Could they void the PL due to the Coronavirus? | No | Resuming June 17th

Tell that to all those who lost someone.

Those people talking about safety are not wrong. Take a walk to a hospital and ask what doctors think. I am more suprised about those who say ”let us play, who cares about people in general”
Footballs never been completely 100% safe, ask Antonio Puerta's family.
 
Footballs never been completely 100% safe, ask Antonio Puerta's family.

So this sentence should, in you opinion, rebut this ?? :

""Tell that to all those who lost someone.
Those people talking about safety are not wrong.
Take a walk to a hospital and ask what doctors think.
I am more suprised about those who say ”let us play, who cares about people in general”

Some people have got their priorities upside down. :(
 
So this sentence should, in you opinion, rebut this ?? :

""Tell that to all those who lost someone.
Those people talking about safety are not wrong.
Take a walk to a hospital and ask what doctors think.
I am more suprised about those who say ”let us play, who cares about people in general”

Some people have got their priorities upside down. :(
I never said that, I'm saying if people want to wait for football to be 100% safe, we may aswell call it off forever as it never has or will be.

Pretty much every safety measure and then some have been taken by TPTB to protect footballers, they're safer than the majority of the working population right now, and much safer than they were while playing in the weeks leading up to the suspension.
 
Last edited:
They're not, it's just difficult to articulate your concerns without seeming like an arsehole, but hopefully the virus is so much on the way down we'll get away with it.

I too cannot wait for it to be back, loads of people saying they're indifferent to it, and haven't really missed it, etc, but are here on a football forum saying this, they have missed it just as much as the rest, it's just more fashionable to say you haven't at the moment.
Cool, thanks for telling me how I feel.

Also, something I've read quite a bit is that people have missed it (obviously I missed it, I love watching football), but that the re-start as it is planned is not something that is getting them excited. That's exactly how I feel - the end of the season for me is going to be like watching pre-season friendlies with no atmosphere, I think I'm perfectly entitled to say that I'm not excited about this without some random person on an internet forum thinking he's armchair psychologist who knows what's going on in my mind.

I also live in Madrid where the crisis has been absolutely horrendous, and where I was on lockdown for 2 months only being allowed out for grocery shopping. I saw an ice rink transformed into a makeshift morgue and while I don't know anyone directly who passed away from the virus, I have friends of friends or relatives of friends who have. So yes, in light of the past few months, certain things just don't have the same importance as they might have done before.

It's great you don't feel this way, and that you're excited about the re-start, but it would be nice if you could spare us of what you think is going on in other people's minds because frankly, you have no clue.
 
When do those opposed to the restart think the game should come back?

If a restart can only happen when covid is eradicated, then the greedy Premier League argument is, more than likely, merely a furphy, as many clubs further down the pyramid will not survive an indefinite closure.

If a restart can happen, but only in September or January and only if the current season is ended and a new one begun, then the likelihood is that covid cases will still be occurring, even in smaller numbers. And if this is the case, then the caring-about-the-ill/infected/bereaved argument becomes weaker too. How can anything begin again while there is still a risk of any more lives being lost? Or is the argument that at some, unspecified time, a limited number of infections and deaths is permissible? And if so, what is the cut off point, who decides it and who will spare a thought for those deemed unworthy?

And if football should have been indefinitely closed down, shouldn't the same apply to other places of large gatherings, specifically pubs and clubs? Or are you who oppose the restart as vociferous about pubs reopening? I, for one hope not. In my opinion, English pubs aren't what they once were (we adjusted to that new normal though), but they are better than nothing. I hate to imagine, however, how many would survive an even more protracted close down. Are landlords and breweries as guilty of greed as football clubs, for wanting to reopen, regardless of new covid cases.

I know that I have no right to question, being Anglo Australian and a Liverpool supporter, but I'm starved of football debate and the opinions on here do leave me curious.

I can't wait to see live (on telly) football again. I want us to be champions. I want to see you fight for the cups and the battle for European qualification (whatever that may mean). I want to see who goes down and who comes up. I feel sad for the lower leagues, but understand what was done and why. I hope leagues 1 and 2 and all of the others get to start again soon, even with the Liverpool women in the second tier. Eventually, everything has to start to move forward. Bring it on....
 
