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The 2019-2020 Football Thread

Apple fanboy said:
I just don’t get it. If a stadium is empty, it’s empty. Plastic fans, zoom fans or recorded cheers are not going to make it more normal.
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Speaking as someone who (like most of us) have been working via video link for months now - we all know it's a poor substitute for in-person interaction. There's no replacement for a full stadium, though given the dire finances of many football clubs and league I can't blame them for trying to do something about it.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Speaking as someone who (like most of us) have been working via video link for months now - we all know it's a poor substitute for in-person interaction. There's no replacement for a full stadium, though given the dire finances of many football clubs and league I can't blame them for trying to do something about it.
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Don’t even bother with the video link where I work. Teams audio mostly.
 
Since we mentioned the Danish experiment with Zoom on the sideline: some footage of how it looked during a match. No replacement for a real crowd, but interesting nonetheless.

Conversely, the behavior of the reduced crowd attending the Hungarian cup final in-person will lend credence to fears that at least some fans cannot be relied on to follow social distancing guidelines in stadiums.
 
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Premier League is scheduled to kick off again on 17 June. Honestly haven't been thinking of football very much with all the insanity in the world over the past few months, but I did catch bits of some of the Bundesliga matches when I had a spare moment. It's going to be weird, but will be a welcomed distraction for me, so long as the players and officials can be kept safe.

For you FPL players out there, you can make free unlimited transfers before the next MW without burning a wildcard: https://www.premierleague.com/news/1678559
 
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There is an awful lot that is uncertain about the league restarts, and I think some (like the Bundesliga) will be successful - but others less so.

MLS is moving forward with an unusual restart plan: All 26 teams will travel to ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida and play a month long tournament that essentially mimics that of the World Cup in most of its essential details. Group and knockout stages, 54 matches in 26 days, with the "winner" grabbing the dubious honor of a CONCACAF Champions League spot.

The strangest part about this is that each match in the tournament (including the knockout rounds) will accrue league points...and the season will then continue as a normal (but shortened) league season after the tournament. So this season will end up being two matches in March, a 100ish day break, a mini-World Cup-Style tournament in July-August, and then "normal" league matches with playoffs and the league final (assuming we don't all shut down again).

This makes sense from the perspective of the US not really having COVID under control as well as (much of) Europe, but it's still an odd solution with a lot of moving parts. Maybe if all the teams are quarantined in the same place we can have teams not actually involved in the match fill the stadiums as "fans." THAT would be interesting.

The league is calling the tournament the "MLS is Back Cup" (good grief, fire your marketing team NOW) but surely it will become known as the COVID Cup whether they like it or not?
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
There is an awful lot that is uncertain about the league restarts, and I think some (like the Bundesliga) will be successful - but others less so.

MLS is moving forward with an unusual restart plan: All 26 teams will travel to ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida and play a month long tournament that essentially mimics that of the World Cup in most of its essential details. Group and knockout stages, 54 matches in 26 days, with the "winner" grabbing the dubious honor of a CONCACAF Champions League spot.

The strangest part about this is that each match in the tournament (including the knockout rounds) will accrue league points...and the season will then continue as a normal (but shortened) league season after the tournament. So this season will end up being two matches in March, a 100ish day break, a mini-World Cup-Style tournament in July-August, and then "normal" league matches with playoffs and the league final (assuming we don't all shut down again).

This makes sense from the perspective of the US not really having COVID under control as well as (much of) Europe, but it's still an odd solution with a lot of moving parts. Maybe if all the teams are quarantined in the same place we can have teams not actually involved in the match fill the stadiums as "fans." THAT would be interesting.

The league is calling the tournament the "MLS is Back Cup" (good grief, fire your marketing team NOW) but surely it will become known as the COVID Cup whether they like it or not?
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It's because the MLS, by in large, is stupid.

They have to go out of their way to make everything look "challenging" and "thrilling".
Everything they do is contrived.
They have a stupid divisions system, points system, and play off system.

They have never let the game speak for itself. Sadly it appears they never will.
 
pachyderm said:
It's because the MLS, by in large, is stupid.
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The problem facing us in the USA is that given 1) the climate; 2) the vast distances between teams; and 3) the large number of teams in the league, we can never have a single table league season with a home/away schedule. It just can't be done. But what we have now is a lopsided and unsatisfying arrangement: 26 teams (eventually 30), two conferences, play the teams in your conference home and away, and then play 10 of the 13 teams in the other conference once per season. What?

MAYBE this "COVID Cup" will intensify debates over changing the league format going forward. I'd like to see MLS move to an Apertura/Clausura, possibly on the Mexican model, which would align MLS's calendar more closely with the European calendar. Maybe expand to 40 teams divided between eastern and western conferences, have each conference run its apterura/clausura as a self-contained season, and then have the two conference winners play for the overall league titles. You get rid of the playoffs but you have twice as many titles to play for per season. And, at the risk of bringing up an age old debate that riles people over here horribly, I still think we should have a 2-league promotion-relegation system. Though I know that opens up a big can of worms.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
The problem facing us in the USA is that given 1) the climate; 2) the vast distances between teams; and 3) the large number of teams in the league, we can never have a single table league season with a home/away schedule. It just can't be done. But what we have now is a lopsided and unsatisfying arrangement: 26 teams (eventually 30), two conferences, play the teams in your conference home and away, and then play 10 of the 13 teams in the other conference once per season. What?

