Before I begin, if you’re a Liverpool fan, look away now. I incensed so many of them last Sunday they’re not going to find this one any more soothing. Just go.
Leeds fans too.
And to that West Brom bloke who has questioned my parentage on numerous occasions over the last week … I really don’t want a spontaneous combustion on my hands. Please switch channels.
Oh, and if you’re a Premier League executive you may want to give this a swerve, along with the dealmakers and moneymen at Sky and BT. You’re not really welcome here anyway.
While we’re at it, if you’re a fan of any team in the ‘top 14’ and you’re itching for the imminent return of football because you’re getting a bit bored, feel free to bu.gger off.
And, finally, if you were one of those people in that VE Day conga-in-a-northern-town, or were swaying and embracing with others while singing ‘We Meet Again’ … this is probably not for you either.
If there’s anyone left, I salute you.
And you probably know what’s coming, because my gasket had already been blown this time last week, when we were being drip-fed the delightful prospect of ten neutral venues, CGI fans, players in face masks, and the potential for this all to be taken to Perth, Austalia for completion.
Since then, the drip drip has suggested using five substitutes instead of three to make up for the lack of match fitness and/or for games to run for less than 90 minutes.
You know… the usual… just changing the basic rules of Association Football that have been around for over a century in order to satisfy the insatiable greed of those who will benefit from the earliest possible resumption of the game we used to love.
And then we come to the Premier League getting the hump because some clubs have expressed understandable reservations about resuming while there are still literally hundreds of loved ones dying every single day.
Then little gem popped up on my Twitter feed:
In a nutshell (*Danny Dyer voice*), ‘you lot in the bottom six had better have a long, hard think about which way you’re going to vote when we put forward the neutral venue proposal, because if you don’t, we can make life veeerrrry difficult for you’.
Or, to put it another way, if you don’t vote the way we want you to, we’ll relegate you.
Great eh? Democracy in action. Do as we say, or else… the highway.
The common consensus seems to be that the bottom six have taken a stance which will give them the best chance of survival, ignoring the fact that three of them will retain their status anyway if the season is concluded and points-per-game is the chosen formula.
It wouldn’t, of course, be anything to do with the fact that these clubs, City included, value health over wealth in the first instance and, in the second, they want, if the season is to be completed, to be offered a fair crack at survival.
The Liverpool fans’ ‘well you deserve to go down because you’re cra@p’ line flies in the face of the very same ‘integrity’ argument they like to trot out.
To be forced to complete the season in an abbreviated form that, at least, feeds the cravings of Sky and BT’s moneymen, is no consolation to City, whose chance of survival hinges mainly on eminently winnable home games against Burnley, Everton, Southampton, Brighton, and West Ham.
But, with that metaphorical pistol being pointed in the direction of Stuart Webber when he votes on Monday, I so want him to tell them to shove it. Is the product so valuable they consider its resumption worthy of putting human lives at risk?
At no point have we ever been truly welcomed in the Premier League – only ever tolerated at best – and now it spills over. They don’t need Norwich City. But they do need Leeds United. This is their chance.
That’s how it feels.
Of course, we need the Premier League more than it needs us, but only from a financial perspective and because it’s deemed the only place to be. As a football club, the aim has to be to play at the highest level possible but there is so much to dislike about the way it operates, it’s impossible to love.
So much so, I really don’t care if their thinly veiled threat to expel us comes to fruition. If they’re not prepared to give us a fair chance of keeping our heads in their revolting trough, then so be it.
Obviously the consequences of this would be catastrophic for the club’s finances and the team we currently adore would be no more; instead, would be ripe for cherry-picking by the macho-14.
But, once we’ve said our fond farewells, we’d be fine wouldn’t we? We’ll still have the memories of one of our greatest seasons ever, and we’d be free of what feels the almost tyrannical grip of our paymasters.
And we got here in the first place on a wing a prayer. Maybe armed with another wing, another prayer, and Webber & Farke we could have another go. And maybe, free of that feeling of being unwelcome guests at a posh party, football would be fun again.
The problem, if indeed it is a problem, is that once we’ve reset in that place the Premier League thinks is our natural home, the aim has to be promotion – otherwise, why are we doing it.
But right now, almost everything about the EPL is unedifying. The absurdity of it all was summed up nicely in @Holtamania’s tweet:
In addition to the above, which encapsulated in 26 words what I’m failing to in 1000, there were two pieces of writing published yesterday, coming from different angles, that also captured the crassness and unfairness of the Premier League’s stance.
