Realisation growing that season can only finish behind closed doors

If this damn virus continues into next year and clubs start folding, there would be so many players looking for work and that scenario could be forced upon them.

The recent Ferguson / Imperial College research says that there might be alternating periods of suppression and mitigation, with the latter being something of a temporary relaxation of the suppression phase.

On the face of it games could be played during mitigation phases. However the Imperial College report says that the timing of mitigation might have to vary across localities, as the virus peaks differently across localities. In that scenario the NW of England might be under mitigation while the SE is under suppression (or even more local variations). The logistics of completing the season would then be a real challenge.

Absolute nonsense to play a game of football behind closed doors. Still, if it boils down to money, then the players should turn up, turn out and go through the piss-take motions.

And what would the penalty be, a monetary penalty or just not allowed to nominate clubs for inter-country club competitions?

And we think that the only idiots are those stockpiling toilet rolls!

Understandable of course and probably just as valid to be optimistic as pessimistic.

(if it wasn't for the wishful thinking element, most of us probably wouldn't bother with football).

But re the virus, if you look at the timings that we (ie: the public) have been given re self isolating, it seems impossible (bar a massive weather change) that anyone will be doing anything 'normal' before mid June.

Timings I've seen in the last week (re isolating) appear to range from 3 wks to 3 mnths but with the longer period seeming more realistic.

And so this playing 'behind closed doors' idea doesn't I believe really stand up to close scrutiny.

There's a suggestion with 'just play games behind closed doors' that this is somehow risk-free and a way around things but the reality is we're talking two dressing rooms full of players, load of subs and a load of support staff (mangers coaches etc).

How would this actually work?

How would the away side travel?

And in these games, will centre halves be standing 5 yards away centre forwards? (no Keane gags please!).

Playing behind closed doors (kind of) works to punish naughty supporters, but I'm not sure that during a pandemic it can be applied.

Simply put, if/when it's possible for supporters to get the virus, it's (surely!) possible for players to get it.

Or to put it another way, If we can spread it, they can spread it.

Just a thought.

What we have at present in football at the highest level is a bunch solely interested in themselves and money.

These are unprecedented times and decisions should be taken out of the hands of the football authorities.

Either we all carry out what the government imposes on us health-wise or we all ignore it. Football should be no different and given exemptions to suit a few at the top.

Footballers by no stretch of the imagination could be classed as essential.

This Bobby Barnes PFA rep finally makes a statement, this tone of "We have to honour contracts" is just not rooted in the reality of the situation.

I have said similar in previous posts to what Eugene is saying, what do the players think?

I've said it before, the more severe this crisis becomes, the desire to complete 8 matches will dissolve. not only are the players involved what about the referees and linesman, the journalists, the camera crews, the people who work behind the scenes, floodlights etc, the ambulance crew that would have to be on standby in case of on-field cardiac arrest for instance?

The talk of losses in revenue for these giant companies never seems to turn to them accepting a hit, but how the whole of the UK and Europe can accommodate them. If the players have to forego some of their salary to negate some of their losses, so be it.

Some people just don't seem to get it ffs. Contracts protected while "normal" people are losing their livelihoods left, right, and centre. We've said in the past that footballers live in a bubble. It appears that most connected with the game live in them too.

Fucking disgrace that they even mention money and deals.

A statement should be made simply saying that football will recommence when restrictions are lifted and it is safe for everyone concerned.

The PL is the very microcosm of neoliberalism, created and structured to protect and enrich the well off to the detriment of everyone else.

Since it's inception these ‘values' have become even more extreme, with the wealthiest of the wealthy pushing for, and getting a bigger slice of a bigger cake. Wealthy owners seeing opportunities for more weath, influence and God knows what else. Agents like Raiola getting £30M payouts!

And smaller clubs, and the grass roots withering away

Fans are also rans in this, with high ticket prices, stupid kick off times, ‘to satisfy the contracts' with Sky, BT, and increasingly bigger players like Amazon.

There was a debate on Sunday Supplement last weekend talking about this being an opportunity for Premier League football to ‘reset'.

In your dreams!

Great sentence Chris, so true, very sad, time gives us..well time to reflect, and I've always had an argument or theory, that if you did a social study, then you would be able to tell what life was like in any era, by just taking a look at what professional football was like around any given time? (If that makes sense).

I think this might happen, unless there is a massive back-lash, in a similar way that everyday life would still be normal, (staying open and no social distancing) if it had just been up to Boris Johnson and his aides.

They might say it's good for us, helping to give us some normality in these long and boring days, and every player will be getting tested daily, to evaluate the risk of this virus, but first we are in for a very bad few weeks, and after this happens, I'm not sure people will even be interested in football for a while..Who really knows?

Some interesting points made on this thread, but in the end it's all detail which should be made irrelevant by the government properly taking a precautionary approach consistent with voiding the season.

Come on, stop being cynical!

If they grasp the opportunity, then they should get the agents in line and use the American model, where players – not clubs – pay the agents. I think 㿊m payments would disappear fast.

As it stands, when the vaccine is approved, I wouldn't bet against Uefa demanding all players go to the front of the line.

I'm staying home watching telly, reading and catching up with family members who I haven't spoken to for years. I'll be painting the living room soon and I will be cooking (new recipes) while listening to music and podcasts etc.

There's loads of things to do. Consider this the off-season and start looking forward to August. I love football more than most but I need to be alive to enjoy it.

Keep calm and get on with it.

This assumes there is a ‘next' season.

Forget the fans, it takes a massive number of people to open a stadium and get a game played. And the games will be a nonsense – limited contact, no atmosphere, total waste of time. Might as well play the season out on an Xbox.

When are the Premier League and FA going to see things as they really are? They are almost as deluded as the IOC.

I'm used to having that effect on women only!

They seem to have no regard for the humanity of the situation, money rules everything. Here's a thought – just end the season now, and if the money people try litigation then let's see how far they get.

There is no precedent for this in peacetime and surely public opinion and the wholly exceptional circumstances would be of some persuasion. Many employers will break contracts over the coming months as they just won't be able to sustain them and people's livelihoods will be at risk; couple this with the tragic loss of life and for me, and others judging from the mood on this and other threads, the contract/financial issues pale into insignificance.

The RS want the title awarded to them at the very least. Either way, the season is tainted.

I'd suspend the season now and award the title to Man City as reigning champions due to the failure of any other team to get over the line.

That would give the RS something to whine about (snigger) and bring a smile to large parts of a traumatised world (the exception being Norway).

I've always believed that the next best thing to playing the game is attending one. My jibe to many LFC "fans" is "Don't let your children grow up thinking that football is a game you watch on TV" – and that's referring to televised games when spectators ARE present.

I have little interest in televised football (don't have Sky Sports, BT etc and don't even sit through MotD) and in the present climate would not turn on the TV even to watch Everton playing in the farce of a "behind closed doors" game. That for me would not be a game of professional football.

As such, he doesn't speak for the FA, the PL, the EFL, the clubs, invested 3rd parties (such as Sky) and certainly not for the fans.

I know it's popular to have a dig at the ruling authorities, but it is worth remembering that on the very same day Boris Johnson first fronted up to the nation on the crisis - appropriately, Friday the 13th - pretty much saying carry on as normal so the nation could build a 'herd immunity' to Covid-19, the PL and EPL pre-empted him by initially suspending all football until April 3. That has since been extended to April 30.

The fact that just 3 days later the Government completely backtracked from their initial policy and imposed stricter restrictions suggests the football authorities were more responsible and ahead of the game than BJ.

These are extraordinary times. We are confronting so many unknowns. Asking whole nations to adapt to another lifestyle overnight is a tough sell. It's only natural people are resistant to change and wish to carry on as before.

BIG numbers are at stake financially, especially for sport broadcasters and sponsors. But I have to presume, given the eye-watering numbers involved - and I include the elite players and their contracts and salaries in that - that such contracts ending in many zeros have 'force majeure' clauses to protect all parties in the event of unexpected circumstances causing some breach in the contract.

Covid-19 certainly qualifies for that.

Given all that I understand the sentiment of wishing to see a return of sport to the calendar, but it remains a suspension of reality and lack of comprehension to believe that is possible now or in the coming weeks, or even months.

Even the proposal by Baines in the opening post - to play behind closed doors - is fraught with challenges. It's not just 22 blokes turning up for a kick-about in a local park.

Both sets of players and auxiliary staff have to gather and travel to the game from different geo-locations, be housed, fed and served at local hotels, travel to the stadium, play out a game at close quarters.

