Premier League officially postponed until 17th of June

[Metalhead]

Sure for us the only option would be... View attachment 67591

Yep or the big show and arsenal get Hornswoggle.

 

[spursfan77]

Potentially pushed back another week. ?

Exclusive: Premier League restart likely to be pushed back to June 19 after players and managers convey concern

Seven-day delay to originally proposed date probable as answers sought about risks of full-contact training and playing matches

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Lighty64]

But where is the logic in that statement? Not a personal dig at you, but I don't know where this idea comes from that if we void the current season it will make it easier to start next season.

What is becoming apparent about this virus is that it isn't going to be "gone" any time soon - perhaps not ever - and that the path to a vaccine is a long one. So when football does return it will be facing the same sorts of problems as it is currently. I don't see that voiding the current season makes next season any more viable.

By getting things going now it gives the authorities a chance to work out the logistical kinks and to monitor how effective their efforts are. If people get ill or players refuse to play then there is still the option to call things off - we would be losing the last 9 matches of an already disrupted season. But if we wait until next season to see what happens, and staff get ill or players refuse to play, then we could be looking at calling off another entire season.

To my mind it is right for the people in charge to be trying everything and keeping all options on the table. That includes things like distanced training, testing club staff, extra sub slots, no VAR, shortened games etc. Voiding the season removes a lot of those options from the table and we wouldn't know how effective or disruptive they might be.

This season has become a clusterfuck and is likely going to end a clusterfuck, so why not use the end of it to see what things work and what things don't so that next season (if and when it happens) can be as successful as possible.

the main part is null and void, as the preparation for next season is going to be a nightmare anyway. if they are going to have to play behind closed doors now and at neutral venues, if they restart, and they expect next season to start BCD then I expect next season to be starting at neutral venues too if this virus is still bad.

the thing with this season is if it is neutral venues how is that fair on teams facing relegation. Villa has a game in hand and that's a home fixture. it's bad enough they won't have the crowd behind them on such an important game. they are talking that VAR can't be used which means 2 matches might have a result turned on its head by a decision, where 16 teams have had to suffer it in every match. it works both ways too Villa could survive on a decision v Sheff Utd (their game in hand) where another team suffered in their last match.

this season's FA Cup and European matches will be so hard to complete. as someone mentioned in another post how can they relegate and promote teams or void and make promotion or relegation in other tiers of football not available.

at least if they void this season they can make an effort to make it a level field at the start providing it isn't neutral venues by ruling out VAR for the season, the possibility of having 5 subs, and even shortened matches, and they might also have a better idea of how this pandemic is doing. it's definitely not fair on the players to start having to attend training grounds now, without a mini pre-season at least, and then be expected to start next season pretty soon after

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

I totally agree that the current season cannot be completed in a "fair" manner - that's just the reality of the situation. Whatever solution arrives will be one of compromise and will hopefully be the "least worst". The integrity of the competition will always be called into question and there is simply no way to avoid that.


But what would the point of that be? Why would clubs and players want to take part in a competition that has no bearing on anything in terms of relegation/promotion or financial implications? Why put those people at any risk at all for something that is even less important than finishing the current season?

The priorities you gave above include:

1. Re-commence football safely
2. Maintain the integrity of the competition
3. Avoid anything that compromises next season
4. Protect club survival

Finishing up the current season achieves all of those apart from the integrity, but I feel that the integrity has gone no matter what. Voiding and waiting achieves none of them. Creating a new "tester" competition would only satisfy 1 & 3.

Just to be clear, I'm in no way advocating putting money ahead of people's health, and I personally don't think that playing football will be a completely safe endeavour. But there are very few workplaces that are going to be completely safe for quite some time. We are looking at choosing from the best of a bad bunch here and I see voiding the season (without attempting to restart) as only kicking the can down the road.

I don’t think restarting this season in the sort of timescale the football authorities are talking about does achieve the objectives though.

Primarily, I don’t believe it can be safe. And above all else, that is whatl we should be thinking about.

