How much will Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact Aston Villa's season?

[Legion]

One Leeds fan I know is spitting feathers about it all. The other one is quite philosophical.

[aev]

One other issue with finishing the season (whenever that may happen) is how do you ensure that the teams have all had a similar time to train and get fit. Presumably players and staff will be getting ill and recovering at different times - what happens about this?

[ROBBO]

Well the AFL season started over here the first game being on Thursday played behind closed doors,
The federal government closed all state borders yesterday meaning teams can't travel so no more footy for what a believe will be a long time. Some of the smaller clubs may not survive and I would think this would be the situation of clubs in the UK.

[David_Nab]

The "play to a finish but behind closed doors" bandwagon keeps moving, at least amongst the fans of Liverpool (and based on the abuse I received on another forum, Leeds).

Leaving aside the fact that even behind closed doors would involve at least a few hundred people getting together to put  on a game, police it and broadcast it, can anyone honestly believe that when Liverpool eventually win their first title in 30 years several hundred thousand Scousers are going to mark the occasion by sharing Thumbs Up emojis from their social isolation?

I guarantee if we played 2 matches behind closed doors , Liverpool win them and win league Liverpool fans would suddenly not have issue with integrity of league if it was voided then....

[tomd2103]

One other issue with finishing the season (whenever that may happen) is how do you ensure that the teams have all had a similar time to train and get fit. Presumably players and staff will be getting ill and recovering at different times - what happens about this?

I had a chat today with someone who is on the coaching staff at an EFL club and he said that they've been told that finishing the season is the priority, no matter the impact it has on next season.

I still think the best thing to do would be to end the uncertainty and finish the season now, with next season planned to start as usual.  It would give time to sort out the wrangling over promotions, European spots etc. and would hopefully stop the risk of it being rushed back too soon. 

Conspiracy time, but I do wonder just how much the situation with Liverpool and the ensuing frothing at the mouth that would occur is driving all of this.  If Manchester City were running away with the title, I just wonder if the question would be being floated as much. 

[KRS]

Just throwing it out there, but if this season “has to be finished” then it will obviously impact upon next season...a reasonable solution to that could be playing 1 game against each team with an equal split between home/away fixtures and graded opponents.

[Brassneck]

Just throwing it out there, but if this season “has to be finished” then it will obviously impact upon next season...a reasonable solution to that could be playing 1 game against each team with an equal split between home/away fixtures and graded opponents.

I'd rather not bother.  Besides, how could you play 19 games equally home & away?

I'd prefer Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.

[andyh]

Just throwing it out there, but if this season “has to be finished” then it will obviously impact upon next season...a reasonable solution to that could be playing 1 game against each team with an equal split between home/away fixtures and graded opponents.

I'd rather not bother.  Besides, how could you play 19 games equally home & away?

I'd prefer Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.

To be fair, if they play out the remaining games this season, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday is probably what we'll be doing next season !!!

[Brassneck]

Just throwing it out there, but if this season “has to be finished” then it will obviously impact upon next season...a reasonable solution to that could be playing 1 game against each team with an equal split between home/away fixtures and graded opponents.

I'd rather not bother.  Besides, how could you play 19 games equally home & away?

I'd prefer Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.

To be fair, if they play out the remaining games this season, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday is probably what we'll be doing next season !!!

Stands a chance.

They'd have to determine when transfer windows open and close and when (and for how long) the close season ran for.

I still think it impossible to accommodate both.  It will be June at the very earliest before teams are given the OK to gather again.  After that length of time away (normally a traditional close season), it takes 6 weeks to get up to fitness again.

[ROBBO]

June is very optimistic I would be pleasantly surprised it we see football played again before the new year.

[Brassneck]

June is very optimistic I would be pleasantly surprised it we see football played again before the new year.

Yeah - I said "at the very earliest".

It then doesn't become a season does it?

[Brend'Watkins]

Given that the Tokyo Olympics (24th July - 9th August) are now under pressure to be cancelled won't it be the same for any sporting events behind closed doors or not?  I also don't get this behind closed doors thing anyway.  22 people take part in a game of football with subs and assortment of backroom staff and officials a game would need near enough 100 people in attendance.  And that's assuming all these people players and officials are not self isolating at the time of the game.  Or, may be concerned about their health should they partake.  A clear directive needs to be sent to football world wide.  No resumption of training or games until September at the earliest.  Realistically, that would mean the first games take place sometime in October.  That's all on the assumption the world is rid of the virus.

[amfy]

The way things are looking I can see us finishing this season by picking up at about the same date in 2021 and playing out the same fixtures as if the year in between never happened.

Liverpool will be recorded in history as having won the 19/20/21 season.

[darren woolley]

Given that the Tokyo Olympics (24th July - 9th August) are now under pressure to be cancelled won't it be the same for any sporting events behind closed doors or not?  I also don't get this behind closed doors thing anyway.  22 people take part in a game of football with subs and assortment of backroom staff and officials a game would need near enough 100 people in attendance.  And that's assuming all these people players and officials are not self isolating at the time of the game.  Or, may be concerned about their health should they partake.  A clear directive needs to be sent to football world wide.  No resumption of training or games until September at the earliest.  Realistically, that would mean the first games take place sometime in October.  That's all on the assumption the world is rid of the virus.

With the Olympics possibly being cancelled I can't see football resuming by that date.

[aev]

Arsenal have put an indefinite stop to training.