Cool, thanks for telling me how I feel.

Also, something I've read quite a bit is that people have missed it (obviously I missed it, I love watching football), but that the re-start as it is planned is not something that is getting them excited. That's exactly how I feel - the end of the season for me is going to be like watching pre-season friendlies with no atmosphere, I think I'm perfectly entitled to say that I'm not excited about this without some random person on an internet forum thinking he's armchair psychologist who knows what's going on in my mind.

I also live in Madrid where the crisis has been absolutely horrendous, and where I was on lockdown for 2 months only being allowed out for grocery shopping. I saw an ice rink transformed into a makeshift morgue and while I don't know anyone directly who passed away from the virus, I have friends of friends or relatives of friends who have. So yes, in light of the past few months, certain things just don't have the same importance as they might have done before.

It's great you don't feel this way, and that you're excited about the re-start, but it would be nice if you could spare us of what you think is going on in other people's minds because frankly, you have no clue.
You've said that a lot more eloquently and politely than I was tempted to. Agree entirely.
 
Cool, thanks for telling me how I feel.

Also, something I've read quite a bit is that people have missed it (obviously I missed it, I love watching football), but that the re-start as it is planned is not something that is getting them excited. That's exactly how I feel - the end of the season for me is going to be like watching pre-season friendlies with no atmosphere, I think I'm perfectly entitled to say that I'm not excited about this without some random person on an internet forum thinking he's armchair psychologist who knows what's going on in my mind.

I also live in Madrid where the crisis has been absolutely horrendous, and where I was on lockdown for 2 months only being allowed out for grocery shopping. I saw an ice rink transformed into a makeshift morgue and while I don't know anyone directly who passed away from the virus, I have friends of friends or relatives of friends who have. So yes, in light of the past few months, certain things just don't have the same importance as they might have done before.

It's great you don't feel this way, and that you're excited about the re-start, but it would be nice if you could spare us of what you think is going on in other people's minds because frankly, you have no clue.
Damn. Feel for you mate. Top top post and really humanises the whole situation, putting it into stark perspective for a restart of an already written off season.
 
I've a bad feeling about how this is going to go. The atmosphere in Britain could lend itself to unrest outside grounds. Just have that feeling.
 
Cool, thanks for telling me how I feel.

Also, something I've read quite a bit is that people have missed it (obviously I missed it, I love watching football), but that the re-start as it is planned is not something that is getting them excited. That's exactly how I feel - the end of the season for me is going to be like watching pre-season friendlies with no atmosphere, I think I'm perfectly entitled to say that I'm not excited about this without some random person on an internet forum thinking he's armchair psychologist who knows what's going on in my mind.

I also live in Madrid where the crisis has been absolutely horrendous, and where I was on lockdown for 2 months only being allowed out for grocery shopping. I saw an ice rink transformed into a makeshift morgue and while I don't know anyone directly who passed away from the virus, I have friends of friends or relatives of friends who have. So yes, in light of the past few months, certain things just don't have the same importance as they might have done before.

It's great you don't feel this way, and that you're excited about the re-start, but it would be nice if you could spare us of what you think is going on in other people's minds because frankly, you have no clue.
Good post. I'm excited for the season to return but only because I like many others have been starved of live sport and whilst it won't be the same with regards to atmosphere, I really can't wait. Clearly as a Liverpool fan, I would love to have been in the ground/around the stadium once the title is confirmed but with things as they are right now, I'll be at home watching and enjoying a bottle that's been on ice for 30 years.

Football is less important than anything but football for us fans has always provided an escape from real life for 90mins. I feel awful for all those that have lost friends and loved ones throughout this pandemic and those that continue to do so. I count myself extremely lucky that I (so far) do not fall into that category but it will be really nice to have a game to enjoy for that small amount of time and forget about the problems all around us.
 
I've a bad feeling about how this is going to go. The atmosphere in Britain could lend itself to unrest outside grounds. Just have that feeling.

The biggest concern is controlling Liverpool fans who will be desperate to celebrate the title win. They're not the most sensible bunch at the best of times.
 