 

[teok]

Mourinho vocal at Premier League managers' meeting; Klopp 'reassured'

Football365 - Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho was 'vocal' about having enough time to train. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was 'reassured'.

www.football365.com

 

[Wsussexspur]

Mourinho vocal at Premier League managers' meeting; Klopp 'reassured'

Football365 - Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho was 'vocal' about having enough time to train. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was 'reassured'.

www.football365.com

Given Jose has been reported as one of the most vocal about not having enough time to train before the proposed restart. Am surprised we haven't followed Wolves, West Ham, Newcastle, Sheff Utd and got the players back in some form of training in small groups or individually with coaches. Especially after his incident the other week where he broke the lock down to have individual training session with N Dombele.

Of course we could have done I guess but its just not been reported in the press.

 

[Yid-ol]

Given Jose has been reported as one of the most vocal about not having enough time to train before the proposed restart. Am surprised we haven't followed Wolves, West Ham, Newcastle, Sheff Utd and got the players back in some form of training in small groups or individually with coaches. Especially after his incident the other week where he broke the lock down to have individual training session with N Dombele.

Of course we could have done I guess but its just not been reported in the press.

Players have been back from start of may (if not just before) I think. But that was individual training, not sure if they are doing more group work now or not.

 

[vegassd]

the main part is null and void, as the preparation for next season is going to be a nightmare anyway. if they are going to have to play behind closed doors now and at neutral venues, if they restart, and they expect next season to start BCD then I expect next season to be starting at neutral venues too if this virus is still bad.

the thing with this season is if it is neutral venues how is that fair on teams facing relegation. Villa has a game in hand and that's a home fixture. it's bad enough they won't have the crowd behind them on such an important game. they are talking that VAR can't be used which means 2 matches might have a result turned on its head by a decision, where 16 teams have had to suffer it in every match. it works both ways too Villa could survive on a decision v Sheff Utd (their game in hand) where another team suffered in their last match.

this season's FA Cup and European matches will be so hard to complete. as someone mentioned in another post how can they relegate and promote teams or void and make promotion or relegation in other tiers of football not available.

It's definitely going to be unfair either way. Even if we could restart again with everything back to normal it would mean our injury worries have cleared up which is unfair on the other teams pushing for Europe. There is no fair option in all of this but I do think that restarting has a number of up sides which voiding doesn't.

at least if they void this season they can make an effort to make it a level field at the start providing it isn't neutral venues by ruling out VAR for the season, the possibility of having 5 subs, and even shortened matches, and they might also have a better idea of how this pandemic is doing. it's definitely not fair on the players to start having to attend training grounds now, without a mini pre-season at least, and then be expected to start next season pretty soon after

I would say that restarting this season doesn't prevent you starting next season with that level playing field, and in fact we would get to see just what impact those extra measures might have. There are all sorts of things the authorities can try and I reckon they will be better informed about next season if they can see some of that stuff in action this season.

The worst scenario in all this would be that the current season is voided (with all the hassle that brings) and then a few games into next season they realise that things aren't working and next season has to be shutdown or modified as well.

I might be very wide of the mark, but I think if the season were to be voided now the clubs and authorities won't just have a cup of tea and happily start preparations for next season. There will be all sorts of in-fighting and legal bollocks going on whilst trying ask those same teams to agree a format going forwards. I think that if the clubs etc. can agree to a restart protocol that at the very least will cut down the amount of BS going into preparations for next season.

Again, I don't think any solution is going to be fair here. But in terms of voiding now to help prepare for next season... I don't think that will be the case.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

It's definitely going to be unfair either way. Even if we could restart again with everything back to normal it would mean our injury worries have cleared up which is unfair on the other teams pushing for Europe. There is no fair option in all of this but I do think that restarting has a number of up sides which voiding doesn't.


I would say that restarting this season doesn't prevent you starting next season with that level playing field, and in fact we would get to see just what impact those extra measures might have. There are all sorts of things the authorities can try and I reckon they will be better informed about next season if they can see some of that stuff in action this season.

The worst scenario in all this would be that the current season is voided (with all the hassle that brings) and then a few games into next season they realise that things aren't working and next season has to be shutdown or modified as well.

