PL Season could be lost

[Stephen Paul]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52079717

Now talking July behind closed doors  Fer fuck sake

[Stephen Paul]

In all honesty with the NHS struggling to cope , people losing jobs , folk dying at random

It should be scrapped now , who really gives a fook at this present time

[KunDB]

It is the old greed and selfishness of football, money, money, money over public health. It disgusts me when they try to set it up as an act of goodness to raise the nations moral, when it is clearly all about money - clubs fearing losing the PL TV money for this season.

Well said Stephen, this is life or death, not football. PL, UEFA and FA get your morals and priorities sorted, show common decency.

[lee]

sack it off now..who gives a fuck about football right now...i dont!!

[KunDB]

‘Isolated World Cup style camps’ to finish this PL season is being muted, according to The Independent. Players, staff, media, officials all put in separate hotels for duration.

“A cultural event as big as the Premier League returning would be seen as a big step in the return to normality, as well as a psychological boost to the nation. There is also the competition’s part in getting the economy moving, especially given the size of the TV event the games would be, driving industries from advertising to gambling.”

Have they forgotten it is only those who can afford to pay the exorbitant fees to Sky and/or BT (both if you want to watch all your clubs games) who get to watch the games.

IMO More highlighting the nations rich poor divide than uniting the nation providing a ‘psychological boost’ and raising moral. I presume over 75’s who have lost their free tv licence and are most at risk from this virus won’t be able to afford to watch, those on Universal Credit (including the 500,000 new cases in the last fortnight  now having to sign on as a result of this virus) or those on zero hour contracts or low wages requiring dependence on benefits to barely survive. 

Just more spin and bullshit by an incompetent government and its politicians to deflect from their mega failures to address this crisis properly. Warmly embraced by football clubs (and their marketing departments) desperate to avoid any significant financial hit at any cost to avoid the gravy train derailing.

Disgusting and low morals, Suitably displayed by the hyperbole used:
“A cultural event as big as the Premier League returning would be seen as a big step in the return to normality” and “There is also the competition’s part in getting the economy The gambling economy I presume that football so heavily relies upon for income.

The real motivation is revealed:
“The huge broadcasting contracts and other financial concerns have increased the pressure on clubs to complete the season, but one considerable advantage to the idea is that it would be a “TV mega-event””.

I could bore more ranting but I won’t. Just open your eyes and your minds. Football v lives lost en masse.   

[lee]

My mum is hospital for 2 days now with severe pneumonia and she tested positive for Covid 19 yesterday 

[gavin]

Bugger, I hope she recovers soon Lee.

[KunDB]

My mum is hospital for 2 days now with severe pneumonia and she tested positive for Covid 19 yesterday 

I’m am so sorry to hear that.

Please god all will be well and she recovers.

A tough time for you and your family Lee. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. 

[bluebrendan]

My mum is hospital for 2 days now with severe pneumonia and she tested positive for Covid 19 yesterday 

Best wishes to your mum, Lee, hope she makes a full recovery.

[goat]

shit, sorry mate

[Stephen Paul]

My mum is hospital for 2 days now with severe pneumonia and she tested positive for Covid 19 yesterday 

best wishes for your mum Lee 

[The Blue Blooded Maniac]

Sorry to hear about your mam Lee mate. Here's to a speedy recovery mate.

[Hesperus]

My mum is hospital for 2 days now with severe pneumonia and she tested positive for Covid 19 yesterday 

Hope she’s ok Mate.

[KunDB]

Lee, I hope your Mum is defeating this horrible deadly virus. My thoughts and prayers are with your Mum and family. I hope your Mum gets well very soon.

[The Blue Blooded Maniac]

Fekin Belgium's giving them ideas

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/32461/11967444/coronavirus-belgian-season-to-end-club-brugge-to-be-awarded-title

[lee]

Thanks everyone..They are taking her home today..She's on the mend!! Thank fuck for that!!

[lee]

Fekin Belgium's giving them ideas

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/32461/11967444/coronavirus-belgian-season-to-end-club-brugge-to-be-awarded-title

Only 1 game left in that league so make sense i suppose.
We still have 30 points to play for and who knows if the scousers would win another match!!