Footballs never been completely 100% safe, ask Antonio Puerta's family.
I never said that, I'm saying if people want to wait for football to be 100% safe, we may aswell call it off forever as it never has or will be.

Pretty much every safety measure and then some have been taken by TPTB to protect footballers, they're safer than the majority of the working population right now, and much safer than they were while playing in the weeks leading up to the suspension.
I really don't think you can put those in same basket.

You are right, football will never be safe to 100%. The point was that there are people taking it to easy and would sacrifice peoples health just for them to watch football. I'm not saying you are but that there are people who are prepared to do that.

When do those opposed to the restart think the game should come back?

If a restart can only happen when covid is eradicated, then the greedy Premier League argument is, more than likely, merely a furphy, as many clubs further down the pyramid will not survive an indefinite closure.

If a restart can happen, but only in September or January and only if the current season is ended and a new one begun, then the likelihood is that covid cases will still be occurring, even in smaller numbers. And if this is the case, then the caring-about-the-ill/infected/bereaved argument becomes weaker too. How can anything begin again while there is still a risk of any more lives being lost? Or is the argument that at some, unspecified time, a limited number of infections and deaths is permissible? And if so, what is the cut off point, who decides it and who will spare a thought for those deemed unworthy?

And if football should have been indefinitely closed down, shouldn't the same apply to other places of large gatherings, specifically pubs and clubs? Or are you who oppose the restart as vociferous about pubs reopening? I, for one hope not. In my opinion, English pubs aren't what they once were (we adjusted to that new normal though), but they are better than nothing. I hate to imagine, however, how many would survive an even more protracted close down. Are landlords and breweries as guilty of greed as football clubs, for wanting to reopen, regardless of new covid cases.

I know that I have no right to question, being Anglo Australian and a Liverpool supporter, but I'm starved of football debate and the opinions on here do leave me curious.

I can't wait to see live (on telly) football again. I want us to be champions. I want to see you fight for the cups and the battle for European qualification (whatever that may mean). I want to see who goes down and who comes up. I feel sad for the lower leagues, but understand what was done and why. I hope leagues 1 and 2 and all of the others get to start again soon, even with the Liverpool women in the second tier. Eventually, everything has to start to move forward. Bring it on....
When you start changing rules in every possible way during a season then you are on thin ice. I still think that stopping season (giving you trophy and working on other things regarding promotions, relegations, places for cups and so on) should be done. After you fix all this you start working on next season and in wich way it should be played.
 
Tell that to all those who lost someone.

Those people talking about safety are not wrong. Take a walk to a hospital and ask what doctors think. I am more suprised about those who say ”let us play, who cares about people in general”

Football's never really been good at pausing when tragedy happens. Season was carried on after Hillsborough, they played on the night of 9/11 somehow and also Confed Cup wasn't cancelled after Marc Vivien Foe collapsed and died which was a scandal.

Last few months have been horrific but ultimately life has to go on. I was terribly upset when my Nan died. I went to a football match two days later.
 
When you start changing rules in every possible way during a season then you are on thin ice. I still think that stopping season (giving you trophy and working on other things regarding promotions, relegations, places for cups and so on) should be done. After you fix all this you start working on next season and in wich way it should be played.

So changing the rules by playing games behind closed doors or at neutral venues is unacceptable, but having final placings and therefore promotion and relegation decided by a panel of experts or an unlikely concensus of all interested parties is okay?

In my opinion, fabricating the final standings of the EPL and the Championship challenges the integrity of this season and next season. I wonder what it would take to persuade Villa to accept relegation or West Brom to accept not being promoted? Is it not more of a perversion of the rules to deny the previously agreed automatic promotion to occur, with all teams potentially in the running for that promotion being given as full a chance as possible to win their place in next season's EPL?

And what of Europe? Will UEFA accept England awarding places to next season's competition? Will Manchester United accept being denied the chance to claim a top 4 finish? If UEFA expects the 19-20 competitions to complete, are English clubs going to forfeit their places?

If the argument is no longer about health and safety, then, in my opinion, changing the rules to enable this season to finish is more equitable than fabricating the final standings, with all that this impacts on next season and thereafter.
 
