The Premier League 2019/20 thread - sorry Harry

[hallelujah]

Long may it continue.

[harrybarracuda]

And the squareheads give the mickey mousers hope (although I think they have less games to play for a start).

Of course the TV companies may not be that thrilled, it's hardly watchable as that Moaners european tied demonstrated.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders on Wednesday gave the Bundesliga the green light to restart behind closed doors from mid-May after weeks of shutdown imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus.

The political blessing makes the German top-flight the first of Europe's five major leagues to return to the field.

"Matches will be allowed under the approved rules," said Merkel at a press conference in Berlin, referring to a plan by the German Football League (DFL) for the Bundesliga to resume in empty stadiums and with players regularly tested.

Permission was granted on condition that strict guidelines are followed -- with a hygiene officer appointed to each team -- to prevent contagion of the virus.

The DFL must now set a date for the restart with either the weekend of May 16-17 or the following weekend earmarked.

https://www.france24.com/en/20200506-merkel-gives-go-ahead-for-bundesliga-to-resume-in-mid-may

[NamPikToot]

Germans taking a steer from Citeh



Cut-outs replace football fans in German stadium



Fans may not be allowed into stadiums when the German football's Bundesliga returns later this month but one club is making sure their faces will be.
Borussia Monchengladbach are allowing supporters to have their picture printed onto a cut-out and placed in the stands.
So far, 4,500 cut-outs have been put in place with 12,000 more orders so far. Some away fans are even getting involved too.
A cut-out costs 19 euros (£17) with the money raised going to local charities.
The Bundesliga will resume behind closed doors on Saturday 16 May.

[harrybarracuda]

Meanwhile...

The League One and Two seasons will be scrapped early next week – with sides having to vote on a method to decide promotion and relegation, it has been reported.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/coronavirus-league-one-season-to-be-scrapped-1-6644634

[harrybarracuda]

If you're keeping up with the Kyle Walker story....

[harrybarracuda]

Ooops.

German football's impending return thrown into chaos as ENTIRE Dynamo Dresden squad are forced into 14 days of quarantine after two players test positive for coronavirus... just seven days before Bundesliga 2 side were due to play Hannover

[harrybarracuda]

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has confirmed a third player at the club has tested positive for coronavirus. The unnamed player will go into 14-day isolation while he recovers from the virus.

PA reports the rest of the Brighton squad will continue to train as they have been doing during the lockdown, both at home and in solo sessions at the club's training ground. Two other players, whose names have also not been revealed by the club, contracted the virus earlier in the pandemic. They are understood to have since recovered but it is not clear whether or not they have returned to training yet.

Barber said on Sky Sports News: "Unfortunately we have had a third player test positive just yesterday. Despite all the measures we have all been taking over the last few weeks, when the players haven't been involved in taking any significant training at all, we have still suffered another player testing positive for the virus.

"There are concerns and I think it is normal for all clubs to have those concerns. We want to make sure we do all that we can that the protocols that are put into place are safe and secure and mitigate the risk."

[cyrille]

This is a major problem they're going to have with getting the show back on the road...those pesky players.

Tottenham and England defender Danny Rose has branded plans to bring Premier League football back next month as “bollocks” and slammed the notion that sport should be used to raise the population’s spirits following the coronavirus lockdown.


Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined a series of phased measures which include the possibility of behind-closed-doors sporting events from June 1, a situation he said would offer a “much-needed boost to the national morale”.

The Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ has been looking at a return to action in the coming weeks but Rose treated the discussions with a combination of anger and disdain during an appearance on Instagram Live.


Rose, speaking on Lock’Don Live, said: “Government is saying ‘bring football back’ because it is going to boost the nation’s morale.


“I don’t give a fuck about the nation’s morale, bro, people’s lives are at risk. Football shouldn’t even be spoke about coming back until the numbers (infected or dying) have dropped massively. It’s bollocks. We’ll see.”


Rose, who had been playing on loan for Newcastle before the pandemic forced the sporting hiatus, added: “I’m supposed to go back, I think I’m getting tested on Friday so we will just have to wait and see.”

Rose’s comments echo a more reserved assessment from his England team-mate Raheem Sterling. In a video posted to his YouTube channel the Manchester City forward outlined his areas of concern.


While many are keen for the 2019-20 to be concluded – for financial reasons, entertainment value and the integrity of the sport – Sterling believes all such considerations are secondary.


“The moment we do go back it just needs to be a moment where it’s not just for footballing reasons, it’s safe for not just us footballers but the whole medical staff, referees,” he said.


“I feel like once that side, of the people’s safety and the player’s safety, is secured and their well-being is looked after, then that’s the right time to go back in.


