Premier League to restart on 17 June

As if Lockdown isn't bad enough, the last thing we need is this.

All games available to watch, will be good for us to finally see the if Ancelotti can improve us.

With the expectation of 5 possible substitutions, then should provide chances also for the likes of Gordon, Gibson and maybe some others from the U23s. And more game time for Kean too.

I think the derby looks nailed on to be moved given the mindless tendency of many RS supporters to turn up where they're not wanted. Fingers crossed they don't move it to Norway - although I wouldn't be surprised if they did!

Will this mean the whole money-making farce will be done and dusted by the end of July? (It should take just 5 weeks playing weekend and midweek).

At least then we can start looking forward to a close season with meaningful transfer speculation and the hope of something resembling football to comeback to.

Stay safe guys. See you at the other side.

The one thing that this pandemic has brought home to me is there are no real leaders around the world and that money is more important than peoples lives.

I really believe they should have scrapped this season and concentrated on a proper new season start in August with totally prepared safety guidelines and fans being allowed to follow their teams.

According to the rules that's what they'd have to do. And what happens to any fixtures the two clubs have to play?

You beat me to it, the new trace and track to be launched today encourages everyone who is diagnosed with the virus to give the details of everybody they have been in close contact with.

The close contacts (workmates, family etc) are then contacted by trace and track staff and are requested to self isolate for 7 days and wait for symptoms.

This is being presented as a civic duty for everyone to help stop the spread, so if just 1 player tests positive after any match, does this not mean both teams and the whole squad referee possibly, physio, medical team, manager, coach have to stay home for 7 days.

Are professional athletes exempt from this civic duty? I welcome anyone to correct me on this as I cant see how the public are going to buy into it.

And while our neighbours are plotting to keep us out of the Champions League forever.

You couldn't make this shit up. We are more stupid than even I thought if this farce of a game is played. I hope we cry off which is the safe and correct decision.

Make no mistake, they would never in a million years play this game if the shoe was on the other foot.

Don't ever be mugs again, Everton. Do not participate in a complete charade.

A lot of youngsters will get game time in their place.

Ludicrous that they'll be resuming the league when League One down is cancelled. Zero sporting integrity.

Those teams battling to stay up and those in top 6/8 positions have a reason to up their game. My fear is we tumble down the league half-arsed...

There's one trait I haven't seen in an Everton team in years and that's bottle. Hopefully my fears are misleading.

But yes, it's a very interesting question, not just on contracts but on loans. Does Sidibé go back to France at the end of June, even if the season is still on? Does Jonjoe Kenny come back from Schalke? Strange times for the contract lawyers.

Going to be very strange!

It looks like loan deals are treated in the same way as it's still a contract with an end date. However the club that loaned the player out also has to be in agreement, eg, Ighalo at Man United.

It's all about money; shocking. Football without fans is nothing.

Looks like Carlo and Marcel have an immediate decision to make about the two loans at right-back.

If an actual player from either Arsenal, Man City, Aston Villa or Sheffield Utd tests positive following their matches, would the league continue? Or would the entire squads of the clubs infected be quarantined for at least seven days?

I won't be watching any of it but I do hope that those who do watch, enjoy themselves. I would't expect the season to be completed either, it'll probably last just long enough for our neighbours to be crowned as Champions.

If it does manage to be completed on the pitch, I hope that Everton pick up enough points to ensure survival. It seems mad I know, but we are a team that relies on its supporters more than most and our away record has been abysmal for many years.

I don't care about Liverpool FC. Give them whatever they want but it is all meaningless. It is tough on all teams that had something significant to fight for, such as relegation or promotion. However, for the majority, it is akin to having 10 useless boring friendlies played in front of nobody.

90% of the teams are useless fodder or pawns just to have an unjustified finish to something that is already finished.

In my opinion, this sounds like a pile of steaming bullshit that would even make Dominic Cummings blush.

I mean, I know our team play like strangers sometimes, but in what world can they avoid the kind of close contact that would have the rest of us locked up in our homes for two weeks?

It will probably impact on next season. There could be a few surprise results, with teams disoriented and players not prepared / rusty.

