It’s fascinating piecing together all the component parts of this outbreak and the impact it’s having on the Premier League.
Firstly, I didn’t realise the league cancelled NOT because huge gathering of the proles could be a problem for society, oh no, they cancelled when Mikel Arteta was diagnosed because they worried about how long it’d take players to come back to full fitness. This line from The Guardian captures it neatly.
A Premier League club executive, who did not want to be named given the acute sensitivities of this crisis, said sports scientists’ advice is that a player needs one day of training for every day of isolation before they can be match fit. So the advisory 14-day isolation doubles to 28 days out of action. It appears close to impossible for squads, managers, coaching and other staff to operate at full strength as the virus spreads, peaks and runs its course.
Bit grim that it was players recovery times… not the idea that a stadium of 60,000 people is a hotbed of contagion that could kill people.
The dawning reality for football execs up and down the country is that the season is looking ever more likely to be cancelled.
Check out the podcast at the bottom of this post where I talk through some hypotheticals with Alex. We discussed a couple of areas that look less likely today. One of my unbelievable EUREKA JOHNSON moments centred around the problems of cancelling the season, I suggested we SHOULD play the season out to stop legal challenges. The bonus is we would resync world football and start next season in January. The benefit would be that we’d be in good shape for the Qatar World Cup. However, most players contracts run to June 30th, which would cause a headache for clubs. I don’t really buy that, we’re changing the season in 2 years, why not now? It’d be better for everyone if this season was finished fairly.
Apparently, there’s a taste for nullifying the league right now but in a less extreme way that Karen Brady is suggesting (namely, letting clubs have last seasons spots). Promote WBA and Leeds, give Liverpool the title, and make all the leagues bigger for a year by not relegating anyone. I could be onboard with that, but I’d be pretty miffed if Arsenal lost out on Europe. We’re very much in the mixer. If we win our game in hand, we’re two points from United. Sure, we’ve been shite all season, but so have United, hence their drab points total.
I WOULD SUE
… and there is the problem, if I can’t play nicely, do you really think Don Raul is going to forsake that Champions League pot of gold he bet this summers transfer budget on? I have my doubts. However unlikely Champions League seemed, it was on the cards. I think we’d have even more of a chance if Arteta had 3 months to practice his ideas with the team. We’d be fitter, smarter, and we’d have a few games to build into the City game (the game in hand).
Another BOBBY DAZZLER of an idea we were mulling was a European Cup Cup Comp™. Isn’t that a pithy name?
If we’re settled on Leicester, Liverpool and City as the Top three, we could play a knockout for the remaining European places. Maybe we could run a futsal league? 8 teams battle it out. The winners take home Europe. The final could be called the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL, you know, because both teams would qualify? I can work on nomenclature, keep with me here, it’s a good idea, we’re moving things forward and you damn well know it.
The really interesting impending firestorm is the one around TV money. Do fans get their subs back from the TV companies? Or is it force majeur (get fucked in French)? Part of the problem is we pay monthly, so fans will just cancel the football part. The question focusing on whether the TV companies take back the money they’ve lost in upfront payments? It ‘could’ be solved by growing the league by 3 teams and giving the TV firms the extra games for free next season. The Premier League might also have to drop their pants on 3pm kickoffs and give Sky a sniff at those. We could also see a relegation playoff introduced like they have in other countries, that’d help plump up the lost advertising revenue.
Damn, we are solving issues at a rate of knots today chaps and chapesses.
On the Mikel Arteta front, he’s doing well according to his wife.
“My husband is feeling fine, he is well. It’s true that he had symptoms of the virus but the symptoms would have never stopped him from going to work in a normal situation.”
I love that she’s just admitted that Mikel usually takes his illness into work. What a pig.
Before I go though, I haven’t seen my GF for the best part of 2 months, she came home yesterday. I foolishly thought I’d slink out and support the people in restaurants who won’t be earning any money… thinking New York would be a ghost town. My oh my, it was fucking packed. The sun was out, people were playing in the park, and all the bars were fucking rammed. Then I read this today and felt real guilty.
If you’e still hanging with friends, going to restaurants/bars, and acting like this isn’t a big deal, get your shit together.
