Good Morning. It's Monday 11th May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Championship fixtures to be completed at own grounds A leaked source from the EFL are claiming officials are planning for the Championship to be completed at the 24 clubs’ own grounds. If this were the case, five of Leeds remaining nine games would be played at Elland Road. Although every match would be played behind closed doors, what would stop Leeds fans descending on Elland Road en mass especially the promotion winning game that would see the Whites return to the top flight for the first time in sixteen years? We can guess what the punishment would be if that were to happen! Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s has began to lift some of the lockdown restrictions, including allowing unlimited outdoor activity and we are expecting to hear about the restart of elite sport in the next 24 hours. All 20 Premier League teams will be meeting today to try and iron out a return to action. With the Premier League insisting on the remaining games be played at neutral grounds, this will infuriate the top tier clubs towards the drop zone who are insisting they should be able to play their remaining matches at their home venue. please log in to view this image Is Points per game the fairest way? Should the EFL fail in their bid to complete the remaining Championships fixtures,the most likely way promotion would be calculated would be on a points per game basis. This is worked out by the average number of points each side has picked up both home and away and applying the points to the remaining games left. Although as a last resort, this seems the fairest way, it is still within the rights of fellow Championship clubs to issue an injunction, and temporarily disrupt promotion. It would however to virtually impossible for another club to insist they deserve promotion more than the top two. please log in to view this image Is it safe to resume football? Over the last couple of months, we have heard from top scientists, we've heard from governing bodies, we've heard from pundits and we've heard from clubs - Is it safe to resume football with certain safety measures in place? Will it be any safer to do so in six months time? These are unprecedented times; there are no right or wrong answers - we have never been in this situation before! If the season were to recommence, would the restrictions take away some of the enjoyment out of the game? please log in to view this image
Good morning. In the grand scheme of things I think the danger of playing games is negligible. A couple of dozen players who have been tested won't make a difference compared to the thousands of super markets, takeaways (soon to be schools) etc open up and down the country. I think it's more of a question of what kind of example it sets. Would people see this and think non essential activities are now allowed or would people gather to watch the matches?
Morning all. Safe to resume football? Not so sure. Suppose depends on what level of safety as a player or their immediate families are willing to risk. Suppose one thing confirmed by the last couple of months is we’re all but numbers to everyone except our nearest and dearest. Governments don’t care about people dying, especially the elderly and the football authorities don’t either. They’re simply worried about financial implications if they can’t finish the season. Players welfare far down on their list despite what they’re pretending
And then how long until youngsters resumed games in the parks etc. It’s like you said, all about example
Bonjour, I hadn't realised how much debt the PL teams have. I'm not a financial person but I can see that debt isn't a problem as long as there is an income but if the income stops then, based on these 2017-2018 results, only Burnley and Arsenal would not be bankrupt, maybe somebody has the latest figures or perhaps knows better. https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...guide-2017-18-accounts-manchester-united-city
Morning all. I totally believe that the return of football would be a massive morale boost to the country. As would rugby, golf and cricket to the fans of those sports. In my opinion that morale boost is being eroded by the uncertainty of if and when the season will resume. Because of that I personally would end the seasons now. Declare champions, promotions and relegations on ppg. Announce that next season would begin as normal, minus crowds. This gives leagues and clubs until August to prepare. They will have a better idea of where the country is regarding the virus, will give them more time to make training and stadiums safer and of course contracts and transfers. By taking away the uncertainty I think the morale boost will nearly as good as resuming matches. We will have a definite target to look forward to.
Morning all... I don’t know what to think about football. Sport on TV would give a certain feel good factor but playing next season behind closed doors? That would surely require a massive overhaul of contracts, wages, budgets, transfer fees? Maybe it is what we need, can you imagine the talent top teams would be forced to release rather than loan out. If we finish this season behind closed doors I don’t believe next should start until we can allow fans back. I also believe we need a huge review of when contracts can start and finish and we need to review transfer windows. If we are in the PL or not, more money needs to filter down to lower divisions.
