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

[frank black]

I’ve changed my view over the past few weeks.

I fully expect this season to be played out behind closed doors and for next season to start behind closed doors. Not saying I agree with it, just that I expect it to happen....

[in exile]

I’ve changed my view over the past few weeks.

I fully expect this season to be played out behind closed doors and for next season to start behind closed doors. Not saying I agree with it, just that I expect it to happen....

How could the club sell season tickets that way?

[andyh]

If there was enough testing going on, all players, staff etc. could be tested before each training session/match.

I’m guessing that a number of hours would elapse between tests being taken and the results being known?
For every single person involved in any particular game.
So each of those people need to be kept in isolation until their tests came back negative.

The practicalities say that unless the game can go ahead without all and sundry being tested, then games can’t go ahead..

[chrisw1]

I’ve changed my view over the past few weeks.

I fully expect this season to be played out behind closed doors and for next season to start behind closed doors. Not saying I agree with it, just that I expect it to happen....

How could the club sell season tickets that way?

They can't.  But that doesn't mean it wont happen.

[andyh]

I’ve changed my view over the past few weeks.

I fully expect this season to be played out behind closed doors and for next season to start behind closed doors. Not saying I agree with it, just that I expect it to happen....

How could the club sell season tickets that way?

And refund for this season.

[frank black]

I’ve changed my view over the past few weeks.

I fully expect this season to be played out behind closed doors and for next season to start behind closed doors. Not saying I agree with it, just that I expect it to happen....

How could the club sell season tickets that way?

And refund for this season.

Dunno, they will probably sell some sort of TV based season tickets for all the games home and away. Partial refund for this season I expect ...Maybe sky will take the rights to all the games next season and completely take over (which will no doubt make them wet their knickers in excitement) for a price.

[OzVilla]

Exactly, this all stoped when Arteta was diagnosed so if they keep to those standards just one positive test us all it would take.

They talk about integrity but at the same time peddle behind closed doors at neutral venues. Imagine a team in deep trouble having a player test positive with a few games left, like this won’t be called into question.

Surely that would mean no football until they have found a vaccine and everyone has been vaccinated as the virus won’t suddenly disappear

Well if they won’t cancel the remainder of the season then if they really, honestly want ‘integrity’ then it can only recommence under the exact circumstances under which it was halted. 

We know it’s all about money though.

[rjp]

I’ve changed my view over the past few weeks.

I fully expect this season to be played out behind closed doors and for next season to start behind closed doors. Not saying I agree with it, just that I expect it to happen....

How could the club sell season tickets that way?

And refund for this season.

Dunno, they will probably sell some sort of TV based season tickets for all the games home and away. Partial refund for this season I expect ...Maybe sky will take the rights to all the games next season and completely take over (which will no doubt make them wet their knickers in excitement) for a price.

The revenue from season tickets is not to be sniffed at but it's small change compared to TV money.  That will be the priority for the clubs, not the fans who attend the games.  A quick fag packet calculation of 43,000 seats multiplied by the most expensive full price adult season ticket of £684 yields £29,412,000.  Wesley's transfer was reportedly £22m before wages.  Our spending of £145m on players over the summer was reported to be a year's worth of TV money.

[john e]

I don’t know when they will get to playing again or whether it will be behind closed doors or not
But I don’t think they will wait for a perfect world before they get going again

I think football will be played in some form sooner than people think and by that I mean before August

( it has been known at times for me to not know what I’m talking about and this could well be one of those times)

[chrisw1]

Exactly, this all stoped when Arteta was diagnosed so if they keep to those standards just one positive test us all it would take.

They talk about integrity but at the same time peddle behind closed doors at neutral venues. Imagine a team in deep trouble having a player test positive with a few games left, like this won’t be called into question.

Surely that would mean no football until they have found a vaccine and everyone has been vaccinated as the virus won’t suddenly disappear

Well if they won’t cancel the remainder of the season then if they really, honestly want ‘integrity’ then it can only recommence under the exact circumstances under which it was halted. 

We know it’s all about money though.

Of course money plays a big part - how can it not as some clubs will be close to failing without it?  But I don't accept it's just about money.

Assuming they work out a  way to play safely behind closed doors in July & August - is finishing the season that way LESS fair than denying Liverpool their title, several teams (including Sheffield) their shot at a CL spot and Leeds & WBA their probable promotion?  Is it LESS fair averaging points per game or voting on relegation as in Scotland? 

It's absolutely not ideal, far from it, but given there's no perfect solution I don't understand the utter hostility towards it (stressing again the assumption they find a way to do it safely) other than the obvious claret specs.  Can you honestly say you would have the same view if you were a Leeds fan?  I think the vast majority of people who say they would are kidding themselves.

Reading various posts and forums, it seems to me that the majority of fans views on how the season should finish is directly related to how it impacts their club.  We seem to have a large number deeply concerned about player welfare etc, but the reality is that is mainly because it suits our agenda as fans.

I desperately hope they void the season.  But that's not because of alturistic concerns regaring the safety of players and stadum staff involved putting on the games.  It's because I don't want Villa to be relegated.  But do I think thats the fairest resolution?  Not a chance.
 

