Project Restart - Hoping for 8th June

[YES Blade]

I take your point, but where is the option for a key worker to opt out based purely on the fact they have concerns? If the government and employers deem it safe enough for various jobs to resume with the best possible safeguards in place then why shouldn’t the same apply to footballers?. The argument that they aren’t a key worker is irrelevant. Within the next week or two you would expect the majority of the uk workforce to start back. Plenty will have concerns. Almost none will have the safeguards footballers have. Most will just get on with it. Whether we like it or not it’s going to be part of our lives for the foreseeable future

If a player lives with a high risk member of society what’s to stop them temporarily moving in with a team mate? It’ll be what? 10 weeks maybe from training fully resuming to season completion. I’m sure the vast majority could manage that.

There will be a few players at each club with concerns, but there will be ways round it. This is Premier League football, the money completing this season will generate will allow them to solve any problem!

 

[247Blade]

Certainly is but our NHS and other key workers just got on with it despite the lack of PPE. I’ve a feeling that a fair number of pampered premier league players will still attempt to resist a restart no matter what measures are put in place to help them

No play ... No pay!

 

[Bladepicker]

What I don't get in all this and a question no one seems to ask is why are we prioritising next season ahead of one that us 3 quarters complete. It's an absolute joke and irrational.

If we cant restart in June, then the likelihood is we wont be abke to start a new season in August either so I don't get it. You wait until we can play again and then you finish this season even if 75 percent of players have changed, its surely the most logical way to do it.

Might not be popular but I'd not want to start until we van have crowds back either. Two reasons.

One behind closed door football will be shit.

Two if we are in a position where society is not in a position to attend football matches (due to the threatbof infection and hospital strain) then we shouldn't be in a position to start playing football.

 

[YES Blade]

What I don't get in all this and a question no one seems to ask is why are we prioritising next season ahead of one that us 3 quarters complete. It's an absolute joke and irrational.

If we cant restart in June, then the likelihood is we wont be abke to start a new season in August either so I don't get it. You wait until we can play again and then you finish this season even if 75 percent of players have changed, its surely the most logical way to do it.

Might not be popular but I'd not want to start until we van have crowds back either. Two reasons.

One behind closed door football will be shit.

Two if we are in a position where society is not in a position to attend football matches (due to the threatbof infection and hospital strain) then we shouldn't be in a position to start playing football.

We need to get football played again due to money, it's as simple as that. If we don't play football behind closed doors, clubs will go bust. By the time football can be played in front of packed stadiums again, there will be no clubs left to watch and all the Premier League's best players will be playing in Germany, Italy and Spain.

 

[Tarqs]

What I don't get in all this and a question no one seems to ask is why are we prioritising next season ahead of one that us 3 quarters complete. It's an absolute joke and irrational.

If we cant restart in June, then the likelihood is we wont be abke to start a new season in August either so I don't get it. You wait until we can play again and then you finish this season even if 75 percent of players have changed, its surely the most logical way to do it.

Might not be popular but I'd not want to start until we van have crowds back either. Two reasons.

One behind closed door football will be shit.

Two if we are in a position where society is not in a position to attend football matches (due to the threatbof infection and hospital strain) then we shouldn't be in a position to start playing football.

Indeed, I've been arguing with mates till I'm blue in the face about this. They all seem to think we scrap this season...so we can start next one in a timely fashion to finish for the Euros.

Fucking stupid.

 

[Echo Blade]

What I don't get in all this and a question no one seems to ask is why are we prioritising next season ahead of one that us 3 quarters complete. It's an absolute joke and irrational.

If we cant restart in June, then the likelihood is we wont be abke to start a new season in August either so I don't get it. You wait until we can play again and then you finish this season even if 75 percent of players have changed, its surely the most logical way to do it.

Might not be popular but I'd not want to start until we van have crowds back either. Two reasons.

One behind closed door football will be shit.

Two if we are in a position where society is not in a position to attend football matches (due to the threatbof infection and hospital strain) then we shouldn't be in a position to start playing football.

I’ve been saying exactly this to my mates; voiding/ending this current season won’t miraculously mean the new one starts like nothing ever happened.

For me I’d get this season finished by December then run the next two seasons Feb-Nov (to fit in with the world cup in 2022).