Bin it

[The Blue Blooded Maniac]

Thanks everyone..They are taking her home today..She's on the mend!! Thank fuck for that!!

Mint! Nice one lad!!

Only 1 game left in that league so make sense i suppose.
We still have 30 points to play for and who knows if the scousers would win another match!!

Bin it

It also says on that link that the Belgium league has a play off between the top 6 to decide who is champion?


Club Brugge were 15 points clear with one game remaining of the Belgian regular season, after which the top six teams would have competed in a play-off competition to determine who was crowned champion.


If that's the case then that is very strange that they would have awarded it to Brugge.

[gavin]

Thanks everyone..They are taking her home today..She's on the mend!! Thank fuck for that!!

Great, made up she made it old pal.

[KunDB]

Thanks everyone..They are taking her home today..She's on the mend!! Thank fuck for that!!

Great news, delighted for you both.

[Stephen Paul]

Thanks everyone..They are taking her home today..She's on the mend!! Thank fuck for that!!

Great news mate

[bluebrendan]

Thanks everyone..They are taking her home today..She's on the mend!! Thank fuck for that!!

Excellent!

[Hesperus]

Thanks everyone..They are taking her home today..She's on the mend!! Thank fuck for that!!

Great news! You must be very relieved.

[Paddy]

Lee. Hope it all goes well. Will say a prayer

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Thanks everyone..They are taking her home today..She's on the mend!! Thank fuck for that!!

Sorry - coming late to this one. So glad to hear she's okay Lee.

[Stephen Paul]

PL season seems so irrelevant now with most fans not giving a toss what happens

seems a distant past already 

[KunDB]

PL season seems so irrelevant now with most fans not giving a toss what happens

seems a distant past already

Absolutely agree.

[silvablue]

City, if they were to make the final of the CL and FA Cup would have a minimum of 17 games to play. 10 PL, 4 CL and 3 FA Cup. The latter two competitions played as one-leg affairs is the presumption.

That would mean that if football returned June 1 and City were to play a game every third day, June 1, June 4, June 7 etc. it would take City until the 19th July to complete all their fixtures.

That would be an exhausting schedule and present a high risk of injuries to the players and next season would have to commence late to allow a proper transfer window and pre-season training.

Let's face it that is just unrealistic and would not bring about fair results, as many other teams would have much more time and rest between games.

Liverpool would probably win their two games to secure the PL title and then rest their key players Salah, Firminho, Mane, Virgil (all due to niggling injuries, of course), or more true to form they could field their under 18 team for their remaining fixtures.

Same possibly for other teams once they are safe from relegation, or cannot reach a European place. Just rest key players for next season, why not.

Not much of a fair finish to the league.

In reality a sham, not the 'Festival of football' branding they are pushing, to ensure clubs don't have to repay the TV money they have already spent.

League should be voided asap, stop buggering around.

[Neil Mcnab]

I agree with Silvablue an exhausting schedule. They will have had the longest break most players will ever have outside of injury and retirement. May have to put up with this season and next season being seamless. No pre season training then. They will need to bin off some of the international friendlies that normally go on during the season and they have a mini break in the winter already. That should do it. Football lives off television money and all clubs will need to provide a spectacle to get the cash rolling in. I think they will adjust the transfer window/s, that is the other cash cow for most clubs.

[gavin]

We have a strong enough squad to win games and rest a good number of players in the league. Pep doesn't like to prioritise but he would have to.

[Stephen Paul]

quite alot of players contracts up end of June , so another headache

Some teams already saying they will have to play weakened teams

Its going to be a huge cock up but they will have to keep the Scousers happy at all costs to satisfy all the Asian fans who pay millions to watch

I generally believe if City had been 25 odd points ahead at this stage the league would have been voided   

[Gareth]

I'm becoming resigned to the idea that I won't see David Silva play in a sky blue shirt again...