There is no Star Trek 'Beam me up Scotty' transporter to facilitate that.

Whilst the fans may be locked out of the stadium, again, the game will not be played in a vacuum. 100s will be in attendance, including stadium staff and - if it is to be believed - broadcasting staff to beam live footy to the self-isolating public.

In such an environment it will be impossible to maintain the 'safe social distancing' the Government is insisting on.

It just takes ONE person - be it player or other - to be infected with Covid-19 to make the house of cards of this proposal come crashing down.

Sport, its officials, its players, we the fans, have got to accept that it is both irresponsible and impractical at this time to see a resumption of professional or even grass roots sport any time soon, under any conditions.

I'm afraid the various governing bodies of football are only interested in their personal perks and bank balances, they care not for the game, the fans or even the players. They might find that ordinary people will begin to distance themselves from the game when this crisis is over.

Premier League clubs will lose tens of millions as the tv companies will want to take back a large chunk of their money as well as the loss of all the income from matchdays. Redundancies for footballers is inevitable but this will only put them in the same position as the rest of society.

I also echo what you say about the reasons for action taken by football authorities on 13th March - those same authorities who were happy to allow the Liverpool - Atletico game go ahead on 11th despite the risks inherent in 5,000 people flying into the City from Madrid. I'm afraid I give those authorities very little credit for the actions taken as their motives are questionable, to say the least.

I wonder why he's looking at it from that particular angle?

Any takers?

To what Eugene said earlier, the wife and I have been saying all along. You don't just play behind closed doors. It is shocking to the eye, but there's still a ton of people there, many in close proximity. It's a bit folly to think even playing behind closed doors will stop the spread. Sure, it will obviously limit it, but certainly not prevent spread.

Case spread will be on the wane come May, and the EPL will race to start, fit their season in, and meet their contractual obligations to protect their most precious prize: money.

I'll take you up on that, Jamie. I just can't see that happening. Unless that's 2021.

The implications in your post about the money awash in the game and snouts in the trough is a different debate altogether, IMO.

Putting that aside, even if your opening presumption is true - and I'm not sure that it was the only determining factor in the PL and EPL's decision to suspend league football, justifiable as it was - then surely it was still more commendable than the Government's response that day.

Boris Johnson's explicit position about live sport on March 13 was this:

“We are considering the question of banning major public events such as sporting fixtures. The scientific advice is that this will have little effect on the spread but there's also the issue of the burden such events can place on public services."

BJ and his wise counsellors clearly held the belief that the gathering together of tens of thousands of people from diverse geo-locations, at close quarters, in a confined space, then allowing them to disperse - many by public transport - back to their communities, would have 'little effect on the spread'.

I recall around that time with so much prevaricating going on that I pleaded on these pages for someone - anyone! - to take the lead on this.

The PL and EPL did so. The Government continued to prevaricate. Within 3 days they essentially revoked all they said on that Friday the 13th. With each passing day since then, they have increasingly become more draconian in their measures.

I personally find the PL and EPL actions commendable.

Aldridge is one RS bellend. If the season is cancelled and the premier league award the title to the shite, which is what I think will happen, at least it will be a tainted one. One won by default.

By the way, just been out with the dog to Calderstones park, and I couldn't believe it when there were small pockets of kids playing football. Unbelievable. Do their parents not give a fuck about the seriousness of what's happening? What's the point of closing schools if kids are only going to abuse the reason why they are not in school in the first place?

Learnt so much about the origins of the FA.

I said on another site that the money people will try anything to persuade the authorities to continue playing to stop large losses of their projected income.

Typically the media giants and broadcasters use the premier league as an example to help their case.

It is about time that the authorities realize that this is a pandemic that can "KILL" and no sport can carry on until it is completely clear.

As has been stated there is no such thing as an empty stadium by using the expression (behind closed doors).

This suggestion to me is an insult to all the medical staff and its support groups, who are spending hours battling this outbreak, for the football authorities to even suggest it.

Football has been going on since 1878 and survived 2 world wars, surely a loss of a end of season early will not end it. It may be difficult but it is about time the authorities realize that the consequences of playing, should come before the financial gains, and ambitions of others.

Players and clubs have to take the hit. 50% pay cuts for all earning over a set amount. What player could throw his toys out of the pram if wages are temporarily reduced from 100 000 to 50 000 per week?

Do the moral thing and cancel it now and make preparations for next season starting in September or October.

I enjoy your contributions.

You have been a welcome addition to TW.

You are not being denied your opinion.

Just having it challenged, and not in a rude, abrasive, aggressive, disdainful or 'pompous' manner as some TWers employ as their default response.

If you don't like the content or the nature of my posts, simple. You are not obliged to read or engage with them.

Your choice.

I thank you for your kind remarks and I certainly enjoy the majority of your posts especially those that illuminate us about many aspects of the game and indeed the current crisis, aided and abetted by the many factual links that you provide.

However, on this particular subject, I have to wonder why so many of us on here were agonising about what action to take had the Goodison derby have taken place on the scheduled date. From that perspective, I would continue to argue that the football authorities were more interested in the financial implications rather than the health of the public.

I forgot where you live but you may remember I live within 40 miles of NYC. Between New York and New Jersey (where I am), there are 26,000+ cases and already over 200+ deaths. The United States has 46,000 and counting, with 588 deaths and counting. One week ago, we had 6,411 cases and 109 deaths.

For context, the entirety of the United Kingdom has 7,860 reported cases and 337 deaths.

The sheer volume of people who are not taking this seriously - especially here between the 2 coasts - is astounding.

So yeah, name that bet.

I can't think of anything that's less important than football right now.

This is selfish beyond belief now. Willing to protect the (rest of the) public but willing to endanger the lives of those behind the locked doors.

There is no way any player currently infected but undetected / asymptomatic could come into such close contact with other players and not endanger them.

Would you be willing to endanger your own this way? And it's not only flu.

Are they just acceptable loss or something?

Which causes more headaches, no football or dead people?

The amount of people especially here in US who are ignoring the very clear and present danger is stunning. How can a health pandemic be political? It's stupefying.
The massive irony is most red states weren't even bothered two weeks ago, and yet their population demographics are the most at risk! Stay safe my man.

But I'm on the side of everyone who wants to forget about football for the foreseeable future, especially with things only likely going to get worse.

I have to agree with you in as much as I believe that the Premier League, in even considering the possibility of staging matches behind closed doors, are flying in the face of Government orders, and risk putting people in a potentially dangerous situation. I understand, but don't agree with their concerns, but I feel that they are putting money before human life.

After nearly 72 years of watching [and sometimes enjoying] football, I am losing the enthusiasm I once had. I appreciate that as long ago as the 19th century when footballers were supposed to be amateurs, there was money in the boots of certain players.

I believe that the modern game is the 'Money Game' and scruples count for nothing, unfortunately I can only see it getting worse. I will continue to attend matches, but I will concentrate on events on the pitch and leave the politics of the game to those who like that sort of thing.

John Barnes and a few others have said the season needs to be completed, even behind closed doors.

Now I dislike our neighbours like the next man, but the real fans there, the season ticket holders who just like us Evertonians, renew their season tickets year after year.

To finish the season off behind closed doors is denying their season ticket holders the right to watch, to be there.

Take out all the snide good etc, As an Evertonian, I would be raging if we had the chance of the title and was denied being there, due to being played behind closed doors.

Whatever happens, they need to remove the thought of playing behind closed doors.

But above all, we need to put football on the backfoot, there are far more worrying times than trying to finish the season off.

I have to stop myself short of rooting for the virus now.

Tony @62 we are a HUGE country with countless entry points. More than 3,000 flights come in & out of NYC's 3 major airports daily. Without making this political, our leadership simply failed to take it seriously when news first broke from China (January 3rd), continued to not take it seriously, and then some more, and so on. By that time, it was estimated that 100s of 1000s of people were carrying the disease, and that's how you wind up with a pandemic.

The US has experienced its positive test results doubling every 2 days. By Thursday, we'll have over 100k cases and have blown past China.

It is my understanding that travel to the USA from China was stopped by President Trump at the beginning of January due to the virus. The media, along with others, castigated him out of sight for being anti-China.

The current administration are trying to put a Bill through the Senate to benefit all Americans affected by the shutdown. Unfortunately, people like Schumer and Pelosi and company are blocking the Bill going through to benefit the very people they say they care for. Pelosi is a "Judas" to the American people.

It may be tough on Leeds and WBA but if the season is cancelled, denying them of promotion, let them start next season with the points difference that they enjoy now, same with the other divisions.