The sporting calendar is going to be messed up for a while anyway.

 

[Bladepicker]

We need to get football played again due to money, it's as simple as that. If we don't play football behind closed doors, clubs will go bust. By the time football can be played in front of packed stadiums again, there will be no clubs left to watch and all the Premier League's best players will be playing in Germany, Italy and Spain.

Playing behind closed doors will probably cause more financial hardship for clubs not in the Prem - so there is an argumant for finishing the Premier league behind closed doors but then you're still stuck for the following season.

Theres no easy answer but football without fans will be shit and unsistainabke for anyome outside of the top flight. So donwe just have one league next season with no relegation? To me you just halt it all until it can resume with crowds. The you resume.

Some lower league clubs will have to furlough players who will have a vast drop in income and they may go to play abroad but so what? When it restarts in earnest it wont be long before we are back as a major player because of the sheer numbers that watch our football through the leagues.

 

[Working Class Hero]

What I don't get in all this and a question no one seems to ask is why are we prioritising next season ahead of one that us 3 quarters complete. It's an absolute joke and irrational.

If we cant restart in June, then the likelihood is we wont be abke to start a new season in August either so I don't get it. You wait until we can play again and then you finish this season even if 75 percent of players have changed, its surely the most logical way to do it.

Might not be popular but I'd not want to start until we van have crowds back either. Two reasons.

One behind closed door football will be shit.

Two if we are in a position where society is not in a position to attend football matches (due to the threatbof infection and hospital strain) then we shouldn't be in a position to start playing football.

There is logic to getting this season finished as early as possible (as long as it's safe). The longer we leave it, the more farcical it will become with different players etc.

However, I completely agree that it shouldn't be rushed through just to get the next one started in August. Next season shouldn't start at all until fans are allowed back in anyway, so there is no sense whatsoever in even aiming for a date at the moment.

Just get this one finished, hopefully in the next few months, and then reassess the situation. And it's a very different situation to start a 50-odd game season from scratch, behind closed doors.

 

[Mumbo]

What I don't get in all this and a question no one seems to ask is why are we prioritising next season ahead of one that us 3 quarters complete. It's an absolute joke and irrational.

If we cant restart in June, then the likelihood is we wont be abke to start a new season in August either so I don't get it. You wait until we can play again and then you finish this season even if 75 percent of players have changed, its surely the most logical way to do it.

Might not be popular but I'd not want to start until we van have crowds back either. Two reasons.

One behind closed door football will be shit.

Two if we are in a position where society is not in a position to attend football matches (due to the threatbof infection and hospital strain) then we shouldn't be in a position to start playing football.

Like all businesses football will have to resume with an large element of risk or go bust.
What has been unacceptable for the last few weeks will have to be acceptable again as the situation we are in is unsustainable.
Football will be played behind closed doors because the alternative is the shit hitting the fan.
I agree that this season should be prioritized over
a new campaign given that we’ve no idea what a new season will look like,when it will start or even if it will get to finish and if no fans are allowed to attend games that’s 2 seasons fucked up.

 

[Harry's Game]

Indeed, I've been arguing with mates till I'm blue in the face about this. They all seem to think we scrap this season...so we can start next one in a timely fashion to finish for the Euros.

Fucking stupid.

indeed especially as it’s likely the Euros won’t happen anyway.

 

[Bladepicker]

I’ve been saying exactly this to my mates; voiding/ending this current season won’t miraculously mean the new one starts like nothing ever happened.

For me I’d get this season finished by December then run the next two seasons Feb-Nov (to fit in with the world cup in 2022).

The sporting calendar is going to be messed up for a while anyway.

Yup. I said this is a great time to change our calendar for Qatar and also to play summer football going forwards.

Woukd be awesome and how good would it be starting the season every year on Boxing day.

 

[mattbianco1]

German Football League Bundesliga set to resume on May 15 - WETAYA

The Bundesliga is set to receive the green light to return on May 15 with the German government poised to agree on measures to further ease coronavirus

wetaya.com

Why does the official Bundesliga ball look like they got it from Sports Direct?

 

[YES Blade]

Playing behind closed doors will probably cause more financial hardship for clubs not in the Prem - so there is an argumant for finishing the Premier league behind closed doors but then you're still stuck for the following season.