The following thread is taken from an Italian citizen.
As they put it:
“To the rest of the world, you have no idea what’s coming.”
MUST READ👇
— Yano (@JasonYanowitz) March 14, 2020
Calm before the storm after reading that bad boy! Stay safe and pretend those canned kidney beans are a dining delight by serving them up artfully!
Right, I guess that’s me done for today. Let me know if there are any topics you want me to write about over the coming weeks.
We’re going to have A LOT of time to kill….
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Tr4phy
If we can’t play games how could we play a small competition that would have to involve an even number of tea,s. Playing what in two small leagues…
Nah silly idea if you can pla6 them then finish off the league.
Why are they not shutting the schools down also then? 🤔
This is going to be so fucked up – whatever the solution they come up with outside of just restarting the PL when this goes away is going to piss someone off.
The problem with waiting is it could be 6 months it could be longer.
Same
Because the government is so disorganised.
Shopping centres should be closed, but because of business losing monies government is running scared. .
Typical Tory party bowing to what big business telling them what to do.
Drat
10 where we stand.
But thanks Pedro for the hint. Unfortunately am a bit slow on the uptake
Samesong
I think it’s purely the knock on effects are pretty huge and kids so far don’t seem to be at risk from the virus.
Thanks Benny, a true gent… unlike the rest of the beasts on here.
That thread is scary stuff
Amen to that Gentlebris.
What is the fairest way to finish the league?
Pedro
Alphabetical order would be my choice!
Pedro, Lol! Thanks Pedro. I thought the podcast was great, they all are. C’mon everyone give it a listen then come back with your answers: 2 biggest transfer miss regrets – Brian Laudrup and Eden Hazard. 2 players that didn’t quite reach their potential – Walcott and Carlos Vela. 2 best utility players – Matthew Flamini and currently Saka. 2 favourite goals – Bergkamp hat trick goal away at Leicester and Bergkamp’s flock and pivot goal aganst Newcastle. 2 favourite Arsenal kits – original bruised banana and the 07 away purple and maroon striped kit with gold trim. Great content… Read more »
‘@Gentlebris I noticed you quite comfortably use the word ”fucked.”’
I use a lot more.
I’m a Pentecostal Christian, not an angel.
If God has not STRICTLY commanded against it in the Holy Bible or through a personal message to me, then I don’t have a problem with it.
So can we leave this alone already and get back to the fucking soccer?
Thank you.
Oooof, Brian Laudrup! That’s one I hadn’t thought about for a while!
Pedro, To be honest I think the fairest way to finish is all the teams still with something to play for, be it Liverpool to wrap up the league mathematically, or teams still fighting for European places and relegation places should play the rest of their fixtures asap behind closed doors, the rest of the teams in mid table unaffected or not part of the other fixtures don’t play. The other option of all teams sitting in promotion places going up with no relegation would only work as long as the playoffs are still played and any teams already mathematically… Read more »
‘What is the fairest way to finish the league?’ Pedro, By not awarding the league to any team that has not actually won it. After that, the rest is still a lot trouble. And then these are really tough times for soccer addicts. Football is the only social life I really love and unless you Pedro can come up with an idea quickly, I may not know what to do with myself when it’s time to refresh. The pods are a good idea, but you have to do more. Eyes on Boris, yes. But eyes on you too, Pedro. Be… Read more »
The more I think about the financial implications for football the worse it gets. How many clubs can afford to have all income switch off for an unplanned period of months and months? Just to look at Arsenal they currently owe me a discount on next seasons ST of 2 cup credits – if the league is written off that becomes 6 tickets circa £300, times that by 40,000 ST holders and that’s £12 million, wages will still have to be paid out unless there are clauses in contracts covering this type of thing. The club comes out at the… Read more »
*a lot of trouble.
Pedro,
Yes, I remember reading it when I was about 17 around 93 on the back of the papers. There was a picture of Laudrup and George Graham with the headline of “Got him”. I was so excited and my manc mate was really pissed. But then it didn’t happen for some reason and I was gutted.
