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

[brian green]

A ballet company in the Urals in Russia has come up with a acheme to keep performing despite being closed by the cononavirus but most importantly keeping a sustained cash flow that ensures the future survival of the company.

Wait for it.

They perform for an audience of one person.

The theatre's full number of tickets is sold as a lottery.  One lucky winner becomes the audience.  It is in essence playing behind closed doors but enables the supporters of the ballet company to keep it going financially.

For ballet substitute football.  This is all so serious that it is no longer the relatively minor matter of the completion of the season, it is the future survival of the clubs.  If we want football clubs we have to dig deep to keep them going.

[pauliewalnuts]

Just read that Pepe Reina has had it.

[Rotterdam]

I'm not sure what the ultimate answer is or will be, but from my perspective the season won't be finished.
There is no time to finish this season by say December, have a break, restart the next season and finish by May for the 2021 Euros. The commercial factors will be huge, tv rights, sponsorship deals etc and they will want their money's worth. I suspect we will hit the 'restart' button in November/December for the 2020/21 season and teams will play Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday. Lord knows how cup games and CL games will fit in, but again their sponsors will want things to continue.

The above doesn't even consider the players out of contract and the transfer window.

[Footy-Vill]

Former Aston Villa player Ashley Young on Twitter has shared some thoughts.

"Hi everyone, just wanted to share my thoughts given I'm currently living in Italy, the epicentre of the virus," he began.

"Realistically a supermarket is now your main risk at spreading this virus and even catching it. Speaking with family and friends at home it sounds like going to get food is just crazy.

"Remember, lockdown means lockdown! In Italy going to the supermarket is surprisingly calm... no fights over food, no stripped shelves and most certainly no abusing staff members for limiting food or any reason at all! And in almost every case it's usually just one person shopping for a household!

"Please read the following and share this if you haven't already, it really is time to do your bit to help tackle this awful global crisis we are in!

"Queuing to go into supermarket is standard, but not because it's for stockpiling or greed," he added.

"Supermarkets have limited the number of people entering at any time so it's never over-crowded! So wait and be patient to go in if your supermarket is doing this.

"If you have to get in the lift only get in with 1 more person, 2 people per lift at one time. And stand on opposite sides of the lift and face the wall - don't breathe outwards towards that stranger.

"Always use gloves from moment you get out of your car! You don't want to touch trolleys that other hands have been on. Keep the gloves on until you are getting back in the car.

"Use a face mask or scarf to keep you nose and mouth covered.

"Always keep your distance at the till. Keep the trolley behind you when you unpack at the till as it stops people from being able to to get too close.

Ashley Young was a prolific snood wearer wasn't he ?
Before they were banned for matches
One of my favourite ever players for Villa. Fair play to him for both updates and going over to Italy to play the game

[Footy-Vill]

Well as of today all shopping centres, cafes, gyms, hospitality etc are closed and strict restrictions on social gatherings - 5 at a wedding, outdoor fitness bootcamps no more than 10 persons. 'Encouraged' to work from home but no complete lock downs and we are still in our office although Mrs Ozvilla is working from home. All sports postponed and no movement around the country as each state closes it's borders to all but essential travel. Schools still open.

Told we have one of the highest testing regimes in the world and the lowest death rate currently in the world.  Extremely worried about our jobs obviously as the economy stalls but I think we're as on top of this as you can be from a public health point of view although as you guys go in to the warmer months we enter our cooler 'flu season' months.

We are here but also have close family in both the UK and US so are keeping a close eye across them all. I think thee's a lot of depression going to come from this and as well as physical health I'm concerned for peoples mental health too.

This country has now had the double hit of the bushfires and to now have this is just horrendous.  Those were both once in a lifetime  economic and social shocks that have now happened 3 months apart

Thanks Oz for reply.
I can certainly hear that . Please take care  and all best at this time

[wozwebs]

MOT's granted a 6 month extension - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vehicle-owners-to-be-granted-mot-exemption-in-battle-against-coronavirus

[passport1]

Former Aston Villa player Ashley Young on Twitter has shared some thoughts.

"Hi everyone, just wanted to share my thoughts given I'm currently living in Italy, the epicentre of the virus," he began.

"Realistically a supermarket is now your main risk at spreading this virus and even catching it. Speaking with family and friends at home it sounds like going to get food is just crazy.

"Remember, lockdown means lockdown! In Italy going to the supermarket is surprisingly calm... no fights over food, no stripped shelves and most certainly no abusing staff members for limiting food or any reason at all! And in almost every case it's usually just one person shopping for a household!

"Please read the following and share this if you haven't already, it really is time to do your bit to help tackle this awful global crisis we are in!

"Queuing to go into supermarket is standard, but not because it's for stockpiling or greed," he added.

"Supermarkets have limited the number of people entering at any time so it's never over-crowded! So wait and be patient to go in if your supermarket is doing this.

"If you have to get in the lift only get in with 1 more person, 2 people per lift at one time. And stand on opposite sides of the lift and face the wall - don't breathe outwards towards that stranger.

"Always use gloves from moment you get out of your car! You don't want to touch trolleys that other hands have been on. Keep the gloves on until you are getting back in the car.

"Use a face mask or scarf to keep you nose and mouth covered.

"Always keep your distance at the till. Keep the trolley behind you when you unpack at the till as it stops people from being able to to get too close.

Ashley Young was a prolific snood wearer wasn't he ?
Before they were banned for matches
One of my favourite ever players for Villa. Fair play to him for both updates and going over to Italy to play the game

He didn't  mention whether you should throw yourself to the ground as if shot by a sniper if someone brushed against you.