This would give them an advantage from the get-go. Neither side are guaranteed promotion at this moment anyway.

Of course, this would not include the Premier League.
😁

Every match-going kopite I have spoken to has said if they play behind closed doors they will go to the ground, even over-70s.

Sorry but I don't understand your point. How will these players and families get out of the country to begin with?

Because of the current situation, I haven't seen every match going Kopite that I know, but I feel sure that he would say the same.

There are plenty of aircraft flying over North Wales, admittedly, less than usual, but a friend of mine who is a commercial pilot says that there are plenty of freight flights in operation all over the world.

Today's footballer would almost certainly use a private jet, different rules if you have money.

😂 You are lucky to only know one, I don't socialise with any but I work with a few (yes, one over 70).

We all have "contracts" but all of these are superseded by the special measures being introduced by the government to fight the virus. Why should footballers be any different?

All these sports have the opportunity for a serious injury to occur, I think this may have changed for football at least after Petr Czek broke his skull, definitely at Boxing around the time of the Mclellan and Watson tragedies. Rugby goes without saying can and often does leave players with spinal injuries.

So if we have to finish this season off across all 4 divisions, we would require an ambulance crew at 80 Premier League games, more at the Championship and so on. Can someone tell me if I'm correct in thinking this and also how people feel about this use of our Ambulance service?

Will the clubs provide their own emergency vehicles? I wouldn't think that would be allowed for many reasons.

That is a very powerful and salient point about ambulance crews attending sport events, be it in front of empty or full stadiums.

That would border on a wicked and obscene allocation of already overburdened public health resources at this time.

Yet one more very pertinent point to factor into the hypothetical resumption of professional sport in the UK, or any other country.

Google him if you don't know Liverpool that well... he was my best mate' uncle. Very sad.

Sports clogs travel arteries and also takes police away from helping others. To think even after it's all over those services with need time to recover and rest. The idea of restarting sports, entertainment and events in the immediate aftermath seems crass and wholly inappropriate.

You're on. I think the wager should be a beer. Whomever loses has to send the other's beer of choice to them. Yes, ship a package across the Atlantic consisting of a single beer of choice. Keeps the cost down, and it'll be fun. Why not?

If you're on, let me know / confirm. I'll check the thread throughout the next day or so. I'll post my email of Facebook link or whatever, where you can reach me so you don't have to concern yourself with any identity issues. I will, without hesitation, send you a beer if you win. I trust you enough to do the same.

I expect to lose. Confirm by TW handshake via post. May 15th, they're back.

Lovely fella Tucker who lived for singing and should have made it bigger than he did, he will be well missed by many people who drank in the pubs and clubs of Liverpool, RIP Tucker.

Michael, I might have taken a liberty using your site for this topic, do us a favour, give this post a couple of hours please.

Cy Tucker and the Friars. I saw them on Aintree Institute and OPB about 1964/65. In those days all the bands were great!

RIP.

You can imagine how that name was changed by the Scouse youth of the time?

Teenagers eh?

Stay well and stay here Eugene, your 'fans' need you!!

He was defo loved by all who saw him play... scary days for us all to come I think. Take care, mate.

Forget about this season; it's over, finished, null and void. Football's attention should be focussed on whether next season will start on time, if at all.

Just be thankful we had the winter break, one of the loudest proponents of which was one Herr Klopp!!

Jamie, my generous friend! Yes, post ur email so I can let you have my postal address for that beer!

TW handshake!

Brent @ 41 -
You're on. I think the wager should be a beer. Whomever loses has to send the other's beer of choice to them. Yes, ship a package across the Atlantic consisting of a single beer of choice. Keeps the cost down, and it'll be fun. Why not?

If you're on, let me know / confirm. I'll check the thread throughout the next day or so. I'll post my email of Facebook link or whatever, where you can reach me so you don't have to concern yourself with any identity issues. I will, without hesitation, send you a beer if you win. I trust you enough to do the same.

I expect to lose. Confirm by TW handshake via post. May 15th, they're back.

Good lad.

Surely no one could expect our superstars to turn out were their rewards to be reduced as they are for holders of most 'proper jobs'? Their agents just wouldn't allow it.

Just watch and listen how natural, relaxed and sympathetic he is with the fan, who himself is very respectful to Carlo.

I am so pleased he is our manager. He's a very good fit with our club.

Link

He will be missed, had a lot of fans that came over from Ireland. Never a dull night with Tucker and the Friars. I think his last night at Coopers was one of the best I ever saw.

Thanks for posting that link up, cheered me up tonight. We are indeed lucky to have Carlo as a manager, what a star he is in every aspect.

I thought it was great and felt it, listening to Mark with his illness and making light of it. Best wishes to you, Mark, I bet that call from Carlo gave you a buzz and the best tonic you could have had, keep you going for a bit. God bless.

Do the proverbial "friend request" and I'll FB instant message you my email address.

Link

You're on. It's official.

On the subject of dopes doing daft things, I would mobilise the police and military to forcibly round up any bunch of feckwits congregating in the streets and lock them in some rudimentary shelter and see which of them emerge after a suitable quarantine period has let evolution take its course.

On a more serious note, is it really possible that people would ignore that the season had been allowed to reach its conclusion just so their club wouldn't miss out on its little patch of history and not simply defer their public celebration until later? Can you imagine the worldwide denunciation of such a bunch of twats!

Not sure why the ‘rights' of season ticket holders holds such sway over such a unique and problematic issue. Surely that would just be between them and the clubs to sort out a fair compensation?

You must have been in the now to get served in 15 min, we used to get a double round in and put money together for a big tip to the bar staff that helped a little but after 10 o'clock it was as you say, just luck to catch the barmaid's eye. It shows the attraction of the group that bars clamoured for his performances as he nearly always provided them with a full house.

It's so bleeding annoying him making these 'fake' phone calls and expecting the gullible to fall in line with getting 'Carlo Magnifico' tattoos on our bums (when it's safe to be so punctured). Shame on him, especially since it was with a staunch Evertonian who is worried and already suffering with an illness. I bet Mark is properly traumatised by the whole sordid affair.

Here in Oz, the government passed severe laws instantly shutting down thousands of businesses and the sacking of millions of workers. The next morning, the relevant Government web site crashed and Welfare departments in all towns were inundated with queues snaking around the block. The minister in charge of that department said, "I did not anticipate such demand!"

A potential vaccine may not be available until 12-18 months time. All football should be scraped until the 21-22 season.

The thing is there are sections of the public are not realising that staying in prevents the spread of the disease. If people stay in, it slows the disease down. Thus reducing the impact on the NHS. Equipment, staff, and supplies which are in short supply as the hospitals are inundated and staff are getting the disease. The death rate is rising daily. What will it take? The coffins lined up on the Goodison Park pitch?

The future is in our hands and that of many who are already compromised or just older. I want those older and disabled supporters back at Goodison when we are allowed. I don't want a minute of silence or applause because of our selfishness due to their passing.

Football will return!! STAY HOME PLEASE!!

I have had the misfortune to have to visit my local hospital on a daily basis – it is like entering a war zone. Those in non essential occupations really need to do what they can to give further support rather than be involved in work that has no value at the moment.

China locked down Wuhan before Chinese New Year in January and is only now discussing removing it in April. The players will only begin training again until our lockdown is removed.

Also, the Euros have been postponed to next summer and the new season has to start on time to accommodate the tournament. This season is done and the only reason for still debating continuing is the stand-off between football authorities and TV companies on the commercial implications.

I emigrated to Canada in 1963 but "Scousedom" has never left me. I love debating about football and even getting very annoyed when riled. However today I have once more listened to the drivel spouted by the Presidential Moron to the South of us. Because of this I have to respond to Frank @74.

Not for one minute did I ever think that I would have to mention Donald Trump, idiot of all idiots, on Toffee Web. Frank, you had the nerve to discuss the lack of empathy shown by the Democratic Party in delaying the present Bill being put through Congress. For all those Scousers and Brits living through the same difficulties who don't quite understand the US situation, this is it: The main reason for Nancy Pelosi and Schumer delaying the Bill is because the benefits presented by Disastrous Donald's Republicans are directed mainly toward the big Corporations. This is just what Trump is.

Thank you, Frank, for giving me the opportunity to vent. I live on the safe side of the Border, Thank God. Donald Trump is not only the worst President for the poor and weak; he is probably the most self-centred dreadful human being I have ever had to think about. That includes Ivan the Terrible and Nero going back, and Putin and that Fat Fellah from North Korea in present times.