Also Chris Sutton from Norwich. We were heavily linked with him but then Blackburn with their money (the original financial doping club) broke the world record paying £5.5m for him.
benny
I haven’t checked the fixtures to categorically say this is 100% but your way won’t work because it will involve every club. You’d end up playing out all the remaining fixtures anyway.
This is going to be complicated it’s a joke.
‘The only positive is ref’s who might have to go out into the real world and learn that being constantly fucking useless is not acceptable in the work place!’
You should have addressed that to those morons behind VAR. Never have I seen something so important placed in the hands of social junkies.
Surely the premier league or fa have some rules in place for this kind of situation?
If the premier league going to have to make it up as they go along, that going to be clusterfcuk of epic proportions, because every team is going to want decision that benefits them and they all have different interests at moment.
I would give league to Liverpool because they are clearly best team in England this season, domestic cup competitions are voided and start again next season, no idea what to do with European cups.
jwl
I’ve got a feeling it’s not something that’s ever been thought of – same with players contracts.
It’s so fucked up.
I didn’t listen to the podcast, I never do but picking up from where Benny left – I am not a fan of Ramsey but he’s got to be the best utility player. He played at CM, wings, in opposition third, right back etc. and did his bit in all the roles he played in despite not being amazing in any of the roles. Xabi Alonoso and Eden Hazard got to be the biggest transfer regrets. Diaby could have become absolutely terrific player if not for his injuries. Rosicky had a very good career but I think he could have… Read more »
We need to finish everything in the Summer and postpone Euros.
Marc – might not have specific rules for what happens in case of virus that freaking everyone out but something about what happens if season can’t be finished for whatever reason? It seems like something that should have been considered before now.
I think the likely hood is that the Euros will move next year freeing up the June July period to complete all the European fixtures . A late start to the league , maybe late August early September.
TR7,
Yes of course, Ramsey, probably the best utility player in all my time of watching Arsenal since 1985.
TR7 – I’m fully in favour of protecting the vulnerable ( decreased ACE-2 function leaves their lungs at risk of injury), but couldn’t they have just quarantined them or urged them to stay at home or away from family members. The virus has already likely spread all over the US, UK and other countries and for the vast majority it is nothing more than a nuisance.
“despite not being amazing in any of the roles.”
He is an top class at CM, and functional at 10.
Spare a minor thought for Cedric Soares who just got match fit and ready to earn a contract this summer for it to come crashing down.
Maybe we’ll swerve him and he’ll end on 40k a week somewhere in Portugal or Spain like a pauper.
What. A. Loser. Lol.
Situation is bizarre. Players like Gilmour losing six months of development at the very least.
‘We need to finish everything in the Summer and postpone Euros.’
Are we sure this will clear away before summer?
We don’t know if this is for days, weeks,
a few months or several months. That’s what makes it so unbearable.
That’s the thing when will this pass enough for things to go back to normal – haven’t they announced that the Olympics are still going to go ahead?
Paulinho
Sorry I am not sure whether I got the gist of your post but if you mean quarantining all the people in 60 plus age bracket then that’s not possible practically. Firstly you end up quarantining even those people who are not inflicted with the virus. Secondly, symptoms of Corona show up in 7-10 days after you are infected. So self quarantine is difficult and in most cases even your family members don’t know whether you are infected at least for the first 7-10 days of infection.
A few ‘we almost signed’ come to mind.
Hard to know how close it was, but my sources tell me we could’ve signed Mbappe from Monaco a year before he moved to PSG.
Also, would’ve loved Zlatan at Arsenal, but Zlatan doesn’t do auditions.
Yaya Toure? Visa issues at the time I think.
Also, special nod to ‘I almost singed Messi’ – A. Wenger
A big miss was declining the option to re-sign Cesc.
signed*
“And then these are really tough times for soccer addicts.” Gentlebris – tough time for sports addicts in general as well. I wrote the other day that I only watch sports, and BBC murder mysteries with my partner. I live in North America where there are numerous sports on tv every night and now there is nothing. At the moment, the cancellation of college basketball March Madness is bugging me quite a lot, I’ve watched it annually since I teenager. My partner recently started learning how to knit with a bunch of her girlfriends, and now with all this time… Read more »
TR7 – They’re about to apply all those measures though (above 70), so the ‘experts’ are about to enforce something that you think is not practically possible.
