Could they void the PL due to the Coronavirus? | No | Resuming June 17th

Quite clearly there is only one team they would pull this nonsense for :lol:

It's going to be an absolute cluster feck in terms of pre-season/contracts/transfers/schedule/BCD or crowds?

Pre season for players is now realistically.

Same as if you end the season in mid May and don't have international tournament, you know you have two months off. Same here (and it's likely to be more months).

Guess the premier league are crossing their fingers they can start perhaps in July (so give teams time in June to get up to speed), wrap up the season by mid August then short break and start new season in September so that would mean the calendar wouldn't be that much out of sync.

The unknown of course remains covid 19 and what more damage it will create to modern society of course in the meantime.
 
April 30th sensible, indefinite ridiculous.

There comes a point where nothing can be indefinite.

Next season will be a mess, and I can now seem them tinkering with that.

Remember the Euros are in the summer of next season so there is not a chance they can extend the 20/21 season further.
 
Quite clearly there is only one team they would pull this nonsense for :lol:

It's going to be an absolute cluster feck in terms of pre-season/contracts/transfers/schedule/BCD or crowds?

We are potentially on for a record points total and our highest ever league finish, that means more to me personally than what they do with the title. Us, Burnley, Sheffield United could all make Europe. These kinds of things are easily overlooked by supporters of big clubs but every club has its own story. Extending the season is the only fair thing to do.
 
Last edited:
Quite clearly there is only one team they would pull this nonsense for :lol:

It's going to be an absolute cluster feck in terms of pre-season/contracts/transfers/schedule/BCD or crowds?

Pretty much. But they've been adamant from the get-go that this season would be finished, one way or another. Personally i think they should put a date on it and if they can't play out by that date, then they should probably knock it on the head. Basically they've implied here that this season will be completed even if it rolls into next season. That's a really bad move, imo.
 




Knew they would insist on playing the league out


They have to give it every chance of finishing, but we need a good 2 months to finish the season at least.
They are gambling it's all fine by May or June, but if it's not, it can't rumble into autumn!
 
Quite clearly there is only one team they would pull this nonsense for :lol:

It's going to be an absolute cluster feck in terms of pre-season/contracts/transfers/schedule/BCD or crowds?

Now we can put all the cafe posters theory to the test: City can still catch and overtake Liverpool. Go on then, the math are City's favour, right caftards? :cool:

Or to put it in Merson's twisted brain, seems like the players will return to the table with Ronnie O Sullivan to continue needing just one more red which is hanging over the pocket, 15 inches away. Unhindered. :lol:
 
April 30th sensible, indefinite ridiculous.

There comes a point where nothing can be indefinite.

Next season will be a mess, and I can now seem them tinkering with that.

Remember the Euros are in the summer of next season so there is not a chance they can extend the 20/21 season further.

Some suggestions were (not sure if this was from anyone high up) that if this season runs into next season, then next season should see teams only play each other once to make it shorter. That seems like a crazy suggestion to me, personally.
 
Maybe the ones at the lower leagues but not the big ones in the PL imo. They're rich as feck and probably already have enough money to live the rest of their life without worrying about money. Players like Pogba, KDB etc. for example. Imo even one or two year without income is not gonna force them to risk their own live, the lives of their closed ones or their career. And they're still getting paid millions according to their contracts even without playing. Why they'd take the risk?



Atm there is no test with 100 % accuracy and the idea of matches BCD is just not feasible without such I think.

Well obviously most of the Premier League is set for life. However they're ambitious and I would imagine most high profile players would rather play than risk becoming completely match unfit and therefore ruin their careers. I imagine a few months off without games and proper training would leave a lot of elite players completely off-form and if you extend to that to a year or more its possible they might not return to an elite level. The elite players in fact would probably have more motivation to return than the players who aren't financially set imo.

Also at some point life in general will resume so the risks they take playing football would be no greater than the ones take in day to day life.


Will surely have to wait for the peak though, that may not happen until June so perhaps July start and get season done (at least the leagues by Mid August).

Peterborough owner was on TS an hour ago. Was saying the same thing, eventually we will have to get back to some reduced form of normality and clearly sport plays a massive part in many people's lives.