Done!!! Football, my greatest love other than my family, is today totally unimportant. If it brings politics on to ToffeeWeb it is doing a great disservice to all those who want to discuss Everton. I apologise for bringing politics on to TW but if the doings of Trump are ever given any plus marks, even indirectly, then I just had to respond.

Frank, don't you remember that, just a few weeks ago, the lying toad felt it was no worse than the flu. He never deserves to have any mention on any football site. He could only bring harm to whatever he touches.

Football is a corrupt sport at many levels, primarily at the top. The sooner these fuckwits are put in their place, the better. The "union" rep Bobby Barnes included.

There is no way it will be back in business in June, even if the virus starts to dissipate by then, as normality will be introduced gradually.

The only thing they have to decide is if the current domestic league standings will stand or be seen as void.

But hey, no worries we can play behind closed doors as somethings are important

Call an end to the season now.

Nothing has been fundamentally decided in the leagues so null and void and start all over again at some point in the future.

As for awarding anything on current standings, this is not a school sports day egg-and-spoon race - so forget it. Go down that path and the PL may forever be devalued.

As for whining, odious, self-entitled RS expecting an awarding of the title, that may well happen. But this is the season nobody wants now. It is tainted with the coronavirus and (less importantly) VAR controversy.

Regardless of what the authorities decide, the 19-20 season will always have a big, brown, shit-smelling footnote next to it in the history books. When people refer to this season in the future, they will open the windows and tell people to “give it a few minutes” before continuing.
It stinks the place out.

Football does not matter in 2020.
At best, as in the writing of this post, it is a very minor distraction.
It is null and void.
Flush it down the toilet and move on.

The world is going into lockdown.
Other priorities.

I see the cost of cancelling the Olympics is 2 billion. Is this maybe why UEFA etc want competitions finish?!

I can understand the sentiment of your lament - that football and politics don't mix.

However, the harsh reality is that politics exist and intrude in every aspect of our lives, be it mainstream politics, office politics or domestic politics in the home.

With the correct political leadership at the very top, the question of whether and when professional or recreational sport could recommence would be a redundant one.

It would not be a decision for sports governing bodies to make. They would have to submit to the edicts of central government.

In the absence of not having Netflix myself to pass the idle hours, admist all that has unfolded this year, I am on the 'Three Bozos Watch'.

Watching with awe and trepidation what the likes of Boris Johnson in the UK, Donald Trump in the US and Jair Bolsonaro here in Brazil will say and do next.

All 3 initially took a dismissive view of the rising threat. All 3 were primarily concerned with talking up the markets rather than preparing for and addressing the growing pandemic.

When it reached the point that they could no longer ignore it, BJ's first public address in the UK - less than two weeks ago - was such a botched job that within 3 days he revoked everything and increasingly put in place ever-more stringent controls.

He at least appears to be listening to and implementing the counsel of far wiser heads than him in how best to suppress the spread of Covid-19.

Trump was a denialist about the threat of the virus and initially was more concerned in buoying the collapsing financial markets than addressing Covid-19.

He then took good initiatives in restricting international travel and declaring a national emergency and guaranteeing financial aid to neary all Americans.

But in recent days, the super narcissist and megalomaniac is increasingly reverting to type. In Presidential election year he is more concerned with 'the numbers'. Primarily the financial numbers, but also the public opinion poll numbers.

When he starts Tweeting in capital letters, start worrying. He is quite clearly ignoring the scientific and medical advice he MUST be party to and is now talking of a 'beautiful timeline' in which the shopping malls and churches will be overflowing with happy throngs celebrating Easter. That is less than 3 weeks away.

Meanwhile, New York governor Andrew Cuomo continues to make desperate pleas to Federal Goverment to address the rising crisis in his state which 'boasts' more than half of all confirmed Covid-19 in the entire USA and nearly a third of all deaths to date.

He describes the advance of the virus as changing from a slow-moving freight train to a high-speed bullet train.

And yet in this climate, the POTUS wants the nation to throw open its doors and carry on as normal.

Delusional.

Then we have the worst of the lot, the Bozos of all Bozos, Bolsonaro in Brazil.

Unlike the previous two Bozos who have done some good things, 'O Mito' - 'The Myth' as his supporters like to address him - hasn't wavered. He continues to be an out-and-out denialist.

At the same time he sits down with many of his cabinet to publicly announce the measures the government intends to implement, within hours he is on social media denying the threat of the virus, berating state governments for closing schools, business and ordering home isolation, promoting the idea that this is a conspiracy to undermine his presidency driven by the media (who in fact are doing a far better job in educating the public and allaying fears than the government) and his political opponents.

This in spite of the fact that a planeload of Brazilian delegates - Bolsonaro himself, ministers, state governors, city mayors, business folk - who visited Washington and met with Trump just two weeks ago, no fewer than TWENTY TWO of that delegation have confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Last night Bolsonaro delivered an astonishing simultaneous live public broadcast on all Brazilian media channels. If the nation implements what he proposed, the virus will spread like an Amazonian bush fire.

To give you a measure of how lacking in clear leadership Brazil is at this time, let me close by giving you an example of the notorious Favelas in Brazil - the sprawling illegal shanty town you find in all major cities.

Anybody who has seen the excellent 'City of God' Brazilian movie will have a good idea of the fabric of a Favela. 50-150k inhabitants. Ad hoc constructions, rabbit hutches piled on top of each other, poor sanitation and lack of clean water, 3 generations living under one roof, often 3-4 sleeping on a cheap sponge mattress thrown on the floor. All controlled by drug gangs and organized crime.

In the absence of clear leadership at the very top, the Favela gangs have taken it upon themselves to enforce curfews and ensure people stay at home.

How condemning is that of a country's political 'leadership'?

Imagine Boris Johnson, or Trump, or your fella, sitting in a boozer with a load of educated genuine working class, and how long do you imagine they would last?

I just finished watching Mexico Narco's series two last night, it's amazing at first the way these cartels help control the government, until you think of the money involved, and then it's really easy to understand why imo?

He looks like a man who has got what he wished for and now realises the dream was better than reality. Last night showed that, no more live press but a closed shoot at 8:30pm.

That's a cracker! I can see you've inherited Dave's wicked sense of humour!

As for the Brazilian Favelas, they are fertile recruiting grounds for the gangs. Disenfranchised and marginalised adolescents living in abject poverty with little or no chance to escape from it.

There's a very good piece on the BBC at the moment about how the Coronavirus was introduced to Brazil by better-heeled Brazilians with the disposal income to travel abroad.

They are largely protected, living in healthier, safer neighbourhoods, with access to private health care. The Favelas less so. On average, the salary of workers in the Favelas is less than $250 a month. Many work as domestics in the homes of the well-heeled,

The piece describes how one a 63-year-old housekeeper's employer returned from holiday to Italy with Covid-19 symptoms, but didn't tell her housekeeper she was ill.

One month on, the 'Madame' is healthy and well. The housekeeper is dead from the virus.

Read the article here.

Link

If most football fans are honest they readilly admit that lack of sport causes stress and I have heard a number of presenters on TV indicate that it is a serious problem for all those who play either as an amateur or a professional. However when literally thousands of people are sick and dying we have to deal with the situation with common sense.

I live twenty minutes fron the USA border and just the sight of utterly useless, incompetent Donald has made me far less likely to visit or shop over there since he came into Office. Of late his lack of empathy and understanding has risen to new heights. The hair on the back of my head bristles when I listen to his useless drones plus his infantile personal insults to those who have the nerve to even question him, or even advise him.

While football is absent and particularly with my inbred Evertonian fanaticism from growing up near Goodison Park, I have to do other things. Politics is a poor substitute but it does bring about debate. I feel I am usually able to use the cliche, "I can see your point of view". However when I hear anyone make ANY comments about how well totally sociopathic Donald is doing as President I immediately put them in the "Rustic Idiot" class. Sorry but he drives me that mad to the point that I probably become unreasonable and even insane.

Once again I fully appreciate your elaboration and understanding during some very difficult times. You are fortunate that Brazil is far away from "D". Unfortunately you are never far enough away anywhere on the planet earth. And probably he could even negatively affect those Aliens who might visit us from outer space.

Enough said. I should confine myself to writing about the joys of growing up an Evertonian. I will always remain a TRUE BLUE oh unless Donald decides to take over from Moshiri. That could possibly make me go red. No no not that bad.

