Playing behind closed doors may well give an unfair advantage

[GreasyChipBeattie]

....to us!!
Just watching the live footy on the BBC website and it has more of a friendly/training session feel about it.
CW has often stated that our players are expected to be 'at it' with the same intensity whether in a match or training, which makes me think we might just have a welcome advantage in behind-closed-doors games.
Passport checked, sun-cream packed, Euros exchanged, I'm ready.

 

[Danny Blade]

Let's hope so.

I don't like what's been coming out of Aston Villa this week opposing the neutral venues. They've got 6 home games left and are worried about losing this 'home advantage' in their fight to avoid the drop if they are instead played neutrally.

Normally I would understand 6 home games while battling relegation is crucial BUT I don't see what difference it makes because either way there will be no fans in attendance therefore no atmosphere and no real feel of being at home, so even if they were playing at home it would be an empty Villa fucking Park.

I don't know if they've said as such but being at the wrong end of the table its obvious they'd rather have the season null and void than play.

Premier League relegation could cost £200m; Aston Villa against neutral venues - Christian Purslow

Weve got six home games left to play... giving up that advantage is a massive decision for somebody running Aston Villa, says Christian Purslow

www.skysports.com

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Let's hope so.

I don't like what's been coming out of Aston Villa this week opposing the neutral venues. They've got 6 home games left and are worried about losing this 'home advantage' in their fight to avoid the drop if they are played neutrally.

Normally I would understand 6 home games while battling relegation is crucial BUT I don't see what difference it makes because either way there will be no fans in attendance therefore no atmosphere and no real feel of being at home, so even if they were playing at home it would be an empty Villa fucking Park.

I don't think they've said as such but being at the wrong end of the table its obvious they'd rather have the season null and void than play.

Premier League relegation could cost £200m; Aston Villa against neutral venues - Christian Purslow

Weve got six home games left to play... giving up that advantage is a massive decision for somebody running Aston Villa, says Christian Purslow

www.skysports.com

Although I think there would be some minor advantage playing at home (size of pitch, familiar surroundings, stuff like that) I think you're right and they're probably trying to stir things up to get a 'no possible fair outcome' to get the season voided.

 

[Danny Blade]

Although I think there would be some minor advantage playing at home (size of pitch, familiar surroundings, stuff like that) I think you're right and they're probably trying to stir things up to get a 'no possible fair outcome' to get the season voided.

I do agree with that but at the same time its exactly the same for whoever their opposition will be.

 

[bartman]

Although I think there would be some minor advantage playing at home (size of pitch, familiar surroundings, stuff like that) I think you're right and they're probably trying to stir things up to get a 'no possible fair outcome' to get the season voided.

I cant see the need for neutral grounds.play as the existing grounds. Oustide stadiums will be cordoned off. Players will be ushered straight into the dressing rooms before the game and will depart straight after. Apart from the Liverpool fans when they win the league are fans really going to gather at the grounds especially as they won't see any players ?

 

[blade62]

I cant see the need for neutral grounds.play as the existing grounds. Oustide stadiums will be cordoned off. Players will be ushered straight into the dressing rooms before the game and will depart straight after. Apart from the Liverpool fans when they win the league are fans really going to gather at the grounds especially as they won't see any players ?

if it was a choice of watching a game live on TV or standing outside an empty ground in the hope of seeing a player arrive/depart I think most sensible would choose TV, but would probably still break social distancing watching with friends and family

 

[Snake]

I would be happy to play our game v Villa at Villa Park (and if we had West Ham, Norwich, Brighton, Watford, Bournemouth still to play, I'd play there too). I can not see what advantage they would have and if anything, the fact that some of them are whinging about the loss of home advantage (just as an excuse to try and avoid relegation on a technicality) might just add a little more pressure on them.

Stop the whinging and let's get this season finished.

 

[Worksop II]

for Villa, and most home teams playing on their pitch with no one attending will be as odd as fuck, but the same for everyone

For us playing at Villa while empty will be odd, but not as bad as the home team, may be seen as an advantage really

But again, the same for everyone

 

[LoughboroBlade]

....to us!!
Just watching the live footy on the BBC website and it has more of a friendly/training session feel about it.
CW has often stated that our players are expected to be 'at it' with the same intensity whether in a match or training, which makes me think we might just have a welcome advantage in behind-closed-doors games.
Passport checked, sun-cream packed, Euros exchanged, I'm ready.

Perhaps. Though didn’t a lot of our first team squad play in behind closed doors the last international breaks with mixed results? I think there was a 4-4 draw with Lincoln among those. The train-as-you-play approach is good to have, but some of our poorer games have tended to be in the cups with barely-full stadia. Though obviously the number of changes in those games is a major factor too.

We’re basically in unprecedented territory with this squad and this type of environment to play in. We might fair better – we won’t know till we see the first couple of games.

 

[jt64]

Insert automatic Manchester City joke here

 

[CrookesBlade]

I would be happy to play our game v Villa at Villa Park (and if we had West Ham, Norwich, Brighton, Watford, Bournemouth still to play, I'd play there too). I can not see what advantage they would have and if anything, the fact that some of them are whinging about the loss of home advantage (just as an excuse to try and avoid relegation on a technicality) might just add a little more pressure on them.

Stop the whinging and let's get this season finished.

I wonder if it’s worth calling the bluff of the bottom 6. Let them play all remaining games against the top 14 at home. Add the caveat that any crowd problems outside the ground will be hit with fines into the millions and possible points deductions.

 

[Varkanoid]

possible points deduction for next season whether they are in Championship or PL !

 

[Tony]

Give a big advantage for the Pigs crowd wise and noise wise. They're used to it.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Perhaps. Though didn’t a lot of our first team squad play in behind closed doors the last international breaks with mixed results? I think there was a 4-4 draw with Lincoln among those. The train-as-you-play approach is good to have, but some of our poorer games have tended to be in the cups with barely-full stadia. Though obviously the number of changes in those games is a major factor too.

We’re basically in unprecedented territory with this squad and this type of environment to play in. We might fair better – we won’t know till we see the first couple of games.

We don’t thrive in this environment, and we don’t start seasons well. Let’s just all regroup in preseason and start again when it’ll be all back to normal.