One was by our Robin who, as ever, nailed it in his EDP column and the other was a statement from Watford chairman Scott Duxbury, who eloquently highlighted the injustice of having the season completed in a way that only appeases those with something to gain.
Ultimately, it boils down to money, and however much they like to tell us it’s all about ‘integrity’, it really isn’t. That’s just them trying to justify a stance that has £££ as its sole driver.
So, let’s not be bullied or blackmailed and if the Premier League wants to take its ball home, let them. There’s too much at stake here. I’d be more than happy for Stuart Webber, supported by the board, to take a stand and refuse point blank to kowtow to the demands of the EPL. He’ll, at least, have Scott Duxbury in his corner.
With every passing day, the Premier League appears more desperate. And yet people are still dying.
Make sense of that if you can.
Great piece Gary.
Why not just take it out of football’s hands and let the government/scientists decide when it’s safe to return?
You don’t see many (any?) other sectors – like business, entertainment, hospitality – voting for when THEY should return…
17
The whole thing is an impossible conundrum. There is no solution to appease everybody. But I’m with you all the way Gary.
9
You’re like a broken record.
If you hate the premier league so much, don’t turn up for the restart, don’t accept the three years of parachute payments, and hand back your prize money and tv money while you’re at it.
Wait a minute, what do you mean Norwich won’t do any of that? Are you saying they care more about money and saving their own skins than the people’s lives they claim to care about.
The shithouse six can be summed up in three words: liars, cowards, hypocrites
0
Cheers for that, Neal. You didn’t let me down.
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No problem. If you’re feeling really brave, you might allow me to write an article demonstrating the alternative view? More than happy to do so
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Of course, mate … more than welcome. I’d like that. Genuinely.
2
Great. I’ll get to work on it this morning. Thank you
0
I wouldn’t like it at all, if you are just going to continue swearing and being indescribable offensive.
7
Agree 100%
2
The Daily Mail and the Red Top papers keep harping on about the bottom six but so far only three have made it public on their thoughts, possibly four with Brighton. WHU, Aston V, and Watford, Norwich and Bournemouth haven’t uttered one work in response to the blame game from the papers and Sky pundits, and surely it’s a closed vote to all except the 20 clubs – and all have a mind to vote how they want.
5
Hi Neal,
Old lad as I have said ad nauseam on here, relegate us on Points Per Game.
Promote Leeds and WBA, no problem.
Give Liverpool the Premiership, again they deserve it. Just don’t start the games at this moment in time. Its utter madness. Look at how Germany now have a problem with the virus going up as soon as they relax things.
And there maybe one big huge stumbling block ahead as it looks like the players will be asked to sign waivers regarding getting Covid while playing.
I think I can guess where they may tell Sky (Mafia) where to shove them.
PS Martin it was very funny your comment on being asked for proof of Sky (Mafia) membership on gaining entry to Carrow Road !!!
1
Hi Neal.
I think you’ll find there are very many supporters of clubs outside the so-called bottom six who aren’t too enamoured with the way the PL conducts itself.
Threats about enforced relegation, putting players through risk and a big two-up to the fans, you know, that type of thing.
Every time I enter Carrow Road I’m surprised I’m not asked to prove I have a Sky or BT subscription in order to gain entry!
Anyway you’ll probably enjoy my MFW article in the morning about as much as you did Gary’s today but, like him, I’m genuinely looking forward to reading your personal take on things.
You never know – I might agree with some, if not all, of it 🙂
3
Such a shame that – neal says – lacks the mental and emotional capacity to fathom the bigger picture. Speaking as a Norwich fan and someone who’s family has been affected by covid 19, there are bigger things at stake here than an obviously unfair conclusion to the SPORT GAME we here love. This proposal clearly only benefits some & there is not a one size fits all solution. I fully back NCFC for a vote of non compliance on this, even if it sees our return to championship football and those that benefit will have to face the fact that their legue position was made at the cost of others, nice.
0
You seem a nice bloke, I’d rather support a shithouse six side than stuff my pockets with TV money while people die .But hey your morality is down to you ,its your choice to be a ####
0
It’s a helluva problem for everyone involved with the EPL. I wouldn’t want to swap places with the decision-makers at this point as there is no absolute fair way of concluding the situation. But, if I were an EPL executive, my thoughts would be ‘What if we order games to resume early and it turns out to be too soon and there’s an outbreak and a high-profile player dies? Would I be able to sleep at night? Did we do the right thing for the right reasons?’