“Firstly you end up quarantining even those people who are not inflicted with the virus.”
Well that’s the idea isn’t it? No point quarantining people that are already infected.
Aren’t they talking about quarantining the venerable for 4 months?
“Well that’s the idea isn’t it? No point quarantining people that are already infected.”
Quarantining already vulnerable people of course at risk of lung problems/death and leaving them to perish at home.
vulnerable not venerable!
Can each country isolate the seniors and let life continue? Is it possible to achieve? Herd immunity may then arise and prove its worth in all of this. If you stop social gathering any time longer than 30 days, then you are writing a 30 page letter to high degree social disasters, murders even. A lot of young people would completely lose it if they couldn’t socialize for a long period of time. We can pretend that Facebook and Twitter are the answer, but they are not. A 20 year old would be willing to smash his computer if he… Read more »
Another prediction Ill make is – this Corona virus will ultimately see the back of KSE. I suspect AFC was up for sale tacitly before Corona. I suspect -Stan would bite the hand off any reasonable offer that comes in post Corona. (Maybe the club can be owned by the fans like the German clubs, etc.?) We will see a huge correction in soccer finances. Unparalleled. Clubs going to the wall or scaling back to part time. Severe cutbacks will be made across the club. (All clubs.) From Edu to Round to Bould to Fred to the Ladies team and… Read more »
‘My partner recently started learning how to knit with a bunch of her girlfriends, and now with all this time in my hands I am afraid I’m going to get roped into her knitting circle or something. I need a new hobby quick or God knows what happen.’ Jwl, You wouldn’t even dare talk about your situation if you can see mine😀😀😀😀😀 Apart from boxing(which holds my interest about 5% of how football does),I have no time for any other sport but football, so I’m sorry I narrowed it down to soccer addicts. But you see, football is so huge… Read more »
Paulinho
I believe it’s just a suggestion at this stage but I don’t see how can any gov pull it off -quarantining people of a particular age bracket. Nobody knows how long will Corona be a threat. 4 months, 8 months , 12 months ? Nobody knows. So how long will the gov quarantine people ? Moreover, not all the people will accede to participating in such an exercise.
To answer some of bennydevito questions: – I agree with Jamie about players who we didn’t sign, pretty much any player that Wenger mentioned in a press conference that he could have signed but didn’t. I would say Suarez at Liverpool is my biggest regret, that would have completely changed Wenger legacy if we had signed Luis instead of ineptly haggling. – Anelka didn’t reach his potential, neither at Arsenal or after. – My two favourite goals are, because I was in stadium to see live, Bergkamp goal at Newcastle and Henry at home against Spuds when he got ball… Read more »
‘Situation is bizarre. Players like Gilmour losing six months of development at the very least.’
Bukayo too.
‘I believe it’s just a suggestion at this stage but I don’t see how can any gov pull it off -quarantining people of a particular age bracket. Nobody knows how long will Corona be a threat. 4 months, 8 months , 12 months ? Nobody knows. So how long will the gov quarantine people ? Moreover, not all the people will accede to participating in such an exercise.’ Tr7, First we have to know the time benefit if the seniors are isolated. Then I’m sure grannies are desperate to see their little boys and girls go on with life and… Read more »
If the season is abandoned then like cricket if a certain amount of overs bowled then they don’t have to pay out if rain stops play.
The clubs may well say that over 75 per cent of home games played they don’t have to pay out.
They may offer a good Will gesture of a percentage off the next two years…
But really the club don’t have to pay back any monies.
RSPC
Well there’s already a precedent – the club refund every season if the full allocation of cup credits isn’t used up – even if this hadn’t have happened I’d be getting 2 cup credits back in the summer.
They’re also close to that 75% margin. If everything is cancelled they’d be 23% of a season ticket not used.
BREAKING: UK reports 232 new cases of coronavirus and 14 new deaths, raising total to 1,372 cases and 35 dead
Gentlebris – by far, my two favourite sports are ice hockey and european football, but I will watch just about any live sport when I want to relax for couple of hours after work. I never really thought about how big a role sports are in my life until they were all taken away. At least we have Le Grove where we all in same misery boat.
