The Poolie Bunker

If some clubs want to remove the threat of relegation before committing to finish the season behind closed doors and with Liverpool guaranteed to win the league, what is the point?

My view is behind closed doors, neutral grounds if need be, test plays etc etc is the fairest way (but nothing is ideal) to end the season.

If there was to be no relegation then just cancel it all and let them vote on awarding Liverpool the title.

The Brighton owner has been banging on about cancelling the season and having it null and void for a couple of weeks now. With his team 2 points above the drop zone and probably the toughest run in on paper of the bottom 4 to endure that’s hardly a surprise.
I’ve been impressed by how Liverpool have completely stayed silent on the topic. Whatever happens the season is always gonna be tarnished for them. The players,manager and fans must be secretly devastated.

Whatever the decision is regarding finishing the league some team/teams are gonna be on the receiving end of unfairness. If the season ends now and the positions are final then the Brighton chairman might think that’s fair as his club benefits. It’s not fair on the bottom 3 who haven’t had a chance to play the games. I’m in favour of trying to finish a season already 3/4 completed personally but I know it splits opinion.

Fairness is the big issue and I'm glad I haven't got the job of sorting it out. Promotion and relegation issues right way down the pyramid. Big headache. If they do play behind closed doors they could play some premier games at the Vic, because of our brilliant pitch and pay us for the use. All they need is a good pitch to play on and we've got one.

This

The one thing for sure is they won't be consulting us.

May as well void now. Because I can't see next season starting on time either, may not be enough time to have next season with Euro2020 (apparently they're still calling it that) too.

If a decision is made not to have games behind closed doors then next season won’t go ahead or at best will be severely delayed. Depressing thought really.

No ideal solution , but best of a bad bunch is just null and void it. Was reading an article by the Palace Chairman about the season and the effects on finances of Covid-19 , and although most of what he said made perfect sense, when he got around to mentioning that they and Leicester are in the middle of building new training facilities costing millions of pounds, It turned me off. The difference between these clubs and clubs in league 2 and non league is now staggering and I think in future will help turn many fans away from the game , its become obscene.

They could have penalty shoot outs.

What's the difference between playing at a neutral ground, or playing home and away as normal.

I mean why should they even consider playing at a neutral ground, surely there are the same safety issues at a neutral ground as at any other.

I say play behind closed doors home and away as normal.

Decision made, and of course they will listen to me.

playing at a neurtal venue means both teams are playing away and have to travel. makes real sense when we are told not to travel.

From what I can gather the idea behind neutral grounds is to stop the mass gathering of fans outside the usual grounds. Like local derbies for example. Thousands of fans gathered outside is a big risk both from a safety point of view and goes against social distancing rules. I suspect the police have a big input on this idea. A couple of coachloads of players travelling to a neutral ground is deemed less risk, even though it is still a risk, as has been pointed out.
Is there really a satisfactory, one size fits all, solution out there, I'm beginning to wonder.

Think the neutral grounds they are looking at , are the ones in the middle of nowhere , with little housing around them etc. Personally I don't give a flying about the Premier league, the way they have handled this , will only further distance and alienate them from the rest of the football world.

Middlesbrough and Sunderland would be good ground to use.

All these footballers normally earning hundreds of thousands a week and who are now on furlough can only get £2500 per month..........what a shame. don't you just feel sorry for them.

What footballers on hundreds and thousands per week are on furlough?

I'd say none.

A few big clubs, spurs newcastle bmuff etc, furloughed non playing staff, but not players.

Most clubs at the lower level furloughed players, league one, two, conference etc.

They arent on hundreds of thousands per week and 50% at least will be unemployed without a club in 3 weeks.

So yeah i do feel sorry for them, i feel sorry for anyone unemployed because of this.

Another ill informed dig at footballers. Never understood this nations fascination with hating on footballers, they are mostly working class, they work hard, they work in a very rich industry so their wages reflect that, they pay tax, they do lots for charities and local communities. If they are lucky they'll get to the very top of their profession, have to be lucky tho and work very hard, only about 1% make it, and in that profession they'll probably have to retire at 35. Why not earn as much money as possible for when that comes?

I don’t feel sorry for them , but I fucking hate the fact YOUR government tried to shame football players into doing their bit, he cu.nt that Hancock and no mistake

Unless you are not a citizen of the United Kingdom then they are YOUR government as well as MY government. At no time have I heard OUR government state that they wanted to shame anybody, so I can't help you there. The next bit about Hancock doesn't make sense.

[quote="derwent"] Thousands of fans gathered outside is a big risk both from a safety point of view and goes against social distancing rules.
they must be thinking about liverpool there. cannot see fans crowding around grounds anywhere else in the country but there.

I think a few might congregate outside Newcastle's SJP as well. Some fans would see it as showing solidarity with their team. I don't think the police want to take the risk to their staff. Who knows.

Play them all here ... on a local pitch