28 Apr 2020 18:10:57
Looks like the Fifa medical team and Ligue 1 have just burst the little bit of hope I had.

Ed002, as you've said many a time, it's down to each individual league what they do, however i assume the Fifa advice will be taken very seriously?

{Ed002's Note - FIFA need to constrain their activities to what is in their remit and they, like UEFA, have overstepped the mark on a number of occasions. After a meeting of the "elite sides" more than a week ago a letter was sent to UEFA about their previous statements about finishing the season and their threats to clubs that don't - that led UEFA to step down. The comment from the FIFA medical perspective is based on advice that has recently changed. FIFA have provided a drop dead date for ending the seasons which is driven by their own tournaments - but local FAs will use it and make a decision based on achiving that and the gound swell of opinion from the clubs . in some countries the Government are making the rulings and overriding the FAs. Some countries are better prepared than others - and remember that the UK has the worst death rate in Europe and is behind the loop in timescales compared to Spain, France and Italy - that needs to be taken in to account. The Premier League will not tolerate an extremenly distasteful remark by a senior representative of one side last week. In terms of being prepared for a decision:
Belgium - season over.
Netherlands - season over.
France - season over.
Denmark - announcement this week - but likely season over.
Germany - provisions if season cannot be completed.
Spain - provisions if season cannot be completed (although one contravesial point needs agreeing).
Scotland - season open for SPL but clubs want closure and a line drawn across.
England - hopeless - running late in agreeing provisions if season cannot complete. A swell of clubs want the season ended as no end in sight - the dates being given have no basis.
Serie A - Goverment want to push for completion but swell of clubs want to draw a line across - possible that some clubs will refuse to play.}

1.) 28 Apr 2020
28 Apr 2020 19:33:11
I'm fairly certain that the bundesliga is the only major league with any chance of getting going again. Obviously it's down to the individual league how they end the season and its starting to look like every one will be slightly different. Belgium declared champions, Holland no champions and no relegation/ promotion. The 3 scenarios muted in France all see PSG as champions and the same 3 teams relegated. I know there is a lot of money involved in the big 4 leagues (I guess this is why they will be the last to pull the trigger) but surely Fridays meeting will be the time to make decisions.

2.) 28 Apr 2020
28 Apr 2020 19:49:22
Once again, thank you very much, Ed.

What a mess from the top down!

3.) 28 Apr 2020
28 Apr 2020 19:57:17
I have a horrible feeling the senior rep was from Liverpool.

We, collectively, need to make a decision in the UK, I feel they are going to push for it to come back, succeed but within days a senior player/ manager will get it and football will be cancelled again. Leaving the authorities with egg on their face, be decisive do what needs to be done and draw a line.

Bring Leeds, WBA up, relegate no one, for one season remove PL teams from League cup to make room for the extra games. Then relegate 5 and promote 3 to bring it back to a 20 team league. European places as they are and and a vote by PL clubs if they wish to put us down as champions, or declare no champions and we have to go again next year.

4.) 28 Apr 2020
28 Apr 2020 20:49:26
Why should other teams get their cl or promotions and Liverpool don’t get their title they have ran away with? Yeah I am all about Liverpool so what! U can’t give teams accomplishment and one that deserves it most none! If it’s null n void so be it but I’m not having the other crap it is or it isn’t! And I appreciate the low down from ed02 it’s a fantastic insight thanks 👍🏼.

{Ed002's Note - There is no null and void option. If Liverpool want to be awarded to it they should take the same approach as in Belgium - ask the League to award it and then it can go to a vote.}

5.) 28 Apr 2020
28 Apr 2020 20:56:48
I feel like Ed might have told us if the rep was from Liverpool. He likes to keep the information he gives out club specific, whilst not pulling his punches on said specific club, so being vague tells me that it's likely someone else.

6.) 29 Apr 2020
28 Apr 2020 21:46:47
Jay club red if LFC are awarded the title who then would qualify for the European places and who would be relegated? Or should we decide Liverpool are the best cancel all football for evermore and leave it there . That way you get your wish every season .

7.) 29 Apr 2020
28 Apr 2020 23:27:48
Extra clubs means less tv revenue per club . I can't see any takers voting for that .

8.) 29 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 09:24:37
Cloacina at present LFC are the only team qualified for Europe and my that’s my point why award other teams it when they have not earned it! We clearly deserve the title! Don’t be smart with your cancel football crap! The table never lies it could go down to ppg for the rest!

9.) 29 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 10:12:15
Jay i don’t think many would argue that we deserve the title.

But if you are in villas position do you think it’s right they get relegated?