[Stephen Paul]

I'm becoming resigned to the idea that I won't see David Silva play in a sky blue shirt again...

big problem Gareth , but I hope something is sorted . This guy is up there with Bell

[Neil Mcnab]

I am hoping we will have a load of games fairly soon, Merlin being at the forefront. Whatever happens with the chumps league, he will want to be involved, he has won most of the other prizes available.

[Stephen Paul]

not so sure now if the season will complete

[lee]

Mum passed away this morning at 8.30 from c19

She loved City.Signed me up to the Jr Blues when i was 10.
Seen us win the lot over the past 10 years...

Heartbroken

[KunDB]

So sorry to hear this sad news.

[silvablue]

Mum passed away this morning at 8.30 from c19

She loved City.Signed me up to the Jr Blues when i was 10.
Seen us win the lot over the past 10 years...

Heartbroken

RIP - Our thoughts and prayers are with you and for your Mum.

[The Blue Blooded Maniac]

Awful news Lee mate. Make sure you take good care of yourself mate.

[Stephen Paul]

Mum passed away this morning at 8.30 from c19

She loved City.Signed me up to the Jr Blues when i was 10.
Seen us win the lot over the past 10 years...

Heartbroken

So sorry to here this Lee
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family circle
RIP 

[Gareth]

So sorry to hear this sad news, Lee. There’s no words, really; but our thoughts are with you.

[gavin]

Best wishes pal, so sorry that this has happened.

[Hesperus]

Mum passed away this morning at 8.30 from c19

She loved City.Signed me up to the Jr Blues when i was 10.
Seen us win the lot over the past 10 years...

Heartbroken

So sorry Mate. That’s awful news. Glad she got to see City win so much. Lost my mum a year and half ago. Tough times mate. Take care.

[bluebrendan]

So sorry about your Mum, Lee. Condolences to you and your family.

[goat]

Mum passed away this morning at 8.30 from c19

She loved City.Signed me up to the Jr Blues when i was 10.
Seen us win the lot over the past 10 years...

Heartbroken

only just seen this, sorry lee

[lee]

thanks lads..appreciate the messages


so can we just bin the  season...my mum would have loved the scousers getting nowt 

[goat]

i think give them the title but put a massive * next to it

[gavin]

They're going to have a hell of a job to get it finished. The Chumps is almost certainly doomed for this season.

[KunDB]

Playing behind closed doors, neutral venues, title will spark wild celebrations and public gatherings, and so on and so on. Simple fact is the season needs voided, but hasn't been due to money over health which is a disgrace. At some point they are going to have to face the hard reality and cancel.

Playing on with half fit players, half motivated players, no fans, teams enjoying advantages as they played another team at their stadium while the other team has to play them at a neutral venue, no use of home training grounds means underprepared teams, ALL THAT EQUALS NO INTEGRITY TO PLAYING ON.

Liverpool Mayor even says the idea of continuing is ludicrous and dangerous.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52484530

[Gareth]

But as you say yourself, it's not about integrity, it's about money.

[Stephen Paul]

like most fans feel right now . Fuck this season and fuck the FA

We have more things to worry about , Family, jobs and staying safe 

[goat]

But as you say yourself, it's not about integrity, it's about money.

wouldnt be surprised if its sky pushing for it to finish

[silvablue]

wouldnt be surprised if its sky pushing for it to finish

Probably spot on, but with support of many complicit PL clubs.

[The Blue Blooded Maniac]

French league have called it a day gifting the title to PSG.

[lee]

Liverpool mayor is an Everton fan 

He's right though.Them scousers wont be able to help themselves!!

[goat]

candles and kopparberg bottles as far as the eye can see

[Paddy]

So sorry Lee, please accept my heart felt condolences. Haven't been on here for a few days

[Stephen Paul]

playing behind closed doors
No relegation
players now concerned

for fook sake what is the point

[gavin]

There has to be relegation or it is mostly just friendlies. There's no point in going to all the trouble for kick abouts.

[lee]

no relegations but scousers win the league!!! 

i would refuse to play

[Stephen Paul]

now club doctors are saying its not a good idea to continue

Neville saying the FA are a farce


Its worse than fuckin Brexit

[KunDB]

The desire to play on at any cost to avoid a financial hit is embarrassing; no matter how they dress it up in noble causes like lifting the nations spirits.