[aev]

Vague talk that if the season isn’t completed the clubs would be sued for breach of contract. No idea if this is the case or not but would explain the desperation to get it done in the face of everything else happening around us (empty stadiums etc).

[Dominic22]

National League wants to Void the season.... Not sure they know how yet but that looks the intention

There was no way the games could get completed for June and nearly all players will be out of contract up and down the leagues from June 1st. No club at that level or league one and two are going to want to keep paying contracts through the summer with no certainty as they are bleeding money now.  It will be interesting how this plays with the EFL and Prem but I just can't see how this does not happen to all the leagues.

[pauliewalnuts]

Former Aston Villa player Ashley Young on Twitter has shared some thoughts.

"Hi everyone, just wanted to share my thoughts given I'm currently living in Italy, the epicentre of the virus," he began.

"Realistically a supermarket is now your main risk at spreading this virus and even catching it. Speaking with family and friends at home it sounds like going to get food is just crazy.

"Remember, lockdown means lockdown! In Italy going to the supermarket is surprisingly calm... no fights over food, no stripped shelves and most certainly no abusing staff members for limiting food or any reason at all! And in almost every case it's usually just one person shopping for a household!

"Please read the following and share this if you haven't already, it really is time to do your bit to help tackle this awful global crisis we are in!

"Queuing to go into supermarket is standard, but not because it's for stockpiling or greed," he added.

"Supermarkets have limited the number of people entering at any time so it's never over-crowded! So wait and be patient to go in if your supermarket is doing this.

"If you have to get in the lift only get in with 1 more person, 2 people per lift at one time. And stand on opposite sides of the lift and face the wall - don't breathe outwards towards that stranger.

"Always use gloves from moment you get out of your car! You don't want to touch trolleys that other hands have been on. Keep the gloves on until you are getting back in the car.

"Use a face mask or scarf to keep you nose and mouth covered.

"Always keep your distance at the till. Keep the trolley behind you when you unpack at the till as it stops people from being able to to get too close.

Ashley Young was a prolific snood wearer wasn't he ?
Before they were banned for matches
One of my favourite ever players for Villa. Fair play to him for both updates and going over to Italy to play the game

He didn't  mention whether you should throw yourself to the ground as if shot by a sniper if someone brushed against you.

I was hoping he'd show us how to effectively balloon a free kick at least 20 feet over the bar every time you take one yet still be the person who takes all our free kicks.

[ChicagoLion]

They have set a precedent by voiding lower leagues.
The money situation wil get sorted out although I did raise the prospect of possible fragmentation breakaway happening. The Pay TV business needs the PL and the PL neds them.

[algy]

National League wants to Void the season.... Not sure they know how yet but that looks the intention

There was no way the games could get completed for June and nearly all players will be out of contract up and down the leagues from June 1st. No club at that level or league one and two are going to want to keep paying contracts through the summer with no certainty as they are bleeding money now.  It will be interesting how this plays with the EFL and Prem but I just can't see how this does not happen to all the leagues.

I think, if we have another 3 week lockdown period after this one, it'll be pretty much impossible to finish the leagues by June.  Even with the most optimistic scheduling & playing all games behind closed doors (IMO a barely viable strategy to begin with).  Lower down the leagues, I'm not sure they will have an option except to void the season when it becomes certain that the season can't be finished within a reasonable timescale.  "reasonable timescale" is probably sooner (June?) for non-league sides than it is for L1/L2 clubs (July? August, maybe?) - and if they're against it, they'll be pretty much obliged to void the Championship too.

I can see one of two things happening at that point ...
1) Championship clubs support the rest of the EFL: Premier League will be the only league not to void, and it'll be difficult to maintain the stance of playing the season out when possible.
2) Championship clubs form a breakaway "Premier League 2" and try to complete the season.  The PL sides might support that, since it justifies their own stance [for some clubs].  In this case, the Championship clubs might try to weather the storm and resume playing once it dies down.  The risk for them will be that, if football can't resume in the next year or so, they may well face financial ruin having kept playing staff on without any income.  Though arguably if they're on long contracts, they'll be in that situation anyway.

Hopefully, though, people will realise that football isn't that important and call it a day.

[Brassneck]

Vague talk that if the season isn’t completed the clubs would be sued for breach of contract. No idea if this is the case or not but would explain the desperation to get it done in the face of everything else happening around us (empty stadiums etc).

Highly unlikely to be the case because parties are protected by statute if a contract is frustrated (cannot be completed due to outside influences that neither party can control)

Any money owed to Sky, BT etc will have to be returned or credited to the following season.

[aev]

But I guess the argument would be that it can be completed - the June 30 date doesn’t seem to be a line in the sand?

[Brassneck]

But I guess the argument would be that it can be completed - the June 30 date doesn’t seem to be a line in the sand?

This is the can of worms.

For me, a season should mean exactly that and as is written in league rules - Within 1 year of the opening game.

Teams who are burnt out (like Wolves) will have the benefit of resting and starting again.  Teams who are trained to hit the ground running but traditionally end poorly (Leeds) will also have the benefit of a rest and another pre-season.  DS has recently stated that his teams finish well - That (so called) advantage has been taken away from us. 

Players who are out of contract and loanees could leave - This probably wouldn't affect us but it may others.

For me anyway, you can't just halt a season and then finish it 6+ months later.

I don't see the TV companies having an argument that the season could be completed some time in the future - The definition of season has to be as stated in the league rules.  The decision to extend will lie with the league (with some influence from UEFA I expect).