Of course the problem is football resumes for a bit and then winter hits and we're into the unknown again with the virus.

Yes I agree that it would be July at the very least, although I think its probably close to the end of the year before the season starts/resumes.

I think put simply the risk the players will take will be mirrored by everybody else in society as well some point down the line. Waiting til "normality" resumes isn't feasible. Whether its closed doors, or reduced audiences or something else, we'll make adjustments and have to carry on. WE might well have to live in a period of time where pubs and bars might be closed and the stadiums as well, but matches would be going on. I dont think the UK govt will bail out Sky and BT with their losses but the decent thing to do in this circumstance by Sky and BT would be to allow some matches FTA or possibly a reduced subscription.
 
They have to give it every chance of finishing, but we need a good 2 months to finish the season at least.
They are gambling it's all fine by May or June, but if it's not, it can't rumble into autumn!

It can rumble on to whatever the big wigs decide. Don't do it to yourself man. It's the hope, and all that. Silver lining: you may get CL football with Ole at the wheel and Bruno next to him.
 
Quite clearly there is only one team they would pull this nonsense for :lol:

It's going to be an absolute cluster feck in terms of pre-season/contracts/transfers/schedule/BCD or crowds?

new kit manufacturers contract too. New balance will be raging if Liverpool won the league wearing Nike etc.

Are they willing to void 20/21 season just to finish 19/20?
 
Pretty much. But they've been adamant from the get-go that this season would be finished, one way or another. Personally i think they should put a date on it and if they can't play out by that date, then they should probably knock it on the head. Basically they've implied here that this season will be completed even if it rolls into next season. That's a really bad move, imo.

I expect there is a definite end date, but they don't want to say that at this stage.

It's if they have to extend that April 30 date that reality will hit home.
 
They are gambling it's all fine by May or June, but if it's not, it can't rumble into autumn!
Well, of course they are - isn't everyone? Makes much more sense to announce it like this than already say "feck it, cancel it all" right now.
 
April 30th sensible, indefinite ridiculous.

There comes a point where nothing can be indefinite.

Next season will be a mess, and I can now seem them tinkering with that.

Remember the Euros are in the summer of next season so there is not a chance they can extend the 20/21 season further.

Ultimately the season will be out of sync for many years unless they can somehow get a September start for next season and cancel a cup competition (league cup they've said). Would also help btw if UEFA go just to straight knock out next season in CL and europa (scrap the group stage) and stop staggering their round 16 knock outs over so many weeks. Not holding my breath but that would help hugely.

Ironically a November world cup might help here as means you can play into summer 2022 and 2023 if needs be.
 
They have to give it every chance of finishing, but we need a good 2 months to finish the season at least.
They are gambling it's all fine by May or June, but if it's not, it can't rumble into autumn!

Personally i'm all up for the season to continue. Just from a selfish POV, United have a lot to lose of this season is void. But there has to be a limit here. You can't be rolling into next season. That's a bad move, imo.
 
It can rumble on to whatever the big wigs decide. Don't do it to yourself man. It's the hope, and all that. Silver lining: you may get CL football with Ole at the wheel and Bruno next to him.

I think you're taking too optimistic a spin on what's come out today.
The key factor is this virus. If it hasn't buggered off, and time rolls on and on, then the bigwigs will soon revise their initial plans.
Remember the original plan of behind closed doors? That was quickly sacked off.
 
Hopefully they can finish the season, both domestic and European.
The lower league sides especially need to get people back in as soon as it’s safe to help stay afloat.
 
Personally i'm all up for the season to continue. Just from a selfish POV, United have a lot to lose of this season is void. But there has to be a limit here. You can't be rolling into next season. That's a bad move, imo.

If it re-starts May 1st, we could just about cram it in, and have a reduced closed season and perhaps operate a month behind
But any later than May it gets very awkward
 
We are potentially on for a records points total and our highest ever league finish, that means more to me personally than what they do with the title. Us, Burnley, Sheffield United could all make Europe. These kinds of things are easily overlooked by supporters of big clubs but every club has its own story. Extending the season is the only fair thing to do.
Yes. Fairness is one of the Premier League's values. Of all the possible options, the least fair thing to do is to erase the work of 30 games of each club.

