Premier League 2019/20

[Captain Obvious]

Good to see Gianluca Vialli has been given the all clear following a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

[imtommygunn]

That's good. I always really liked him and zola .

[J70]

Good to see Gianluca Vialli has been given the all clear following a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Good for him. Hopefully he's one of the few who manage to beat it long term.

One of the worst types of cancer.

[seafoid]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/04/20/even-best-case-scenario-imminent-return-football-neither-realistic/

If the return to training is successful – and at what stage, then, do players actually train together and work on basics such as tactics? – then the next phase will be to try and get the games played. Increasingly, according to sources who are involved in the planning, it is looking like these will be played at a select number of 'approved' Premier League grounds in one or two parts of the country to try and create as sterile an area as possible.

London is an obvious choice which also raises the possibility of Wembley being chosen as one of the stadia. Crucially this will help with the thorny issue of limiting the demands on public services such as ambulance and police being present even though all the remaining 92 games will definitely be played behind closed doors and without fans being present. Logically this would also mean players staying in a small number of select hotels which, again, makes London a likely location.

Matches will be the trickiest phase with the clubs having to first decide what is the minimum number of staff that can be in the stadium? Do, for example, any of the directors or executives even have to be there?

Again players will carry out their temperature checks but there may have to be more stringent health screening before they travel to the stadium. And how will that be handled, especially for 'away' teams if they are flying and arriving by coach?

The clubs will have to mark out 'sterile' routes from the bus to the changing room with the players and staff passing through temperature scanners and somehow trying to observe social distancing while they get ready. It means each team will have to use more than one changing room while trying to warm-up and prepare themselves with minimal contact.

There will be no pre-match handshake – an unnecessary risk – but then the games kick off. How will they look? How will the players try not to have any contact in a contact sport? What will marking at corners and free-kicks be like? Will anyone tackle or even touch an opponent? Will they celebrate a goal being scored?

After the game the social distancing measures will again be observed – with teams ushered out as quickly as possible, doing the minimum they need to do – such as in terms of media commitments – before carrying out their recovery sessions back home. And all the while being urged to report symptoms if they feel any. Imagine the psychological stress of that also for the players?

What, also, if players need to be treated for an injury? What will the physiotherapists do? Presumably they will, as is planned in Italy, wear masks and PPE while working with the players and, again, that equipment surely cannot be used if there is a shortage on the NHS frontline.

[J70]

The only way this can work is if they sequester the teams and required personnel for the fitness period and the five or six weeks to play out the season. Basically cut them off. You can't social distance in training or in a match.

[Milltown Row2]

The only way this can work is if they sequester the teams and required personnel for the fitness period and the five or six weeks to play out the season. Basically cut them off. You can't social distance in training or in a match.

Why not just do what they have done in Scotland?

[J70]

The only way this can work is if they sequester the teams and required personnel for the fitness period and the five or six weeks to play out the season. Basically cut them off. You can't social distance in training or in a match.

Why not just do what they have done in Scotland?

Because it would not be fair. quite simply.

It may eventually come to that, but it should be an absolute last option.

[Gabriel_Hurl]

Bundesliga is potentially starting back up behind closed doors starting May 9th

[GJL]

So it appears Newcastle are the new Man City. How long until they win the PL?

[GetOverTheBar]

So it appears Newcastle are the new Man City. How long until they win the PL?

Unless there is a severe relaxation of FFP with coronavirus, maybe 10 years before they even get into top 4.

[Captain Obvious]

So it appears Newcastle are the new Man City. How long until they win the PL?

4 or 5 years it took Manchester City when the sugar daddy arrived?

[SHEEDY]

No football in Holland until at least September 1st.

[Boycey]

The cesspit of Premier League ownership sinks even lower.....

[RedHand88]

If anything the proposed Newcastle deal makes a mockery of the premier leagues rainbow laces campaign.

[johnnycool]

If anything the proposed Newcastle deal makes a mockery of the premier leagues rainbow laces campaign.

I don't get why Newcastle should be criticised for this considering the UK Gov has been courting these Saudi hoors for years to sell arms to them.

A little bit hypocritical of a lot of people in my mind.