Sorry but…Liverpool, Leicester and City are not, mathematically guaranteed to finish in their current positions. Sure, it would take a peak Wenger Arsenal to blow Liverpool’s lead but: 1. What if they WERE caught? Unlikely but unless the numbers say no, it’s a possible. 2. What if the whole squad was struck down with illness that did not allow them to play and therefore had to forfeit games? 3. Heavens forbid but what if there was a major accident with the first team? To call Liverpool champs now might be the compassionate decision, but it’s the wrong decision. As far… Read more »
Hackney
The same goes for the European places – not only can teams be caught but look at the recent form table.
Marc
I know we share the same opinion. I’m sorry, but remember when we caught Man yoo all those years ago? What were they in front 15 points I think and the bookmakers started paying out.
Shit happens in sport. However unlikely, if there is even a 000000.1% chance, then it must be taken seriously.
Marc
You may well get cup credits back.
But don’t expect them to oblige with prem tickets.
RSPC
They can’t afford to alienate a huge percentage of the fan base who attend matches.
Anyway, so what if football is cancelled or in fact, all sport.
Go read a fucking book.
I hear the wireless is a good listen these days with The Archers still doing good business.
If you think Arsenal will give you money back, you’re insane.
Who do you think pays for Ozils £1,000,000 a week wages.
Hackney
They do I’ve had money discounted off my ST before.
‘Go read a fucking book.’
Like go drink a tall glass of water for dinner if you can’t find food.
What a sub.
Guns of Hackney “”If you think Arsenal will give you money back, you’re insane.”””” Correct. They wont. They should have made the refund offer already as courtsey. They will wrap it over until next season. (Totally out of order if they do, off course ) Post Corona- supporters might finally wake up- realize they have been played for fools for too long and stop paying these exhorbitant ticket prices to see the likes of. Pepe not able to use right foot. Torreira not able to run. Ozil not able to assist ( post Wenger) Luiz to continue to act like… Read more »
I am thinking Real Madrid s Jovic should be a transfer target if we lose one of either Auba or lacazette whenever the next window opens.
Worlds forgotten about him and he seems to have faded completely away on the RM scene as well.
Was epic at Frankfurt last season and if he can click.into a gear i think it can be a good deal. Hate to be the receivers of RMs reject bin but beggars can’t be choosers 😂
‘Who do you think pays for Ozils £1,000,000 a week wages.’
Imagine Marc, beer in hand, demanding a refund from Ozil.
‘Mesut, mind giving me a refund for the rest of the season as you wouldn’t be showing up?’
And before Ozil can say anything, his funny looking agent waddles to the scene and takes it up.
‘Mr, let me tell you, Mr Ozil will not walk away from Arsenal until his contract is done!’
“BREAKING: UK reports 232 new cases of coronavirus and 14 new deaths, raising total to 1,372 cases and 35 dead”
You clearly missed EmiratesStrollers numerous posts:
UK still better than other European countries
NHS employs a shitload of people
UK medical research has historic reputation
BREAKING: Italy reports 3,590 new cases and 368 new deaths, raising total to 24,747 cases and 1,809 dead
What’s happening in Italy ? I know median age is higher in Italy than in most countries but the mortality rate is astonishingly higher.
Maybe this Virus and the forthcoming break from football will give people some perspective and stop them pumping $$$ into the sport.
TR7,
That’s almost 15% deaths!
TR7, it’s ripping through areas with a lot of older people and because the hospitals are overwhelmed, they can’t treat people.
Horrible combo of things.
Or more likely China has been lying about their death numbers
Sorry half of that
Pedro, max deaths in Lombardy which is apparently one of the most affluent areas in Italy with better health facilities than in other regions in Italy.
Found a good one from Twitter on Corona :
Overreact. Because if you overreact, you can always scale back the measures you took. Under react and you might never be able to gain the upper hand on the outbreak.
Un
Can’t believe you linked to the Guardian – I bet you feel like you need a shower!