Theres no easy answer but football without fans will be shit and unsistainabke for anyome outside of the top flight. So donwe just have one league next season with no relegation? To me you just halt it all until it can resume with crowds. The you resume.

Some lower league clubs will have to furlough players who will have a vast drop in income and they may go to play abroad but so what? When it restarts in earnest it wont be long before we are back as a major player because of the sheer numbers that watch our football through the leagues.

Palace chief Parish warns Premier League clubs will be like 'airlines'

Premier League clubs could be hit with a financial crisis similar to those faced by airlines across the world if football doesn't return by August, Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish has claimed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

That's why they are talking about the Premier League providing support to the Football League, but they can only do that if the TV money is paid. If football isn't being played there is no money in the game at all. Have a read of the link above, Steve Parish hits the nail on the head.

It's not just the lower leagues, how do we pay our players for 6 months if we aren't playing football? Sky aren't going to pay clubs if there is no football. Those players would end up leaving the club if they aren't being paid. They'll end up in other leagues around the world where football is being played. The Premier League won't be number 1 when the other leagues have restarted and our best players are playing in those leagues.

We can't furlough lower league players and staff for another 6 months, they will need to get jobs outside of football. I'm not sure that will be easy for them with little to no transferable skills and mass unemployment.

Football is obviously better with fans in stadiums, but we can't just hit the pause button on football until everything is 100% safe then expect everything to be exactly same.

 

[SittingontheBall]

.... Its still 3 times more likely stat wise to die from a mosquito bite than covid 19.......

Blimey mate weather must have picked up a bit in Sheffield since I left. I know April was pretty good for sun but it’s not led to a mozzy infestation here in Derby yet.

 

[Bladepicker]

Palace chief Parish warns Premier League clubs will be like 'airlines'

Premier League clubs could be hit with a financial crisis similar to those faced by airlines across the world if football doesn't return by August, Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish has claimed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

That's why they are talking about the Premier League providing support to the Football League, but they can only do that if the TV money is paid. If football isn't being played there is no money in the game at all. Have a read of the link above, Steve Parish hits the nail on the head.

It's not just the lower leagues, how do we pay our players for 6 months if we aren't playing football? Sky aren't going to pay clubs if there is no football. Those players would end up leaving the club if they aren't being paid. They'll end up in other leagues around the world where football is being played. The Premier League won't be number 1 when the other leagues have restarted and our best players are playing in those leagues.

We can't furlough lower league players and staff for another 6 months, they will need to get jobs outside of football. I'm not sure that will be easy for them with little to no transferable skills and mass unemployment.

Football is obviously better with fans in stadiums, but we can't just hit the pause button on football until everything is 100% safe then expect everything to be exactly same.

I get that resuming the Premier league means money comes into the game but the vast majority of that mo is used by Premier League clubs to pay their player's inflated wages. If you say we are going to play games behind closed doors and the TV money generated will be used to fund lower league clubs I don't see how that is sustainable.

For instance why should clubs like Wednesday and Derby who have flouted ffp laws be given more money to pay their overpaid players than the likes of Luton or Barnsley?

I get its better than no money coming in but it's not a bottomless pit. If we play the entire next season behind closed doors on neutral grounds the product will be so diluted many won't watch it.

It's a shit show however you dress it up. But for me, behind closed doors football on neutral grounds with no fans? Nah thanks. Id rather halt everything, then start up again when its all cleared up. If that means lots of players will have gone to play abroad so be it.

I just dont see how la shit product that has to sustain clubs and player not even playing in it is going to be viable or able to be agreed on.

 

[YES Blade]

I get that resuming the Premier league means money comes into the game but the vast majority of that mo is used by Premier League clubs to pay their player's inflated wages. If you say we are going to play games behind closed doors and the TV money generated will be used to fund lower league clubs I don't see how that is sustainable.

For instance why should clubs like Wednesday and Derby who have flouted ffp laws be given more money to pay their overpaid players than the likes of Luton or Barnsley?

I get its better than no money coming in but it's not a bottomless pit. If we play the entire next season behind closed doors on neutral grounds the product will be so diluted many won't watch it.