[The Blue Blooded Maniac]

Talk of doing it in Oz aswell now with shorter match lengths. Nobody is arsed anymore. Just give the dippers the cup and move one.

[Hesperus]

I just find it all quite crass at the moment to be even discussing it. It’s all about the money in an area that’s already awash with it.

[Stephen Paul]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52542756

Getting embarrassing now

Whats next

cones for goal posts 
last man in goals 
 

[Neil Mcnab]

Gordon Taylor says, it must be right then.

[KunDB]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52601471

Bundesliga: Dynamo Dresden's entire squad in isolation just a week before restart

Germany's R rate now up to 1.1. Another awful sign.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/brighton-player-coronavirus-test-positive-latest-a9507191.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52605961

Coronavirus: Third Brighton player tests positive

Restarting the PL thinking I assume being: But hey guys, we the PL need the money to stay the richest league in the world, to keep ourselves rolling in riches. We can afford a few or more deaths just to maintain that and avoid having to pay TV money back.

Players and their families should be top of the agenda and any sensible person would see it just does not make any sense restarting this PL season (other than financial is the primary and overriding factor in all decisions).

[gavin]

Who are these sensible people? And why are they not in charge of something, anything, PLEASE!

[KunDB]

On a micro level examining a PL restart.

What’s the chance of clubs and players adhering to, or God forbid breaching, the agreed Health and Safety rules to protect players. layers families and others from this deadly virus, um as an (close to home) example let’s say Kyle Walker. Is Sergio and Merlin and KdB, Pep and Co. happy to trust old Kyle not to break the rules and endanger teir family members and their selves.

Are players going to be required to sacrifice their family lives (isolate themselves from their families and spouses {like Clerical celibacy]) for nearly 2 months for the greater good of football finances?

The PL is full of Kyle Walker types.

[Hesperus]

What I don’t understand is the UK government says it’s not ok for the public to play football together unless it’s with members of their own household but PL footballers are ok to do it? What’s the difference?

I Suppose all the footballers could move in together? Sterling and Gomez could share a room.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

What a total farce.  Similar stuff going on here as they desperately try to get Rugby League (facing financial ruin) and Australian Rules Football (facing a big financial hit) going in some sort of Big Brother style isolation 'Hubs' . Players already breaking the rules (Kyle Walker style, with unregistered motor bikes and unregistered guns...) and closed State borders complicating things for Queensland and Western Australian teams. Will only take a few infections and the whole thing will come to a grinding halt.

(Lee - I am so sorry to read your sad news. Like Paddy, I've been off the forum for a few days. My condolences to you and all your family. Take care, and the best to you) 

[Stephen Paul]

Boris isn't helping with his comical speeches

Go out, stay in, go out , stay in , control the virus

for fucks sake man grow a set of balls

[Lekos]

Mum passed away this morning at 8.30 from c19

She loved City.Signed me up to the Jr Blues when i was 10.
Seen us win the lot over the past 10 years...

Heartbroken

Ahh shit man. Really sorry to hear that fella. 

[gavin]

The lads are back in training. Looks like football could be back in a few weeks now. I still have very mixed feelings about it. It is going to be very weird.

[KunDB]

Same here, though I think it is outrageous and still not convinced it will go smoothly (Hudson-Odoi, Walker and other idiots will endanger team mates and their famiy members).

Looking forward to return of this brilliant City team, and in particular the return leg against Real Madrid I the CL, hopefully taking place at some point. Will be good to see Merlin on the pitch perhaps for the final time.

Though, it will be weird with no fans atmosphere at the ground.

[The Blue Blooded Maniac]

Though, it will be weird with no fans atmosphere at the ground.

The rags will have an advantage with this as they have had neither for years now

[Neil Mcnab]

The Bundesliga has been a success so far and barring any big failure shows it is doable. Expect it all to kick off soon. Why not, primary schools are back for some in June. The teachers will run themselves ragged for the first few days social distancing and then realise it cant be done.

