General Premier League Thread 2019-20

Baggly

Reading some transfer gossip this morning (force of habit) and it all seems so rediculous given whats happening. Staff not being paid by Barca, yet they have lined up signings for the summer. United looking at rightbacks they dont need. Players running down contracts and clubs looking for inflated fees so they dont lose them for free.

Football would be great if we returned to early 2000's spending, which was crazy - but not this crazy.

Chuck Noland

ozzy jr wrote: »

I wonder why they didn't try and play this behind closed doors?

It would have been straight forward to play an individual sport played at one venue over two weeks.

Strain on the emergency services and implementation of social distancing were mentioned

joeguevara

Chuck Noland wrote: »

Strain on the emergency services and implementation of social distancing were mentioned

Restrictions on players is a huge issue. A lot of countries have no in or out. Mainly the perception is the main issue. While U.K. death toll rises, having a sporting event, even behind closed doors would be seen as disgraceful. Postponement is also not a possibility as it is lawn tennis and weather is an issue.

Guy:Incognito

joeguevara wrote: »

Postponement is also not a possibility as it is lawn tennis and weather is an issue.

Yeah, itd be terrible if they postponed Wimbledon and then it rained....:D

irelandrover

So the Dutch FA are saying the season could be completed by August 3rd but clubs seem against this. Worth noting that its Ajax speaking out against it and saying just cancel the season.

Cancel Dutch season

https://twitter.com/Independent/status/1245613988219473928?s=19

is_that_so

Article here from The Athletic on the legal issues around expiring contracts.

Basic gist of it for those who don't have an account.

One of the most complicated issues is how to finish the current season in Europe, where many players’ contracts expire on June 30, a hard deadline to end one season and start another that nobody expected would be forced to move.

“If the season is to be extended beyond June 30, clubs are going to want to extend some of their expiring contracts, but they are unlikely to want to hand out new three-year deals, so they are very likely to be short-term deals,” says Nick De Marco QC, a barrister with Blackstone Chambers.

FIFA says the “three core matters” that must be addressed are expiring contracts, the “appropriate timing” for the next transfer window (currently scheduled to open on July 1) and “frustrated” agreements that can no longer be fulfilled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

https://theathletic.com/1716043/2020/04/02/coronavirus-premier-league-football-contracts-season-finish/

ozzy jr

Chuck Noland wrote: »

Strain on the emergency services and implementation of social distancing were mentioned

joeguevara wrote: »

While U.K. death toll rises, having a sporting event, even behind closed doors would be seen as disgraceful.

Yet some people here are convinced the football season will be completed over a few days behind closed doors.

joeguevara

ozzy jr wrote: »

Yet some people here are convinced the football season will be completed over a few days behind closed doors.

I’m nearly sure that this has been posted previously but behind closed doors won’t work due to the fact that fans will congregate as close to where it’s being played. See PSG fans below. If the virus is still there to require matches to be played behind closed doors it would be meaningless if fans were there anyway, albeit outside. Police would have to control crowd which puts them in infection risk.

https://youtu.be/MedwHFNNl7M

ozzy jr

ozzy jr wrote: »

Yet some people here are convinced the football season will be completed over a few days behind closed doors.

Isn't that something the premier league is contemplating? Doubt it's a boards.ie initiative!

People seem convinced about a lot of things

Iused2likebusts

joeguevara wrote: »

I’m nearly sure that this has been posted previously but behind closed doors won’t work due to the fact that fans will congregate as close to where it’s being played. See PSG fans below. If the virus is still there to require matches to be played behind closed doors it would be meaningless if fans were there anyway, albeit outside. Police would have to control crowd which puts them in infection risk.

https://youtu.be/MedwHFNNl7M

When they gathered outside the world was in a different place with regard to how serious they were taking this virus. Some people on here would have been in pubs after that time and also gone to cheltenham and other sporting events so your comparing totally different times.

Iused2likebusts

ozzy jr wrote: »

Yet some people here are convinced the football season will be completed over a few days behind closed doors.

A few days you say.

Iused2likebusts

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

A few days you say.

Only 90 odd games!

joeguevara

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

When they gathered outside the world was in a different place with regard to how serious they were taking this virus. Some people on here would have been in pubs after that time and also gone to cheltenham and other sporting events so your comparing totally different times.

You are right. However, do you think hardcore fans/ultras will stay away? Do you think hordes of teenagers would stay away. It is different times for most but I still would expect a large contingent to be outside. But I do take your point.