Fans also have to accept it is unlikely a normal season will resume in 2020/21. The modelling suggests it won't start on time, will be majorly interrupted or won't get going at all, subject to the availability and roll out of a vaccine.
 
They still are banking on everything being better in a months time. I honestly can't see that being the case.
A month - definitely not. 2 months - who knows? Even if we can only start at the end of May, it could be wrapped up mid-July.
 
It is all very well saying they will play indefinitely until the league season is finished, but what about if it gets to summer (presuming Mr virus has gone away) & the rest of major leagues declare their season null & void & start on the next. Where does that leave us. Other countries don't give a toss whether PL loses massive amounts of income due to not fulfilling their TV contracts, & would probably be amused about it anyway.
 
All this announcement does is let them keep their options open for longer. It's certainly still no rock solid commitment to finishing the season.
 
Well obviously most of the Premier League is set for life. However they're ambitious and I would imagine most high profile players would rather play than risk becoming completely match unfit and therefore ruin their careers. I imagine a few months off without games and proper training would leave a lot of elite players completely off-form and if you extend to that to a year or more its possible they might not return to an elite level. The elite players in fact would probably have more motivation to return than the players who aren't financially set imo.

Also at some point life in general will resume so the risks they take playing football would be no greater than the ones take in day to day life.




Yes I agree that it would be July at the very least, although I think its probably close to the end of the year before the season starts/resumes.

I think put simply the risk the players will take will be mirrored by everybody else in society as well some point down the line. Waiting til "normality" resumes isn't feasible. Whether its closed doors, or reduced audiences or something else, we'll make adjustments and have to carry on. WE might well have to live in a period of time where pubs and bars might be closed and the stadiums as well, but matches would be going on. I dont think the UK govt will bail out Sky and BT with their losses but the decent thing to do in this circumstance by Sky and BT would be to allow some matches FTA or possibly a reduced subscription.

Yeah I agree when prem comes back it will be BCD. Perhaps for last few games you'll see crowds but will be reduced capacities which will be all sorts of issues. And over 70s will probably be reminded to stay at home, decent amount of match going fans are in that category.

Guess a way of looking at it is this is now footballers pre season just two months earlier.

They end in mid May and for those with no international tournaments don't come back until early July so pretty much two months off. Add a month on and that could be the timescale here.

They can't just jet off to random parts of the world on holiday now so will be at home training. It's possible if you can be confident enough you can ramp up the intensity training in June, get a few behind closed doors friendlies in and be o.k for mid July although again we're in the unknown regarding the virus and state we'll be in this country by then.
 




Knew they would insist on playing the league out


The PL havent said the football season will be completed:


The FA, Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, understand we are in unprecedented times and our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.

We are united in our commitment to finding ways of resuming the 2019/20 football season and ensuring all domestic and European club league and cup matches are played as soon as it is safe and possible to do so.

We have collectively supported UEFA in postponing EURO 2020 to create space in the calendar to ensure domestic and European club league and cup matches have an increased opportunity to be played and, in doing so, maintain the integrity of each competition.

The FA’s Rules and Regulations state that "the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June" and "each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season".

However, The FA’s Board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019/20 season in relation to Professional Football.

Additionally, we have collectively agreed that the professional game in England will be further postponed until no earlier than 30 April.

The progress of COVID-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority. We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow.

We would all like to re-emphasise that our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.
 
All this announcement does is let them keep their options open for longer. It's certainly still no rock solid commitment to finishing the season.
Of course it's not, it'd be stupid to come out with a statement of any certainty because no one knows how the virus will be in one or two months time.

I'm also not sure why everyone is so hell bend on not interrupting the 20/21 season. Corona could just as well return in the November-March period if we don't have a vaccin by then, then what?
 
Well, of course they are - isn't everyone? Makes much more sense to announce it like this than already say "feck it, cancel it all" right now.

Just don't know why they're making big noises about going on "Indefinitely".

Moving it to April 30th and monitoring it, and re-stating their desire to complete it would have been enough.