Contracts and loans will be interesting, with transfers in the mix as well. Will be difficulty to offload players.

Contact tracing and a second wave are risks as well. What happens then.

I don't think he will ever play for us.

Unless they implement what Peter #25 says, the player would also have to agree.

In fairness to Brands, Gbamin had all the attributes Everton needed and at the time I thought he was a great buy. You would also have expected the Everton medical team to have been thorough.

Everton have had difficulty attracting players and Brands has had to take risks on injury-prone players. I would have taken the gamble myself, but unfortunately in Gbamin's case, a good player, it appears it's not working out. I am very disappointed not to see him play.

I feel sorry for Gbamin, who had such great potential. Still, I am not confident in Everton's rehabilitation programme. Martinez replaced the person in charge, Kenwright brought him back.

Footballers have a relatively short career and probably insurance is in place to cover extended lay-offs. Banks have insurance against default on mortgages and actually continue to gain on a rising market from repossessions.

We could play the derby at a capacity Goodison with none of their supporters and against their kids and we still wouldn't win. They've an Indian Sign over us.

It's a mentally issue with the majority of this group of players, where the game is lost before they step onto the pitch.

Still, I'll be watching in hope more than anything else.

I understand the commercial desire to get the season finished, and the quandary over relegation/promotion places, but cannot begin to imagine the consequences if even just one fatality occurs as a result of the restart. And that's not even considering fans likely behaviour here – only players, officials and staff.

She says 'Only in Australia'.

Not sure how anyone can consider it ‘fair' that we lose the home crowd advantage, let alone fair that we then also lose our home ground advantage too. That alone is an absolute farce.

However, anyone who thinks that'll mean fans won't turn up at the Ground, or the city centre, ‘when' they win it knows NOTHING about this city and it's people. It's not just them, we'd have fans who'd do it too. there WILL be crowds, and they WILL celebrate.

Some of the press suggested that up to 41 deaths as a result of allowing Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid match to go ahead how many more deaths are acceptable so the premier league can collect its pot of gold?

Wrong from every level. Sporting and societal.

However it's my opinion that 'pure greed' is the root cause of today's problems and it's here to stay, as someone who has attended games since 1948 I will see out the coming 2020-21 season, having purchased my season ticket but, if God spares me and Covid-19 ignores me, it's likely to be my last season at Goodison.

On a side note, I have no intention of watching football behind closed doors and in front of empty seats. VAR, to me, struck the first blow, and the greed and self-interest of the Premier League and its clubs have finished the job. This post is something that I'd never thought I would submit.

Maybe we've all been ignoring the way the game has been sacrificed on the altar of TV money, blinded by our memory of football as it was when we were younger. VAR, TV dictating kick-off times, stupid wages for mediocre kids... it's taken this lockdown for me to recognise just what the game has become. And once this farce of a season is completed – and let's face it, it was already one of the dullest seasons I can remember, and we've had a good number of them at Everton – all we've got to look forward to is a new season starting in September played behind closed doors, or whatever it takes in order for the Sky money to be forthcoming to pay the inflated wages.

Like Johnny Rotten said to the crowd at the final Sex Pistols gig, "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"

Hahaahaahahaaa no, no don't, no honestly don't...

According to the Daily Mail:

The full list of games police hold concerns over are: Manchester City v Liverpool, Manchester City v Newcastle, Manchester United v Sheffield United, Newcastle v Liverpool, Everton v Liverpool and the game which takes Liverpool to the title.

I can understand the derby game, and Manchester City's game with Liverpool being high risk so too the game which might clinch the title, but the other matches I'm struggling to understand what the issues are.

Personally, I hope that the derby is played at another venue so we can't possibly take any blame for any incidents that might occur.

The mayor of London, an RS supporter, agrees with you all:

"I am concerned about any action that could inadvertently lead to the virus spreading," Khan told LBC.

"Let me make a confession. Even though I'm a south Londoner, I support Liverpool and that's why a small part of my brain is keen for us to return. But actually the bigger part of my brain is saying safety is what matters.

"We don't want to inadvertently, for the best of intentions -- all of us need cheering up, there's nothing more joyous for sports fans than watching sport on TV, even without the crowds -- but we need to make sure we don't inadvertently give an opportunity to the virus to spread.