Football's never really been good at pausing when tragedy happens. Season was carried on after Hillsborough, they played on the night of 9/11 somehow and also Confed Cup wasn't cancelled after Marc Vivien Foe collapsed and died which was a scandal.

Last few months have been horrific but ultimately life has to go on. I was terribly upset when my Nan died. I went to a football match two days later.
First and most, I’m sorry for your lost.

Everybody reacts differently. I agree that football haven’t been good to pause when tragedies happens but on other hand this is a unique situation from those you mentioned. For me, this (Starting) is only about money. Not because of love for football.

When it starts I really hope that everything goes smoothly but we all know we could have done differently and finished the season in right way. Not changing pretty much every rule just to keep going.
 
EFL have voted for an unweighted ppg system if the seasons are curtailed - but retain playoffs. L1 & L2 voting later today on curtailment. Could be good news for Wycombe who will then make the playoffs and face Fleetwood but not so good for Tranmere who will go down. As we know from the PL and other leagues no conclusion to this season is perfect (including finishing the season BCD) but I’m glad to see clubs being rewarded for their efforts to date in what is probably the least worst option.

@Sandikan you must be a happy man today.
 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52705124

League Two clubs have formally voted to bring their season to a conclusion.

It follows a meeting between English Football League sides on Tuesday, during which it was agreed to keep promotion, relegation and play-offs.

The league table will be settled by a points-per-game format, meaning Swindon, Crewe and Plymouth go up and Stevenage are set to go down.

Clubs in League One are due to vote later on Tuesday to decide whether or not to bring their season to an end.

In order for a campaign to be curtailed, 51% of sides in any given EFL division need to agree to it - which could pave the way for the third-tier to be cancelled after teams had previously been split over a resolution.

Talks stalled after at least six clubs, including Sunderland, Portsmouth and Ipswich Town, said they wanted to continue the season.

Elite football in England has been suspended since 13 March because of coronavirus, with only the Premier League and Championship so far committing to resuming their seasons later this month.
 
So changing the rules by playing games behind closed doors or at neutral venues is unacceptable, but having final placings and therefore promotion and relegation decided by a panel of experts or an unlikely concensus of all interested parties is okay?

In my opinion, fabricating the final standings of the EPL and the Championship challenges the integrity of this season and next season. I wonder what it would take to persuade Villa to accept relegation or West Brom to accept not being promoted? Is it not more of a perversion of the rules to deny the previously agreed automatic promotion to occur, with all teams potentially in the running for that promotion being given as full a chance as possible to win their place in next season's EPL?

And what of Europe? Will UEFA accept England awarding places to next season's competition? Will Manchester United accept being denied the chance to claim a top 4 finish? If UEFA expects the 19-20 competitions to complete, are English clubs going to forfeit their places?

If the argument is no longer about health and safety, then, in my opinion, changing the rules to enable this season to finish is more equitable than fabricating the final standings, with all that this impacts on next season and thereafter.
Just seen a couple of your posts here which seem quite clear, calm and balanced. People may not agree with them entirely but no rants.

Are you SURE you're a Liverpool fan? :)
 
EFL have voted for an unweighted ppg system if the seasons are curtailed - but retain playoffs. L1 & L2 voting later today on curtailment. Could be good news for Wycombe who will then make the playoffs and face Fleetwood but not so good for Tranmere who will go down. As we know from the PL and other leagues no conclusion to this season is perfect (including finishing the season BCD) but I’m glad to see clubs being rewarded for their efforts to date in what is probably the least worst option.

@Sandikan you must be a happy man today.

I think we were always ok for the playoffs - it was just scrabbling around whether it'd be 3rd or 6th on PPF weighted or not!

Some of the saltiness from other clubs has been outrageous, saying how much of a disgrace it is we'll bounce from 8th to 3rd.

The truth is that we were in the top 6 all season bar the last game week - when because Bury were kicked out, we didn't have a game.
Now how would it be fair if we missed out simply due to having no fixture!

The places are so tight, that you can feel a little sorry for Peterborough, until you listen to their chairman who is an arrogant, entitled, aggressive numpty of a bloke. Threatening to sue the league was an incredible threat!

