Coronavirus: Football Discussion Thread

[City Raider]

4 more clubs join Watford, Villa and Brighton and playing in neutral venues is finished.

 

[Marvin]

Reading that BBC article from the point of view of the clubs under threat of relegation it has to be fair, however how do you have a home advantage any more when the grounds will be empty? The advantage is largely gone.

I think football has to make the most of a very bad situation. Ideally you suspend the league season and start again in August or a mutually agreeable calendar that fits in with UEFA (leagues have to be harmonised ideally because of European competitions, eligibility, fixture calendars etc). What are the implications for football if it is suspended? Perhaps the implications are exaggerated, but perhaps they are not. It's very possible that football will lose significant finance and that if the league is not completed a number of clubs will fail. Those who don't want football should think this through. What happens in August when the 2020 season is due to start? Are you against that too on the grounds that football wasn't meant to be played without fans? Well no it wasn't but we don't live in an ideal world now.

Talking to my Chelsea and Spurs neighbours yesterday both said 'give' it to liverpool but with a * next to it. All efforts should be put into how the new season starts when ever that is. None of us are interested in watching a match behind closed doors and all agreed it was wrong to start again when the numbers of deaths are high.

It maybe 'wrong' but what else can you do? Lockdowns can not continue, and thankfully they have worked.

 

[The perfect fumble]

This is from RAWK regarding Project Restart and the reluctance of the bottom clubs to play at neutral venues....

"The current bottom 2 are adrift Slightly Norwich and villa. Villa have a game in hand on all

But the next 3 are tied on 27pts having played same games Brighton on 29

Southampton above them are on 34pts nicely ahead.

This is their thinking. They’re acting like cartels and the prem shouldnt stand for it, it’s a disgrace"

The lack of self awareness, even by RAWK standards is staggering!

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

This is from RAWK regarding Project Restart and the reluctance of the bottom clubs to play at neutral venues....

"The current bottom 2 are adrift Slightly Norwich and villa. Villa have a game in hand on all

But the next 3 are tied on 27pts having played same games Brighton on 29

Southampton above them are on 34pts nicely ahead.

This is their thinking. They’re acting like cartels and the prem shouldnt stand for it, it’s a disgrace"

The lack of self awareness, even by RAWK standards is staggering!

Not really !

 

[kaz7]

Making unsubstantiated comments like

"The public will hate the players "

Are you saying that it didn't need a reply. I will not hate the players, @karen7 said she will not hate them, will you? If not who are the public that will hate them?

It just sounded more like the "Sun" than reality.

He wrote in a pedantic style.

The public will not be happy at players getting test that the nhs and care home patients cannot,you can't be in this country if you don't feel that,it will be on the front pages and it will be the players that cop it,if you don't like one word Then change it,christ on a bike

 

[goatersnipple]

Has anyone who's is in favour of football behind closed doors ever been to a game.
Yes for armchair fans it wouldnt make any difference.
But for match going supporters its complete bollocks.
Personally if they play any games behind closed doors I wont watch one minute.
Would just ignore it completely.

 

[waspish]

The reason football (or any other sport) should be being considered right now - My brother shared this with me on FB

I am a nurse and I want to say to all my friends and family please do not clap for me tonight...you want to know why well I will tell you...today I have come out to do my shopping and I am truly saddened...I am sad that the traffic on the road is like any normal day...I am sad that so many people in the queue at the supermarket are talking about lockdown finishing next week...I am sad that social distancing seems to be all but forgotten...I am sad the general public believe this virus is all over and life can return to normal as we have hit the peak...why does all this make me sad...because we still have people in hospital we are battling to save who may have tested negative but are still displaying all the signs and symptoms of Covid-19...I am sad because I am still having to phone families and tell them their loved ones are very sick and they may need to prepare for the worst...I am sad because I'm still having to hold the hands of patients who are frightened whilst they struggle to breathe...don't be fooled people, a second wave will cripple the NHS if it comes...and also have you all forgotten 30,000 people have died from this virus including 150 NHS workers who I may not have known personally but feel like family...this is not over, it has not passed and it could come back at any moment...I beg you all to remember those who have lost their lives when you feel you have to make a non-essential journey and please,please stay at home...this may be hard, I know that I haven't had my boys at home for 5 weeks and it's painful as hell but I know they are safe...please keep each other safe and remember we will all meet again if we are sensible about this...I'm sure you would all like your friends and family to be there when lockdown ends

Yep and the blame lies right at Johnson’s Door with his indecisiveness with the lockdown looks Scottish and wales government assured says it like it is treating people like adults! The source leak to the media was a disgrace! Johnson was assured with Brexit right or wrong he was he was resolute and assured in the end game! This has been an utter shambles he has cost lives.

 

[kevodevo]

It is now becoming plain to everyone - the league if resumed is NOT what was started and , therefore, cannot in any way be deemed a true ‘resumption’ as conditions are patently different
So if we accept that is the case why the hell don’t they make up another competition completely separate from what is impossible to complete , is played behind closed doors , satisfies the lust of the FA and betting and broadcasting and it becomes something people would actually be interested in in a minor way- it cannot be too difficult
The ‘old’ Prem should be null and void - shame for the dippers but there is an opportunity for all to enjoy without the hassle
If EFL bleat they can have their own mini comp which results in promotion/ relegation if required
When all is done it is not really crucial to our existence or wellbeing but it could be a great option and no face lost - apart from the dippers - they can just wait a bit more

 

[pardoeofftomexico]

Has anyone who's is in favour of football behind closed doors ever been to a game.
Yes for armchair fans it wouldnt make any difference.
But for match going supporters its complete bollocks.
Personally if they play any games behind closed doors I wont watch one minute.
Would just ignore it completely.

I have a season ticket but would prefer to watch a game on TV without fans than no game at all. The game is no longer just for those attending. 50,000 at a game and how many millions watching. How many fans can't go in normal times because they can't afford it and the only way they can see it is on TV. Also how many times has someone said on here that they turn the sound off to avoid having to listen to the commentators. The lack of crowd noise shouldn't bother them. I did watch an overseas game without fans on TV a couple of months ago and being a good game it was perfectly enjoyable.

 

[Robinho's Subbuteo]

Never mind how safe/tested etc. the players will be.

If the Prem restarts, Liverpool win it and thousands of dipper fans descend on Anfield, which they absolutely will, regardless of what Liverpool FC or Merseyside Police say.

Officially, 1 in around 330 people in Liverpool have had or do have Coronavirus and about a quarter have died from it. You can bet that number is significantly higher than that in reality but using the official number, that would mean if 50,000 people turned up at Anfield to celebrate their team winning the league, conservatively, around 100 of them (discounting those who have recovered) will have Coronavirus and will 100% pass it on to at least 20 more people whom are well within 2 metres of them.

100 infected becomes 2,000 in the space of a couple of hours of which circa 500 will statistically die from it.

Why is the restart even being debated???

Void it. Stay Home. Save Lives.

It's that simple.