“Until then, I’m…how can I say…not scared, but reserved and thinking what the worst outcome could be. I’ve had friends whose grandmas passed away, I’ve had family members as well that have passed away. You’ve got to be wise and take care of yourself and those around you.”


Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings took to Twitter with a similar view – that health concerns were the only measure to be guided by, not footballing ones.


Villa currently sit in the relegation zone but Mings posted: “In my eyes we either play with relegation, because it’s safe to do so, or don’t play because it’s not safe to do so.”

Rose: 'I don't give a f*** about the nation's morale' - Football365

[Edmond]

Danny Rose has branded plans to bring Premier League football back next month as “bollocks”



Eloquently put.

[hallelujah]

Danny Rose has branded plans to bring Premier League football back next month as “bollocks”



Eloquently put.

True Geordie.

[cyrille]

True Geordie.

He's from Doncaster.

[NamPikToot]

Ah that explains it, they like getting paid to do nothing up there

[hallelujah]

He's from Doncaster.

I know, but he plays for Newcastle. Point being he's adapting to his surroundings...

[hallelujah]

Interview here with Emery about his time at Arsenal.

Unai Emery: 'Arsenal couldn’t protect me. Truth is, I felt alone' | Football | The Guardian

Interesting comments about Ozil.

[harrybarracuda]

Interview here with Emery about his time at Arsenal.

Unai Emery: 'Arsenal couldn’t protect me. Truth is, I felt alone' | Football | The Guardian

Interesting comments about Ozil.

Fucked around with the team too much. The players lost faith in him.

Thank god Baku was fun because the football wasn't.

[Chittychangchang]

A brilliant interlude...

[hallelujah]

Fucked around with the team too much. The players lost faith in him.

Thank god Baku was fun because the football wasn't.

I believe Kenny Sansom aint well.

First away game at Highbury in 84 for me with United and him in the back 4.

Hope he does ok.

[Chittychangchang]

So the mayor of Liverpool wont allow schools to open in June but is happy for the Premiership season to continue.

Ruddy Bin Dipper double standards...

[harrybarracuda]

Six positive cases for coronavirus have been detected at three Premier League clubs after players and staff were tested ahead of a return to training, England's top flight said Tuesday.

"The Premier League can today confirm that, on Sunday 17 May and Monday 18 May, 748 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19," the league said in a statement.

"Of these, six have tested positive from three clubs."

No details were released over which individuals or clubs are affected.

"Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days," added the league's statement.

Premier League clubs began returning to training in small groups on Tuesday after protocols on safety measures were signed off on Monday.

The number of positive cases represents just 0.8 percent of those tested and is consistent with similar widespread testing conducted by other major leagues hoping to complete the season.

Germany's top two divisions registered 10 positive cases out of 1,724 tests two weeks ago ahead of their return to action last weekend.

Five players from Spain's top two divisions tested positive last week before La Liga's return to group training.

Premier League clubs are aiming for a return to action by the middle of next month despite concerns from some players over their welfare.

Watford captain Troy Deeney has said he will not return to training this week due to fears he could pass the virus on to his five-month-old son.

Six positive tests for coronavirus at Premier League clubs - France 24

[cyrille]

Only 5% of teachers in England believe it is safe to reopen schools. Yet it will soon be OK to restart professional football?

The 19/20 English football season is not going to be restarted.

Promote West Brom and relegate Villa NOW!

[harrybarracuda]

Only 5% of teachers in England believe it is safe to reopen schools. Yet it will soon be OK to restart professional football?

The 19/20 English football season is not going to be restarted.

Promote West Brom and relegate Villa NOW!

I would imagine the lawsuits are already on the chairmen's desks waiting to be signed...

[Edmond]

So it's going to be:

Scrap the season, no winners, no relegations, no promotions, start next season with the same teams as 19/20.

Scrap the season, calculate every team's points per game, and use this to have official winners, relegations and promotions.


Unfortunately it may well be the latter.

[harrybarracuda]

So it's going to be:

Scrap the season, no winners, no relegations, no promotions, start next season with the same teams as 19/20.

Scrap the season, calculate every team's points per game, and use this to have official winners, relegations and promotions.


Unfortunately it may well be the latter.

Whichever it is, Liverpool won't be able to claim they won the title fair and square.

Even if they could play games now, neutral venues tarnishes it.

As I said, there will always be a * next to this seasons, so we'll still be able to taunt the mickey mousers until they actually win it.

[cyrille]

So for about 10 months then.

[Edmond]

Imagine the laughter coming out of Manchester next May, if this season is canceled with no champion, and they don't win it next season.

SAF's neighbours would be complaining about the noise.