3 games away from the championship then - the promised land for small clubs. A shame it's in these circumstances, and that half of next season would be behind closed doors potentially, but we'd take it, it'd be a huge life saver!
 
Why did they cancel so early?
Can't remember exactly, but probably this has something to do with it:



If it's prohibited by the government, there was no use waiting around for anything.
 
Can't remember exactly, but probably this has something to do with it:



If it's prohibited by the government, there was no use waiting around for anything.

Well that was an own goal. Even now thats 3 months away, which is madness.
 
So changing the rules by playing games behind closed doors or at neutral venues is unacceptable, but having final placings and therefore promotion and relegation decided by a panel of experts or an unlikely concensus of all interested parties is okay?

In my opinion, fabricating the final standings of the EPL and the Championship challenges the integrity of this season and next season. I wonder what it would take to persuade Villa to accept relegation or West Brom to accept not being promoted? Is it not more of a perversion of the rules to deny the previously agreed automatic promotion to occur, with all teams potentially in the running for that promotion being given as full a chance as possible to win their place in next season's EPL?

And what of Europe? Will UEFA accept England awarding places to next season's competition? Will Manchester United accept being denied the chance to claim a top 4 finish? If UEFA expects the 19-20 competitions to complete, are English clubs going to forfeit their places?

If the argument is no longer about health and safety, then, in my opinion, changing the rules to enable this season to finish is more equitable than fabricating the final standings, with all that this impacts on next season and thereafter.

When you say "fabricating" the standings for the EPL and champ, they're not though are they. They're playing the games out. Unless you're meaning being behind closed doors, and your club being allowed to swerve a few aways etc.

If you're actually meaning the lower leagues, it's still not "fabricating" standings, it's taking an evidence based method of the 3/4 of the season played so far.
Without the resources of the top 2 leagues to play the games out, what better solution could there possibly be?!
 
So changing the rules by playing games behind closed doors or at neutral venues is unacceptable, but having final placings and therefore promotion and relegation decided by a panel of experts or an unlikely concensus of all interested parties is okay?

In my opinion, fabricating the final standings of the EPL and the Championship challenges the integrity of this season and next season. I wonder what it would take to persuade Villa to accept relegation or West Brom to accept not being promoted? Is it not more of a perversion of the rules to deny the previously agreed automatic promotion to occur, with all teams potentially in the running for that promotion being given as full a chance as possible to win their place in next season's EPL?

And what of Europe? Will UEFA accept England awarding places to next season's competition? Will Manchester United accept being denied the chance to claim a top 4 finish? If UEFA expects the 19-20 competitions to complete, are English clubs going to forfeit their places?

If the argument is no longer about health and safety, then, in my opinion, changing the rules to enable this season to finish is more equitable than fabricating the final standings, with all that this impacts on next season and thereafter.
It is not just playing behind closed doors. Contracts that expire, sponsors that changes, transfer windows, subs, social distance training (whatever that is). You can't change rules during a season. Therefore go with PPG or table as it stands. Now you got a season that will be hurried and as soon as it ends next one begins. Those who play in Europe will get less resting time before next season starts.

UEFA could try to go against big leagues and will fail. There is always discussion about SuperLeague and UEFA would not dare to do anything. They can talk as much as they want but when it matters they would stand no chance. According to you this means no teams from Netherlands, France, Belgium will participate next year. I'm not that sure.

I have talked little bit about health but my reason is that there are to many problems with playing football this season. I understand that it will start again but in my opinion it is wrong.
 
First and most, I’m sorry for your lost.

Everybody reacts differently. I agree that football haven’t been good to pause when tragedies happens but on other hand this is a unique situation from those you mentioned. For me, this (Starting) is only about money. Not because of love for football.

When it starts I really hope that everything goes smoothly but we all know we could have done differently and finished the season in right way. Not changing pretty much every rule just to keep going.

TBF it was six years ago rather than in current climate but thanks anyway.:)

Yeah it is about money primarily, certainly wouldn't disagree with that but I do think it's important within next month some normality starts to happen again and ultimately live sport in some form is part of that.

I do actually think it's starting a few weeks too early given there's still higher deaths than Italy and Spain and obviously Germany. Would've started 1st July as you can still finish season by mid August.
 
