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

[curiousorange]

To paraphrase The Clash, if we play it will be trouble, and if we don't it will be double. So I guess there's your answer.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

To those that know/did, what did that 'pause' thing on Sky Sports involve? Was there a set time limit on it or anything like that? Will it be back up to full price as soon as a ball is in danger of being kicked?

I cancelled by phone, and the recorded message told me my subscription to Sky Sports would be suspended "until there was live sport". BT were quiet about it.

I'm mildly surprised they didn't show live rhubarb thrashing and restart subs!

[The Edge]

Ah, fair enough. That's one thing in our favour. Not that it'll likely matter too much as they seem desperate to get Liverpool their title even if people literally have to die for it to happen.

On balance of probabilities awarding Liverpool wouldn't be so controversial. Relegating teams would be extremely controversial when you look how tight it is at the bottom and the fact that we have a game in hand. So give them their precious title and don't relegate anyone. Of course as a Villa fan you'd expect me to say that but i honestly think it's as close to fair as we're gonna get.

[Lastfootstamper]

Give it them. It'd tickle me til I die that their only PL title to date included '*'.

[Gareth]

I would imagine every Premier League team will play the youth team in the future for the League Cup (if they don’t decide to just not enter) if you can get punished by relegation for reaching the final.

[aev]

Also of note in all this is the inconsistent approach to testing below the PL.

Some clubs are paying for the use of independent testers, others are relying on club staff and couriers to send some of the results. It is absolutely farcical.

[aj2k77]

Some teams have played 30 games some 29, some have played 15 home games, some have played 13, there is no basis for using the term sporting integrity involving a league decided along those lines.

[ChicagoLion]

Let’s hope we play Sheff Utd and win.

[Ads]

I think they'll end up promoting Leeds and the Stripey Filth, bin relegation, bin next years League Cup and crack on to settle obligations to TV and determination of European places.

That's the easiest way to limit litigation to more manageable chunks and you have a ready made compensation pot in parachute money to pay to the Championship clubs. Likely with a suspension of FFP for a period, to ameliorate issues.

[Legion]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52758193

[David_Nab]

Man U facing 75mil loss if they dont get champs league  ...I'll be hoping Champs league doesn't go to 5th place and United falter , will make it impossible to spend 80-100 on Grealish

Further with them in trouble ,rest will follow which means if Newcastle take over goes ahead they likely to be only ones with any real cash to spend.

[Gareth]

I think they'll end up promoting Leeds and the Stripey Filth, bin relegation, bin next years League Cup and crack on to settle obligations to TV and determination of European places.

That's the easiest way to limit litigation to more manageable chunks and you have a ready made compensation pot in parachute money to pay to the Championship clubs. Likely with a suspension of FFP for a period, to ameliorate issues.

I’d be surprised if they suspend FFP as that will threaten the ‘big’ clubs whose monopoly it was set up to protect - they won’t risk a rich owner like Everton / us or the next Newcastle ones going on a spending spree and trying to truly compete

[Sexual Ealing]

I think they'll end up promoting Leeds and the Stripey Filth, bin relegation, bin next years League Cup and crack on to settle obligations to TV and determination of European places.

That's the easiest way to limit litigation to more manageable chunks and you have a ready made compensation pot in parachute money to pay to the Championship clubs. Likely with a suspension of FFP for a period, to ameliorate issues.

I’d be surprised if they suspend FFP as that will threaten the ‘big’ clubs whose monopoly it was set up to protect - they won’t risk a rich owner like Everton / us or the next Newcastle ones going on a spending spree and trying to truly compete

If they don't suspend it they're going to have to enforce it against practically every team in the league, including its biggest fans.

[David_Nab]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11992440/coronavirus-efl-league-one-league-two-clubs-could-fold-without-government-bailout-mp

TBH if the gov starts bailing out clubs it won't stop with L1/L2 there will be Championship clubs as well

[Rory]

I know I'm not alone in saying this, but why the fuck do West Brom and Leeds deserve to be promoted? Last season, the three of us had a fully fair chance to be promoted; by the rules of the competition, we were, and the other two weren't. Why should a place in the league that we rightfully won be taken away when - again, by the laws of the competition - we haven't been relegated, and the others haven't been promoted.

Leeds and West Brom are predicted top two in the Championship most years, primarily because they're too shit to get into/stay in the Premier League.

Fuck 'em.