See now the money crabbing efforts by the FA and Premier League regardless of the risk to people and players to finish the season whatever it takes. Sickening greed, Void it now, and let's concentrate on keeping everybody safe, first and always foremost... it's only a form of entertainment after all.

Fans of my age can't understand the money players receive and I hope that filters down to fans of all ages.

I agree that the wages that 'entertainers' from all walks of life receive are completely out of kilter with what the ordinary working guy or gal receives, however, it is the market rate and the more revenue the 'entertainers' generate the greater their reward, the whole economic system would have to be re-calibrated in order to cut the excessive rewards.

Many Presenters. Newsreaders, talking heads, experts etc who are on the media gravy train are also in a money league that we as ordinary folk can only dream about.

I'm not trying to scare anybody here -- I know most of you folks take this crisis seriously, and my condolences for your locked-down lives at the moment. But it's worth it.

One of my clients is a company called Surgical Theater. They develop virtual reality and augmented reality technology for surgeons to use in complex brain and chest procedures. A thoracic surgeon at George Washington University Hospital had the idea to use the technology to map the COVID-19 virus in the lungs of a seriously ill patient.

What the imaging produced is absolutely terrifying. I persuaded ABC in Washington DC to do a story on it, and it has now been seen all over the country:

https://wjla.com/news/local/a-new-perspective-virtual-reality-shows-exactly-how-covid-19-can-damage-the-lungs

Stay home. Stay safe.

I totally empathise with your views, about Everton, politics and Trump (the Orange Blert OB for short).

I appear to have retired since we sold our businesses in 2016 but my brain hasn't, so without Everton, I have my fallbacks of music, reading, film and red wine. And not necessarily always in that order.

Politics is, as you say, a poor substitute, but I can't think of a time when, almost without exception, major nations have been so poorly served by such transparently self seeking, lying morons. You have OB, we have his Ludicrous Mini Me, Jay has, well, I'm not entirely what that is in Brazil.

Last year my obsession of choice was Brexit, which this horrible virus has put paid to I guess. This year it's obvious, but it's not political yet. That reckoning hopefully comes later.

My wife and I went for a walk today for a couple of hours, by the Dee Estuary, our allotted daily exercise slot, and there were very few folk about, but all unfailingly cheerful and friendly. Everybody ended up with the same phrase.

Keep safe.

The rate of new infections has dropped in Italy for 3 consecutive days now, and that hopefully will translate into a drop in mortalities. UK is tracking Italy but a a couple of weeks behind them, and thankfully a little below their level of mortality. The man from Imperial College on TV this morning reckoned we should peak in about 3 weeks, which is sort of confirmatory, but it depends on how effectively the distancing measures are.

It's still dreadful,with many weeks still to go but maybe some sort of light at the end of the tunnel.

I miss Everton, not Premier League, Sky,RS parasite commentators or VAR. I can see no prospect of football coming back any time soon. Nor can I see any justification for some sort of manufactured return along the lines of what is being discussed.

I miss my family and friends even more.

Keep safe.

To put this in context, it took China 29 days to go from 1,000 --> 79,000.

It's going to take the U.S. less than 2 weeks to demolish that rate of infection. For further context, NY & NY are at 35,000 and NJ hasn't even reported yet. This is more than all but 4 other countries.

Chris @143, I'm sorry to be all doom & gloom, but Italy spiked right back up yesterday, going from 4,500 back to 5,300. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/italy/ We'll see what they announce in a couple of hours.

I'd hesitate to say I'm optimistic, but are we talking about the same thing. I'm talking about new infections not deaths. Deaths went up by 743 yesterday up from the previous day.

New infections were down, for the third consecutive day, but when I say that figure is still at 3600, down from 3780 the previous day, well it puts it into perspective. If that trend continues though it offers some encouragement no matter how scant.

I'll take scant encouragement at the moment, but as I said many weeks to go.

Italy new cases 3/21 = 6,600 (high water mark for them)
3/22 = 5,600
3/23 = 4,800
3/24 = 5,200
3/25 = 5,200

They've gone back up yesterday & today. The deaths are another story, a grim one.

You won the Euro Lottery!

The bad news is, due to self-isolation restrictions it will lapse before you can leave the house to claim it.

Soz!

Hubei province in China, where the virus has killed thousands, is starting to lift its travel restrictions.

And my wife in Wuhan has been told that the lockdown there may be lifted as early as April 8.

Howzat?

Just to emphasise the point a bit. From the Guardian

Commenting Ranieri Guerra, WHO Assistant Director General said ;

‘this is an extremely positive factor. In some regions we are close to the falling point of the curve and the peak could be reached this week and then fall. I believe that this week and the first days of next week will be crucial'

I don't think we should be quibbling about different stats, Mark. The new infections have been dropping marginally from a massive figure for 3 days, if that continues, and it's fragile, then the trend is positive, and the mortality rate is bound to follow,again from a massive high.

So scant encouragement for me, seemingly for the WHO guy, but many horrible weeks to come.

From your name Mark, I guess you or your family may have personal connections. I hope it turns out well.

Keep safe.

Here's some good news though, I'm in sweats and just ate waffles and have a good amount of toilet paper, so I got that going for me.

The Guardian has just updated with Wednesdays figure. It says the new infection rate has gone down again for a FOURTH day from 3612 to 3491.

Marginal to be sure, fragile to be sure, but a trend seems to be developing.

Celebrate small victories.

It's about all we can hope for currently

Keep safe.

I was out for my government-approved exercise today in the lovely sunshine and literally stumbled upon a small leather bag that contained almost ١,000. No form of ID or anything in it – just the dosh!

That bag could be mine!

And I figured out why our 2 numbers are so far off. Italy reports their cases to the WHO in an odd fashion (the only country I know of that does this).

The number they report is total new cases - RECOVERED patients = reported number. So we're both right, in a way. There are 5,200 new cases, of which roughly 1,700 recovered, giving the WHO that 3,500 number. Just thought that might help.

Cheers mate. You be safe too.

I have read somewhere, that clubs could play in empty stadiums and would have no need to rely on the money of supporters, and you are 100% right when you say "Fans of our age can't understand the money today's players receive" I believe that the fault does not rest with the players, the blame should be placed at the doors of the relevant "Club Directors".

Any chance of some of that toilet paper?

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund players have taken a pay cut due to the crisis. I wasn't aware Gunter Netzer's old team (loved him as a player!) Borussia Mönchengladbach already did so last week.

Link

I hope many a high earner and clubs around the world follow this example.

Throw into that million euro contributions made by individual managers and players to various related causes, also.

Thankfully many are making a recovery from the virus; however, are we sure they won't continue to pass it on or even suffer again, and again, and again? Can we really take a chance on this thing until we know we can eradicate it?

Here's some. My lawnmower broke today. The bit you push it with (handle bars?) broke off and I flung them into the stream at the bottom of my garden.

My wife is continuing with the social distancing that she has been practising for the last 10 years. She has disinfected the house to an extent that it smells like a pub at opening time. So much joy!!!

It's official!

Offies have been added to the list of 'essential retailers' to stay ope!

Link

If it's gonna get us, at least we'll go with a sloppy smile on our faces!

Apparently the Premier League top ten clubs excluding Sheffield United and Manchester City want Man City's European ban to be upheld for the coming season; they don't want City to have the ban stayed due to the appeal process – all according to the Mail.

Having concern for a fellow human being, I advised him that he had to be careful with that particular choice of liquid refreshment as a substitute for the real thing.

To which he replied, "I appreciate and thank you for your concern, but I can STOP anytime"! 😂😋

Please can someone explain how the current social distancing rules will be applied in these games? Will it be 1 person per side to avoid breaking the rule on social gathering numbers? Perhaps some teams might gain an advantage by fielding family groups.

Of course the rules may have been relaxed by June, but really does football not have a moral duty to call off the season in acknowledgement of its peripheral importance. In 1985 Liverpool played a European final with corpses on the terraces. Even though they would surely have been champions, I cannot believe that they want to be involved in playing out what has become an irrelevant competition with corpses as spectators once again.

Lidl management have stated that, due to panic buying and general pandemonium within their stores, they have agreed to open another till.

Regardless of this season, it' should be postponed and declared nul and void, under matters beyond our reasonable control. The FA must consider the bigger picture and not just about their annual jollies on tax payers monies.

The same applies across the world. Let's work collectively as one, and get the world cleansed of this virus, which depending on what sources you use to check COVID 19, could be a long way off in the future.

All stay safe, and healthy.

