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

[aev]

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.

It doesn't have to be.  And it won't be.

But it cant be changed without a vote and the point is it is reasonable to take the stance as outlined. That leaves other options that could more easily find a consensus.

It sounds like the clubs are generally in agreement to the closed doors option.  So, assuming they can find a way to do it, that's what they'll do, whether you think it works or not. 

If I was Purslow (which obviously I am not) I would not be making any noises currently. There is no need we are a million miles away from that being an option.

That's the point that a lot of people are missing.

It is being reported that they are in general agreement about playing behind closed doors.  Is that true though or is it just how the reporters want to/paid to report it.  Clubs may be nodding ok but as you say, some may be keeping their powder dry until they need to fire the gun.

I think this may also be the case. Sports journalists have as much of a vested interest in all this as the fans.

[Brazilian Villain]

I'll be blunt - Britain is not an unalloyed meritocracy. Progress in school and exam driven attainment is primarily delivered not by individual effort and resulting merit but by the family you come from........and thus is dependent on the socio-economic status that your family enjoys.

In short, and on the whole, working class kids get working class jobs and the current lockdown we are living through only reinforces this outcome the longer it goes on.

I would disagree. My extended family in Birmingham are all the kids of Irish immigrants who worked on the buildings, in the Austin, on the buses etc. and the most working class job amongst them is headmaster of a primary school. Having said that the Irish system (which I finished school in) is way more meritocratic than the UK system although kids from better off families will always have an advantage due to more resources at their disposal.

FWIW I don't think the current season will be finished. We'll be lucky if next season starts off and remains intact.

[Des Little]

My view is that clubs are saying they’d be keen to finish the season purely to keep Sky happy, but secretly hoping it gets pulled and the decision is taken out of their hands. The absolute tidal wave of shit that would hit if one player fell seriously ill and/or infected others just would not be worth it. It’s a lip service job in my opinion.

[Steve67]

If they play football while people are dying, then they will be proving that they have no integrity at all, and that this is about pleasing sponsors and fecking Sky Television. 

If they do opt for this points earned per game crap, I hope that they differentiate between home and away games and take into consideration that we have six from ten games at home still left to play!  It's also flawed as there are always the odd surprising result in football.

[David_Nab]

League 2 looks like they are looking to Void as can't afford to restart.

Sturgeon is saying she isn't expecting Scottish football to be played with fans until next year

[Brazilian Villain]

If they play football while people are dying, then they will be proving that they have no integrity at all, and that this is about pleasing sponsors and fecking Sky Television. 

Football is always played whilst people are dying.   But I get your point if we're still in the midst of the pandemic.

[Lastfootstamper]

If they play football while people are dying, then they will be proving that they have no integrity at all, and that this is about pleasing sponsors and fecking Sky Television. 

If they do opt for this points earned per game crap, I hope that they differentiate between home and away games and take into consideration that we have six from ten games at home still left to play!  It's also flawed as there are always the odd surprising result in football.

On H&A points we're still down.

[Steve67]

If they play football while people are dying, then they will be proving that they have no integrity at all, and that this is about pleasing sponsors and fecking Sky Television. 

If they do opt for this points earned per game crap, I hope that they differentiate between home and away games and take into consideration that we have six from ten games at home still left to play!  It's also flawed as there are always the odd surprising result in football.

On H&A points we're still down.

Deservedly so as it stands but who knows what might have happened? Might still, of course.

[dalians umbrella]

If the points per game idea has been brought in because relegating a team with a game in-hand would be unfair - because that team might win their game in hand- then this is a flawed solution which is equally unfair for the exact same reason.

Currently, we have 25 points from 28 games, giving us 0.89 points per game, which would relegate us according to this table in the Express:

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1269721/Premier-League-table-points-per-game-how-season-finish-scenario

If we had played our game in-hand and won it, we would have 28 points from 29 games, giving us 0.97 points per game, which would keep us up.

So anyone who thinks that keeping the table as it stands is unfair, because teams with games in-hand could win them, must accept that the points per game solution is not a solution to that issue.

[Steve67]

It's going to be a legal minefield isn't it? 

[Ads]

You either play the remaining games or void the league.

[Richard E]

It's going to be a legal minefield isn't it? 

Hopefully 😊😊😊

[paul_e]

You either play the remaining games or void the league.

Yep, anything to resolve this on paper is asking for trouble.

[Pete3206]

I'm surprised no one's suggested resuming the season on FIFA 20. Or Rock Paper Scissors.

[algy]

In short, and on the whole, working class kids get working class jobs and the current lockdown we are living through only reinforces this outcome the longer it goes on.

Won't quote the whole thing but this specific line highlights exactly what needs to change as a result of this (and cannot be allowed to return to the status quo). We go out every Thursday and clap for the key workers, we have 2 hours of BBC Sunday evening calling the same key workers heroes for leading the fight against the virus and putting themselves in harms way to protect the country. These people are either the working class unskilled labour force or they're key workers that are absolutely essential to the running of the country.

Don't treat them like the former but then patronise them with hollow platitudes.

If they're key workers and heroes then make sure they earn enough to reflect that and don't need universal credit to top off their piss poor wages. If they're key workers don't allow them to be treated as expendable by companies that want to increase their profits once this is done. If they're heroes don't treat them like dirt when they lose their jobs and need a safety net. If they're heroes that weren't born here lets not thank them for their help and then carry on blaming immigrants for all the problems in the country.

"Working class jobs" are, as we can see in stark relief, no less important or valuable to society than many others so how about we just call them all 'jobs' and the gap between the high and low earners are reduced to reflect the true value to society they provide. This isn't having a go at you by the way, it's having a go at the sorry state of our society which spends 99% of it's time pretending a bunch of jobs are worthless only to clap them when that's proven to be bollocks.

Both of you - brilliant, agree totally.

My mum, a nurse, always told me when i was growing up to remember the cleaners in the hospital save more lives than the doctors; the porters play just as important a part in looking after patients as the nurses.