,000 people, some or many of whom may contract the virus over the next few months. There are just over 500 professional footballers in the Premier League and only a tiny number of them have currently caught the virus so far due to self isolation. Many more may get the virus if they are put back into a 'group environment' during the time frame of Covid-19. The stats show that we're only in the infancy of this pandemic. Football may be a casualty, but it should be right at the bottom of the list of the UK's priorities until we have a proven vaccine, and that could still be 18 months away. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted March 19, 2020 Moderator Share Posted March 19, 2020 So here's a shot at it: If we're going to play the remainder of the season no matter what, then we're going to go beyond 30th June, so, you could maybe do the following: Not open the transfer window until the season has ended, no matter when that is - players that have already signed contracts for the summer with new clubs cannot play for those clubs until the next season officially starts. Players that are out of contract to either be paid from a central fund to compensate them from the restriction of their legal right to work or offered short term contracts by their current clubs in order to be able to complete the season - they'd then become free agents at the end of the short term contract. If a player chooses not to take up a short term contract with his current team in order to see out the season, it's just tough on that team. if a player has already signed a contract with a new team, they can be automatically loans back to their current team until the end of the season, with the league picking up the difference in salary if necessary. Offer the clubs a sensible date for resumption of play with as much notice as possible to enable the players to train and regain some sort of fitness and rhythm, ensuring at least a two week mini pre-season. If the tournaments are taking place, hold all of the European competition qualifying and arrange it for a single week at the end of the finale of the 2019-20 season in host cities that have the infrastructure to cope and could do with the benefits (Milan, Madrid etc). Ensure a gap between the end of the new season and the start of the following season of at least five weeks to allow teams to recover and for transfer activity. Set FFP calculations for the season to zero. Dependent on the dates in the calendar and the shortness of available time for the 2020-21 season, cancel all domestic cup competitions, the World club championships and the Europa League. Clubs in the Champions league would need to find a way to cope. So, as an example The nation is clear and ready by 1st September - the clubs are informed that play will start on 14th September and given a two week mini pre=season. At Villa, Keinan Davis accepts a short term contract and is available to play, Pepe Reina decides not to extend his loan and is not available. The season runs for five weeks from the 14th September and completes on around 18th October. The transfer window opens immediately, Keinan becomes a free agent and European qualification is scheduled for the week ending 25th October. Season 2020-21 is scheduled to start on the weekend of 21st November and as a result, both domestic cups, the world club championship and the Europa league are cancelled in order to accommodate league fixtures. Season 2020-21 starts on 21st November and the transfer window slams shut. Season 2020-21 ends in mid-may in time for the Euros in June. That's as good as I can come up with and it's hideously flawed - sponsors of the domestic cups, UEFA and a number of TV companies would want massive compensation for the missing tournaments, players wouldn't get a proper rest until the summer of 2022 - and it's based on the rather optimistic idea of the world being ready to go on 1st September. I can't see any real practical way that this season can be finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villarocker Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Why not scrap the seasons of each league they wish to do so and start the next season with the same teams in the leagues but, using a handicap system to begin the season with. Norwich start at 0 points gf = 0 ga = 27, Villa at 4 points gf = 0 ga = 22 and so on. Liverpool would pretty much still have a title to hold on to and all the struggles have a battle to fight still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent_Bob Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 30 minutes ago, Villarocker said: Why not scrap the seasons of each league they wish to do so and start the next season with the same teams in the leagues but, using a handicap system to begin the season with. Norwich start at 0 points gf = 0 ga = 27, Villa at 4 points gf = 0 ga = 22 and so on. Liverpool would pretty much still have a title to hold on to and all the struggles have a battle to fight still. Maybe. But why not start the season as we start any season? No point in ruining another season becuase this one is ruined. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jareth Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 I know everyone will get chance to have their players back, but if we have a full fit squad, and the league is continued, it's all gravy, McGinn flavoured gravy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bannedfromHandV Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 44 minutes ago, Silent_Bob said: Maybe. But why not start the season as we start any season? No point in ruining another season becuase this one is ruined. Yep, it’s possible to get away with having just one season affected but the stuff that’s being thrown around would impact next season, at least, too. It’d be like cutting off your nose to spite your face, surely there’s no way this season can be finished whilst maintaining the integrity of the competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkiller1981 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, bannedfromHandV said: Yep, it’s possible to get away with having just one season affected but the stuff that’s being thrown around would impact next season, at least, too. It’d be like cutting off your nose to spite your face, surely there’s no way this season can be finished whilst maintaining the integrity of the competition. Agree with this completely. I think the integrity is greatly dented by the virus but a must finish a season at all cost just strips all integrity not just for this season but also the next one too. Even without all of the issues with extending this season and there are many including player contracts etc. When would next season start? When would clubs begin pre season? Any clubs who have changed leagues up or down how would they adjust there squad ? Unless the season starts again on 30th April and they cram games in the is no way you can avoid essentially ruining two seasons. the is no way the seasons starting back on 30th April which the premier league well knows so all they are doing is putting off the inevitable but as many people have already said with people dying in Britain and over the world football really isn’t that important Edited March 19, 2020 by punkiller1981 Spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderball Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 It’s a smoke screen. The PL would have decided that the PR story is that they are determined to finish knowing full well further escalating events will likely change the landscape drastically allowing them to say to the stakeholders & sponsors that it’s out of their control. They will privately assure Liverpool they will be crowned champions and no one else will be bothered, and put a lid on any leaks and let this run it’s course. One thing for sure is they won’t be bothered about the EFL clubs challenging them legally, the PL is a business (actually an private entity) of the member clubs and anyone outside it has no say. Any legal action would fail in light of these extreme circumstances, some accommodation will be agreed if necessary. Players out of contract at the end of June will be as much a cause of clubs suing the PL if they are forced to play into a second transfer window, and that also means they could sign players too to bolster their chances. No way will the PL unilaterally impose special transfer restrictions to avoid this as European clubs will all have their own situations to deal with and those in European competitions will not want to be disadvantaged in equipping their squads for what is almost as much money as the PL. If there a chance there is no way the FA will risk disrupting another full season of football just to settle this mess, everyone will want to move on and put this behind them. Also money will dictate that there is no possibility of damaging another seasons income from Sky and other sponsors, especially as the Euros will be next summer now. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 They're going to **** up football for the next three years to avoid opening a different can of worms. I have no doubt this will be the worst result for us because we're going to go down and have less time than normal to prepare for Championship life without Jack Grealish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidcow Posted March 19, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted March 19, 2020 I assume professional football games even behind closed doors have to have at least one ambulance on standby to deal with serious injuries and get the player to hospital? So for the leagues to finish there will need to be 50 or 60 ambulances off the front line in a time of national medical emergency. No way that's going to be allowed to happen. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ender4 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 6 hours ago, OutByEaster? said: After 30th June and player movement, it's difficult to say this is the same competition - there's the possibility that players will be playing against the teams they were playing for a few weeks ago. Isn’t that the same as the January transfer window? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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