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

[old man villa fan]

For clarification, my position has always been and still is that, if you cannot finish the season in the manner it was intended when it started, it should be abandoned and cancelled.  Points I have raised are merely to discuss the problems of continuing the season in any other manner.  I thought I had been clear but obviously not.  As I have been told that I do not know what I am talking about and should leave the discussion, perhaps I should leave it to the 'experts'.

[paul_e]

... As I've said before if the season can't finish by the end on June I don't see how they can ensure a fair resolution. If they try do push this through I'd be very interested to see what they offer to clubs to enable it. Other than Liverpool who benefits from finishing the season from this point? I can't see anyone in the bottom 6 agreeing to it, I doubt many of the midtable teams will care much either way and I don't see much benefit to Man City or Leicester. The only counter arguments are money related so again this comes down to an argument between finances and integrity

Define fair - it all depends on your perspective and your interests in the matter.

Fair in this circumstance is under the same conditions as the clubs were given last August. If the season could be finished before the end of June it's the closest thing to fair that can be achieved (an unscheduled 1-2month break will inevitably have an impact that was never considered) but anything beyond that point triggers the problems I mentioned in the first paragraph and I then don't see how it can be considered a fair conclusion.

[Dominic22]

Well President Macron has just announced that the restrictions in France are to stay in place until at least May 11th and that restaurants could be shut until July, no festivals which I also take to mean large scale public events.  Borders shut etc, I am not sure of the timing but I think we are a couple of weeks behind there shut-down and statistically have a higher infection and mortality rate than France.

I relation to football, it does not look likely that organized training could start until mid-summer. Lots of the foreign players in the league are in their own countries with family and a simple issue cant travel back.... Football is going to be a trigger for lots of people that life is normal, it's not, and will not be for a few months yet. I can't see them being allowed to start no matter who much they stick there head in the sand as a sport

[andyh]

France has issued what is like a lockdown exit strategy.
Lockdown till 11th May and then a gradual lifting to allow schools and colleges to reopen.
BUT., bars, restaurants, clubs, cinemas and festivals can not reopen before mid July.
I’m guessing this applies to football as well?



 

[walsall villain]

France has issued what is like a lockdown exit strategy.
Lockdown till 11th May and then a gradual lifting to allow schools and colleges to reopen.
BUT., bars, restaurants, clubs, cinemas and festivals can not reopen before mid July.
I’m guessing this applies to football as well?



 

You’d think so. There’s a view out there that no return to ‘normality’ is possible until a vaccine is found and ready. If that’s correct then you can forget football with fans in attendance for 2020. Not sure when the penny will drop with those running the game.

[Brassneck]

For clarification, my position has always been and still is that, if you cannot finish the season in the manner it was intended when it started, it should be abandoned and cancelled.  Points I have raised are merely to discuss the problems of continuing the season in any other manner.  I thought I had been clear but obviously not.  As I have been told that I do not know what I am talking about and should leave the discussion, perhaps I should leave it to the 'experts'.

I too believe that, if you cannot finish the season in the manner it was intended when it started, it should be abandoned and cancelled.

However, I am realistic to accept that there are strong arguments for playing out behind closed doors if there is a chance of doing so - Provided that it is safe and that doesn't affect next season.

Firstly, it would go a long way, if not all the way to ensuring that contracts are fulfilled.  Therefore, it minimizes the financial hit that clubs will take.  Secondly, it is the fairest way to determine European places for the following season and there can be no arguments if everyone is on board.  Finally, it allows Liverpool to win the title - They could probably do so without picking up another point anyway.  There is no requirement to relegate anyone so nobody need be relegated (as opposed to European places that HAVE to be determined).

You spoke about the legalities regarding playing behind closed doors when in reality, those legalities would be far more prevalent if the season was voided.  They certainly weren't problems specifically connected with continuing the season.  Even then, you were incorrect in what you were claiming.  You haven't raised one valid reason why we couldn't play behind closed doors (the out of contract players could easily be resolved).