[old man villa fan]

Exactly, this all stoped when Arteta was diagnosed so if they keep to those standards just one positive test us all it would take.

They talk about integrity but at the same time peddle behind closed doors at neutral venues. Imagine a team in deep trouble having a player test positive with a few games left, like this won’t be called into question.

Surely that would mean no football until they have found a vaccine and everyone has been vaccinated as the virus won’t suddenly disappear

Well if they won’t cancel the remainder of the season then if they really, honestly want ‘integrity’ then it can only recommence under the exact circumstances under which it was halted. 

We know it’s all about money though.

Of course money plays a big part - how can it not as some clubs will be close to failing without it?  But I don't accept it's just about money.

Assuming they work out a  way to play safely behind closed doors in July & August - is finishing the season that way LESS fair than denying Liverpool their title, several teams (including Sheffield) their shot at a CL spot and Leeds & WBA their probable promotion?  Is it LESS fair averaging points per game or voting on relegation as in Scotland? 

It's absolutely not ideal, far from it, but given there's no perfect solution I don't understand the utter hostility towards it (stressing again the assumption they find a way to do it safely) other than the obvious claret specs.  Can you honestly say you would have the same view if you were a Leeds fan?  I think the vast majority of people who say they would are kidding themselves.

Reading various posts and forums, it seems to me that the majority of fans views on how the season should finish is directly related to how it impacts their club.  We seem to have a large number deeply concerned about player welfare etc, but the reality is that is mainly because it suits our agenda as fans.

I desperately hope they void the season.  But that's not because of alturistic concerns regaring the safety of players and stadum staff involved putting on the games.  It's because I don't want Villa to be relegated.  But do I think thats the fairest resolution?  Not a chance.
 

If there wasn't such a gap financially between PL and Championship, there might be a different opinion.  However, there is and you cannot penalise some clubs to the benefit of others.  The alternative is that you financially compensate those that lose out if the PL want to finish the season in any way that differs to how it should have been played out.

[chrisw1]

I understand that OMVF.  But whatever the resolution, some clubs will be penalised.  If they don't come up there's a fair chance Leeds may have to dismantle their team, they may lose Kalvin Phillips etc.  Imagine if we were in their situation - missing promotion and having to lose Jack because some people thought voiding the season was fairest.  I doubt the forum would be full of people worried about the health risks of playing behind closed doors then.  Surprisingly there isn't much of that sentiment on Leeds and WBA forums at the moment. 

[Drummond]

I understand that OMVF.  But whatever the resolution, some clubs will be penalised.  If they don't come up there's a fair chance Leeds may have to dismantle their team, they may lose Kalvin Phillips etc.  Imagine if we were in their situation - missing promotion and having to lose Jack because some people thought voiding the season was fairest.  I doubt the forum would be full of people worried about the health risks of playing behind closed doors then.  Surprisingly there isn't much of that sentiment on Leeds and WBA forums at the moment.

I broadly agree.

Though in my view, teams that have something taken away from them, that they already have, is far worse than taking away something they don't. In this case it's a Premier League place.

For Liverpool, it would be extremely harsh for them not to win given it's a 99% chance they'd have won it. But they hadn't. However, the Champions League places were far less certain (barring perhaps Man City) and relegation also.

WBA and Leeds, although a few points clear, weren't certainties for promotion at all and a number of clubs would point to form swings etc.

[andyh]

I understand that OMVF.  But whatever the resolution, some clubs will be penalised.  If they don't come up there's a fair chance Leeds may have to dismantle their team, they may lose Kalvin Phillips etc.  Imagine if we were in their situation - missing promotion and having to lose Jack because some people thought voiding the season was fairest.  I doubt the forum would be full of people worried about the health risks of playing behind closed doors then.  Surprisingly there isn't much of that sentiment on Leeds and WBA forums at the moment.

I broadly agree.

Though in my view, teams that have something taken away from them, that they already have, is far worse than taking away something they don't. In this case it's a Premier League place.

For Liverpool, it would be extremely harsh for them not to win given it's a 99% chance they'd have won it. But they hadn't. However, the Champions League places were far less certain (barring perhaps Man City) and relegation also.

WBA and Leeds, although a few points clear, weren't certainties for promotion at all and a number of clubs would point to form swings etc.

With the mitigating factor of Leeds being............Leeds.

[garyellis]

I understand that OMVF.  But whatever the resolution, some clubs will be penalised.  If they don't come up there's a fair chance Leeds may have to dismantle their team, they may lose Kalvin Phillips etc.  Imagine if we were in their situation - missing promotion and having to lose Jack because some people thought voiding the season was fairest.  I doubt the forum would be full of people worried about the health risks of playing behind closed doors then.  Surprisingly there isn't much of that sentiment on Leeds and WBA forums at the moment. 

There are currently more major issues going on than football in general. I appreciate other fans of clubs having (so far) a successful season will be desperate for it to recommence but unfortunately they are not going to get their wish. While ever social distancing is a tool to be used against this pandemic then you can forget football - it aint happening! If the decision is to finish off the current season whenever some time in the future, then it has to be under the same rules as it commenced not made up coefficients or behind closed doors that simply does not work. Yes we could be a beneficiary of a null and void season or no relegation but that's just circumstances the points made are sound regardless.