Project Restart - Hoping for 8th June

[Berkshire Blade]

The Chinese league was meant to start in February but obviously didn't. Then April. Didn't. Then June. Then July. Now talking about next year.

So far nobody has worked it out.

I think it will get sorted but by June 8th? Training would have to start soon.

 

[Deadbat]

Not one league has started. Not one. Training in isolation is one thing.

No one has even started training together yet either in the major leagues?

Starting games and leagues is a whole new jump.

When we see another league get ratification and actually start games then I may feel more confident but until then we are still a long way away.

 

[Harry's Game]

A season without fans is no season at all, people saying it’s better than nothing? well wait until you see more than a couple of games behind closed doors on TV.

You will find once the novelty wears off people will only tune in when their side is being broadcast and TV ratings and subscriptions will fall off a cliff.

 

[Silent Blade]

The German league was supposed to start in a couple if weeks but the govt is no nearer making a decision. The news from Cologne with 3 testing positive means the whole squad/backroom there have to go into quarantine so that delays it for another 2 weeks...then assuming another show symptoms in a few days/week...add another week. This will happen a lot.

In terms of the Premier League apparently there are numerous players and quite a few clubs who are considering refusing to play if and when a start date/games are scheduled?

What happens then?

They can't suddenly just award the games to the other team. Imagine the outrage....it's like Schools...they will go back and loads of families will choose not to send their kids. The govt won't fine them. They can't.

What will the Premier League do then? This is not like a normal situation when a team refuses to play?

There will be players who will fake injury or symptoms as they don't want to play...clubs will do all they can at the bottom to avoid playing hoping the season will get canned. My opinion but it will happen. Even if players are tested ans are fine they can still refuse to play.

Imagine the moral outrage if the Premier League started sanctioning teams who had players Ill or who refused to play due to choosing not to as concerned about their own safety.

There is not a hope in hell of games starting any time soon and this Project re-start whilst admirable is fanciful nonsense really. I am amazed so many actually think this is going to happen. As I have said before one player/official gets it and the whole thing is finished even before it starts.

Sadly, with no prospect of paying spectators for a ages Football is not going to be the sane for a long, long time. 18 months is a guess but reasonable in line with any vaccine time frame mooted...we will see a lot of clubs go to the wall. The government would need to step in and financially help clubs as without it...we might see a football league with less than half of its current situation 92 clubs when it becomes fully functional again.

Its an awful situation but sadly Football is right at the bottom of priorities. If they can't even get Schools back until prob Sept (300 kids in a primary school for instance is equivalent to numbers needed to have a game of PL foot) then there is no way the govt will allow a far less essential thing to start before it?

Why do I think of the photo below every time I read your posts in the past two months?

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Just wondering if Bramall Lane might be one of the 8-10 neautral venues being considered?

Sheffield’s in the centre of the country, a current PL ground complete with all the required facilities, VAR etc and has a hotel on site.

 

[Harry's Game]

Just wondering if Bramall Lane might be one of the 8-10 neautral venues being considered?

Sheffield’s in the centre of the country, a current PL ground complete with all the required facilities, VAR etc and has a hotel on site.

They want the grounds away from residential areas so no.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

A season without fans is no season at all, people saying it’s better than nothing? well wait until you see more than a couple of games behind closed doors on TV.

You will find once the novelty wears off people will only tune in when their side is being broadcast and TV ratings and subscriptions will fall off a cliff.

Absolutely. Can you imagine anyone bothering to stay up until 11pm to watch match of the day highlights of a behind closed doors Bournemouth v Burnley let alone pay to watch it outside of the 30k or so who watch those sides every week.

 

[Deadbat]

Why do I think of the photo below every time I read your posts in the past two months?

View attachment 78646

Why because I have dared to have an opinion about the game of football not coming back for a while? I could wish and hope for something that's going to happen but rather look at things a little more measured than these fanciful stories in the tabloids about project restart.

I am afraid some need to understand life is simply never going to be the same again for some time....football will be part of that.