Voiding the season could end up being very costly.  Furthermore, we would still be in a position whereby we would somehow have to determine European places, with Sheff U moving up to 5th if they had won their game in hand,

There is no straightforward solution to this  problem and every option explored will have cons as well as pros.  Not everybody will be happy with the final decision but by playing out behind closed doors, you will keep the most clubs happy. 

Watching the news tonight and seeing a clip from China, I personally don't think we'll be in a position where we can play games in June or July.  The return to normality is going to be gradual and in order of priority.  Sport will be way down the list, along with pubs and restaurants. I think we will reach a point where the focus will shift to trying to ensure that we can get behind closed doors going for the following season.

[Dinas_Caerdydd]

nobody knows how it's all going to pan out but at the minute but to me the only real answer is to make all divisions void

who knows if the new season will start in August anyway

to me playing behind closed doors will not happen if this 2 metre rule applys anyway for a long time

[CT]

nobody knows how it's all going to pan out but at the minute but to me the only real answer is to make all divisions void

who knows if the new season will start in August anyway

to me playing behind closed doors will not happen if this 2 metre rule applys anyway for a long time

If you saw our defending at corners, we were applying that rule long before it became a government requirement. 😉

[Drummond]

For clarification, my position has always been and still is that, if you cannot finish the season in the manner it was intended when it started, it should be abandoned and cancelled.  Points I have raised are merely to discuss the problems of continuing the season in any other manner.  I thought I had been clear but obviously not.  As I have been told that I do not know what I am talking about and should leave the discussion, perhaps I should leave it to the 'experts'.

I too believe that, if you cannot finish the season in the manner it was intended when it started, it should be abandoned and cancelled.

However, I am realistic to accept that there are strong arguments for playing out behind closed doors if there is a chance of doing so - Provided that it is safe and that doesn't affect next season.

Firstly, it would go a long way, if not all the way to ensuring that contracts are fulfilled.  Therefore, it minimizes the financial hit that clubs will take.  Secondly, it is the fairest way to determine European places for the following season and there can be no arguments if everyone is on board.  Finally, it allows Liverpool to win the title - They could probably do so without picking up another point anyway.  There is no requirement to relegate anyone so nobody need be relegated (as opposed to European places that HAVE to be determined).

You spoke about the legalities regarding playing behind closed doors when in reality, those legalities would be far more prevalent if the season was voided.  They certainly weren't problems specifically connected with continuing the season.  Even then, you were incorrect in what you were claiming.  You haven't raised one valid reason why we couldn't play behind closed doors (the out of contract players could easily be resolved).

Voiding the season could end up being very costly.  Furthermore, we would still be in a position whereby we would somehow have to determine European places, with Sheff U moving up to 5th if they had won their game in hand,

There is no straightforward solution to this  problem and every option explored will have cons as well as pros.  Not everybody will be happy with the final decision but by playing out behind closed doors, you will keep the most clubs happy. 

Watching the news tonight and seeing a clip from China, I personally don't think we'll be in a position where we can play games in June or July.  The return to normality is going to be gradual and in order of priority.  Sport will be way down the list, along with pubs and restaurants. I think we will reach a point where the focus will shift to trying to ensure that we can get behind closed doors going for the following season.

Re the players situations being easily resolved.

I'm not sure how it would be so easy. If a player has a contract until 30th June and another with another club from 1st July, on more money, why would he risk the second by asking to extend the first? He wouldn't. The second club also wouldn't want him being risked. There's nothing in Employment Law to force an employee to stay beyond their contract.

Then take the case of a club wanting to offload a player who was crap (say Drinkwater) but that would then affect their playing squad. What happens? He might insist he wants a longer deal than offered to stay on, otherwise he'll leave. He then leaves and our squad is potentially short of a player (that admittedly we didn't want) for crucial games. How do we replace him?

If the rules are then changed re naming squads etc, then clubs would argue that it wasn't a level playing field as they'd had to adjust (or other teams had or hadn't) in order to try and finish.