If that happened, even if the mattress was stuffed to the brim with nice soft and comfy cash, I wouldn’t be able to justify it to myself.
Incidentally, didn’t the EPL have any rules in place regarding a force majeure stoppage of a league programme? Rules that clubs would have had to sign up to before the season started? I know you could predict this particular situation, but surely they must have considered disaster recovery contingencies at some time, whether it be terrorism, financial disasters, acts of god etc?.
4
I’m not endorsing finishing it now. imho it should be called as-is.
But my concern is that setting up an unachievable standard of “safe to return” means we can forget football for years, not months.
We need to find a new status quo because I can assure you this isn’t going away by August.
2
That’s a very good point, Dave.
My biggest objection (among several) to the plans currently being put forward is the idea of changing rules with a quarter of the season remaining. In particular taking away home advantage – which applies even if there are no fans present – when it could be a crucial determinant of relegation.
Calling it as-is, of course, also raises complications. Villa’s lawyers are on call, I’m sure.
5
Hi Stew.
You make a particularly good point about Villa and their retained legal team who will doubtless be the equivalent of our official solicitors Fosters, who I’ve used for minor matters myself several times. They’re excellent but not particularly cheap.
That game in hand Villa have away at Sheffield United could become quite an issue within the civil law fraternity. Plus £££ for said fraternity of course.
As ever we’ll have to wait and see.
1
Unfortunately the PL never considered such events. Leaving the lawyer barn door open and they’ve all bolted. I don’t see any version of events that doesn’t end in a lot of lawyers making lemonade.
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Simply and clearly put Gary.
I have been effected quite directly by this, as I am sure many of us have. Luckily I haven’t had a death of anyone close to me, but how the Bigwigs can sit discussing this, while many care homes for example are facing armageddon, is inhuman at worst and crass insensitivity at best.
Events in Dresden show how fragile this is anyway. What if just before the much heralded start, a Liverpool player tested positive…
Most of our players have families to think of, with at least two of our key stalwarts having pregnant wives, how on Earth can we expect them to take on the gamble of their lives.
Being away from them in a players’ isolation camp is unfair to ask, but potentially risking the lives of their young families…
10
Simply put of course its about money, I personally don’t want to see the league restarting yet what’s wrong with postponing until start of next season, perhaps starting a month early finish this season take 2 week break and reset for next season. Scrap winter break and extend next season to end of May beginning of June. As for personally football is about spending time with family and friends soaking up atmosphere watching TV games played behind closed doors with atmosphere no thanks I’ll find something else to.
5
Hi Gary
A great read and some good comments.
Football to some and as Shankly would say is more important than life itself, not for me at all.
For 61 years I have followed the game and played it for enjoyment and even went to the game in Derbyshire played between 2 village’s just great fun.
The Premiership is like the now banned Cheese Rolling down a hill picking up speed for its own destruction can it be stopped only time will tell.
An interesting story online a few days ago was from that the companies that source investments for football clubs are saying 14 out of the premiership are now actively looking for major investment and a similar number in the championship can the landscape being changing for lots of clubs.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Keep safe and well
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The main problem with this debate is that as soon as you say where your allegiance lies, the attitude to any further comment is judged by your league position. So, of course Liverpool and Leeds want to carry on because they have something to gain while those threatened with losing something are, naturally, going to resist.
Ultimately, everyone is going to vote out of personal interest and that’s fine. We’d all do the same and I would expect our Club to do so.
I want us to play on because I believe we can get out of this and I don’t really want to be given a “get out of jail free” card but, equally, I want it to be in the fairest conditions and what is being proposed isn’t fair. And, for all it’s faults, I want to be in the EPL because I want the best for our Club.
5
Brilliantly put Gary, and as always, some excellent responses.
As Kit says above, given what is now happening with the Bundesliga, how long are the suits at EPL, Sky and BT going to allow for any sort of restart to then be concluded??
If (perish the thought), players from as few as two clubs were to test positive and their whole operations then have to be isolated for 2 weeks, the knock-on effects would mean there could be no feasible ending to the season.
As you say Gary, with each missive from the powers that be it becomes more clear that they don’t want us at their table……and I really now don’t know if Iwant us to be either…something I never thought I’d admit to.
There are no simple answers to this conundrum; one merely hopes that the medical profession will be fully consulted before any sort of restart is considered.
Keep well and stay safe everyone.