3 games away from the championship then - the promised land for small clubs. A shame it's in these circumstances, and that half of next season would be behind closed doors potentially, but we'd take it, it'd be a huge life saver!

Yep it could turn out to be a great end to a very strange season for you especially if Utd also make the CL and win a trophy. I’m still very cautious about the PL restarting. They deserve credit In terms of logistics and appear to have got the right protocols in place. But the govt’s handling of the wider situation still leaves a small doubt that it will all go smoothly.
 
I believe this season will be finished.

UK 3 week lock down means we're looking until at least April 17th. From here, worst case scenario give it 1 month for cases starting to decline = May 17th.

Give it another 2 weeks we're looking at June 1st. Then you give players 2 weeks to get their fitness up and you're looking at football starting back up again Middle to the Third week of June.

It's only 9 game weeks and they will play two games a week.

They will get this season done lads. I know as United fans and just using logic overall it's best we scrap all football but it won't be done - primarily for economic factors.
Can i have next week lottery numbers? Pretty much ran on that exact timeline apart from cases going down, try a month earlier ;)
 
No PL but Coventry is celebrating. At least a square full of people judging by Football Away Days' live feed on FB. Surely this will happen in Liverpool/Leeds etcetera too. That's a bigger health threat than players infecting one another.
 
Yep it could turn out to be a great end to a very strange season for you especially if Utd also make the CL and win a trophy. I’m still very cautious about the PL restarting. They deserve credit In terms of logistics and appear to have got the right protocols in place. But the govt’s handling of the wider situation still leaves a small doubt that it will all go smoothly.

3 playoff games max for a team in leagues 1 and 2 is one thing, but 9 games plus cups for the Premier players surely rests on a knife edge.
It's all been a little sketchy about what happens if a couple of players get ill from a team. Do they have a 2 week quarantine, or do the non infected presume they're not showing symptoms yet, so must be ok?

The thing that does work in United's favour in theory, is the Europa being run totally separate at the end of the season. It's a perfect fall back plan if top 4 (or 5 with the City verdict to come) goes tits up.
Instead of it all being mixed in and the quandry of trying to go all in for both.
 
3 playoff games max for a team in leagues 1 and 2 is one thing, but 9 games plus cups for the Premier players surely rests on a knife edge.
It's all been a little sketchy about what happens if a couple of players get ill from a team. Do they have a 2 week quarantine, or do the non infected presume they're not showing symptoms yet, so must be ok?

The thing that does work in United's favour in theory, is the Europa being run totally separate at the end of the season. It's a perfect fall back plan if top 4 (or 5 with the City verdict to come) goes tits up.
Instead of it all being mixed in and the quandry of trying to go all in for both.
Quarentine was for when they couldn't mass test the players, Spurs had a positive results post contact training starting so they tested everyone again then carried on.
 
Cool, thanks for telling me how I feel.

Also, something I've read quite a bit is that people have missed it (obviously I missed it, I love watching football), but that the re-start as it is planned is not something that is getting them excited. That's exactly how I feel - the end of the season for me is going to be like watching pre-season friendlies with no atmosphere, I think I'm perfectly entitled to say that I'm not excited about this without some random person on an internet forum thinking he's armchair psychologist who knows what's going on in my mind.

I also live in Madrid where the crisis has been absolutely horrendous, and where I was on lockdown for 2 months only being allowed out for grocery shopping. I saw an ice rink transformed into a makeshift morgue and while I don't know anyone directly who passed away from the virus, I have friends of friends or relatives of friends who have. So yes, in light of the past few months, certain things just don't have the same importance as they might have done before.

It's great you don't feel this way, and that you're excited about the re-start, but it would be nice if you could spare us of what you think is going on in other people's minds because frankly, you have no clue.

Look don't lay that on me, I know what happened in Madrid, and everywhere else virus related , but I was talking about football restarting, and not sure I was generalising to that extent, more a case of there are too many saying this atm, like they're trying to convince themselves, or row in with the current trend.

If you feel this way just don't watch it, ''armchair psychologist' here really doesn't care what you do or how you feel about it.