[Stephen Paul]

the decision is made , its just a matter of when

It will be farcical no matter what the outcome

[lee]

Burney and Watford players/staff tested positive.

Troy Deeney nailed it for me who is not turning up for training


"I can't get a haircut until mid-July but I can go and get in a box with 19 people and go and jump for a header "

[KunDB]

No WSL finish, going to be voided! FA Cup might not be finished as little time available for the remaining quarter, semi and final games to be scheduled and CL may not be played out now due to quarantine rules or may be played out in one country.

Strange how the PL has total ascendency. If I was City I would say ALL or NONE.

[Stephen Paul]

But they say it will be good for the nation to play the league out on TV

Not so sure about that

It seems to be one rule for the working class and the rest can do whatever the fuck they want 

[Neil Mcnab]

If you work at Asda you have been working through it, at a hospital exposed to it on a daily basis. PL footballers will have the best of the best. None will have bat flu when they play. There is risk in everything, get on with it I say.

[lee]

How can anyone think about football when this is still going on? It KILLS and has devastating consequences.
Trust me i know!

[Gareth]

How can anyone think about football when this is still going on? It KILLS and has devastating consequences.
Trust me i know!

Point is, they're not thinking about football. It's about the "content" they agreed to sell to broadcasters (worldwide), that they have to find a way to provide or else they have to give the money back. That specific consequence is regarded as more devastating than all the others put together.

[KunDB]

If you work at Asda you have been working through it, at a hospital exposed to it on a daily basis. PL footballers will have the best of the best. None will have bat flu when they play. There is risk in everything, get on with it I say.

And they (Supermarket, NHS, Care Home & Domiciliary staff, Bus and Train staff, plus more) have not been properly protected. Resulting in many many of them dying or suffering life changing disabilities. The stats show these very poorly paid and poorly protected workers on bottom rung minimum wage incomes, disproportionately BAME, suffered the greatest consequences of the virus 🦠 pandemic.

The PL or any other sport should not be adding stress to the NHS or consuming PPE resources that even now Care Homes and many NHS staff have and are being denied. To call it 'Bat Flu' shows a total ignorance of this deadly virus, and you cannot know PL footballers will not be carrying it when playing this physical close contact sport as testing no matter how extensive only reduces (not eliminates) risk and players can be asymptomatic.

We know Care Homes still have insufficient PPE and staff and patients have still not all been tested and retested. We also now know nearly a third of tests performed on NHS and Care Home staff have returned incorrect results (people with Coronavirus returned as negative and occasionally vice-versa) and the number of tests carried out have been subject to extensive double counting and creative accounting by this government.

As Troy Deeney stated, it is too dangerous to get a hair cut but physical contact football is fine.

Your statement could be interpreted as society not having given a toss for the welfare of some of societies poorest as being a good and handy excuse for the PL to carry on the PL. The reality is the reason for playing on is financial grounds alone 'No Refund of TV Money' and nothing to do with national morale other than a cover excuse.

The government want it to restart solely to distract from their gigantic incompetence and failings (Lockdown too late, Test, Trace & Isolate abandoned, Care Homes exposed to virus by Hospitals not testing patients being dis charged to them) in this crisis. The result of this incompetence has been over 60,000 deaths (not the 5pm daily stated total of near 37,000 currently). The daily briefings seek to hide this true figure (and now their comparison charts for the UK v other countries because they now show the UK is the worse in Europe).

The PL money can be recouped later through future TV contracts the 60,000 plus lost lives are loved ones lost and gone forever. Many of the survivors will forever more live with the disabilities the disease has caused them.

Neil think again.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Hard to see how this will work if teams suffer outbreaks and get quarantined for two weeks at a time. Fixture list will be chaos, or teams will be making up numbers with reserves and school boys ?

Over here we are going to attempt to restart our Australian Rules season next month, with teams now in quarantine lock down in various sports/hotel complexes around the country in preparation. Provisional fixture list released today, but many suspect it will all grind to a halt if the virus breaches two or three of these quarantine 'hubs'.