Then review in mid April.
If come mid April it's all off until end of May/mid June, I bet they won't be so confident.
 
A month - definitely not. 2 months - who knows? Even if we can only start at the end of May, it could be wrapped up mid-July.
With a vaccine about 18months away, to think in 2 months it would be possible to start up again, just doesn't make sense. Some places aren't even near peaking yet, and can continue all the way till June July, hence many events around that time have been cancelled or postponed.
 
If it re-starts May 1st, we could just about cram it in, and have a reduced closed season and perhaps operate a month behind
But any later than May it gets very awkward

Next to no chance any football will be played in May (in fairness looking at your posts Sandi you know that).

Football calender is going to be very out of sync from now on up to 2023. Going to have to accept starting in September or October, playing through summers, changed formats to cups and european competitions, behind closed doors games so going to be a very strange period.

It was coming anyway, 2022-23 is going to be a very strange season and that's really not that far away now.
 
@Pexbo @VP89

By no means a guarantee, but like I said I think they'll try everything within their power to finish this season.

I won't deny taking pleasure from Liverpool losing out on the title, but not at the expense of any number of clubs going under as a result of matchday revenue losses. Every week without football pushes them closer to bankruptcy,

It's also worth noting that United have equally as much to lose as Liverpool should the season be made null and void. There is (was) every chance of not only finishing top-four but winning the EL and FA Cup as well, which is a damn good season by anyone's standards.

That said, I'd gladly welcome the season being restarted asap if it means sparing the smaller clubs from disaster. But it's looking increasingly unlikely I'm afraid.
 
Next to no chance any football will be played in May (in fairness looking at your posts Sandi you know that).

Football calender is going to be very out of sync from now on up to 2023. Going to have to accept starting in September or October, playing through summers, changed formats to cups and european competitions, behind closed doors games so going to be a very strange period.

It was coming anyway, 2022-23 is going to be a very strange season and that's really not that far away now.

Someone suggested they might want to switch seasons to Feb- October or something, which initially sounded bonkers, but if they do insist on extending this season to ruck up next year, then who knows! Especially like you say with that ludicrous Jan world cup coming up.
 
It's going to be interesting to see what happens with season ticket renewals if they're intent on finishing the season no matter when it is. The way things are going nobody will be able to afford to go anyway :lol:
 
Someone suggested they might want to switch seasons to Feb- October or something, which initially sounded bonkers, but if they do insist on extending this season to ruck up next year, then who knows! Especially like you say with that ludicrous Jan world cup coming up.


Yeah....that was actually me.:lol: Well I wasn't demanding it but it might have to be implemented one year to get the seasons back on track eventually.
 
The PL havent said the football season will be completed:


The FA, Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, understand we are in unprecedented times and our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.

We are united in our commitment to finding ways of resuming the 2019/20 football season and ensuring all domestic and European club league and cup matches are played as soon as it is safe and possible to do so.

We have collectively supported UEFA in postponing EURO 2020 to create space in the calendar to ensure domestic and European club league and cup matches have an increased opportunity to be played and, in doing so, maintain the integrity of each competition.

The FA’s Rules and Regulations state that "the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June" and "each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season".

However, The FA’s Board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019/20 season
in relation to Professional Football.

Additionally, we have collectively agreed that the professional game in England will be further postponed until no earlier than 30 April.

The progress of COVID-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority. We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow.

We would all like to re-emphasise that our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.


All those passages i've highlighted there indicate one thing: this season will be finished one way or another. Now, ok, nobody can say 100%, but there is a very strong indication in everything they've said that they are 100% committed to finishing this season even if they have to extend it "indefinitely"
 
One just needs to look at some of the major events that have already been postponed, most think it will still be difficult to host or do anything in May June. If we lucky, July could be when things slow down, emphasis on slow down and not go away, which still will put players and fans at risk, as long as their is no vaccine, to risk lives will be a challenge the PL won't be able to take.
 
At some stage it's either finished or null and voided, and there's no news on what they're planning ref contracts and the transfer window.

UEFA will want their competitions up and running as quickly as possible, will they finish the current one or will they deem them cancelled.