To be honest Silent I've lost people close to me due to this....maybe my view is skewed emotionally somewhat but your post is why I maybe get little angry when people are pushing so hard for something in the grand scheme of things is not that important.

We all love football but to me the rush to get it back is absurd, quite dangerous and morally leaves a bit of a bad taste. This grasping desire to get games back on as soon as possible when hundreds and thousands are dyeing is quite staggering to me. Maybe that's just me. Maybe everything has to try and get restarted asap and money talks. Maybe I'm in a minority.

I'd love to see Football back but it has to be safe and done properly when we get towards some level of normality and that means other far more important sectors of society restarting first though for me.

As I have said before I don't think football will start back in June or July under closed doors. It's an opinion. It might be portrayed as negative but it's based on so many flaws in these plans and I have still to see anyone say what happens when anyone contracts it amongst this pool? Because the reality is that's it then...it's done probably before it even starts. There's lots of other complications that I have outlined that maybe you could discuss a counter argument? It is a forum and no problem with different opinions.

Do you genuinely think we will be seeing games in June when no other league or country (we are behind them in terms if contraction/spread) is even close to starting up either? You may hope it happens and fine to have some optimism but it has to be based on something credible.

We will see what happens. I have said before I hope I am wrong and we can see Football soon in some form.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

They want the grounds away from residential areas so no.

Fair enough but surely that’ll be next to impossible? 8-10 grounds away from residential areas would be a struggle.

Also can’t imagine the thinking behind it. What difference does it make? Everybody will be bussed straight to the ground anyway and suitable grounds would be chosen that would have parking for a couple of hundred other required staff.

It’s not like they’ll be mixing with the local population plus restrictions will be eased by then anyway.

 

[Silent Blade]

Do you genuinely think we will be seeing games in June when no other league or country (we are behind them in terms if contraction/spread) is even close to starting up either? You may hope it happens and fine to have some optimism but it has to be based on something credible.

Yes, things will get moving after we have passed the 5 tests

 

[Bladesman]

The Chinese league was meant to start in February but obviously didn't. Then April. Didn't. Then June. Then July. Now talking about next year.

So far nobody has worked it out.

I think it will get sorted but by June 8th? Training would have to start soon.

Our lads are back at Shirecliffe doing individual training sessions.

 

[jt64]

Fair enough but surely that’ll be next to impossible? 8-10 grounds away from residential areas would be a struggle.

Also can’t imagine the thinking behind it. What difference does it make?

I assume the thinking on the second one is to minimise the level of idiots congregating around grounds

8-10 grounds doesn't necessarily need to involve just PL grounds. Thinking of where works, you could have Brighton, West Ham, City, Leicester I don't recall being that built up, don't know where Southampton is in relation to anywhere but just thinking new builds. If you look lower down Reading, Boro, Bolton are all ex-PL and in the middle of nowhere, maybe Derby

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Our lads are back at Shirecliffe doing individual training sessions.

Yes which is completely different to actually training if you listen to Baldock explain what it is.

 

[Harry's Game]

Yes, things will get moving after we have passed the 5 tests

View attachment 78652

Point 5 is the problem. I don’t see how you avoid a second peak if you have any sort of meaningful end to the lockdown without a vaccine or cure being available.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

I assume the thinking on the second one is to minimise the level of idiots congregating around grounds

8-10 grounds doesn't necessarily need to involve just PL grounds. Thinking of where works, you could have Brighton, West Ham, City, Leicester I don't recall being that built up, don't know where Southampton is in relation to anywhere but just thinking new builds. If you look lower down Reading, Boro, Bolton are all ex-PL and in the middle of nowhere, maybe Derby

If they’re wanting VAR it’ll have to be PL grounds.

 

[Davalon]

I think one thing to bear in mind is that football is a business. There are far more people employed through football on more modest wages than the top paid professionals.

June may be too soon I don't know, but the theory that football can just hide at home until a vaccine is found is no different to writing any other industry off, which simply isn't viable.