This issue really isn't going away despite what the money men at Sky, Premier League etc think. As soon as Big Bad Boris says otherwise, then they will have to null and void regardless.

That could never, ever happen here. Britain is awesome. Congratulations. Proud to be your former possession.

But, after explaining my position with regards to Mum getting over a cancer operation, and doing the shopping etc to keep mum and dad in the house (they're both 77 and on a high-risk list), I was told it'll be okay as they're over-subscribed with volunteers, and are in the fortunate position of being able to cherrypick volunteers!!!

Although, at some point, they'll probably utilise everyone. Take care over there and I hope things work out for all your family.

Irrespective of the difficulty of transport, if the area is indeed in remission the last thing you want to do is encourage them to be at risk in travelling through, and into, countries where the transmission rates are much higher.

You'll be reunited soon enough, ensure that it is at no risk to any of you.

Note pushed through my letterbox last night.

"Brothers and sisters. These are testing times. We are all in this fight together. We must support each other. We must look after each other, especially the elderly. If there is anything you need call me on 078..."

I looked out of my door to see Billy, a card-carrying Kopite, slowly shuffling from door to door pushing this note through everybody's letterbox.

Billy's 85

“Your former possession”.

Yeah, we dodged one offloading you buggers 😁

I was on holiday last year, (the things we took for granted.) and bumped into a few sensible scousers who were staying in our hotel. Great time a bit packed by the only pool that was heated, (it was April, usually my favourite time of the year) and this old lady was standing up whilst these two younger women who she was with had sun beds.

I grabbed a bed made room and gave it to the old woman, (she was very grateful) and was barely acknowledged by the other two, fuming- this kid grabbed me and said “lad- she's only their nanny- don't think about it, it will only drive you mad” It made me worse obviously, fucking expecting the woman to look after their kids, but wouldn't even get her a bed, it's a good job this kid was there to stop me causing mayhem.

That's a great story about “old Billy” Darren, that's the spirit, people think they've got everything in this world, but the truth is, “most people” are much more important than possessions, let us at least hopefully learn this!

I'm well aware of that Dave, but those buggers have been rewriting history for years, it's about time we did too!
🤨

But money talks. I expect closed door football from June and the foreseeable future.

Their preferred solution is on 'a points per game played' basis. (It will still have to carry a ** for all time, though!)

Well unfair is them rioting in 85 and killing 39 people, unfair is getting all English clubs banned from Europe, unfair is them glorying in their infamy. They have no shame and it's all so unfair for them. And they have the cheek to call us bitter.

It's interesting to compare the death figures for France and Germany who have a large common border and similar populations. As of yesterday the total deaths in France were over 1100 but in Germany it was under 200.

The reason appears to be that from the start Germany was testing and, if someone tested positive, people they'd been in contact with were traced and put into self isolation.

It's a national scandal we have virtually no testing equipment (or other safety equipment) and the price we're paying is hundreds of unecessary deaths. The government appear to be dodging the bullet for a decade of chronically underfunding the NHS.

And despite our warnings about them trusting the French, they ignored us and then look what happened.

Freedom Fries in all the MacDonalds!

If you test a lot of people, confirmed cases will be higher. The death rate as a percentage of those confirmed cases will be lower. If you test fewer people, many cases of infection are not known. So the percentage death rate will appear higher. Germany are also doing fewer tests post-mortem to confirm Corvid 19 as cause of death. As say Italy do.

It is also thought possible that a younger demographic of returning German skiers and holiday makers brought the initial infections to Germany. The average age of infected Germans with Corvid-19 is mid-forties. In Italy it is mid-sixties.

Germany certainly has a good health care system and what is going on there has caught the eyes of world scientists. But as German scientists and clinicians themselves know, the next few weeks will tell if all is as it first seems.

A spike in the infection of the elderly population and therefore the number of deaths may still occur.

Apparently it has been decided to consult with each bereaved family, prior to releasing the aggregate figure. Consequently the figures will be released each morning from now on.

This seems odd, if true. This story may unfold over the day. t may be we see an adjustment in the next figures.

Obviously any reduction in the number of deaths reported is welcome but, as you say, there does seem to be some confusion. I read what you did about permission being needed by the unfortunate families of the bereaved prior to being added to the official figures and Public Health England's figures were last updated on Tuesday at noon – I haven't checked today so that may have altered.

The lack of testing facilities in the UK is a disgrace.

On another, but Corona related, topic I'm really disappointed that none of Everton's highly remunerated playing staff seem to have volunteered to take a pay cut when much of the club's revenue stream has been cut off.

The government has agreed the method and timing of announcements have changed. Didn't go into details.

I'm also reading the French deaths are probably understated because they only count the hospital deaths and don't do any post Mortem on likely deaths outside hospital.

Plus Egypt only admit to 3 cases I think. The journalist who queried this on the basis of research saying it should be in the thousands has been deported.

A bit of a farce really.

Many psychopaths can appear insightful or even visionary just because of their outrageous self-belief, but they're normally shown to actually be limited when practical solutions for complex problems are required.

Eric (180) – the significant word may be ‘if'. So far I've seen nothing to prove why the rest of China or even Wuhan itself couldn't suffer more outbreaks. I don't think anything concrete has been announced on lasting immunity post infection either. It seems a bit early to call anywhere clear of threat.

I wouldn't describe anything a psycho does as inventive Si, unless we are talking about the “three amigos” Jay mentions, for obvious reasons mate!

I've read a recent (17th March) report from CEBM Research at Oxford University, which discusses this problem in some detail, and includes a discussion of the deaths in Italy. It cites a report from Prof Walter Ricciardi, Scientific Adviser to Italy's Minister of Health, on these deaths.

Prof Ricciardi's report comments that only 12% of death certificates have shown a direct causality from coronavirus. The other 88% are caused by other underlying health problems (pre-morbidites), where the person has died WITH coronavirus but not necessarily FROM it.

Such factors can reduce the assessed MR very significantly, in this case reducing it even further in addition to other factors, such as mentioned in posts above. But it is only at the end of an epidemic that a properly full assessment can be performed.

Mike G @178 - first, hope your family is safe and I trust that they are. Second, I don't think that's fair to say at all. Yes, anyone volunteering should be applauded. But there are MILLIONS of front-line healthcare workers in the U.S., risking the lives of themselves and their families, with a severe lack of PPE. Retired healthcare workers have come back into the fold. Brave employees of senior centers continue to do their job just to keep our elderly safe. 40,000 people volunteered in New York City alone in the last 24 hours. Not to mention the everyday Americans who have been signing up for services like personal grocery shopping & delivery to help their communities. There are countless stories of the selflessness of Americans.

In general as far as how things are being reported, everyone seems to point to Germany, and clearly they're doing something right to a degree; they actually just updated their 'recovered' to ~5,600. But keeping in mind the length of time between testing positive to potentially dying can take as long as 14 days. There is simply no measuring stick yet because there isn't enough data. 25,000+ of Germany's cases have come in the past 7 days. 33,000+ in the past 10 days.

It's early days. From purely an analytical perspective, I only share this so that people continue to take things seriously and not be fooled until there's a much larger data set to go by.

While I appreciate that it is not of their doing, you would think that under the circumstances they would show some sort of concern, and act accordingly. It is of course possible that some have done the decent thing, but I would have thought that it would have been made public if they had done so.

I hear questions are now being asked as to how Prince Charles and his wife were tested for COVID-19 when there are no test kits available for NHS staff. Has it ever been otherwise?

I've just used the last buying an antibacterial handwash and a snide antibacterial spray. Dodgy looking geezer round the back of Aldi. Said he'd come back with my change.

Seriously this place is a bog roll, anti bac free zone. Still.

Link

Precedent set for what might follow for all leagues above the National League, right up to the Premier League.

Note also no exception is being given to unbeaten teams like Jersey Bulls. Won all 27 of their matches in their league, 20 points clear at the top.

Tough titty! All records expunged. No trophies rewarded. No relegation or promotion.

South Shields, leading their league by 13-points, already speaking of appealing and legal action.

This could get interesting.

I know not many scousers go to Anfield, but the Spaniards were all over our city for a couple of days, and after reading about Game Zero, I would genuinely like to ask our government who these experts are that they are spiffing us about?

Really sad news about Cy Tucker, saw him with the Friars regularly at the Mardi Gras, one of my favourite groups at a time when the 'Merseybeat' dominated.

RIP, Cy Tucker.

Why that exception? An open door for the EPL?!

"National League 'may be played to a finish later in summer'".