Ppg only tells the story up until now and doesn’t take into account who teams still have to play. For instance one of the teams in the bottom three may have all the sides around them to play. Ppg doesn’t take that into account of the fact that these are now must win games.

As for the CL places the competition will happen next season so who qualifies will need to be decided, fairest way to do that is take the positions as they sit.

Having to end the season is far from ideal but if it happens they need to find the fairest solution for clubs, but even then they can’t play lease everybody.

10.) 29 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 10:15:05
Jay the only thing ppg does not work out can remember with 9 games to go the bottom 3 staying the same same as the top but this is when the pressure is on and some teams handle it as some don’t. I think if there is going to be a call off of all leagues then it would be better if the year all did the same. If some leagues are giving titles and promotions and relegations and some are not does not seem right. I think UEFA could maybe set the rule for all leagues to follow.

11.) 29 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 08:22:11
Ed002 was the France league taken out of there hands with the french government ban all sporting events till September even behind closed doors. What do you think french teams in cl and el do if that does start in August. As for England are lockdown has been nowhere near as tight as a lot of other countries, I have a friend who lives in Paris and it’s a lot more tighter with there rules you need to print some form off to go out and was only allowed to go out like us but then it cut it back there but there seems a lot of people going to work in the uk that don’t need to.

{Ed002's Note - There were discussion with the Government and the clubs in the top two leagues - with several League 2 sides saying they would not play regardless. The Champions League and anything otherwise related to UEFA did not come in to it. Should the Champions League go ahead as UEFA plan in August it will be up to PSG and Lyon to decide whether or not they play - but the games are not planned to be held in France in any case. The clubs support the view of the Government.

The lockdown rules vary per country. The UK was unprepare, late acting and remains in the position where advice has often been misleading or not taken - such as the wearing of masks. Perhaps that is why the UK has the highest death toll in Europe whilst only reporting those deatchs that occure (a) after testing positive, and (b) which occur in hospital.}

12.) 29 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 12:05:02
I am not convinced that rushing to a decision is the right thing to do, I personally do not see football being played this year. That is why I suggested the 20/ 21 season is scrapped and we finish this current season restarting from Feb 2020 with pre season friendlies and start the season early March. As for ECL and that other European competition I have no idea how to sort that mess out.

{Ed002's Note - It is not possible to scrap next season. Many clubs, including Liverpool, would not survive.}

13.) 29 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 12:13:41
Ed, totally off topic from a football point of view - I agree that the UK were unprepared and slow to act, however there are many more factors to consider as to why the UK has the highest death rate.

London accounts for the highest numebr of cases and deaths in the UK by a considerable distance. As Europes largest major international hub, it was always going to be difficult to keep numbers down with the third highest the population density in Europe. But, action should have been taken to cancel Cheltenham and Liverpool vs Atletico, they should should never have taken place.

Each country is totally different in demographic, how they live and how well equipped they are for such a situation, hence why we would be foolish to follow in other countries footsteps, something i know you've previously pointed out when (myself included) have attempted to point to La Liga or Bundesliga as a way of restarting the season.

{Ed002's Note - Absolutely agree.}

14.) 29 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 16:56:26
Wyred and grino I do agree with your points! But let’s look at the elephant in the room lfc deserve that title and Europe so that’s the 1st problem solved. Next is the European spots and as it stands that's who id give the places to harsh on others maybe but teams there deserve that place as for relegation again the table doesn’t lie! I know none of this would happen but I’m just saying how I see it lads! I don’t care about tainted or what ever the null and void fans call it it’s No19 if it happens 🙏🏻.

15.) 29 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 18:13:10
Null and void won’t happen! Drawing a line under the season is different from null and void.

There are several different points here but we can’t just be given it without a vote from the other sides but, at least from me, there is no argument that we would of got the final two wins to seal it, or one if we beat city. We have been so consistent in getting over the line in games that if we don’t get it or the chance to see it over the line I would feel hard done by.

However, like everything in the uk, things should only reopen, or go back to work when safe.

As for the league, let’s flip it and say we have had a horrible season and in the bottom three when this happens, would you feel you should get relegated without playing your full allocation of games. Plus what if you have had a rotten run of fixtures and played all the top ten but have the bottom 9 to play? I agree the table doesn’t lie but at two points in the season, half way and when it’s complete.

16.) 30 Apr 2020
29 Apr 2020 23:15:14
Ed02, you say clubs would not survive if next season is cancelled, Inc Liverpool, but most experts say a vaccine is at least 12 months away and social distancing measures will be in place til one is available. How can contact sprot continue next season if that's the case. Surely cannot be measures in place for some and not others,

{Ed002's Note - There has been no decision to stop all sport until a vaccine is available.}