MD1990

https://twitter.com/RorySmith/status/1245674616712048641

if the PL is voided.

Means no teams will be in Europe.

Belgian league finished early. All results stand.

ozzy jr

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

A few days you say.

Oh yes, it's been mentioned that it could be done "World Cup Style". I couldn't be arsed searching for it though.

ozzy jr

MD1990 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/RorySmith/status/1245674616712048641

if the PL is voided.

Means no teams will be in Europe.

Belgian league finished early. All results stand.

Yet relegation is still to be decided????

ozzy jr

ozzy jr wrote: »

Oh yes, it's been mentioned that it could be done "World Cup Style". I couldn't be arsed searching for it though.

World cups aren't played in a few days. It's a month of football.

joeguevara

MD1990 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/RorySmith/status/1245674616712048641

if the PL is voided.

Means no teams will be in Europe.

Belgian league finished early. All results stand.

Is there an official announcement on this rather than a tweet. It’s not bbc sport for example.

joeguevara

Also if true there is the following But an important caveat: Belgium has a playoff system after 30 games. They had played 29 of those games, and most of the affected teams had decent gaps. So effectively all they've done is cancel the playoffs. Not sure that solution would hold as easily in, say, Italy or Spain.

ozzy jr

ozzy jr wrote: »

Yet relegation is still to be decided????

Misrepresentation of the article

joeguevara

The decision hasn’t been ratified. According to Belgian news outlet Nieuwsblad, a newly formed group consisting of club directors Peter Croonen (Genk), Michel Louwagie (AA Gent), Eddy Cordier (Zulte Waregem), Jozef Allijns (KV Kortrijk) and Philippe Bormans (Union) are set to decide the final outcome with the overall decision yet to be ratified.

~Rebel~

joeguevara wrote: »

I’m not raving. I see stories about suspending European competition and internationals until further notice.

However I have seen no retraction from UEFA president Ceferin statement that said: Ceferin told Italian media outlet La Repubblica over the weekend: “There is a plan A, B and C. We can start in May, in June or the end of June. If we can’t do it on any of those three dates then the season probably would be lost.“.

I hope the season finishes. I’ve said that numerous times. To say I’m raving is a bit bizarre. If there is a retraction or uturn of Ceferin statement from a couple of days ago I apologise.

Why would you not quote the literally exact next words he said in the very same quote?

“ There is also the possibility to finish the season at the start of next season, with next season starting a little late.”

That final line totally changes the context of your quote and makes it look more like he’s talking about ‘season’ literally, as a time frame rather than a number of matches - as in, if we want to finish it in the period allocated towards a normal seasons playing time - rather than referring to it in the sense of finishing this full round of games.

So rather than the current 38 game series being lost, it seems more likely that he is referring to the actual time-frame of a season being lost, in that it has to roll into the following ‘season’.

In context this just makes much more sense, because otherwise he’s saying something like, ‘it has to be done on these dates or everything is lost! Or y’know we could just do it right after.’


Elsewhere, on the topic of behind-closed-doors, I think this has to happen regardless when football comes back, unless they wait 14-18 months. There won’t be a day when everything is suddenly ok, and everyone can flood out. It’ll be gradual. Restaurants will open before pubs, and things like concerts and matches will be the last to return with full attendances. So it’s most likely that loooong after we’ve passed the peak, we’ll still see major crowded events curtailed until there’s a vaccine widely available - which means for that interim period, behind closed doors is the likelihood.

~Rebel~

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Why would you not quite the literally exact next words he said in the very same quote?

“ There is also the possibility to finish the season at the start of next season, with next season starting a little late.”

That final line totally changes the context of your quote and makes it look more like he’s talking about ‘season’ literally - as in, if we want to finish it in the period allocated towards a normal seasons playing period - rather than referring to it in the sense of finishing this full round of games.

So rather than the current 38 game series being lost, it seems more that he is referring to the actual time-frame of a season being lost, is in that it has to roll into the following season.

Important bit to just leave out alright

Iused2likebusts

ozzy jr wrote: »

Oh yes, it's been mentioned that it could be done "World Cup Style". I couldn't be arsed searching for it though.

Ah ye the old 3 day world cup .

joeguevara

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Why would you not quite the literally exact next words he said in the very same quote?

“ There is also the possibility to finish the season at the start of next season, with next season starting a little late.”

That final line totally changes the context of your quote and makes it look more like he’s talking about ‘season’ literally - as in, if we want to finish it in the period allocated towards a normal seasons playing period - rather than referring to it in the sense of finishing this full round of games.