Crystal Palace owner said over weekend that he believes much of next season will be behind closed doors and financial consequences for much of the pl would be shocking
This season needs to be finished, they were looking at finishing the season with the FA Cup final on the 8th August, having everything behind closed doors which is a bit ambitious, probably more into September. That would mean starting next season some time into November when hopefully the crowds will be able to return, with the European championships due to start in June, the climax would be put on hold until July finishing by the end of August. The 2022/23 season could begin towards the end of October breaking up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the start of December and restart in February looking to finish in June 2023. After that the season can revert to how it has been for years. Financially a good percentage of premiership tv money can be shared throughout the football pyramid so the smaller clubs can survive.
It’s a difficult one. I guess it depends on whether you view football as non essential business. It’s a multi billion pound industry that really can’t afford to go bust, not just for the clubs but also for the wider community that benefit from it, thinking of those that work in retail selling merchandise, food and pubs around grounds and so on. Not to be controversial as I really don’t know what’s best But if we were to wait until it was perfectly safe to resume normal life, not just football, we’ll be cowering away in our houses forever. There are not viruses we have found a cure for, not the common cold (which is also corona virus incidentally) and despite flu jabs between 15000-18000 sadly die of seasonal flu each year (Over 28000 died of it in 2014-15 I saw reported). I’d expect covid 19 to develop different strains every year. At the weekend, of the reported 32000 deaths, 342 were in the group below age 45 and lower still as you get to the younger age groups. It seems footballers are less at risk of dying from this than me but I fully accept the issues of infecting elderly family but I’m sure many still working have the same problem. I don’t know the answer but we can’t lockdown forever and the government can’t continue to afford furlough for much longer.
There has been some speculation that sports crowds and concerts could be back as early as October. I don't think they will, or at least not without major restrictions but the peak ended up being sooner than most predicted so who knows what will happen. Without a vaccine the virus isn't going to go away completely so it could be that by October it's going to be as safe as it's realistically ever going to be.
1. Who won BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019? 2. Where were the Olympics held in 1992? 3. Which snooker player is nicknamed The Rocket? 4. Which team did Michael Jordan spend the majority of his basketball career with? 5. Who was the last British man to win a Men’s single tennis Grand Slam title before Andy Murray in 2012? 6. Where was Mo Farah born? 7. In which sport do teams compete to win the Stanley Cup? 8. What is Muhammad Ali’s real name? 9. Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe famously finished his career unbeaten, how many fights did he have? 10. What is Floyd Mayweather’s boxing nickname? 11. Who is England’s top wicket taker in Test match cricket? 12. What is the highest individual score in a Test match innings? 13. How many F1 World Championships has Lewis Hamilton won? 14. What is Usain Bolt’s world record time for 100m? 15. Who is the current golf Open champion? 16. How many balls are on a snooker table at the start of a frame, including the white? 17. Where is the next Ryder Cup due to take place in the USA? 18. In which city does the World Snooker Championship take place? 19. What colours are the five Olympic rings? 20. How many tennis Grand Slam titles has Andy Murray won? Football questions 21. Which year was the Premier League founded? 22. Who holds the record for most consecutive Premier League appearances (310)? 23. Which club won the 2017 UEFA Super Cup? 24. Who was manager of Manchester City when they first won the Premier League? 25. Who has scored more career goals - Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? 26. Which Dutch player was voted 'European Player of the Century' in 1999? 27. Who scored the first Premier League hat-trick? 28. Which English referee officiated the 2010 World Cup final? 29. Wayne Rooney scored his Premier League first goal against which team? 30. Who captains England Women’s football team? 31. Who captains Wales Women’s football team? 32. Who won the European Championships in 1992? 33. Which player has made the most Premier League appearances? 34. When did Liverpool last win the league? 35. How many clubs did David Beckham play for during his career? 36. Which club are Gary Neville, Philip Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham joint owners of? 37. Which was the last team from outside the top division to win the FA Cup? 38. Which nation won the first European Championship (Euros) in 1960? 39. Who has won the Champions League most as manager? Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho? 40. When did England last fail to qualify for a major tournament? Rugby questions 41. Which Welshman won the Six Nations player of the tournament in 2012? 42. How many Grand Slams did Wales win in the 1970s? 43. Who scored a joint record eight tries in New Zealand's progress to the 2015 World Cup final, including two hat-tricks? 44. What Beano character was former England player Jason Robinson nicknamed after? 45. How many times has France been a losing World Cup finalist? 46. Which country joined the Five Nations in 2000 to make it the Six Nations? 47. Where is the 2023 Rugby World Cup being held? 48. Who did Wales beat to finish third in the World Cup in 1987? 49. Which Scot is the Lions’ all-time top points scorer? 50. In which English city did Japan beat South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup?