Most of us acknowledge we arent going to get our matchday experience back for a long time and behind closed doors games won't be the same, but packing the game away in a box for 18 months isn't an option either.

I've every sympathy with Aguero but he may well feel the same come January when there's still no vaccine.

NHS workers can't refuse to work on modest salaries but footballers are going to refuse to play despite rigorous testing and huge precautions.

It's a shame all of us can't refuse to work for the next 18 months and still pick up 250 grand a week whilst Sandra in the office loses her job of 20 years and struggles to pay her mortgage.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

If they’re wanting VAR it’ll have to be PL grounds.

How do you var with refs in that room together?!

 

[Cassius Kray]

You can on PPG. I agree though stop digging now, end it. After 75% of the season you are where you are and it's no fluke so fuck the moaners and apply the rule through the whole football league.

Good luck sueing against an act of god

Anyone who sued wouldn't be suing on the basis of 'the existence of a virus' but the response to it.

Obviously there are no easy answers, but I'm interested to know how advocates of finishing the season early expect to square that with either a) not promoting clubs to the PL or b) relegating clubs from the PL.

France and Holland have both ended their seasons, with differing consequences, and both have resulted in massive unfairness and likely legal action. The legal action in England would be immense given the financial implications of being in the Premier League.

I still see the only sensible option being completing the season, whenever it's safe to do so. There's no point considering another season until this one is resolved.

 

[Silent Blade]

Point 5 is the problem. I don’t see how you avoid a second peak if you have any sort of meaningful end to the lockdown without a vaccine or cure being available.

Lets see in the next few weeks. Let's leave it to the medical and virology experts. You one of them?

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Point 5 is the problem. I don’t see how you avoid a second peak if you have any sort of meaningful end to the lockdown without a vaccine or cure being available.

Post lockdown will still be social distancing. Track and trace of people who were infected and people they were near will slow the spread. It's just a case of waiting for the cases to fall to a low enough level for it to be workable. How long that will take? Who knows

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Play should resume only when it’s safe to do so with government and public approval. There does not need to be a time-frame agreed at this stage because it’s still too early.

To end all the current bickering and uncertainty, just make it clear that once football does resume, the following will then happen:-

1) Finish the current league season (max 10 matches - 5 weeks)
2) Then finish the FA cup and possibly play-offs (max 3 matches - 2 weeks)
3) Then a 2 week break and transfer window. So most clubs get a 4 week break.
4) Then and only then start the next season
5) Consider how many games can realistically be played in the timescale left available and rearrange the next season accordingly.
6) Options to include dropping the League Cup and the EFL Cup. Dropping the Nations League. No international friendlies. Splitting all divisions in two and playing half a season.
7) If still not possible to fit all the fixtures in due to a very late restart, straddle the season either side of the Euros in June.
8) Euro competitions to also be completed as and when it’s safe to resume international travel etc. Flexibility required on the format of the competitions. I.e. Knockout matches rather than leagues
9) Broadcasters will know they are still going to get their two season worth of matches. More games than usual to be shown per week to make up the quota if necessary.
10) EPL clubs will know they are going to get their two seasons worth of payments and can budget accordingly. Even if much delayed
11) EFL clubs will know that once football does resume “properly” they will be playing competitive league matches twice a week, attracting decent crowds and much needed income. Rather than wasting their time and resources playing against Leicester reserves in front of 200 people in the meaningless EFL cup.

 

[Working Class Hero]

Play should resume only when it’s safe to do so with government and public approval. There does not need to be a time-frame agreed at this stage because it’s still too early.