So rather than the current 38 game series being lost, it seems more that he is referring to the actual time-frame of a season being lost, is in that it has to roll into the following season.

Ok. Saying I was raving was out of order. If you are going to quote that line, finish it off with ‘ We will see the best solution for leagues and clubs’. None of this retracts his statement that the season will be lost if not restarted by 30 June. He not talking about timeframe. He is talking about the season.

~Rebel~

joeguevara wrote: »

Ok. Saying I was raving was out of order. If you are going to quote that line, finish it off with ‘ We will see the best solution for leagues and clubs’. None of this retracts his statement that the season will be lost if not restarted by 30 June. He not talking about timeframe. He is talking about the season.

Honestly, I simply disagree with your interpretation of his quotes... reading it the way you are makes him sound nonsensical “all is lost if we don’t start by 30th of June... unless we just do it a wee bit after”. We should keep in mind that these quotes are either translated after the fact, or he himself was speaking in his 2nd or 3rd language, which could explain it a bit.

(Also I didn’t ever say you were raving at any point...)

Rock77

So what’s the story today?

League ended early? Current positions stand?

Season null and void?

Season continues whenever football is back?

Nobody knows????

It’s quite funny how people get dragged into an argument about it, the only official line is they want to finish this season at some stage.

I haven’t heard an argument yet that changes my mind though. Season should finish whenever football is back.

Martin Tyler AgueroooOO

joeguevara wrote: »

While I have studied Company law, I am not an expert in it and have not practiced it to any great extent.
.

From a poster who told us he studied company law he leaves out the most important lines in quotes to suit own interpretation. I would not want that poster working for my company if he is prepared leave out major parts of articles.

ozzy jr

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Ah ye the old 3 day world cup .

Don't shoot the messenger!

The suggestion was multiple games a day, like in the World Cup (but you knew that).

joeguevara

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Honestly, I simply disagree with your interpretation of his quotes... reading it the way you are makes him sound nonsensical “all is lost if we don’t start by 30th of June... unless we just do it a wee bit after”. We should keep in mind that these quotes are either translated after the fact, or he himself was speaking in his 2nd or 3rd language, which could explain it a bit.

No problem with anyone disagreeing. That’s what makes this thread interesting. He does seem to contradict himself with his 4th option. We are going by what is reported in the Italian Newspaper rather than a pre-prepared statement. It would appear that his 4th option starting in August/September was a throwaway comment and his main point was A,B,C. We don’t know if he was asked a question by the reporter and his 4th option was the answer to that.

But as we are seeing in reports from Belgium it is looking like 4th option won’t work. As I have always said my preference is to play out season (as long as it is safe to do so). Spurs would have their best players back etc. But it is so up in the air it’s unreal.

Iused2likebusts

ozzy jr wrote: »

Don't shoot the messenger!

The suggestion was multiple games a day, like in the World Cup (but you knew that).

Multiple games a day for the same team or different teams. The world cup is 31 days. More than enough time to play out 9 games each if they decided to go down that route. Liverpool for example played 10 games between Dec 4 and Jan 5 and thats without including the aston villa carling cup game. That included flying to Austria and to the world club championship.

Iused2likebusts

joeguevara wrote: »

You are right. However, do you think hardcore fans/ultras will stay away? Do you think hordes of teenagers would stay away. It is different times for most but I still would expect a large contingent to be outside. But I do take your point.

I think the majority of us will all look at the world in a different way than we did 3 weeks ago. Behind closed doors sounded dreadful back then. It sounds great now when you consider the alternative. We have adapted to queuing to get into supermarkets, working from home, learning from home, not socialising, accepting that holidays are a no go, kids not playing with friends. Things will have to be eased at some stage as its not sustainable until a vaccine has been found to keep this up. When this happens industry(football included) needs a solution to get money circulating around the economy. People will adapt to holidaying in ireland, limited numbers in a pub, a shift to working from home by whoever possible and changes to how we watch football.

joeguevara

Martin Tyler AgueroooOO wrote: »

From a poster who told us he studied company law he leaves out the most important lines in quotes to suit own interpretation. I would not want that poster working for my company if he is prepared leave out major parts of articles.

I didn’t leave it out to suit own interpretation. I studied company law in2nd university in 98. The major part of the article still remains that season lost if not finished by 30 June. And why bring up employment in a football thread. But of a low blow really.

joeguevara

joeguevara wrote: »

I didn’t leave it out to suit own interpretation. I studied company law in2nd university in 98. The major part of the article still remains that season lost if not finished by 30 June. And why bring up employment in a football thread. But of a low blow really.