On a serious note – this virus isn’t going away anytime soon ie years. No ones suggesting we stick old people in a room and expose them but the population at large needs to build an immunity or we’ll have this same thing happen every year or so. Obviously a vaccine would be idea but that’s not a quick thing to turn around.
It’s a bad situation but we’re stuck with it.
TR7
Yeah that’s a great approach to take I think you should apply it to all aspects of your life.
‘The rest of sport – tennis, Formula One, rugby, golf, football in other countries – was closing down and we were being told to carry on. I think a lot of footballers were wondering, ‘Is it something to do with money being involved in this?’”’
-Wayne Rooney.
Un The Guardian article ,as well as many other opinion pieces by the experts have only shown how badly botched up the Trump response to this outbreak has been. Yet, even without knowing the full scale of the pandemic and its economic fallout, you are certain Trump is going to win his second term. Amazing! Of course you might be right about that since stupid voters do elect stupid leaders. But as a point of fact, I’d just like to remind you of another Republican President who just like Trump trusted his gut over the expert opinion. And who ignored… Read more »
Tom
I think you need to check your history on bin Laden and who had chances to kill him.
Un
Only a random comment but it seems a high percentage of those you have died in the UK are male.
It might just be the way the media are reporting the news, it might be that women are generally healthy in old age I really don’t know.
These are latest stats: ITALY 24,747 Cases [1,809 Deaths] SPAIN 7,798 Cases [292 Deaths] GERMANY 5,795 Cases [11 Deaths] FRANCE 4,499 Cases [91 Deaths] SWITZERLAND 2,217 Cases [14 Deaths] U.KINGDOM 1,372 Cases [35 Deaths] NETHERLANDS 1,135 Cases [20 Deaths] So there is nothing to suggest here that the action taken by UK to ‘prevent’ spread of disease is any worse than what is being done in Europe. Similarly the death rate per capita is slightly better than most countries in Europe discounting Italy and Spain. The only country which appears to have controlled better its death rate is Germany. So… Read more »
Emirates
That’s the question now – how much of survival is down to quality of care and how much is down to the initial health of someone infected.
Marc
Surely you aren’t blaming Clinton for the 911 and subsequent Iraq clusterfuck because he failed to attempt killing bin laden in 1998.
Tom
Clinton has nothing to do with the Iraq invasion but you seem to be blaming Bush for not killing bin Laden during the 7 and a bit months he was President before 9 – 11 when Clinton had about 8 years.
An average le grover😀
https://twitter.com/benjwinstanley/status/1238580503441260547?s=19
It’s either play the rest of the season when all players recover in empty stadiums or scrap the whole season for me. You can’t change the rules of a competition after you have started just to finish it even under these circumstances.
Anyway Anyone in here who has a link of “taking care of a Corona patient with out being a medical professional”? Because we need to be ready.
Be interesting to see what anti-virals hospitals in Lombardy are using. Might explain why some death rates in ICU are higher or lower in different countries.
Lopinavir and Ritonavir are often used but in computer modelling were shown to be poor inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2.
Remdesivir seems better suited and German hospitals might be using that.
Aces
That’s really funny!
Pedro
That deserves a special mention – classic!
Paulinho
You’d assume that all of the worlds governments are exchanging information on treatments that are working well / poorly.
Marc
The health secretary has confirmed that theGovernment have been making behind the scenes arrangements for emergency treatment.
All NHS Hospitals will soon be prioritising Coronavirus Cases.
They have contracted over 3,000 beds in the Private Hospital Sector.
They have bought 10,000 Units of Oxygen Equipment.
They are also asking major Engineering Companies like BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin to shift production of healthcare and testing equipment. That is similar to what was done during Second World War.
So no-one can say that the Government has done nothing to this crisis.
Marc – Hopefully, probably certain amount of trial and error early on to find most effective treatment.
Emirates
Of course mistakes will be made but I think the governments measures have been made on a sensible level – I know many on here don’t but I’m not sure they think through all of the consequences of “extreme” reaction over the long term.
One of the things the science advisors are doing is modelling behaviour of people as well as the spread of the virus.
Paulinho
Unfortunately I guarantee there’s an element of trail and error.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/14/italians-80-will-left-die-country-overwhelmed-coronavirus/