Don't think people standing outside grounds, would be a problem, can't watch it there, but you can at home, groups of friends drinking at someone's house watching the game might be. Remember sitting outside Bournemouth listening to the radio, if I could have watched it on tv elsewhere I would have.
You really think the premier league would give up lots of money to save the football pyramid ? Sorry don't see that happening, they would prefer amateur leagues.
I agree. Given the choice of standing outside a ground, sober & possibly getting infected, or staying at home watching the match on tv with a few beers, what would most people choose? I think most would prefer to watch it & share the experience. Now after we win & get promoted, that might be different. I think a lot of exercise might take place at ER.
The Premier League says it has listened to the objections of some clubs to the use of neutral grounds if the season resumes and will support them in putting those views to the authorities. Chief executive Richard Masters said the organisation was in an "ongoing dialogue" with government, police and ground safety officials. "Everybody would prefer to play at home and away if at all possible, and it's clear to see some clubs feel more strongly about that than others," he said after a shareholders' meeting. "We are in contact with the authorities and listening to that advice, while also representing club views in those discussions." He said "a really strong collective will to complete the season remains" but admitted that "curtailment" of the season was discussed for the first time at the meeting. Two weeks ago clubs were told neutral stadiums were the only way the season could be completed, because authorities were concerned about fans congregating outside home grounds and breaching social distancing rules. But at least six clubs are opposed to the proposal in the Project Restart plan, with Watford, Aston Villa and Brighton coming out publicly against it. Those clubs now want the chance to show they can deliver home and away matches safely, and league bosses are behind them. "Since Covid became an issue we've been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and taking all that advice on board, but it is an ongoing dialogue," said Masters, speaking for the first time since the season was suspended. "But all must be cognisant of what authorities are telling us, and we'll continue with that consultation." The government is understood to have "open ears" regarding neutral venues and is prepared to discuss the matter. However a final decision is likely to rest with the police and ground safety officials, who have to grant licences to venues. Last week the head of the UK's football policing unit, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said clubs opposed to neutral grounds should "get a grip". Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson also told the BBC he feared thousands of the club's fans would gather outside Anfield to celebrate the title, even if matches were played at neutral venues. However, recently retired West Yorkshire chief superintendent Owen West told the Guardian that the use of neutral stadiums had "no rationale", and such a proposal was not being enforced in Germany where the Bundesliga hopes to resume this weekend. Despite mounting tension and division over the use of neutral stadiums, Masters said Monday's five-hour meeting showed a "strong desire to discuss everything in the round, and to agree a collective way forward". He insisted a "really strong collective will to complete the season remains". But he also admitted than a cancellation of the season was discussed for the first time. "It's the first time we've discussed curtailment," he said. "It's still our aim to finish the season obviously, but it's important to discuss all of the options with our clubs. "Obviously we won't be playing until the middle of June. It doesn't seem quite right to be talking about playing before we've taken a decision to return to the first stage of training. "But in terms of how those matches will take place there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge, and we'll continue to assess the circumstances then. "What was agreed today was that players can extend their contracts beyond 30 June, until the end of the season. "It must be agreed by both parties and a later date can be scheduled for that, no later than 23 June so that date was pushed back a little to help with that situation."