And just for you I was actually quoting this https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-sports-cancellations/a-52569936

If you scroll down to March 28 It says the following verbatim. Option 4 not mentioned.


March 28
-- UEFA boss admits "season could be lost"
There is still hope that Europe's domestic football leagues can finish their season this year, according to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
"We could start again in mid-May, in June or even late June," Ceferin told Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
But he warned that any time after that and "the season will probably be lost."
The postponement of Euro 2020 until 2021 means there is currently a gap in the football schedule in the European summer.

Shanotheslayer

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

I think the majority of us will all look at the world in a different way than we did 3 weeks ago. Behind closed doors sounded dreadful back then. It sounds great now when you consider the alternative. We have adapted to queuing to get into supermarkets, working from home, learning from home, not socialising, accepting that holidays are a no go, kids not playing with friends. Things will have to be eased at some stage as its not sustainable until a vaccine has been found to keep this up. When this happens industry(football included) needs a solution to get money circulating around the economy. People will adapt to holidaying in ireland, limited numbers in a pub, a shift to working from home by whoever possible and changes to how we watch football.

We have accepted it, as in Ireland.

England are still not doing it from what I've been seeing. It's mental how far behind they are and there numbers increasing rapidly.

In terms of playing behind closed doors. One of the questions I raised with my mates and the reason I don't see it working.

Travelling teams etc, where do they stay? I assume it's usually hotels, so they interact with other people? What happens then if a footballer gets it? Postpone the season again?

Iused2likebusts

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

We have accepted it, as in Ireland.

England are still not doing it from what I've been seeing. It's mental how far behind they are and there numbers increasing rapidly.

In terms of playing behind closed doors. One of the questions I raised with my mates and the reason I don't see it working.

Travelling teams etc, where do they stay? I assume it's usually hotels, so they interact with other people? What happens then if a footballer gets it? Postpone the season again?

Its hard to grasp now but Id imagine in a couple of months time the over 70s and vulnerable will be asked to continue to isolate and the rest of us will be back to work while adhering to new habits we have become accumstomed to. The alternative is we all continue to isolate until a vaccine is found thats just not feasible.This to take place when the virus has settled down from the peak.

Fitz*

The FA St. George's park facility has a hotel there. 228 bedrooms in it. I don't know if they are single beds or what the craic is but lets assume that they are all 2 people to a room. That's space for 450 people. There is 13 pitches there.

Based on 30 people needed per team, you could fit 15 clubs into the hotel at any one time. So let's just say that 10 teams stay in the base (300 beds)and the rest (150 beds) is used for officials, chefs & hotel staff, emergency workers, spare rooms etc. You could easily have 5 games between 10 clubs on any one day, with space to spare. Or use the spare space as the flow over rooms, cleaned on the lay over days.

They have all the training areas, gyms, pools, food etc already in place.

It's already excluded enough that there is no risk of fans showing up and being outside the ground. There is only one road into the base!
And as for emergency services needed. How many times on any given matchday is an ambulance or health care worker needed, outside of the club doctors? One or Two? If there are games being played concurrently, there would only be a need for 2 ambulances and associated healthcare workers needed on an given day. And by day, I mean about 3 or 4 hours. It's not going to stop the NHS in action. Obviously if games are played back to back, there might be a need for 1 more. But that ambulance can also be sent back into 'general' use after 2 games as there would be enough to cover the remaining games.

That is just one base in the middle of the country. I'm sure there is a similar one in London and the North of the country also. Playing off 92 remaining games in a safe environment, in a month, could be possible.

joeguevara

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Its hard to grasp now but Id imagine in a couple of months time the over 70s and vulnerable will be asked to continue to isolate and the rest of us will be back to work while adhering to new habits we have become accumstomed to. The alternative is we all continue to isolate until a vaccine is found thats just not feasible.This to take place when the virus has settled down from the peak.

The peak in the UK is expected mid June with deaths and cases rising exponentially until then. Then it will deplete for about a month. That looks like lockdown would stop near start of August, but possible resurgence in November. Really, nobody knows what is going to happen.

I think an argument that we haven’t seen (well I haven’t) is if there is going to be another resurgence in November to February which could cause a new football season to be suspended, it might be pragmatic to finish this one. There is an argument that there is no pointing voiding one and then possibly suspending a new one for 3-4 months.

