Topic: The Impact of COVID 19 on Sport...

[JerseyKloppite]

Presumably the PL might have to set out their proposals in some more detail shortly in line with UEFA’s 25 May deadline?

[free_at_last]

I still think we’ll get a parade of some sort when it’s safe to do so. If that is way off in the future and all the players able to get back together one last time so be it. They deserve it and they deserve what is such a big achievement for this club to be celebrated properly.

All in due course obviously. I’ll take the satisfaction of seeing the boys celebrate in an empty stadium for now.

Our CEO is a tech head. What about the biggest zoom meet of all time? I believe you can get 10,000 in on a zoom webinar - so only 40 licenses gets 400,000 to dial in to different meetings all pointed at Klopp and the players.
That way all our international fans get to participate in the biggest virtual piss up ever - another record

[Fordy]

Has the Brighton chairman been taken hostage? Haven't heard him running his mouth for 24 hours.

He was on this morning. You will see him on Sky Sports today mate.

Going on about players health and safety

[newterp]

He was on this morning. You will see him on Sky Sports today mate.

Going on about players health and safety

Right on cue then.

While Germany effectively goes into week 2 and 3 of football with no fuss.

[Barneylfc∗]

Presumably the PL might have to set out their proposals in some more detail shortly in line with UEFA’s 25 May deadline?

As far as I remember, the deadline isn't strict. Certainly not a case of being forced to curtail the league because they havent submitted proposals yet.

[Fordy]

Right on cue then.

While Germany effectively goes into week 2 and 3 of football with no fuss.

Has the Brighton chairman been taken hostage? Haven't heard him running his mouth for 24 hours.

Just noticed that Brighton have got Hope Powell talking. Saying they shouldn't be relegation from the women's league and one team should come up (villa).

We're bottom of the women's league.

I see what she is trying to do.

[Elzar]

Kante has been told he can train at home even if he misses the rest of the season. The correct way to go about it. Went in on Tuesday, expressed concerns and the club have given him time off for now. I'm sure they will keep in close contact and make sure he is okay as this goes on.

Spain had a team where one of the players was very vocal about not wanting to train or play. The manager put him in touch with a psychologist to talk through his worries, then he was given reassurance and has since decided he is happy to come back.

[UntouchableLuis]

Do we know if it's looking like neutral venues or normal grounds? Was the 'we don't want to play at neutral venues' a police issue or the bottom 6 trying to find an excuse for that week?

[AndyMuller]

Kante has been told he can train at home even if he misses the rest of the season. The correct way to go about it. Went in on Tuesday, expressed concerns and the club have given him time off for now. I'm sure they will keep in close contact and make sure he is okay as this goes on.

Spain had a team where one of the players was very vocal about not wanting to train or play. The manager put him in touch with a psychologist to talk through his worries, then he was given reassurance and has since decided he is happy to come back.

The sensible approach by both Chelsea and the spanish team.

[rob1966]

The sensible approach by both Chelsea and the spanish team.

Very much so.

[Jm55]

As far as I remember, the deadline isn't strict. Certainly not a case of being forced to curtail the league because they havent submitted proposals yet.

UEFA have confirmed recently that it’s not that strict.

[Tonyh8su]

Do we know if it's looking like neutral venues or normal grounds? Was the 'we don't want to play at neutral venues' a police issue or the bottom 6 trying to find an excuse for that week?

Really hoping it's normal grounds.

[Speedy Molby]

This quarantine plan could scupper the English clubs still in the Champions and Europa Leagues.

[rawcusk8]

Have you got a news alert set up for ‘Werner’

Haha.

Rebel mate bring back the Werner updates

[Fordy]

This quarantine plan could scupper the English clubs still in the Champions and Europa Leagues.

It won't. There is an exemption list and I am sure elite sport will be on it or added

[Speedy Molby]

Torygraph reporting that the British Grand Prix will be called off because the government refused exemption from quarantine.

[Americano12345]

Do we know if it's looking like neutral venues or normal grounds? Was the 'we don't want to play at neutral venues' a police issue or the bottom 6 trying to find an excuse for that week?

Believe the 'neutral venues' was set forth by the police, and it was almost unanimously opposed by the PL teams. Lots of issues e.g. stadium sponsorship with doing the neutral grounds idea. Saw that the authorities were asked to consider a way to figure out normal grounds.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

It won't. There is an exemption list and I am sure elite sport will be on it or added

i wouldn’t be shocked if they forgot about elite sport

[ScouserAtHeart]

i wouldn’t be shocked if they forgot about elite sport

And Everton

[rob1966]

Torygraph reporting that the British Grand Prix will be called off because the government refused exemption from quarantine.

Dead easy, get them all to get an HGV licence and then pile into the trucks and hey presto, no quarantine.

[Red_Rich]

Coronavirus: Premier League 'as confident as we can be' about June return

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52775640

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Let me clarify the Messi/Sterling thing...

