[Updated] Football suspended indefinitely

[The Kalamazoo Kid]

Fixtures out next week?

Taken from Hull Daily Mail :-

Quote

When will the fixtures be released?

It’s our understanding the fixtures are likely to be released the week commencing Monday August 17, although that date is unconfirmed at this stage.

With the make-up of the EFL only just confirmed following the play-offs, the EFL need time to process the fixtures but also have less pressure to release them as early as usual due to the fact all matches will be played behind closed doors at the start of the season.

 

[geoff1]

On 26/07/2020 at 12:21, The Kalamazoo Kid said:

There is an article on The Sentinel site about next season, and how it will work (it is based all around Stoke's situation, of course 🙄, but some will apply to the EFL as a whole) :-

Supporters hope to be back in grounds in October - but how many?

...a draft document from the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) claims that stadia could still be as low as 17 per cent of capacity - and as high as 33 per cent full - due to social distancing rules.

The document states: “It is emphasised that capacity assessments arrived at after optimising seat allocations will be permitted only if it can be shown that the entry, exit and emergency exit capacities and, where applicable, the concourse capacity, can support such numbers when social distancing is in place.”

Peter Houghton, director of operations for the Football Safety Officers Association, told The Times: “Concourse capacities are going to be key to the amount of the stadium that can be used. Generally the older the stadiums the less space there is.”

It remains to be seen what will be allowed with away support - and streaming matches before and after October.

Introduction of a maximum squad size

Clubs are also set to vote on whether to follow the Premier League's lead and bring in a maximum squad size.

In the Championship, that would mean 25 registered players, as is the case with the top flight.

Five substitutes expected to be allowed

the EFL - like the Premier League and the FA with the FA Cup - will decide themselves whether to allow it in their own competitions.

The EFL has been expected to consult clubs at the end of the season.

More mid-week games

To fit in the normal number of fixtures in a shorter space of time, there will be more mid-week matches - with 14 in the provisional schedule. That is up from eight last season, not including Bank Holidays.

might as well pack up

[Fosse69]

Wonder what can be done with the Concourse behind the New seats in Lorne St ?

[PV1973]

Not sure if its been mentioned elsewhere but it looks like the Carabao Cup will be kicking off on the 5th Sept, with a Checkatrade game after that before the season proper starts on the 12th Sept. Its going to be a busy schedule.

[The Kalamazoo Kid]

33 minutes ago, PV1973 said:

Not sure if its been mentioned elsewhere but it looks like the Carabao Cup will be kicking off on the 5th Sept, with a Checkatrade game after that before the season proper starts on the 12th Sept. Its going to be a busy schedule.

Some Carabao Cup 1st round games may take place on 29th August, if they involve any Championship clubs that will have players on international duty between 3rd-8th September.

So, it might be preferable to draw one of those Championship clubs and play a week earlier, rather than have a schedule of :-

Saturday 5th - Carabao Cup

Tuesday 8th - EFL Trophy

Saturday 12th - 1st League game

 

The Carabao Cup is going to be even more pointless than ever this season (and its already been a joke competition for years now) - rounds 2 to 4 being played on consecutive midweeks in September, no crowds in, no prize money for progressing through rounds? (unlike the FA Cup). Even if lower league teams progress a decent amount, it will just serve the purpose of gaining match fitness (but at the same time increase the risk of injuries?!)