What I am seeing is that when UEFA et al are discussing the possibilities they are not referencing models of illness from the Medical authorities publicly. The April dates were ridiculous and were in complete disregard of medical facts. This is not a predictable science but it can be better than what they are doing.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/uk-coronavirus-crisis-to-last-until-spring-2021-and-could-see-79m-hospitalised

The_Kew_Tour

It’s a long way from happening either way. No question they want get it finished, but time is really against England as things have not even got going there yet which is worrying.

dogbert27

joeguevara wrote: »

And just for you I was actually quoting this https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-sports-cancellations/a-52569936

If you scroll down to March 28 It says the following verbatim. Option 4 not mentioned.


March 28
-- UEFA boss admits "season could be lost"
There is still hope that Europe's domestic football leagues can finish their season this year, according to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
"We could start again in mid-May, in June or even late June," Ceferin told Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
But he warned that any time after that and "the season will probably be lost."
The postponement of Euro 2020 until 2021 means there is currently a gap in the football schedule in the European summer.

On this link it is:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52079717

First says there are three options and then gives a fourth.

3 Options:
Start Mid-May
Sometime in June
End of June

4th option: Finish current season at the start of the next, so August

Then finishes by saying, "if there are no alternatives it is better to finish the championships"

So basically we'll finish this season one way or the other

citytillidie

Oversea rights holders getting itchy feet

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league-face-legal-threat-from-tv-broadcasters-a4404831.html

Hopefully we will get something more tomorrow when the PL meets

Shanotheslayer

FitzShane wrote: »

The FA St. George's park facility has a hotel there. 228 bedrooms in it. I don't know if they are single beds or what the craic is but lets assume that they are all 2 people to a room. That's space for 450 people. There is 13 pitches there.

Based on 30 people needed per team, you could fit 15 clubs into the hotel at any one time. So let's just say that 10 teams stay in the base (300 beds)and the rest (150 beds) is used for officials, chefs & hotel staff, emergency workers, spare rooms etc. You could easily have 5 games between 10 clubs on any one day, with space to spare. Or use the spare space as the flow over rooms, cleaned on the lay over days.

They have all the training areas, gyms, pools, food etc already in place.

It's already excluded enough that there is no risk of fans showing up and being outside the ground. There is only one road into the base!
And as for emergency services needed. How many times on any given matchday is an ambulance or health care worker needed, outside of the club doctors? One or Two? If there are games being played concurrently, there would only be a need for 2 ambulances and associated healthcare workers needed on an given day. And by day, I mean about 3 or 4 hours. It's not going to stop the NHS in action. Obviously if games are played back to back, there might be a need for 1 more. But that ambulance can also be sent back into 'general' use after 2 games as there would be enough to cover the remaining games.

That is just one base in the middle of the country. I'm sure there is a similar one in London and the North of the country also. Playing off 92 remaining games in a safe environment, in a month, could be possible.

I Don't think anybody is saying it's not possible. But definitely doesn't seem feasible.

The point you make is about clubs playing football. Is all that worth it for a few lads to kick a ball up and down the pitch?

Although it's not going to stop the NHS actions, it certainly an unnecessary strain for them given the situation no?

I assume the day to day workers for the club wouldn't have any involvement in the above scenario? So it really is just about playing football.

ozzy jr

FitzShane wrote: »

The FA St. George's park facility has a hotel there. 228 bedrooms in it. I don't know if they are single beds or what the craic is but lets assume that they are all 2 people to a room. That's space for 450 people. There is 13 pitches there.

Based on 30 people needed per team, you could fit 15 clubs into the hotel at any one time. So let's just say that 10 teams stay in the base (300 beds)and the rest (150 beds) is used for officials, chefs & hotel staff, emergency workers, spare rooms etc. You could easily have 5 games between 10 clubs on any one day, with space to spare. Or use the spare space as the flow over rooms, cleaned on the lay over days.

They have all the training areas, gyms, pools, food etc already in place.

It's already excluded enough that there is no risk of fans showing up and being outside the ground. There is only one road into the base!
And as for emergency services needed. How many times on any given matchday is an ambulance or health care worker needed, outside of the club doctors? One or Two? If there are games being played concurrently, there would only be a need for 2 ambulances and associated healthcare workers needed on an given day. And by day, I mean about 3 or 4 hours. It's not going to stop the NHS in action. Obviously if games are played back to back, there might be a need for 1 more. But that ambulance can also be sent back into 'general' use after 2 games as there would be enough to cover the remaining games.

