Premier League officially postponed until 17th of June

[Monkey boy]

This would be extremely unfortunate for us, as we haven't played the home fixtures for United, West Ham, Everton, Arsenal or Leicester.

got to keep the integrity of the competition though they say while tossing any last shred of it out of the window.

 

[spursfan77]

I think for me, especially looking at how things are in the UK, this current season (19/20) should be over. I don't see us ready to do any BCD games before June 30th. And I think June 30th will have to be the deadline because of when contracts end because that's an extra wrinkle in everything that'll mess things up even more.

As FIFA I believe have come out with, the aim should be to try and focus on figuring out a good plan for the 20/21 season. Aim for BCD games for then. Gives the UK (and the PL) more time to prepare things (like locations, personnel etc...). Also by then (hopefully) the UK will be better equipped to manage things. Will be well before we have a vaccine still but should be out of lockdown by then and able to have slightly bigger mass gatherings (though still a way away from having fans there). Could be a lot more doable if the European competitions are cancelled (as I personally just cannot fathom how we can justify teams travelling all over Europe during all of this). Would give more time for leagues to plan games around. Would also give teams the possibility to start the season in September if need be rather than August if we need a few more weeks to prepare things.

As for teams/leagues etc... going bankrupt, I don't know the answer for that. Ultimately no solution will be perfect and if we're looking at the 91 teams in the league then I doubt all 91 are equipped to handle this. Potentially some government intervention could help out a little more or some of the richer teams in the league help keep the league going. Some sacrifices/inventive thinking will need to be put out here to keep teams afloat during all of this. Will be even more of an awful look morally when Man Utd/Man City/Chelsea/Someone spends this summer spending 100million on one flashy player whilst a couple of league 1 and 2 teams go bankrupt. Would be surprised to see many major money deals this summer given how much teams stand to lose + public perception (but capitalism and business model often wins and no-one ever looks at football to take the moral high ground).

Ultimately, I'm personally just not a fan of BCD games (as many seem to be) but just cause I'm not a fan of them doesn't mean I think they shouldn't happen at all. I think doing them before July is near impossible given all the info that's been put out and where we are with cases etc... but to start next season that might be the safest/best option.

Exactly. Thanks for saving me typing it out.

 

[Wsussexspur]

Assuming Wembley is one of the neutral ground then presuming we play there then that will technically be home game for us I guess

 

[spursfan77]

This would be extremely unfortunate for us, as we haven't played the home fixtures for United, West Ham, Everton, Arsenal or Leicester.

 

[Yiddo100]

So if clubs don’t agree to this, seasons over?

 

[Metalhead]

Well, Brighton probably feel like they're in a no-lose situation - insist that they want home games knowing full well that it can't happen in the hope of getting the season voided.

 

[spursfan77]

Inevitable

 

[robbiedee]

Did someone say that Gary Neville has been pretty level headed with his comments throughout this Coronavirus stuff??

I read on sky sports earlier that he’s suggesting taking the premier league to a non Covid-affected country to complete the season...

Muppet!

 

[topper]

Did someone say that Gary Neville has been pretty level headed with his comments throughout this Coronavirus stuff??

I read on sky sports earlier that he’s suggesting taking the premier league to a non Covid-affected country to complete the season...

Muppet!

Do they have pitches in Antartica?

 

[stormfly]

From a completely selfish POV I can’t believe our (Spurs’) luck. We move out of WHL when we are in the form of our lives and play the next season at Wembley where our ‘home’ form suffers. Then we have to play the next season at Wembley as our new stadium is delayed. Finally start a season at our new stadium and a world pandemic kicks in and we now may have to play our remaining matches at a neutral ground and may not get any income from the new stadium for a year or more! I’m surprised we aren’t the team running away with the league this year to be honest.

 

[coys200]

I think those Cologne players might just put an end to it all.

 

[UncleBuck]

Taken from the bbc:
If training is resumed before social distancing rules are relaxed, BBC Sport understands players will be tested for coronavirus twice a week and would be screened for symptoms every day. All tests would be carried out by health professionals at a drive-through NHS testing facility that each club would have access to. Training grounds will be optimised for social distancing and high hygiene levels.

So how do they think that will work? Does each club pay for a testing facility and all staffing costs to conduct additional testing?
If that’s given the go ahead then I presume this model will be rolled out to all other sports?

 

[Yid-ol]

Taken from the bbc:
If training is resumed before social distancing rules are relaxed, BBC Sport understands players will be tested for coronavirus twice a week and would be screened for symptoms every day. All tests would be carried out by health professionals at a drive-through NHS testing facility that each club would have access to. Training grounds will be optimised for social distancing and high hygiene levels.

So how do they think that will work? Does each club pay for a testing facility and all staffing costs to conduct additional testing?
If that’s given the go ahead then I presume this model will be rolled out to all other sports?

I think the main question is, what happens if a player tests positive?

Cologne have 3 players tested positive but think they are reviewing on Wednesday, but imagine if a team lost 3 or 4 key players for 2 weeks (6 games I think?) Could be a huge loss.

 

[journeyman]

If this comes off, and the Prem is able to complete the season with games at neutral venues, I wonder if that would also then provide the basis for a curtailed ‘20-‘21 season: 19 games in neutral venues rather than 38 home and away.

Bleak, but better than nowt. I struggle to see how we get to games in front of fans this side of a vaccine.

 

[Lifelong]

Using the word 'integrity' in any of this is beyond me....the only ' integrity' would be to null and void the whole season and only start the next one when it is safe to do so, and that is some way off. I totally get all the financial ramifications but these are exceptional times.. health comes first and the older you get the more important that is...

 

[Metalhead]

From a completely selfish POV I can’t believe our (Spurs’) luck. We move out of WHL when we are in the form of our lives and play the next season at Wembley where our ‘home’ form suffers. Then we have to play the next season at Wembley as our new stadium is delayed. Finally start a season at our new stadium and a world pandemic kicks in and we now may have to play our remaining matches at a neutral ground and may not get any income from the new stadium for a year or more! I’m surprised we aren’t the team running away with the league this year to be honest.

Yeah, well, this season was a write off before COVID and the stadium will be around for a long time.

 

[journeyman]

All of ye saying just to write off the season - you would be going apoplectic if others were suggesting the same and we were on our way to our first title in decades!

We are 8th and would be 9th on points per game. A (safe) re-start is good for us, especially with Harry & Son back.

 

[Yiddo100]

All of ye saying just to write off the season - you would be going apoplectic if others were suggesting the same and we were on our way to our first title in decades!

We are 8th and would be 9th on points per game. A (safe) re-start is good for us, especially with Harry & Son back.

Whatever happens I don’t see it being wrote off

 

[Hotspur88]

Some info to follow up what I previously heard. Agreed in principle to restart mid June. With next season starting late August, early September. All but 2 clubs agreed to the restart, but I'm not willing to state the two in public, will pass onto A&C if necessary.

People would also possibly be surprised by the pulling power BEIN Sports have.......CRAZY but money talks.

All is subject to government input and approval so we shall see and I know it's nothing groundbreaking but passing on in good faith.

 

[Jaffer99]

All of ye saying just to write off the season - you would be going apoplectic if others were suggesting the same and we were on our way to our first title in decades!

We are 8th and would be 9th on points per game. A (safe) re-start is good for us, especially with Harry & Son back.

People health is more important than sport, at the moment I don’t really care about when/if football restarts this season or next. People are dying around the world due to this virus, so why are people so bothered about bloody football..