It's a shit show however you dress it up. But for me, behind closed doors football on neutral grounds with no fans? Nah thanks. Id rather halt everything, then start up again when its all cleared up. If that means lots of players will have gone to play abroad so be it.

I just dont see how la shit product that has to sustain clubs and player not even playing in it is going to be viable or able to be agreed on.

The Premier League wouldn't give the Football League a blank cheque, but at the end of the day, something is better than nothing.

What about all the staff down at Bramall Lane, what do they do for over 6 months until crowds are allow to watch matches again? How do we maintain the stadium? Pay the utility bills etc?

It's not just players wages, even if we stopped paying all the players and released them from their contracts, there are still costs associated with the football club. Right now there is zero income, a shit product still generates income (a massive TV income), no product generates nothing.

 

[TJB.]

Villa opposing neutral grounds.



The thing about being a club which prides itself on home form is such bollocks.

For starters, most clubs rely heavily on home form anyway, so they can fuck off thinking they're special in that regard. Secondly, it only truly makes a difference when you've got thousands of your own fans pushing you on, giving you that extra yard. This will be behind closed doors. It doesn't matter a jot whether they're at Villa Park or not, just as it won't matter whether we play at the Lane or not, because in both scenarios they'll be fucking empty.

So that's them, Brighton and West Ham against the plans to finish the league, basically. 14 votes needed for everything to be passed on Monday, I believe.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Can't say I am allowing myself to care too much at this stage. Money will solve it....

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Secondly, it only truly makes a difference when you've got thousands of your own fans pushing you on, giving you that extra yard.

Some would have you believe that there’s nothing fans can do to help influence a game – particularly those that get a bit ratty in response to attempts to improve an atmosphere...

While I agree that there would still be an issue playing on your own turf re: losing the usual home backing, I do think there’s an advantage players have in terms of familiarity with a pitch. But more importantly, pitch sizing will also help/hinder particular clubs – folk that have looked into the data on this show that attacking sides tend to thrive more on larger pitches, while more defensive sides benefit when the pitch is compact. Pochettino used to highlight the compact WHL pitch (pre refurb) as being an issue when defensive sides played there. When the margins on relegation might be just a single goal, this stuff does matter.

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

Not read this full thread but thought I’d stick my two penny in, I’ve just been for a walk and obviously it included passing the lane to have a nosey. I saw two nurses in full PPE outside the players entrance having a chin wag and then walked in. Might be nothing, probably is but it just made me think are the players being tested? A few more cars than when I walked past the car park the other day aswel.

 

[TJB.]

Some would have you believe that there’s nothing fans can do to help influence a game – particularly those that get a bit ratty in response to attempts to improve an atmosphere...

While I agree that there would still be an issue playing on your own turf re: losing the usual home backing, I do think there’s an advantage players have in terms of familiarity with a pitch. But more importantly, pitch sizing will also help/hinder particular clubs – folk that have looked into the data on this show that attacking sides tend to thrive more on larger pitches, while more defensive sides benefit when the pitch is compact. Pochettino used to highlight the compact WHL pitch (pre refurb) as being an issue when defensive sides played there. When the margins on relegation might be just a single goal, this stuff does matter.

I get that completely, but they're not thinking about pitch sizing are they?

I'm sure Wilder's side would lean towards playing their home games on a pitch they know well, but he's also said the season needs finishing regardless, wherever and however that might be. The fact of the matter is that playing games at their scheduled home and away venues isn't possible and has not once been touted as an option by the Premier League (to my knowledge).

Aston Villa know that if they resist all options to finish the league, there's a greater chance of it being scrapped and a better chance of them staying up. The ramifications upon the rest of the English football pyramid and schedule don't matter.

 

[Davalon]

What I don't get in all this and a question no one seems to ask is why are we prioritising next season ahead of one that us 3 quarters complete. It's an absolute joke and irrational.

If we cant restart in June, then the likelihood is we wont be abke to start a new season in August either so I don't get it. You wait until we can play again and then you finish this season even if 75 percent of players have changed, its surely the most logical way to do it.

Might not be popular but I'd not want to start until we van have crowds back either. Two reasons.

One behind closed door football will be shit.

Two if we are in a position where society is not in a position to attend football matches (due to the threatbof infection and hospital strain) then we shouldn't be in a position to start playing football.