To end all the current bickering and uncertainty, just make it clear that once football does resume, the following will then happen:-

1) Finish the current league season (max 10 matches - 5 weeks)
2) Then finish the FA cup and possibly play-offs (max 3 matches - 2 weeks)
3) Then a 2 week break and transfer window. So most clubs get a 4 week break.
4) Then and only then start the next season
5) Consider how many games can realistically be played in the timescale left available and rearrange the next season accordingly.
6) Options to include dropping the League Cup and the EFL Cup. Dropping the Nations League. No international friendlies. Splitting all divisions in two and playing half a season.
7) If still not possible to fit all the fixtures in due to a very late restart, straddle the season either side of the Euros in June.
8) Euro competitions to also be resumed as and when it’s safe to resume international travel etc. Flexibility required on the format of the competitions. I.e. Knockout matches rather than leagues
9) Broadcasters will know they are still going to get their two season worth of matches. More games than usual to be shown to make up the quota if necessary.
10) EPL clubs will know they are going to get their two seasons worth of payments and can budget accordingly. Even if much delayed
11) EFL clubs will know that once football does resume they will be playing competitive league matches twice a week, attracting decent crowds and much needed income. Rather than wasting their time and resources playing against Leicester reserves in front of 200 people in the meaningless EFL cup.

No point finishing the FA cup until fans are allowed back. You can't have a cup final without a crowd. Premier League teams don't enter it until January anyway so plenty of time to finish this one.

It would probably make more sense to pick up the FA cup next year from where it left off anyway. As that would ease any congestion we there that probably will be.

 

[YES Blade]

Why because I have dared to have an opinion about the game of football not coming back for a while? I could wish and hope for something that's going to happen but rather look at things a little more measured than these fanciful stories in the tabloids about project restart.

I am afraid some need to understand life is simply never going to be the same again for some time....football will be part of that.

To be honest Silent I've lost people close to me due to this....maybe my view is skewed emotionally somewhat but your post is why I maybe get little angry when people are pushing so hard for something in the grand scheme of things is not that important.

We all love football but to me the rush to get it back is absurd, quite dangerous and morally leaves a bit of a bad taste. This grasping desire to get games back on as soon as possible when hundreds and thousands are dyeing is quite staggering to me. Maybe that's just me. Maybe everything has to try and get restarted asap and money talks. Maybe I'm in a minority.

I'd love to see Football back but it has to be safe and done properly when we get towards some level of normality and that means other far more important sectors of society restarting first though for me.

As I have said before I don't think football will start back in June or July under closed doors. It's an opinion. It might be portrayed as negative but it's based on so many flaws in these plans and I have still to see anyone say what happens when anyone contracts it amongst this pool? Because the reality is that's it then...it's done probably before it even starts. There's lots of other complications that I have outlined that maybe you could discuss a counter argument? It is a forum and no problem with different opinions.

Do you genuinely think we will be seeing games in June when no other league or country (we are behind them in terms if contraction/spread) is even close to starting up either? You may hope it happens and fine to have some optimism but it has to be based on something credible.

We will see what happens. I have said before I hope I am wrong and we can see Football soon in some form.

Where’s the harm in trying? They might fail, but they’ve nothing to lose by trying.

What’s the point in giving up now? There is still a chance.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

No point finishing the FA cup until fans are allowed back. You can't have a cup final without a crowd. Premier League teams don't enter it until January anyway so plenty of time to finish this one.

It would probably make more sense to pick up the FA cup next year from where it left off anyway. As that would ease any congestion we there that probably will be.

Fair point. This is the type of flexibility in rearranging the calendar that will need to be shown. The final doesn’t need to be in May just because it always has been. Short-term it can be moved. Better than “scrapping it”

 

[Working Class Hero]

Fair point. This is the type of flexibility in rearranging the calendar that will need to be shown. The final doesn’t need to be in May just because it always has been. Short-term it can be moved. Better than “scrapping it”

Exactly. If FIFA can shift a World Cup by six months because of the weather. Then the FA can shift an FA Cup Final because of a pandemic.

 

[thawot]

Like in a hospital? (Why are people with contagious diseases taken to a place where vulnerable people (cancer and surgery recipients are treated?)

Yes like a hospital. People with contagious diseases are taken there because the alternative is to leave them unassisted. Are you serious?

Like in a care home? Where there are vulnerable people who will need hospital attention.