O T B C
P.S. Eagerly awaiting Neal’s column!!
3
Given that there’s news today that a third Brighton player has tested positive, and that the entire Dynamo Dresden squad and staff have been placed in 14 days isolation, the Premier League’s desperation to restart looks more and more money orientated.
I can understand Liverpool fans’ frustration at being so close and yet so far, but is it any greater than our frustration at being banned from European competition after Heysall? And whose fans were the cause of that? People died in that little altercation, and people are dying now. As I type this, BBC News is just reporting that the infection rate in Germany has risen again, following the easing of restrictions. There are some people out there who need to take their heads out of their fundamental orifice and see what’s really happening out there.
11
Full agree and it is sad that Brighton has now had 3 confirmed cases.
All supporters want their clubs to be successful and enjoy them being so but not at the risk to any member of the playing staff or all staff in general.
2
But that’s clearly not true for some Liverpool and Leeds fans, including Neal presumably, or the EPL, who ARE prepared to risk the lives of players and staff. It’s clear that is what they will be doing with Project Restart and yet they’re still doing it.
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You will always find some people are not too bothered about how they get success as long as their team gets it and they think that their team is indestructible.
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Good point, Jim. . .
“I can understand Liverpool fans’ frustration at being so close and yet so far, but is it any greater than our frustration at being banned from European competition after Heysall? And whose fans were the cause of that?”. . .
Well, it couldn’t possibly have had anything to do with them, , ,
0
Fortunately it appears the players might decide the outcome as, in increasing numbers, they realise you cannot be resuscitated once you’re dead!
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Nice one John – short, sweet ‘n’ sour and to the point.
I think you’re right.
2
The Premier League is about money. It was set up about money and will continue to be about money, despite a deeply flawed way of how the revenues are divided. That is why they have to find a way out of this. Why the sudden surprise?
Norwich City have an uneasy relationship with the Premier League. The majority shareholders don’t really want us to be in it and some fans made it clear they would much prefer us to be in The Championship – to their eternal shame – well before anyone had a heard of COVID-19.
Do I want Norwich City to go down – No
Do the club deserve to stay up on what they have achieved so far? No.
In an ideal world we would play this out to a logical conclusion, but we do not live in normal times. I think that the league should be played to a finish – if it is safe to do so – but that is far from straightforward. Or ending it now. Voiding is a cop-out of epic proportions – it is not a season of ‘Dallas’.
As I mentioned at the start, the Premier League was always about money. That means it is not primarily about the fans. The money they bring in is a side show in the overaIl scheme of things – at least at this level.
There are more important things than football as some have realised in the last few weeks since lockdown. But the Premier League have to make the right decision otherwise this could be the beginning of the end of football as we know it. However, whether there actually is a right decision that can be made, it severely open to question.
3
I am one of those who detest the EPL – but I don’t feel any shame about it, even if you project your own opinion onto me that I should, apparently.
Everyone keeps using the phrase “if it is safe to do so”.
It isn’t.
Postponing the restart will not be the death of football. It might be the death of the EPL but that’s not the whole of football.
2
You left out one question:
Do we deserve the opportunity to try and stay up? – Yes
2
Daniel Farke opens the shower curtain and there stands Nelson Oliveira?
0
.????????????
0
Thanks Gary, well said
For my sins I live up north and work with several Leeds season ticket holders, their “preferred option” is 2 up, no one down but sounds like epl won’t consider it as rumour says ‘big 6’ don’t want to dilute any TV money with extra clubs
5
It’s absolutely crazy stuff the money men I hope the premier league crashes because all they care about is money they don’t care about the players or staff I hope Stuart webber votes against the restarting of the season too hold a gun to clubs heads just proves they don’t care about people or players
1
Jim , coo you mentioned Heysall , brave that cos last time I mentioned it I was told that it was all the fault of the Italians. They pulled the wall down on themselves and then tried to blame them lovable scousers who just happened to be nearby..
Can’t wait for the top 8 to get all upset when European places are handed out after the inevitability of the cancellation of the season. Cue gnashing of teeth and threats of litigation from big clubs who miss out on a gravy train ticket to the European champions league.
2
Missing out on Europe? That’s a disgrace. What kind of shithouse football club would be responsible for another club missing out on Europe?
1
Why don’t we just combine the two seasons into one? That way the efforts (or failures) of the current season will still apply across all levels and will culminate into a final outcome… just my two cents for whatever it’s worth…
0