I agree with your point in principle but I worry about the future of the game and the jobs of many who don't actually kick a ball if we shelve the game completely for 12 months or more.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I get that completely, but they're not thinking about pitch sizing are they?

They’re objecting to playing home fixtures where they currently feel they might have some advantages, in venues where that advantage (either perceived or genuine) will no longer be there. It’s an understandable concern for them, particularly when things are so tight at the bottom.

 

[Davalon]

So if the 7 bottom teams refuse neutral grounds does that mean that any other proposal needs 14 to agree?

Such as PPG or just scrapping the season altogether and starting again with the same teams in the PL.

I hope other clubs in the Prem and the top Champs clubs get a joint lawsuit up against the bottom Prem clubs opposing. End of the day its fuck all to do with integrity and fairness, it's just about greed and looking after number 1.

 

[McGrath]

So if the 7 bottom teams refuse neutral grounds does that mean that any other proposal needs 14 to agree?

Such as PPG or just scrapping the season altogether and starting again with the same teams in the PL.

I hope other clubs in the Prem and the top Champs clubs get a joint lawsuit up against the bottom Prem clubs opposing. End of the day its fuck all to do with integrity and fairness, it's just about greed and looking after number 1.

They've said today that it would mean season cancelled as the government won't let them play at home. So they will forfeit lots of TV money.

Rick Parry of the EFL said that if there was no promotion or relegation, then it would get very messy as there would be probably be legal action from the EFL against the Premier League!

So the rest of the teams in the Prem get shafted by the likes of Villa and Norwich who are trying to get out of relegation by the backdoor!

 

[SUFC Guy]

Instead of giving the bottom 6 an excuse, just play the games where they were originally scheduled to play. Put enough police around the stadiums and make all games free to air so fans can watch at home.

In fact can the government actually make it illegal to go near a ground on a matchday? Like a curfew for instance? The vast majority of fans will stay away.

Fuck this messing with rules with shortened halves and extra substitutions. VAR can still operate with one ref remotely and the on pitch ref must view the pitch side monitor.

The season will finish and promotion and relegation must happen between the Prem and the Championship because there is far too much money involved.

UTMB

 

[TJB.]

They’re objecting to playing home fixtures where they currently feel they might have some advantages, in venues where that advantage (either perceived or genuine) will no longer be there. It’s an understandable concern for them, particularly when things are so tight at the bottom.

But there's no other option besides this on the table. None of us like it, but it has to be done. Scrapping the league is only favourable to a minority of the division, and the knock-on effects could be enormous.

If it does get scrapped due to the heel-dragging of the sides who haven't done enough to get themselves out of trouble over the course of the season so far, I hope the bottom three are relegated anyway. That'll at least be karma for a few of them (Villa included).

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

The Premier League is the 20 Clubs. There isn't "another thing" called The Premier League which can bring "7 dissenting Clubs" into line. Or sue them. Or take them to Court. Or get some Compo. If 13 Clubs want something to happen. But 7 don't. The Premier League have decided it won't happen. That's how it's been set up.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

But there's no other option besides this on the table. None of us like it, but it has to be done. Scrapping the league is only favourable to a minority of the division, and the knock-on effects could be enormous.

If it does get scrapped due to the heel-dragging of the sides who haven't done enough to get themselves out of trouble over the course of the season so far, I hope the bottom three are relegated anyway. That'll at least be karma for a few of them (Villa included).

Perhaps part of the stance taken is in the hope that the rush to get it done so soon will lessen? Or that something else will be proposed? One way to get something else brought to the table is to oppose the only thing being presented at the time...

 

[YES Blade]

The Premier League is the 20 Clubs. There isn't "another thing" called The Premier League which can bring "7 dissenting Clubs" into line. Or sue them. Or take them to Court. Or get some Compo. If 13 Clubs want something to happen. But 7 don't. The Premier League have decided it won't happen. That's how it's been set up.

This is correct and I don't think anyone has a problem with this. I'd just like to know what Plan B, C and D is. So if Project Restart is voted down, what do the clubs vote on next?

Plan B might be finish the season with a points per game average table with relegation, if that achieves the required 14 votes, Bournemouth, Villa and Norwich will be begging to change their vote for Project Restart.