That is just one base in the middle of the country. I'm sure there is a similar one in London and the North of the country also. Playing off 92 remaining games in a safe environment, in a month, could be possible.

The bit about the ambulances. You'll always have to have enough medical staff on site, just in case.

joeguevara

dogbert27 wrote: »

On this link it is:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52079717

First says there are three options and then gives a fourth.

3 Options:
Start Mid-May
Sometime in June
End of June

4th option: Finish current season at the start of the next, so August

Then finishes by saying, "if there are no alternatives it is better to finish the championships"

So basically we'll finish this season one way or the other

No issue with any of that. You forgot the line of if it’s not restarted by end of June it is more than likely that this season will be lost.

I have no idea why he decided to do an interview with an Italian Newspaper and allow a journalist to present the infor strong instead of setting it out clearly in an approved statement.

Fitz*

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

I Don't think anybody is saying it's not possible. But definitely doesn't seem feasible.

The point you make is about clubs playing football. Is all that worth it for a few lads to kick a ball up and down the pitch?

Although it's not going to stop the NHS actions, it certainly an unnecessary strain for them given the situation no?

I assume the day to day workers for the club wouldn't have any involvement in the above scenario? So it really is just about playing football.

ozzy jr wrote: »

The bit about the ambulances. You'll always have to have enough medical staff on site, just in case.

How much of a strain would the games be putting on the NHS though? If you want an ambulance per game, you are looking at 5 per day. The clubs have their own doctors, so that is automatically 2 per game minimum. Maybe add in one extra per game and that makes up 5 doctors per day. It's not exactly a massive strain on resources.

As well as a morale booster for the general population, it might actually benefit society as (mostly) people would be more inclined to stay indoors in the evenings to watch the games rather than being out & about.

dogbert27

joeguevara wrote: »

No issue with any of that. You forgot the line of if it’s not restarted by end of June it is more than likely that this season will be lost.

I have no idea why he decided to do an interview with an Italian Newspaper and allow a journalist to present the infor strong instead of setting it out clearly in an approved statement.

But he didn't say those words exactly. That's what the journalist wrote.

Ceferin's exact words were:

"If we don't succeed in restarting, the season will probably be lost,"

Which is true. If you don't restart it can't be finished but he did not say by end of June. He kept looking beyond the 3 options.

The whole article is a contradiction so it leaves us all non the wiser really one way or the other.

citytillidie

FitzShane wrote: »

How much of a strain would the games be putting on the NHS though? If you want an ambulance per game, you are looking at 5 per day. The clubs have their own doctors, so that is automatically 2 per game minimum. Maybe add in one extra per game and that makes up 5 doctors per day. It's not exactly a massive strain on resources.

As well as a morale booster for the general population, it might actually benefit society as (mostly) people would be more inclined to stay indoors in the evenings to watch the games rather than being out & about.

Behind closed doors means there is not 20000-70000 people in a ground so the normal match day ambulances are not needed

joeguevara

dogbert27 wrote: »

But he didn't say those words exactly. That's what the journalist wrote.

Ceferin's exact words were:

"If we don't succeed in restarting, the season will probably be lost,"

Which is true. If you don't restart it can't be finished but he did not say by end of June. He kept looking beyond the 3 options.

The whole article is a contradiction so it leaves us all non the wiser really one way or the other.

It’s a mind melt. Why did he speak to a journalist who could muddy what was said. We will just have to wait and see.

~Rebel~

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

I Don't think anybody is saying it's not possible. But definitely doesn't seem feasible.

The point you make is about clubs playing football. Is all that worth it for a few lads to kick a ball up and down the pitch?

Although it's not going to stop the NHS actions, it certainly an unnecessary strain for them given the situation no?

I assume the day to day workers for the club wouldn't have any involvement in the above scenario? So it really is just about playing football.

Realistically, I think it will all have to wait until we’ve passed the peak, whenever that is. There will probably be at least a 6 month period where the medical services are no longer overwhelmed, but the virus is still being contracted in smaller numbers (like the position China has just entered). That’s the period it makes most sense to do the behind-closed-doors thing, where there are ample medical resources, but mass gatherings are still off the table as a precaution.

Generally speaking, I’m kind of wondering if this is also the period where we might see vaccines being introduced in small numbers - a number of 14 month human trials have just been started... if one of those is showing good results after 4-6 months, I wouldn’t be surprised if they start tentatively administering it to the absolute most vulnerable people, with the vast majority of people waiting the full 14-18 months as it goes into more widespread production.