Messi is the greatest player I have ever seen and probably that I will ever see. Obviously Sterling is not even in the same ball park. I think only Maradonna is. And I far love those two's style - dribbling, dropping the shoulder, taking men on, twisting and turning - love it.  Rather than the style of say Ronaldo, direct, heading, long shots etc.

Sterling has the same style as Messi/Maradonna - when I said he's the closet thing to Messi in the prem i meant style wise. Like Hazard a bit too. I've seen Sterling dribble round 3-4 players before in tight spaces. There was one against spurs where he did that and then fluffed his shot - and that was typical of him - weak shooting, which he has improved. But i stand by the style point.   

Kenny Dalglish is the best player I've ever seen.

Imagine Messi trying to have actual tackles coming in on him, shithouse challenges, shit pitches and shit balls to cope with.

Messi is world class, but imagine if Dalglish had the advantages of pristine pitches, little to no tackling and balls you could blow at.

[rafathegaffa83]

Liga MX has announced the cancellation of the Mexican Clausura. Cruz Azul and Leon, the top two clubs will qualify for the CONCACAF CL. No champion will be named. There were seven rounds of games, plus playoffs remaining. Clubs wanted to keep playing until four more Santos Laguna players tested positive. Twelve Santos Laguna players have tested positive in total.

[Dazzer23]

Big difference with Mexico, to here is that Coronavirus is on the way up. Latin America is becoming the new ‘hot bed’

[Speedy Molby]

Two more Watford players quarantined. They had been in contact with others who tested positive but were negative themselves.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

Kenny Dalglish is the best player I've ever seen.

Imagine Messi trying to have actual tackles coming in on him, shithouse challenges, shit pitches and shit balls to cope with.

Messi is world class, but imagine if Dalglish had the advantages of pristine pitches, little to no tackling and balls you could blow at.

maradona dealt with the same shit kenny did and was doing that whilst on crack!

[Mighty_Red]

Yes! Rushie's coming back for the derby! That's what dating a younger woman does to you

[newterp]

Two more Watford players quarantined. They had been in contact with others who tested positive but were negative themselves.

I guess it sort of makes sense - but seems odd to quarantine them.

[Dazzer23]

Did this happen at the “everyone round to Marriappa’s” the other night?

[AshbourneRed]

The tests that came back positive were done before squads were back training? So for anyone to have been in contact with them means they were breaking lockdown rules?

[rafathegaffa83]

Did this happen at the “everyone round to Marriappa’s” the other night?

Could have come into contact with an infected staff member

[thekitkatshuffler]

Yes! Rushie's coming back for the derby! That's what dating a younger woman does to you

Andy Townsend chatting shite as usual I see.

[UntouchableLuis]

I don't mind Kante or Deeney saying they wont train or play etc. That's their prerogative (assuming footballers can't be forced to work like the rest of us) but I'm wondering where a line is drawn? What's to stop a whole team from saying they don't feel safe and wont play?

[El Lobo]

I don't mind Kante or Deeney saying they wont train or play etc. That's their prerogative (assuming footballers can't be forced to work like the rest of us) but I'm wondering where a line is drawn? What's to stop a whole team from saying they don't feel safe and wont play?

Nothing, and then their club deals with forfeiting their games.

[redgriffin73]

Watford, bless them, they're trying their best to ruin everything aren't they?

[UntouchableLuis]

Nothing, and then their club deals with forfeiting their games.

But Klopp for example said he hasn't got a problem with players if they don't want to train. One or two might be manageable. But what if 5,6,7 or more all of a sudden said they didn't want to train?

I just think it needs clarifying or we could be in a very messy situation.

[Speedy Molby]

The tests that came back positive were done before squads were back training? So for anyone to have been in contact with them means they were breaking lockdown rules?

It doesn’t specify that the two who were quarantined today were in contact with the players and staff who tested positive the other day. It could have been family.

[rafathegaffa83]

But Klopp for example said he hasn't got a problem with players if they don't want to train. One or two might be manageable. But what if 5,6,7 or more all of a sudden said they didn't want to train?

I just think it needs clarifying or we could be in a very messy situation.

The league already has a precedent it set with Spurs in 05/06 and Boro in 96/97. Any illness that sweeps through a squad is just treated the same as any other injury. You either play or have a points deduction

[muszka]

Am I the only on thinking that if the CL this season is finished with playing one legged ties on neutral empty venues then the winner of the competition won't be regarded as highly as a winner in any other year?

It just doesn't feel right to me to finish such a higly regarded competition in a "let's just finish it asap and be done with it" manner. And I'd feel the same even if we were in it.

[El Lobo]

But Klopp for example said he hasn't got a problem with players if they don't want to train. One or two might be manageable. But what if 5,6,7 or more all of a sudden said they didn't want to train?

I just think it needs clarifying or we could be in a very messy situation.

They’ve been told it’s safe to go back.

If individual players choose not to go back to work, it’ll be up to their clubs to deal with.