Then you've the players who feel their Health and Safety might be at risk playing, even behind closed doors, because you know, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker or Declan Rice and others (along with the other staff too) might have decided to flout the rules and go out. They'd refuse to play and under Health and Safety and Employment Law they'd be protected.

So it's not as easy as you may think I'm afraid.

[Brassneck]

It really is.

Assuming that clubs vote to continue after 1 July, notwithstanding the fact that squads cannot bring additions to the list submitted in January (as we've discovered with Wesley & Heaton), the league can simply suspend registrations.  Players out of contract will then either have the choice of playing the season out on a week by week/temporary contract or sitting it out completely with no income.

A club is in a position to offload a loan player if it wants but obviously would not be able to replace him.  If he's crap as you suggest then he'd be no loss anyway.  If it's that important, then keep him, as you would in normal circumstances for the last few weeks of a season.

Rules would only be changed by resolution (agreement by clubs)

There is no health and safety risk.  For the 333rd time - I, nor anyone else is suggesting that games should be played if there is a risk to health and safety - Nor for that matter would games be permitted to take place.

[sid1964]

if we are allowed to go back to work  (even though I am still at work) then I cannot see why teams  cannot start playing against each other - even if behind closed doors - in the average factory you will not be self distancing.

Maybe they should enforce a ban on spitting and that awful cleaning out their nostrils (i do not know when that disgusting habit became acceptable)

[andyh]

If massive sporting events scheduled to place in June, July, August have already been called off, how on earth does anyone believe that football can resume, in any guise, before next season is due to start?

[LeeB]

It really is.

Assuming that clubs vote to continue after 1 July, notwithstanding the fact that squads cannot bring additions to the list submitted in January (as we've discovered with Wesley & Heaton), the league can simply suspend registrations.  Players out of contract will then either have the choice of playing the season out on a week by week/temporary contract or sitting it out completely with no income.

A club is in a position to offload a loan player if it wants but obviously would not be able to replace him.  If he's crap as you suggest then he'd be no loss anyway.  If it's that important, then keep him, as you would in normal circumstances for the last few weeks of a season.

Rules would only be changed by resolution (agreement by clubs)

There is no health and safety risk.  For the 333rd time - I, nor anyone else is suggesting that games should be played if there is a risk to health and safety - Nor for that matter would games be permitted to take place.

The whole suspending registrations thing.

That would go down well with a PFA that will already be jumpy about getting players to play behind close doors.

I don't think strongarming people over their careers is really going to work.

[Brassneck]

It really is.

Assuming that clubs vote to continue after 1 July, notwithstanding the fact that squads cannot bring additions to the list submitted in January (as we've discovered with Wesley & Heaton), the league can simply suspend registrations.  Players out of contract will then either have the choice of playing the season out on a week by week/temporary contract or sitting it out completely with no income.

A club is in a position to offload a loan player if it wants but obviously would not be able to replace him.  If he's crap as you suggest then he'd be no loss anyway.  If it's that important, then keep him, as you would in normal circumstances for the last few weeks of a season.

Rules would only be changed by resolution (agreement by clubs)

There is no health and safety risk.  For the 333rd time - I, nor anyone else is suggesting that games should be played if there is a risk to health and safety - Nor for that matter would games be permitted to take place.

The whole suspending registrations thing.

That would go down well with a PFA that will already be jumpy about getting players to play behind close doors.

I don't think strongarming people over their careers is really going to work.

The leagues and the PFA will be singing from the same hymn sheet.  It's worth noting also that players could also stand to lose out on lucrative sponsorship deals if the season isn't completed.

Both want a logical and feasible solution.  Nobody is trying to strong arm anyone.  Even if registrations weren't suspended, players could not play for another club anyway due to the squad lists.

The league, the players and the PFA will all be looking to find a solution.  If the season is extended, it makes perfect sense to extend the date for registrations.  This isn't strong arming or threatening anyone - It is simply applying common sense.  How many players are we talking about anyway?  It's more likely to be a problem in the EFL.

[LeeB]

"The leagues and the PFA will be singing from the same hymn sheet"

Ok mate, if you say so.