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

[adrenachrome]

At the moment, it looks like the EPL will be be completed in empty stadiums in early summer.

My view is that they want to generate some momentum for next season, which will likely start with empty stadiums as well. Can't say I am thrilled by the prospect, but the alternatives aren't great either.

[cdbearsfan]

The alternative of voiding the season while we all laugh hysterically at Liverpool, Leeds and West Brom IS great.

[Axl Rose]

The alternative of voiding the season while we all laugh hysterically at Liverpool, Leeds and West Brom IS great.

This. I couldn't think of a better outcome.

[PeterWithesShin]

If it was completely voided the only club i'd feel a bit sorry for are Sheff Utd.

[sid1964]

Just a question, we all seem to be worried that a player may die because of contracting the virus, what will happen when we all go back to work, do we honestly believe that no one will catch this disease from someone they work with or by? - it seems reading a lot of the posts on here, that footballers are for some reason considered more special than the average working class person in the street.

If they have to go back to doing there job, they will just have to get on with it, like we all will have to.

Saw an interview on SKY, where someone was suggesting that if a footballer spits during the game then he will be given a yellow card, maybe they will have a spittoon (like in the old westerns) placed on the side of the pitch, for them to do that disgusting habit.

[LeeB]

Just a question, we all seem to be worried that a player may die because of contracting the virus, what will happen when we all go back to work, do we honestly believe that no one will catch this disease from someone they work with or by? - it seems reading a lot of the posts on here, that footballers are for some reason considered more special than the average working class person in the street.

If they have to go back to doing there job, they will just have to get on with it, like we all will have to.

Saw an interview on SKY, where someone was suggesting that if a footballer spits during the game then he will be given a yellow card, maybe they will have a spittoon (like in the old westerns) placed on the side of the pitch, for them to do that disgusting habit.

I don't wrestle with my colleagues in the kitchen when there is a corrner though, it's not quite the same thing.

[PeterWithe]

You’d imagine that when we go back we’ll all at least try to remain 2m away from each other if possible.  Not so footballers. Or anyone playing a contact sport.

[sid1964]

Bin men in a lorry don't sit 2 metres from each other in the cab - my desk at work is not 2 metres from the next person - what if you have to show an apprentice or trainee how to do a particular job at work?
My wife is a key worker - one of her colleagues has corona virus and continued working until she was told to go home - they are all still having to go to work, obviously the person who had corona virus did not!

lots of questions no real answers.

[LeeB]

We need the bins emptied. We don't need football.

[chrisw1]

Are we even sure deaths have halved? I think a lot of this depends upon how you determine the numbers.

There is a chart that showing European excess deaths so far above their “normal" levels for the time of yr. In other countries excess mortality is falling. In England it's still rising.

I don't want to misquote figures, I was just basing it on the reported hospital deaths although we all know wider deaths will be much higher.

All I was trying to say is that for me, I'm really hoping this virus will be under control come late summer.  In those circumstances I can see sports seasons starting behind closed doors in August or September.  Following that rationale, I was just querying if that does become the case, is it that much of a stretch for the PL to just discuss the possibility that the first games will be the conclusion of the current season?  I appreciate for some it is distateful for the PL to even discuss it, but given the potential financial impact on some clubs, I think it would be negligent for them not to at least explore it.

But hopefully the French announcement will put pressure on them and this will all be put to bed shortly. 

In this hypothetical version where the league finishes in August:
How are European places awarded seeing as the first games would be scheduled before our season finishes?
Is there a pre-season break after it concludes to allow for transfers, etc? - if promotion and relegation are retained there's need to be something to address that.
How does this impact the 20/21 season? - remember that season can't run long because of the rescheduled Euros so everything has to finish by late May.
There is still the problem of player and sponsor contracts to resolve if things run past the end of June, any thoughts on that?
No prize money can be given out until the season is void or complete so clubs that are expecting a big chunk of cash next month would have to wait until August. Is that not just as big a risk of seeing clubs fold as many are already running up huge debts?

There's a lot more issues than that but those alone should be enough to show that, as I've been saying all along, if football can be played come august/september then they need to end this season and focus on getting things ready for that.

You can answer if you like, or you can sulk again, either works.

I was addressing the general distaste for playing behind closed doors, not the technicalities that either can be resolved or they can't.  The 'as long as it takes' mantra suggested the PL at least wanted to look into it.  They could have just asked you of course, but I suspect they want to undertake their own analysis.

I wasn't sulking, the reality is your patronising know it all style just bores me to tears.

Cheers.

[cdward]

Saw an interview on SKY, where someone was suggesting that if a footballer spits during the game then he will be given a yellow card, .

Matches will be abandoned in that case, there wont be enough players left on the pitch.

[frank black]

FIFA doc saying “Prepare for next season”

[paul_e]

I was addressing the general distaste for playing behind closed doors, not the technicalities that either can be resolved or they can't.  The 'as long as it takes' mantra suggested the PL at least wanted to look into it.  They could have just asked you of course, but I suspect they want to undertake their own analysis.

I wasn't sulking, the reality is your patronising know it all style just bores me to tears.

Cheers.

But it's not patronising to tell people why they think the season should be resolved in a certain way is just because they're biased and won't admit it?

Oh and I don't think I have all the answers, I will however ask questions if something is put forward that doesn't make sense. If you'd just answer some of the questions instead of sulking it'd be nice.

[Somniloquism]

Bin men in a lorry don't sit 2 metres from each other in the cab - my desk at work is not 2 metres from the next person - what if you have to show an apprentice or trainee how to do a particular job at work?
My wife is a key worker - one of her colleagues has corona virus and continued working until she was told to go home - they are all still having to go to work, obviously the person who had corona virus did not!

lots of questions no real answers.

WTF???

I'm one of those who go in with a cold, but this day and age what on earth was she thinking?

[Somniloquism]

Saw an interview on SKY, where someone was suggesting that if a footballer spits during the game then he will be given a yellow card, .

Matches will be abandoned in that case, there wont be enough players left on the pitch.

Instant red for a snot rocket?