I might be very wide of the mark, but I think if the season were to be voided now the clubs and authorities won't just have a cup of tea and happily start preparations for next season. There will be all sorts of in-fighting and legal bollocks going on whilst trying ask those same teams to agree a format going forwards. I think that if the clubs etc. can agree to a restart protocol that at the very least will cut down the amount of BS going into preparations for next season.

Again, I don't think any solution is going to be fair here. But in terms of voiding now to help prepare for next season... I don't think that will be the case.

I don't think there's very much chance at all of the season being voided, whatever the pros and cons of the argument.

I think it will be a farce, and grossly unrepresentative of what a season of league matches ought to represent. But I do understand why the clubs and the authorities want it, and why some supporters do too.

I think we all agree that nothing can be fair given the circumstances, and squabbling over which alternative is most or least unfair is likely to be a waste of time. Aside from anything, whatever our priorities individually or as supporters as a whole, we know the one that will prevail, and that will be money.

I personally feel that the rule changes that will have to be applied to keep the game as safe as possible will make a mockery of the idea that this is a continuation of the same competition that started in 2019. And it will not be completely safe, and that's another of my objections, not simply because I'm concerned for the players' welfare or that of everyone else who will be affected by it, but also because it will affect how the players play.

I also hate the idea of "behind closed doors" matches, for all sorts of philosophical reasons. So even if I accept that the money the thing will generate might go some way to protecting some clubs (and this will only matter if the Premier League directly supports the rest of the game and doesn't try to keep the majority of the money for itself...fat chance of that happening!) ...I'm not at all certain that the game we'll be protecting is worth protecting in its current format.

The game needs so much radical change that I wish it were possible for this crisis to force the authorities to re-examine their priorities and how the game is managed. But I know this won't happen, but in the confines of a forum like this where we can be as idealistic as we like because it has no effect on the outside world, I will continue to question the dubious benefits of the idea that the 2019/20 season can be completed.

 

[vegassd]

The game needs so much radical change that I wish it were possible for this crisis to force the authorities to re-examine their priorities and how the game is managed. But I know this won't happen, but in the confines of a forum like this where we can be as idealistic as we like because it has no effect on the outside world, I will continue to question the dubious benefits of the idea that the 2019/20 season can be completed.

Totally agree with everything you are saying. And it's what can make the Internet a great and also crappy place for debating/arguing is that mix of idealism and realism. And the blend of what is logistically possible versus what is philosophically right.

Some of the benefits of restarting are certainly dubious, but there are also some very real benefits as well. I've come to the feeling now that to do nothing (eg. void the season) is not going to solve any problems (at least not any more than it will create) and won't make next season any better. So why not try to get things moving... even if we get to a point where the logistics prove too much or the safety is not up to scratch and everybody agrees that the season should be called off.

People and businesses all over the world are adapting to a new way of life. It would be lovely if we could all wait until things are super safe and then try living our lives again but that's not practical. The challenges facing football will be different to those faced by a supermarket or school, but the sport should still try to find an adaptation that can work. And if it needs to adapt then why not start adapting now rather than wait another 3 months.

It's definitely a shame that money has become such a key player in the game but that's the way of a lot of things really. Maybe this crisis will change a few key minds and see changes - I think there are voluntary pay ceilings being introduced in Spain and Italy - and if lower league clubs start going bust maybe it will force the PL or FA to make a more solid commitment to sharing the wealth. Like you I think it's unlikely.

 

[brasil_spur]

Given Jose has been reported as one of the most vocal about not having enough time to train before the proposed restart. Am surprised we haven't followed Wolves, West Ham, Newcastle, Sheff Utd and got the players back in some form of training in small groups or individually with coaches. Especially after his incident the other week where he broke the lock down to have individual training session with N Dombele.

Of course we could have done I guess but its just not been reported in the press.

We have, they are training in small groups of 4/5 now.

 

[Yid-ol]

The government is "opening the door" for the return of professional football in England, the culture secretary has said after a meeting with the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League.

Oliver Dowden said plans for the resumption should "include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family".

That's from the BBC website.

 

[Navin R Johnson]

The government is "opening the door" for the return of professional football in England, the culture secretary has said after a meeting with the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League.