MAYBE this "COVID Cup" will intensify debates over changing the league format going forward. I'd like to see MLS move to an Apertura/Clausura, possibly on the Mexican model, which would align MLS's calendar more closely with the European calendar. Maybe expand to 40 teams divided between eastern and western conferences, have each conference run its apterura/clausura as a self-contained season, and then have the two conference winners play for the overall league titles. You get rid of the playoffs but you have twice as many titles to play for per season. And, at the risk of bringing up an age old debate that riles people over here horribly, I still think we should have a 2-league promotion-relegation system. Though I know that opens up a big can of worms.
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Great shout.

Can't ..?

More like won't. But, imho, not for why you stated. Only because they(owners & fans) think every sport has to be in the NFL mode.

It's a mind set.

A distinctly American mind set.

Your reasoning isn't null and void, or moot though, as you've made some very valid points.

It, again imho, boils down to American sports owners and fans have to have a Super Bowl with a dramatic, if sometimes contrived, ending.
 
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pachyderm said:
It's a mind set.

A distinctly American mind set.

Your reasoning isn't null and void, or moot though, as you've made some very valid points.

It, again imho, boils down to American sports owners and fans have to have a Super Bowl with a dramatic, if sometimes contrived, ending.
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With regard to fans, I think that was 100% true for the first 10 years of the league. But I think that things have changes since then, and newer generations of fans are not as wedded to American sports models.

Owners, on the other hand are a little more conservative. But I do think as time passes attitudes may change. It's worth remembering that while the league has been around a while now, it's still a young league. I think it will evolve further as time passes.
 
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Not really looking forward to the PL kick off this week. Normally at the start of a season you are full of hope. Perhaps a European spot or good cup run. Maybe that new player you paid so much for this summer will turn out to be a real quality player. Perhaps that player you paid so much for last summer won't be injured quite as often!

But all I'm hoping for is to finish 17th. Must be hope it feels to be a Norwich supporter. Add to that the league is already decided, no crowds or atmosphere and the lawsuits that will follow when relegation is decided.
 
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While I am not a supporter of Manchester United, (readers of this thread know that my footballing allegiance lies with - and my footballing heart has been lost to - that endlessly frustrating, sometimes brittle, team of under performers known as Arsenal), and have been quite critical of the self-indulgent lifestyle and obliviously and ridiculously self-centred attitudes of some Premier League players, I have to say that Marcus Rashford is an exceptionally impressive young man, a wonderful role model, (and a very fine football player).

His open letter (to all MPs) published today on child poverty and child hunger during lockdown is both impressive and powerful and is also deeply informed by personal experience. And I love the warm way he writes about his mum.

Moreover, Rashford had also partnered with the food charity FareShare (some reports suggest that they raised around £20million) to ensure that children from poor backgrounds in Manchester had access to sufficient food, and at least one meal a day, during lockdown when normal support systems have been suspended.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
...I have to say that Marcus Rashford is an exceptionally impressive young man, a wonderful role model, (and a very fine football player).
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I have nothing but respect and admiration for the way Rashford has conducted himself. Football and society in general need leaders and role models now more than ever. While I think it is unfair to expect all footballers to lead blameless and uncontroversial lives, I think it's also important to recognize those players, like Rashford, that have used their celebrity to make positive and thoughtful interventions in the world.

With that being said, the next time he is through on goal against Liverpool, I hope he whiffs it. ;)
 
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Silencio said:
Rashford's campaigning has had an effect:

www.independent.co.uk

Boris Johnson to provide free school meal vouchers in major U-turn after Marcus Rashford campaign

Parents to get £15 a week to spend in supermarkets on food for disadvantaged children, after PM drops his opposition
www.independent.co.uk www.independent.co.uk
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Terrific news, and a superb example of celebrity (and the platform it allows someone) being used responsibly and to positive effect.

Silencio said:
I agree: as a Man Utd fan, we are extremely lucky to have him. Local lad, great head on his shoulders, humble, works extremely hard, seemingly limitless potential, still only 22 years old.
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All of that, but a very impressive (and responsible) individual, a wonderful role model, and a decent, ethical (and formidable) human being.

While I hope he doesn't put any past Arsenal, he is someone I have enormous respect and admiration for, and would love to see him do well professionally and personally.

His mum - whom he clearly idolises - must be very proud of him; she raised a great guy.
 
David Luiz.

Arrived on the field as a substitute, - after 25 minutes - and, from that moment, Manchester City concentrated their attacks wherever they saw him.

He has been more or less responsible for conceding two goals, one penalty, and earned himself an entirely merited red card.

All in the space of twenty five minutes - twenty in the first half (and the usual silly lapse in concentration at 47 minutes......), followed by fresh idiocy six minutes into the second half.

So, Arsenal down to ten men, and trailing City by two goals.

I think I preferred lockdown.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
David Luiz.

Arrived on the field as a substitute, - after 25 minutes - and, from that moment, Manchester City concentrated their attacks wherever they saw him.

He has been more or less responsible for conceding two goals, one penalty, and earned himself an entirely merited red card.

All in the space of twenty five minutes - twenty in the first half (and the usual silly lapse in concentration at 47 minutes......), followed by fresh idiocy six minutes into the second half.

So, Arsenal down to ten men, and trailing City by two goals.

I think I preferred lockdown.
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Could be worse. You could have had a perfectly good goal denied because goal line technology failed. Lucky Villa.
 
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