"Our primary concern will always be for the safety and welfare of clubs, players, staff, officials, volunteers and supporters during this unprecedented time.

"The decision applies to steps three to seven in men's non-league football, while all "grassroots" divisions below these tiers have also finished. It has still yet to be decided whether these seasons are to be voided".

"Some men's teams, such as Jersey Bulls and Vauxhall Motors, had already secured promotion to step five of the non-league pyramid, but their promotions will now be cancelled"!!!

Seems to be full of contradictions.

That doesn't seem to be their primary concern.

Remind me what they look like!

During our visit we went to the Big House (The Vines) I'm pretty sure Cy Tucker was on as an act that day, there were quite a few in there, before we moved on to the Beehive, then the Blarney Stone.

Sad really, he was a bit of a legend on Merseyside, and well known, as was Carl Terry and the Cruisers, who I also used to see quite often at various locations.

My nephew plays for Tranmere and he has been running every morning just to keep himself in some kind of shape on the off-chance they get the nod to start pre-season training.

America will be up and running by Easter. Trump told me so!

Same with Bozo Boris, he looks like an apprentice who has been sent to the wrong job, and it's so very fucking frightening, having this man in charge whilst this country needs proper leadership right now.

If yes, a sure sign it was another lie, or should I say as with most politicians, they do not lie, but are extremely economical with the truth. :-)

I see the poorly paid Barca squad have refused to take a pay cut during this time. They were all out supporting the Catalan issue, but that didn't cost them any money did it?

It would be nice to see our lot do something as a group, either for the Club or local NHS or both!

Extraordinary times needs extraordinary measures and I'm sure a few quid from our squad wouldn't be missed

Andrex watch out, I could easily get used to it.

I always thought BJ, let's call him, was a fuckin buffoon, and how that imbecile Trump got the Presidency especially after he ridiculed a disabled person on camera, bragged about the women he could and did have, and revelled in his profits from America's mortgage meltdown.

At the moment, Trump I have to say is making BJ look like fuckin Gandhi.

John @223 Well said. Extraordinary times need extraordinary measures or... responses.

Imagine this, both captains of Everton and Liverpool meeting up (don't know where, maybe Asda cafe) and saying like big fuckin boys come on let's make a statement, let's take a lead, don't wait for them tools at the PFA to give you direction, it won't come.

Trump rocks!

I met the cast of Boys from the Blackstuff when they were filming in the Green Man on Vauxhall Road many moons ago... Yozza was my favourite. I was doing my bricklaying apprenticeship at the time so the scene about him saying to some Irish builder "I can do that" hahaha never forgot that. I always thought Bernhard Hill was a scouser for years till I heard him talk.

Seems like a loooooong time ago. But I never heard anything more about it.

Good in particular for the Climate Change Activists.

"Taking all the measures in to account, within about 3 months we've probably removed as much carbon emission from the world as we hoped to do in 50 years!!!"

No conspiracy theories on this, please.

And anyone leaving Wuhan is exposing themselves to the risks of infection from other places they travel to.

The midwest & southeast (his base) aren't taking it seriously at all though, so... nature will take its course as they say.

Link

https://www.drench.co.uk/vellamo-smart-japanese-style-bidet-toilet-seat

On another thread, it was said that it was not a player but a member of the ground staff, so make of that what you will.

Scouse vasectomy

After having their 11th child, a Liverpool couple decided that was
enough, as the social wouldn't buy them a bigger bed and they weren't
strong enough to nick one.

The husband went to his doctor and told him that he and his wife didn't
want to have any more children.

The doctor told him there was a procedure called a vasectomy that would
fix the problem but it was expensive.

A less costly alternative was to go home, get a firework, light it, put
it in a beer can, then hold the can up to his ear and count to 10.

The Scouser said to the doctor, 'I may not be the smartest guy in the
world, but I don't see how putting a firework in a beer can next to my
ear is going to help me.'

'Trust me, it will do the job', said the doctor.

So the man went home, lit a banger and put it in a beer can. He held the
can up to his ear and began to count: '1, 2, 3, 4, 5,' at which point he
paused, placed the beer can between his legs so he could continue, counting on his other hand.

This procedure also works in Newcastle, Bolton, parts of Stoke on Trent, Derby, Alfreton and anywhere in Scotland.

Before you read the joke, it's very important to know that the accent of the couple is a “politically incorrect version of an African American residing in the southern states of USA during the 1950's”... if you've seen ‘The Help' then you've understood. Here goes:-

Wife: “Why you dressed up all fancy in that there suit and hat?”

Husband: “Well, the doctor said I was impotent, so I thought I better look impotent.”

Obvious to those of us who check these things, but there you go.

Anyway, Skeleton walks into a bar. Says to the barman 'Have you got a pint of bitter and a mop?'

Wash your hands
Stay at home
Focus on those you love and the things you can control
And stay safe

Yes, the Darwin Effect. But it is never as simple as that...

Yesterday's figure here was 115, so a massive increase from the previous 41.

Nobody official has said it's an adjusted figure that I've seen as yet, and particularly the tabloid shite mongers.

The Telegraph of all papers acknowledges the figure for the previous day were falsely low, but this is near the end of the article about the information about up to a third of sufferers may not show symptoms and that a large proportion of NHS workers may also be asymptotic and be inadvertently spreadeing it.

I didn't see any source quoted for either of these facts.

Probably best to strip naked before as there can be a degree of splashage until you become expert.

Happy hosing!

Aa bit like ‘club sources' in a transfer rumour.

Alan, I was supposed to be going to Turkey on May 1st for a golfing holiday with some pals.☹️ Ain't gonna happen.

It's called Murder Most Foul, about the JFK assassination, and lasts 17 minutes.

It's on YouTube:

Chris #244,

I believe that the latest figures were for a 24-hour period up until 5 pm and the previous day's figures were for a 6- or 8-hour tally.

Psychopathy doesn't just apply to the homicidal. A certain percentage are reckoned to go through life not having the capacity for empathy and compassion that ‘afflicts' the majority. Gives them a competitive advantage in certain arenas.

We need to be aware of how things are achieved – not just that they have been achieved and – I think that sometimes gets glossed over (see incumbent POTUS et al for object lesson).

Modern business practices seem to actually select for psychopathy because these people are often gifted in appearing to know what they are doing even when they are clueless; style over substance in all its apparent glory. Fully appreciating the consequences of your choices / actions and avoiding doing harm is the inventiveness I'd like to see getting more credit.

I think, as a society, we do have a tendency to put a spin on violent criminals (Peaky Blinders, The Sopranos, etc) or at least we tend to forget that, whilst they may occasionally do us all a favour and take out a few ‘wrong-uns', by-and-large their success will have, at its foundations, the exploitation and misery of others. Portrayed as 'devil may care' when the reality is 'devil don't care'.

There have been several surveys over the years that indicate that as many as 60% of CEOs display psychopathic traits. So as you've said people are actually employed for those very ‘virtues'.

One very good example was Fred the Shred at RBS. It was a nickname very much earned, and we all know how that turned out.

Allegedly.

Yes, really sad; we had some great but less famous groups around that time, the Big Three, Swinging Bluejeans, Merseybeats etc.

I remember one night at the Mardi, Freddie Starr and the Delmonts brought the place to a standstill, long before he hit the big-time.

Along with all this, we had a great side, 1963 the Championship, 1966 the FA Cup, a World Cup win and the Golden Vision gracing Goodison Park.

Happy days, great memories.

Re Cummings, getting Brexit done is widely believed among experts to be damaging to the economy. I had thought that what's going on now might at the very least defer Brexit.

A psychopath * might see an opportunity to push ahead with full no deal Brexit and blame any fallout on Corvid-19.

*or politician

That's a real bummer Joe, all the excitement and anticipation for nothing. But we're still here, mate, it's what matters.

Derek, Correctomundo, like everything else, holidays, golf etc, pale into insignificance right now.

I don't expect the players to be volunteering at the Royal or Alder Hay but I would expect them to make significant contributions to, certainly, local charities and self-help groups.

Although I think everything helpful should be appreciated it disappoints me when players such as Andros Townsend ask "people" to support the #FootballUnited campaign. No, Andros, you should be only asking your well-paid professional colleagues to contribute.

Similarly, Wan-Bissaka and Bellerin are asking, here's that word again, "people" to donate 𧴜,000 to the National Emergency Trust. Well, Aaron and Hector, you may be better thought of if you just told the Trust that, rather than ask "people" to contribute, you will both give one weeks wages to them and they'd've got all their money straight away.

