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

[Villan82]

I started off thinking that relegation was too close to 'predict', regardless of our position, but that awarding Liverpool the title was only fair.

For what it's worth, I have always thought we'd scrape 17th this year. Not based on evidence or performances, but a general feeling that we'd just about have enough.

But reading a bullshit article on Fourfourtwo about players who 'should've played for the Big Six but didn't', going all the way back to the 90s, when there wasn't a 'top four', let alone a 'big six', I remembered everything I hate about modern football. Not the players, or even the money, but the way it is constructed. This groupthink that the rich clubs have always been the biggest and the best. That this is the status quo. It is all manufactured and utterly false.

Chelsea are giants of the game because they were bought by a dodgy billionaire. Man City because they're sponsored by an entire state's oil money. Tottenham because they are based in North London. Newcastle because they have high attendances in a one-club city. Liverpool's history is a selling point but Villa's is a desperate plea for relevance. The fact we're expected to support English clubs in European competition because of the notion that we're all investors in the product that is the PL. The suggestion that we should all be delighted to see the best players in the world playing in the division, even if it means they're tearing Villa a new arsehole.

I haven't felt like I'm a part of PL football for a long time, and have disliked what it stands for for even longer. I know it continues to matter to me because Villa still have the power to make or ruin my weekends. The only authentic thing about top level football is what it means to the thousands who turn up every week.

To me, the scramble to finish this season at all costs so that Liverpool can win a pot is nothing to do with integrity. It's part of that fabric of nonsense, the PR narrative that has established football as a product and a cultural institution that has been perverted to represent commercial interests and returns for the most viable investors, rather than a sport.

Continuing the season without fans is the latest but, for me, the most significant detachment of the game from the people who are its neglected soul - the supporters.

(In summary, bollocks to Liverpool.)

Preach!

Superb stuff.

[chrisw1]

I do wonder if fans of clubs with less to lose than us are being so virtuous about the prospect of behind closed doors games?

[PeterWithe]

Wonderful posts from Paulie and Rory. Spot on.

[mr underhill]

no one is going to be watching .

[LeeB]

no one is going to be watching .

No change at St Andrews then.8

[Clampy]

no one is going to be watching .

No change at St Andrews then.8

Didn't they all sit two meters apart from each other anyway?

[CT]

no one is going to be watching .

No change at St Andrews then.8

Didn't they all sit two meters apart from each other anyway?

Exactly. You have to be fair to them, they were social distancing long before it was a requirement.

[Billy Walker]

...But reading a bullshit article on Fourfourtwo about players who 'should've played for the Big Six but didn't', going all the way back to the 90s, when there wasn't a 'top four', let alone a 'big six', I remembered everything I hate about modern football. Not the players, or even the money, but the way it is constructed. This groupthink that the rich clubs have always been the biggest and the best. That this is the status quo. It is all manufactured and utterly false...

Spot on Rory.  I've often wondered who on earth controls this narrative? Does it just happen/evolve naturally, or are there actually people meeting and manipulating such perceptions?  Maybe it's a bit of both?

  I remember thirty years ago when a group of clubs proclaimed themselves to be the "Big Five" with Greg Dyke and a number of other executives dreaming up a TV money carve up for themselves.  At the time, the teen-aged me thought to myself, how can they be the "Big Five" when we are more successful than four of them and we were European Champs not that long ago?   It didn't add up.   Fast forward thirty-odd years to today and I hear on the radio that the  "Big Six" ("Big Six" according to who?) are not in favour of null and voiding the league...I felt my blood pressure ratcheting up.

It's all a load of bollocks.  Maybe ourselves, Everton, Wolves, Newcastle (if they get new owners in) should rip FFP up, start throwing our financial weight around, buy the best players and do deals with the biggest sponsors?   Why should we meekly fall back into an artificial system and pre-determined narrative that loads the dice  in favour of  six clubs?  Maybe that will destroy the artificial nature of modern football once and for all.

[Towser]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52326617

Premier League clubs remain committed to finishing the 92 remaining fixtures of the current season but did not discuss a deadline by which play must resume at a meeting on Friday.

