[Updated] Football suspended indefinitely

[Wrex]

6 hours ago, Warren said:

The mini league idea with only the teams in promotion positions eligible etc. ignores the rights of the other teams in the league to complete games and earn as much income as possible. So on its own that is ethically wrong. The clubs will lose advertising income, sponsorship and potential TV income if they don't get to play at all. I know this ignores the issue that playing a game in lock down may lose money for some clubs and I have no information of the financial circumstances of different clubs and where break even points might be. 

Mid-table clubs would prefer to keep players and staff on furlough and not play many games

[DistantVale]

5 hours ago, Wrex said:

Mid-table clubs would prefer to keep players and staff on furlough and not play many games

I think they all would to a point ! 

[PV1973]

7 hours ago, Wrex said:

Mid-table clubs would prefer to keep players and staff on furlough and not play many games

This. As soon as clubs go back to training then the furlough stops and clubs have to pay them. With reduced income streams then this becomes a problem. There may well be some clubs who don’t want to resume games for that reason and so the option of a mini league with the top 8 becomes a viable option? Who know what will happen but the ideas to finish the season may see options that are unprecedented if they don’t want to cancel the whole thing. 

[Emile]

ss
 

 

[Emile]

If the league want to limit the number of games played behind closed doors how about a bigger version of the playoffs similar to non league.

Some may argue it is unfair to include teams that are in automatic positions but they haven't mathematically been promoted yet, in this system it's weighted heavily towards them so why not? This system could also flex up and down if more teams should be included etc etc. Exeter and Vale do get a nice draw though. Personally I would take this as an alternative to cancelling the season.

 

Round 1 - 

Round1 1 - Bradford vs Cambridge

Round 1 2 - Salford vs Newport

Round 1 3 - Forest Green vs Walsall

Round 1 4 - Crawley vs Grimsby

 

Semi Finals - 

R2 1 -Port Vale vs Winner of R1 1 

R2 2 - Northampton vs Winner of R1 2

R2 3 - Colchester vs Winner of R1 3

R2 4 - Cheltenham vs Winner of R1 4

 

Finals - 

F 1 Crewe vs R2 1 (Port Vale, Bradford, Cambridge) 

F 2 Swindon vs R2 2 (Northampton, Salford or Newport)

F 3 Plymouth vs R2 3 (Colchester, Forrest Green or Walsall)

F 4 Exeter vs R2 4 (Cheltenham, Crawley or Grimsby)

[geosname]

2 hours ago, Emile said:

If the league want to limit the number of games played behind closed doors how about a bigger version of the playoffs similar to non league.

Some may argue it is unfair to include teams that are in automatic positions but they haven't mathematically been promoted yet, in this system it's weighted heavily towards them so why not? This system could also flex up and down if more teams should be included etc etc. Exeter and Vale do get a nice draw though. Personally I would take this as an alternative to cancelling the season.

 

Round 1 - 

Round1 1 - Bradford vs Cambridge

Round 1 2 - Salford vs Newport

Round 1 3 - Forest Green vs Walsall

Round 1 4 - Crawley vs Grimsby

 

Semi Finals - 

R2 1 -Port Vale vs Winner of R1 1 

R2 2 - Northampton vs Winner of R1 2

R2 3 - Colchester vs Winner of R1 3

R2 4 - Cheltenham vs Winner of R1 4

 

Finals - 

F 1 Crewe vs R2 1 (Port Vale, Bradford, Cambridge) 

F 2 Swindon vs R2 2 (Northampton, Salford or Newport)

F 3 Plymouth vs R2 3 (Colchester, Forrest Green or Walsall)

F 4 Exeter vs R2 4 (Cheltenham, Crawley or Grimsby)

So the F teams play one game but the R1 teams could play 3?

[Seamus O'Wye]

23 hours ago, silvermicky said:

Of course no one knows what's going to happen or how long this lockdown is going to last. However, I was thinking (and it hurt) the other day, that if this season is scrapped and /or completed at the end of the year, leaving us with just January to May for next season, what about splitting the EFL leagues into northern and southern e g League 2 North with 12 clubs and only 22 games to play before May 2021?? How promotions/relegations etc would be resolved will have to be thought about. Then hopefully, a full season could start in August 2021.

Stay safe and well everyone! UTV

I totally agree that it is next season that should be curtailed/shortened rather than this one.  Nothing is arranged fixture-wise yet and the Checkatrade, League Cup and the FA Cup should be postponed for one season.

Finish this season off 'properly' before even thinking about the next one. If each division was split into two sections, perhaps the winners of each section could play off for the title?  Top 2 in each section to be promoted? Bottom club in each section to go down?  However, instead of 'regionalising' the sections, I would use this seasons finishing positions to decide - eg teams finishing 1st, 3rd, 5th,7th etc in one section and teams finishing 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th etc in the other. This might help to avoid any moaning about a 'harder' section.  The relegated teams could occupy positions 1, 2, 3 and 4 and promoted teams would be 23 and 24., giving each club 22 games to play in Jan,  Feb, Mar and April.  Then return to 'normality' the following season.

Anyway, just a thought - not got much else to do this afternoon as you can tell !!

[Emile]

4 hours ago, geosname said:

So the F teams play one game but the R1 teams could play 3?

Yes. Weighted to teams who are higher in the league. So top 4 only have one playoff match, teams below the play offs have to work the hardest etc etc 

[DistantVale]

25 minutes ago, Emile said:

Yes. Weighted to teams who are higher in the league. So top 4 only have one playoff match, teams below the play offs have to work the hardest etc etc 

Apparently that is the case, it will be done by seeding , The top seed Swindon would start with 8 points and the eighth team would start with 1 point      

[robf]

On 27/04/2020 at 10:11, PV1973 said:

This. As soon as clubs go back to training then the furlough stops and clubs have to pay them. With reduced income streams then this becomes a problem. There may well be some clubs who don’t want to resume games for that reason and so the option of a mini league with the top 8 becomes a viable option? Who know what will happen but the ideas to finish the season may see options that are unprecedented if they don’t want to cancel the whole thing. 

I personally can't see the season being finished. Even if they do beat the UEFA deadline to play (which I think is unlikely) then all it takes is one player to get the virus and pass it on to his team mates and then that club won't be able to field a team because most of the squad will be in quarantine. If that happens I can't see the fixtures continuing.

[Warren]

55 minutes ago, robf said:

I personally can't see the season being finished. Even if they do beat the UEFA deadline to play (which I think is unlikely) then all it takes is one player to get the virus and pass it on to his team mates and then that club won't be able to field a team because most of the squad will be in quarantine. If that happens I can't see the fixtures continuing.

The risk of someone on the pitch or at the stadium has to be reduced to zero. Completely safe. And it can't be. The countries that seem to be heading for restoration therefore are accepting risk above zero. That needs political and societal acceptance and support. It also requires all the individuals involved to agree and many might not. I can't see how it can be done until two capabilities exist. It is possible to test on a very big scale. It is possible to save lives of infected people all the time aside from when there are other underlying conditions. The prevention of this is is probably 9 months to a year away.  

[Carpetman]

Germany will be the model as they are planning to resume at least a month before us!

[Howjy04]

32 minutes ago, Carpetman said:

Germany will be the model as they are planning to resume at least a month before us!

France have knocked the season on the head.

[Beamish]

Apparently one of the ideas coming out of France is to use the table at the mid-point of the season to decide promotion and relegation.

Wouldn't do us much good, but would see Stoke relegated 🤣

[Wrex]

24 minutes ago, Howjy04 said:

France have knocked the season on the head.

PSG are intending to play on in the Champions League