When so many ordinary people are doing so much for their local communities, people who sometimes need help themselves, it's a shame our heroes can't step up a bit more.

I will be glad when football starts again so I can read about how crap are players are.

Breaking data news – South Korean opposition supporters think Jae-In Moons government is doing a crap job. Funny old world eh?

It amazes me that this man, who seems so important to Johnson, has never, to my knowledge, ever been seen talking or giving an interview on television. You can usually get an impression of most people if you see them in person, and see how they react verbally to what is in the news. He certainly motivates our Prime Minister to make important decisions. I would like to see him once or twice to see what makes him so special to Johnson.

I'm 100% certain that, if the editors saw fit, they would delete most of the posts from recent weeks, but they are undoubtedly making allowances for these peculiar circumstances; perhaps you could do the same?

Nobody voted for him in any case. He'll overstep the mark at some point I'd guess. I'm sure they keep him under wraps for very good reasons.

Just to broaden it, and to get back to football, which players have you ever seen, who by their behaviour on and off the pitch, in interviews, punditry, books, have you reckoned might have those traits?

My vote would be Roy Keane.

Any Everton players? I can't think of one off the top of my head. Bernie the Bolt was just a nutter.

Thanks for putting up the Dylan link.

Did I say lighten things up? That is a very sombre bleak song, with some lyrics challenging the likes of Masters of War in the suppressed anger.

I like it, I must say. Dylan can still turn on the power.

I'm going to watch that link later, Chris, I'm saving it for bed-time!

Haunting.

Yes it's quite a song. All about what happened post the assassination. Woodstock etc. Sort of lamenting what's happened to USA.

He said he wrote it a while ago. I wonder why he released it now. He'll never tell you of course, and he enjoys keeping people guessing.

I've listened a couple of times now, and it's pretty good.

Tony, you'll be okay, no electric guitar. No acoustic either though.

I personally think they are getting in early, in case they have to null and void the remainder of the season, they have a ready made example of two teams who have also been denied by the virus.

Also to gauge the reaction of people, if they say it is unfair with those teams denied in the none league, it builds up support to our neighbours cause.

Like I say pure guess work, but by hitting those none league teams first, it softens the blow, if or when they have to make a decision on the remainder of the season, and should it be written off.

All this is unimportant, the sport everything connected with making money by the big leagues.

This is worrying times. Far far worse is happening than worrying about restarting the leagues, and sports.

I might be in the minority but I didn't mind Roy Keane. He did outrageous things and said things that would have been better left alone, but that was his personality; he couldn't help himself and was more open and honest than quite a few you see regularly playing and in punditry.

I can't think of any Everton players really, although Mirallas got on my nerves with his ego and selfishness.

The player who comes nearest to that behaviour has to be Saurez, and not because he played for them, he was an animal.

I hope you and yours are okay, Chris.

So far so good! You all fine?

I agree about Suarez too.

I was thinking about Keane crippling Haaland and rejoicing in it, and some of the tosh he came out with about McCarthy when he was with Ireland

He always goes too far.

He was a great player, I agree, but something a bit off with him.

I was telling Jay and I didn't think you'd notice!

Back to Roy Keane, I think him and Haaland had a bit of feud going on and with Mick McCarthy I always thought that Keane resented an Englishman being in charge of his country's team, but was just my take on it.

Suarez, if you bite once it's a bit unusual, if you do it four times, well, his dad should have had a license for him and a permit for him to shit in the street!!

I wasn't creeping or anything. You would struggle to meet a nicer, more pleasant guy. We chatted football for a few minutes about the game, I forget who we were playing, he was doing the punditry. Then we shook hands and we parted, but not before he'd thanked me for the comments about his book.

A really pleasant surprise from the players or ex-players who scurry past, too busy to acknowledge anyone.

A letter to the UK from Italy: this is what we know about your future

I immediately thought of you when I first watched it, thinking this right up Rob's Street, just watch it in segments, as watching the whole thing could induce a laugh initiated hernia.

I've never met Keane personally- but I know a few who have. All have commented what a pleasant and polite guy he is.

... and we could certainly use a character like him in our midfield at present.

That's a real bummer. Hopefully it's a delay and not a complete write-off. I empathise with you. I had a fall 2 weeks ago and injured my right shoulder. Looks like a couple of months away from the game.

Pretty well most of us will be missing something. It's our 50th wedding anniversary 18th April and we were looking forward to a get together with friends and kids, grandkids etc incl. from interstate and OS. But looks like no chance now. As the French say, c'est la vie! This virusy thing is bigger than Ben Hur, eh?

It actually plays a really irritable song and has the letters YNWA inscribed on it which of course stands for, "You'll Never Wipe Alone"! :-)

I have to say some of the stuff coming up on our phones at the moment is keeping me sane. Wonderful fun.

Theres another one being recycled about two Scouse decorators. It will reduce anyone who hasn't seen it to a wreck. I'll get it up here if I can figure out how this link lark works.

Bad luck about your 50th Anniversary get together. I hope you can still celebrate it, and have your party later on.

I can empathise because it's our 50th on 26th September, and we were planning on doing something similar. Part of me thinks it will go ahead with luck, all of me hopes it will with everyone there.

Something to look forward to.

Reference Jersey Bulls, Gary Freeman, their manager is a top top man.

As you mentioned, they had already walked their league; now it's been expunged. Is he moaning? No. He understands the bigger picture and accepts the decision.

Decided to put on a CD (I'm oldish) Wings Greatest Hits. Just listened to "With a little bit of luck" which is very good for the current situation.

Chris, with a bit of luck you will be okay for your 50th in September. I'll record the date in Calendar and see how you're going'. Best wishes.

It covers a lot of ground, and debunks some appalling tosh, particularly by the Orange Blert. It models things like, what would happen with no action, with the action being taken, with increased testing.

It also covers impact by age group, by country with different wealth profiles etc, and impact on hospital beds.

Interestingly it indicates that if the current restrictions are relaxed after three months, it is likely to result in a smaller peak some time later.

It is broadly hopeful, if that is the word, that current measures plus increased testing that seems to be happening now, will have a major impact on number of cases deaths etc. It forecasts a large reduction in both.

If you don't have the stamina to plough through 20 pages of academic language and charts,The summary at the beginning and section 4 should suffice. But each to his own.

There is also very interesting twitter feed by a professor Ferguson linked.

I'd link it here if I knew how to, using an iPad.

I read a comment years ago by an eminent statistician which said, I paraphrase, that all models are wrong but some are useful. Hopefully this is the latter.

It's funny but the whole country seemed to join in! 😁😁😁

And then a video of "I shall be released" from Last Waltz. You never saw Robbie Robertson and Big Dunc in a room at the same time 🤔

At least it stopped them singing that Godawful dirge from Oklahoma(?)

Alan I like the new song, but I think it may have been written a while ago. A really good article about it in The Guardian today.

The Last Waltz is my favourite live concert of all time, with Too Late to Stop Now, by Van M. (But don't tell Andy C)!

The Weight with The Staples is brilliant.

Robbie might have been a useful player in Canada when he was younger, but he was on the road with Ronnie Hawkins from age 16.

‘Come with me, son, and you'll get more pussy than Sinartry!

Football is irrelevant right now imo, but I'm not sure that will be the case for many if the league does get cancelled but only the future will show us this.

Let's see what the future brings because, although it's nice seeing footballers making a few phone calls to their fans, these very high earners have been mostly silent when it comes to sharing a little bit of their wealth and, if things don't change, then I'm sure it won't go “unnoticed” by the general public?

Latest Imperial College report says that, if the lockdown is eased after 3 months, then it could lead to another but smaller peak. If the Government takes their advice, and they did last time, that should put that one to bed.

Or maybe they'll take the risk but I'd be astonished if they do.

Then watch the contortions!

It will continue to be under review, and there could be partial relaxation.

It bears out the latest Imperial College report, that forecast that an early relaxation of all these measures after 3 months would lead to another, smaller peak further on.

Another 2 or 3 weeks of pretty dire death figures and then they will take a view, and hope to see the peak flattening.

The decision was far easier to call as Bruges were 15 points ahead of the second-placed team with one game left, the only contentious issues being deciding the second team to qualify for the Champions League. KAA Gent were a single point behind second-placed Sporting de Charleroi. And with the single relegation spot where Waasland Beveren were 2 points behind KV Ostende but with a goal difference of -10.

Time for the EPL to make a decision. I know it's far more complicated financially and less clear in terms of the final placings, but a consensus needs to be reached now.