Yes, ecay like a care home. Like the dozens of cases worldwide where the disease has spread quickly through care homes.

Young fit people are not at risk, you feel sick? Don't play football just like if you had the flu, a cold or a strained muscle.

Young people getting sick is not the point. You poeple providing a way for the disease to spread rapidly, and the damage that could do is.

 

[Selly]

Why because I have dared to have an opinion about the game of football not coming back for a while? I could wish and hope for something that's going to happen but rather look at things a little more measured than these fanciful stories in the tabloids about project restart.

I am afraid some need to understand life is simply never going to be the same again for some time....football will be part of that.

To be honest Silent I've lost people close to me due to this....maybe my view is skewed emotionally somewhat but your post is why I maybe get little angry when people are pushing so hard for something in the grand scheme of things is not that important.

We all love football but to me the rush to get it back is absurd, quite dangerous and morally leaves a bit of a bad taste. This grasping desire to get games back on as soon as possible when hundreds and thousands are dyeing is quite staggering to me. Maybe that's just me. Maybe everything has to try and get restarted asap and money talks. Maybe I'm in a minority.

I'd love to see Football back but it has to be safe and done properly when we get towards some level of normality and that means other far more important sectors of society restarting first though for me.

As I have said before I don't think football will start back in June or July under closed doors. It's an opinion. It might be portrayed as negative but it's based on so many flaws in these plans and I have still to see anyone say what happens when anyone contracts it amongst this pool? Because the reality is that's it then...it's done probably before it even starts. There's lots of other complications that I have outlined that maybe you could discuss a counter argument? It is a forum and no problem with different opinions.

Do you genuinely think we will be seeing games in June when no other league or country (we are behind them in terms if contraction/spread) is even close to starting up either? You may hope it happens and fine to have some optimism but it has to be based on something credible.

We will see what happens. I have said before I hope I am wrong and we can see Football soon in some form.

Since your supporters seem to be few and far between, I'll throw my hat into the ring here. I agree with pretty much everything you have said.

I don't see any of us stepping for into a football ground to watch a match this year.

Were it down to me, I'd cancel the 20/21 season now and commit to finishing this season in whatever time is available next year.

No pissing around. Clear direction for all clubs which is what is needed right now so they can plan.

 

[YES Blade]

Since your supporters seem to be few and far between, I'll throw my hat into the ring here. I agree with pretty much everything you have said.

I don't see any of us stepping for into a football ground to watch a match this year.

Were it down to me, I'd cancel the 20/21 season now and commit to finishing this season in whatever time is available next year.

No pissing around. Clear direction for all clubs which is what is needed right now so they can plan.

So give up on this season and make a start on the court cases now instead of in a couple of months?

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Since your supporters seem to be few and far between, I'll throw my hat into the ring here. I agree with pretty much everything you have said.

I don't see any of us stepping for into a football ground to watch a match this year.

Were it down to me, I'd cancel the 20/21 season now and commit to finishing this season in whatever time is available next year.

No pissing around. Clear direction for all clubs which is what is needed right now so they can plan.

What if it turns out to be safe to resume in January 2021 but most clubs only have 9 matches to play over the 18 weeks available?

Why cancel anything until the timescale available is clearer?

 

[Davalon]

Since your supporters seem to be few and far between, I'll throw my hat into the ring here. I agree with pretty much everything you have said.

I don't see any of us stepping for into a football ground to watch a match this year.

Were it down to me, I'd cancel the 20/21 season now and commit to finishing this season in whatever time is available next year.

No pissing around. Clear direction for all clubs which is what is needed right now so they can plan.

I wouldn't be against that tbh if it's clear that there's no way of doing it on the next few months.

I vehemently disagree with the notion of voiding this season so next can start sometime this year.

I don't agree with PPG which would suit us but no doubt have many clubs contesting legally.

I've yet to see a credible reason for starting a new season without finishing this one and believe it would be incredibly unfair to do so on many clubs.