Coronavirus and Football

Where’s their little hats?

This is just plain bizarre with the EPL starting up again on June 1st onwards

harvetheslayer wrote:

This is just plain bizarre with the EPL starting up again on June 1st onwards

EPL> Some press suggesting that cancellation of the season is in play again.

I don't think any decisions will be made by the EFL this week. It's 100% obvious to everyone L1 and L2 cannot finish the season but the EFL will want to kick the can down the road again until at least the end of the month to avoid making any tough decisions for as long as they can.

The logistics in completing the EPL are horrendous, gargantuan, nigh-on impossible to please anyone.
The FA are only desperately trying to restart the EPL because the clubs are crapping themselves about paying back TV sponsorship money.

Money money money. The EPL make me spit horse shit.

Cancel then fecking lot. Take it on the chin. All start afresh next season - when ever that will be.

UTBA

Just seen on Facebook that Peter Hall (who worked at Argyle for 40 years) has Covid 19-

‎Bob Wright‎ to SENIOR GREENS
51 mins
Just had this news from Ken Beale.

Hi all just to let you know my dear friend Peter Hall has caught the dreaded corona virus. A statement from the family says - Peter is stable at this present moment. I am sure all members of the Green Army hope Peter will get well soon. Bless him.

Everyone at the Senior Greens wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.

harvetheslayer wrote:

This is just plain bizarre with the EPL starting up again on June 1st onwards

Is it that bizarre Harve? they will do anything to keep the TV money, even at the expense of their own players safety, at least Danny Rose and a few others have spoken out today.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] pitches and no tackling - they are getting desperate.

No tackling. A whole team of Capaldis?

The EFL Board has met today to further consider the many complex financial and operational matters resulting out of the COVID-19 crisis, including how the 2019/20 campaign is concluded.

While there is much debate and discussion taking place publicly and privately regarding what should, or could, happen next, the EFL will continue to undertake consultation with our members before the next steps are determined.  

Current attention is clearly on the immediate next steps, but the long-term impact on the League and its Clubs remains as stark as previously outlined, and solutions are still required to fill the financial hole left by the crisis. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be rectified simply by a return to play behind closed doors.

In addition, the EFL is mindful of the pressing need for clarity in a number of areas, including the practicalities and timeframes of Clubs being able to facilitate a return to training. To address this, Clubs have today been issued with the latest draft of the EFL’s ‘Return to Training Protocols’, so that they can prepare appropriately.

However, until all outstanding matters are concluded, including finalising a comprehensive testing programme on matchdays and non-matchdays, the EFL Board has informed its Clubs that a return to training should not take place until 25 May at the earliest.

Dialogue continues with our colleagues across the footballing and political landscape regarding these and other issues, and the EFL is committed to keeping all relevant parties updated on key decisions and developments as they occur.


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Quote from sun

ONE DAY IN JUNE Premier League restart heading for a week delay until June 19 so scared stars won’t be rushed back

Tgwu wrote:

Quote from sun

ONE DAY IN JUNE Premier League restart heading for a week delay until June 19 so scared stars won’t be rushed back

can they not just admit defeat and cancel the season and put more of an effort into getting ready for next season as this is rudiculous.

This is just going on and on and on. Wish the EFL and EPL would just hurry up and make a decision.

Government seems determined to get things "back to normal" as soon as possible (Go back to work but don't catch the bus, don't visit family but can sell your house etc etc) so I wouldn't be surprised if they're putting pressure on the PL to stage games. Until the PL decide what they're going to do, no one else can make a decision.

If the PL do decide to complete the season, I wonder how many games will actually be played. Three rounds of games might well see top 3 and bottom two places decided so would teams be made to play the remaining meaningless matches, or just games where something is still at stake? Any point in say Man U playing a mid table team just to get points to confirm a final league placing?

Of course, the same applies to the lower Leagues, Argyle v Exeter City could be a promotion decider, but is there any point in Walsall v Grimsby for example.  

Unfortunately, I think whatever happens, some clubs will feel they have lost out  and will will be  taking legal action.  Even at L1 and L2 level, clubs like Sunderland and Salford have wealthy backers who
might put up a fight. If the season is voided, I wouldn't be surprised if SH got litigious.

Edited to add.

As finishing the season would involve lower League Clubs losing more money (extending player contracts with no additional  revenue) there might well be several challenges (a Class Action perhaps) if this was enforced.

Harper's Park looking good. photo from the gate shows the new electric cable to run the irrigation pumps. The main pitch is behind the growth of the training pitches. I understand players has been in training.

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Tgwu wrote:

Six clubs unite to deliver strong message to EFL ahead of crunch talks on Friday



A collective of promotion-chasing League One clubs have made a blunt statement to the EFL in a bid to continue playing this season.
Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony says he is speaking on behalf of Oxford United, Fleetwood Town, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Ipswich Town in a demand not to pull the plug on 2019/20.

The League One promotion chase - fighting, hopefully, for a place in the Championship with Stoke City next season - had been at a fascinating point when football shut down in March.
Only three points separated Rotherham, in second, with Wycombe, down in eighth - and Peterborough were sixth with a kind looking run-in. Fleetwood Town, led by Stoke h are fifth and unbeaten in 12.

Whatever happens today at the EFL meeting there will be no decision this week, particularly now as some 'big' and 'monied' clubs in play-off contention - Pompey, Sunderland, Ipswich and Fleetwwod - are vehemently opposed to the season being ended on current positions/PPG. There will be a big push now for the L1 and L2 season to be completed behind closed doors, which of course the vast majority of clubs simply cannot countenance for financial reasons. It's going to get messy.

Freathy wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

Six clubs unite to deliver strong message to EFL ahead of crunch talks on Friday



A collective of promotion-chasing League One clubs have made a blunt statement to the EFL in a bid to continue playing this season.
Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony says he is speaking on behalf of Oxford United, Fleetwood Town, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Ipswich Town in a demand not to pull the plug on 2019/20.

The League One promotion chase - fighting, hopefully, for a place in the Championship with Stoke City next season - had been at a fascinating point when football shut down in March.
Only three points separated Rotherham, in second, with Wycombe, down in eighth - and Peterborough were sixth with a kind looking run-in. Fleetwood Town, led by Stoke h are fifth and unbeaten in 12.

Whatever happens today at the EFL meeting there will be no decision this week, particularly now as some 'big' and 'monied' clubs in play-off contention - Pompey, Sunderland, Ipswich and Fleetwwod - are vehemently opposed to the season being ended on current positions/PPG.  There will be a big push now for the L1 and L2 season to be completed behind closed doors, which of course the vast majority of clubs simply cannot countenance for financial reasons.  It's going to get messy.

For the majority of clubs in League One and Two, they need the money from attendances and simply could not afford to play behind closed doors. The only way that could happen was is if the EFL were to pay compensation of sorts.

Could end up with some Clubs threatening or actually refusing to play matches as it will cost them money! Bizarre!

Grovehill wrote:

Could end up with some Clubs threatening  or actually refusing to play matches as it will cost them money! Bizarre!  

The EFL put £55 million aside for issues relating to the shutdown, that was topped up by the EPL with a further £125 million.

Andy Holt (Accrington Chairman) has tweeted that Covid testing will cost on average about £140k per club.

And should the football clubs be using any testing capacity when they are still struggling to test frontline workers?

Budesliga live on BT sports tomorrow from 1400. Broussia Dortmund V Shalke then Frankfurt v Gladbach, 3 matches on Sunday then 1 on Monday evening. My living room will be mine again.