Oliver Dowden said plans for the resumption should "include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family".

That's from the BBC website.

I saw that, I'm guessing all on TV to start with.

 

[Yid-ol]

I saw that, I'm guessing all on TV to start with.

Yeah, but not sure they are going to be on free to vue channels by sounds of it

"include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family".

But agree money needs to filter down to lower leagues.

 

[Navin R Johnson]

Yeah, but not sure they are going to be on free to vue channels by sounds of it

"include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family".

But agree money needs to filter down to lower leagues.

I didn't think I was missing it that much until I saw them talk about restarting it, I felt a little lift, I thought I'd lost my appetite, turns out I was merely suppressing it until there were positive signs.

 

[dondo]

undecided if football coming back in June is the right thing to do morally but in a selfish way it would really cheer me and a lot of people up

 

[McFlash]

I didn't think I was missing it that much until I saw them talk about restarting it, I felt a little lift, I thought I'd lost my appetite, turns out I was merely suppressing it until there were positive signs.

I'm with you.
Whatever my thoughts about resuming, I have to say that I'm beginning to get a little excited about seeing it back, in whatever form.

 

[RosieFTL]

I don't think there's very much chance at all of the season being voided, whatever the pros and cons of the argument.

I think it will be a farce, and grossly unrepresentative of what a season of league matches ought to represent. But I do understand why the clubs and the authorities want it, and why some supporters do too.

I think we all agree that nothing can be fair given the circumstances, and squabbling over which alternative is most or least unfair is likely to be a waste of time. Aside from anything, whatever our priorities individually or as supporters as a whole, we know the one that will prevail, and that will be money.

I personally feel that the rule changes that will have to be applied to keep the game as safe as possible will make a mockery of the idea that this is a continuation of the same competition that started in 2019. And it will not be completely safe, and that's another of my objections, not simply because I'm concerned for the players' welfare or that of everyone else who will be affected by it, but also because it will affect how the players play.

I also hate the idea of "behind closed doors" matches, for all sorts of philosophical reasons. So even if I accept that the money the thing will generate might go some way to protecting some clubs (and this will only matter if the Premier League directly supports the rest of the game and doesn't try to keep the majority of the money for itself...fat chance of that happening!) ...I'm not at all certain that the game we'll be protecting is worth protecting in its current format.

The game needs so much radical change that I wish it were possible for this crisis to force the authorities to re-examine their priorities and how the game is managed. But I know this won't happen, but in the confines of a forum like this where we can be as idealistic as we like because it has no effect on the outside world, I will continue to question the dubious benefits of the idea that the 2019/20 season can be completed.

Brilliant summary.

 

[Lighty64]

It's definitely going to be unfair either way. Even if we could restart again with everything back to normal it would mean our injury worries have cleared up which is unfair on the other teams pushing for Europe. There is no fair option in all of this but I do think that restarting has a number of up sides which voiding doesn't.


I would say that restarting this season doesn't prevent you starting next season with that level playing field, and in fact we would get to see just what impact those extra measures might have. There are all sorts of things the authorities can try and I reckon they will be better informed about next season if they can see some of that stuff in action this season.

The worst scenario in all this would be that the current season is voided (with all the hassle that brings) and then a few games into next season they realise that things aren't working and next season has to be shutdown or modified as well.

I might be very wide of the mark, but I think if the season were to be voided now the clubs and authorities won't just have a cup of tea and happily start preparations for next season. There will be all sorts of in-fighting and legal bollocks going on whilst trying ask those same teams to agree a format going forwards. I think that if the clubs etc. can agree to a restart protocol that at the very least will cut down the amount of BS going into preparations for next season.

Again, I don't think any solution is going to be fair here. But in terms of voiding now to help prepare for next season... I don't think that will be the case.

think we will have to agree to disagree because I don't believe rule changes this far into the season should be changed at such a critical time. I also don't believe european comps should even be considered. on that topic by February or March next season if things are back to normality then finish this seasons KO's, but come late September I doubt group matches will be up and running

 

[punkisback]

Sure for us the only option would be... View attachment 67591

The Hammers will have midfield hard man Mark Noble....