Clubs were expected to debate a 30 June deadline to resume play but instead discussed "possible scheduling models".

The Premier League said it "remains our objective" to complete matches but currently "all dates are tentative".

The league has been suspended since 13 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is understood some clubs expected to discuss the proposed 30 June deadline at Friday's meeting but it was decided now was not the right time to do so.

"In common with other businesses and industries, the Premier League and our clubs are working through complex planning scenarios," the Premier League said.

"We are actively engaging with stakeholders, including broadcast partners, and our aim is to ensure we are in a position to resume playing when it is safe to do so and with the full support of the government. The health and wellbeing of players, coaches, managers, club staff and supporters are our priority and the League will only restart when medical guidance allows.

"Today's shareholders' meeting provided an opportunity to discuss possible scheduling models. It remains our objective to complete the 2019-20 season but at this stage all dates are tentative while the impact of Covid-19 develops."

Leagues are currently suspended until 30 April across England as a result of a pandemic that has killed more than 12,000 people in the UK.

On Thursday, the government issued a further three-week lockdown to ensure social distancing and manage the spread of coronavirus.

When and how football resumes has been widely debated across the sport as clubs face up to financial difficulties and the logistical issues caused by a late finish to the season.

The contracts of numerous players expire on 30 June, including those of Chelsea midfielder Willian and Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen.

If the season is extended beyond that date there is a possibility clubs will lose players before fixtures are concluded.

World governing body Fifa is aware of the problem and is looking at alternatives such as rolling contract extensions.

The 30 June date is also an issue for clubs around agreed changes in kit manufacturers. Liverpool are due to change shirt manufacturers from New Balance to Nike, while Watford and Newcastle are also set to use new suppliers.

In a BBC Sport vote on how the season should be dealt with 39% of respondents wanted to 'declare the season null and void', with 28% opting to 'finish the season no matter how long it takes'.

Uefa has pleaded for leagues to give them time to return with their own proposals for ending the season across Europe.

Uefa, which governs the game across Europe will meet next week to further discuss plans which include potentially using the Champions League final to end the 2019-20 season on 29 August.

Lower down the football pyramid in England, the EFL has sent a letter to clubs recommending they return to training on 16 May at the earliest.

The EFL has not discussed a league restart date with the government but told clubs: "Our planning needs to be agile enough to allow us to be as prepared as possible for a start at relatively short notice."

What about other European leagues?
The body that represents Europe's top leagues says when football does return it will "no doubt" be played behind closed doors.

At present, the state of play in the continent's top leagues is:

Germany's Bundesliga: Clubs have returned to training but the season is still suspended until 30 April.

Spain's La Liga: There will be no training until emergency measures in place are lifted and La Liga president Javier Tebas says resuming play on 28 May is a best-case scenario.

France's Ligue 1: French football authorities are considering restarting Ligue 1 on 3 or 17 June, with the latter date the more likely, according to sports daily L'Equipe.

Italy's Serie A: The Italian Football Federation (IFF) hopes to begin testing players for the virus at the start of May, in preparation for the season to resume.

[Villafirst]

So, the Premier League hierarchy have decided to carry on with the premise that the season must be played out?? But only when it is safe to do so. They just don't get it do they? It won't happen until next year then.........how does this work with the minimum 2 metres social distancing??

[LeeB]

Well done to them for making their position clear, even if that position is to bury their heads in the sand.

[aev]

I reckon they are just waiting for as long as possible before bowing to the inevitable.

[Ad@m]

So, the Premier League hierarchy have decided to carry on with the premise that the season must be played out?? But only when it is safe to do so. They just don't get it do they? It won't happen until next year then.........how does this work with the minimum 2 metres social distancing??

To be fair, our lot were adhering to the 2 metre rule when we played Man City at home so it's not impossible...

[LukeJames]

I reckon they are just waiting for as long as possible before bowing to the inevitable.

Id say that aswell, I think if they were to just void the league there would be too much of a backlash but atleast now they can say they have attempted to put other things into place to finish it and none of them were able to come off safely.

Of course I could be completely wrong and they're genuinly being ****** about it but I'm hoping its the first example.

[mr underhill]

I think you're wrong -they're cnuts