"I know, human nature as it is, fans will turn up to see the coach arriving, to listen to the atmosphere -- the players inside the stadium even though they're not allowed in, to see the coach leaving, to buy T-shirts and scarves, police and councils need to enforce the rules."

"We can't have fans congregating around the stadiums. We don't want Premier League clubs in London to have fans congregating... we've got Tottenham versus Arsenal coming up. It's really important clubs work with police and others to make sure we get this right."

https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4103429/premier-league-return-could-lead-to-coronavirus-spread-london-mayor-khan

I hope our board stand their ground over this, even if it's to say were not safe from relegation, like Watford and Brighton.

Only time will tell, but I hope that whoever made this decision (including our own owners) understand the impact this may have on some families and communities.

Managers will know their reputations can be ruined or enhanced in the remaining fixtures. The lack of crowd support cannot be used as an excuse for failure by any of the participants.

It will be interesting to see how supporters react once they are watching ‘their‘ team on live television. I have a feeling reactions, positive or negative, will be governed as they usually are by results.

Yet no mention of Liverpool's home games against Palace or Chelsea being moved.

So if City beat Arsenal, then depending on the derby result, they will have a possibility of lifting it at their next home game. If that is the case, then it has to be moved away from Anfield. But you can guarantee they will play at Anfield.

I am still not convinced by anyone how footballers can operate differently to your average person in relation to track and trace. and the clear disadvantages to teams like Everton most probably playing at a neutral venue in a match that could give the Premier League title to Liverpool?? A nightmare scenario, whether at Goodison or elsewhere.

Interesting post @64 by Patrick which suggests the final decision for events like this lies with a safety council chaired by the council. This then I assume would be the same people who thought that the Liverpool - Atletico Madrid match was okay to go ahead??? Cans of worms are opening all over the place!

On the other hand, why don't they just fuck off. Self-serving gits. It's now official: football no longer belongs to the ordinary people, but to the elite. We the prols have been consigned to history.

The FA Cup Final isn't a football match, it's an occasion.

"I heard a few days ago a really good phrase about how we have the best home fans in the world, so we should maybe now say the best stay at home fans in the world."

"The best stay at home fans in the world." I nearly choked on my second cuppa.

Yes indeed, Jurgen certainly "gets" Liverpool

I see many clubs struggling to survive without the possibility of fans being able to return safely, which in my book means a safe vaccine has been found. The problem a lot of clubs will face till a vaccine has been found is sponsors not willing to pay the sums they do now, but clubs still have players on massive contracts that they can't afford to pay, as well as trying to survive with also less Sky money.

As for League One and Two, I think these leagues may have to become part-time, as they all can't afford full-time professionals. I know the suggestion is to split these leagues into North and South sections but, even though that lessens travel costs, I can't see that compensating to make it viable.

The bigger teams get a bigger slice of TV revenue due to the number of times they're on TV, so it is only fair that they pay more back.

Seems fair although I am sure Zackariya will have something to say about it.

Normally, clubs play half their fixtures at Home and half Away. That is intended to ensure that no club enjoys an advantage. However, because Liverpool are so popular and their fans are likely to turn up at grounds even though they cannot get in, they will not have to play 'Away'?

That means that whichever team they are playing will not enjoy Home advantage even though Liverpool had Home advantage for the games played at Anfield.

So, if a club is in danger of relegation and due to play Liverpool at Home, they will lose that advantage because Liverpool are too popular and their fans too troublesome to allow the game to be played other than at a neutral venue. Is that correct?

If so, might not the clubs denied Home advantage feel aggrieved and might even consider legal action if the result is that they are relegated because they weren't able to play Liverpool at Home?

Think I might get a name change, how long does the process take?

Could have sworn it was at Goodison.

Anyway, apart from that, only 6 people can meet up from Monday, yet over 22 people can meet up for 90 minutes for a game of football.

The BBC have got it right, it will be like an away match at a neutral venue. Come what may, the hierarchy will want them to lift the trophy. It's been said, let's put out the weakest team possible. Pretty much what they done to us, to devalue the game.

We want to hear what you intend to do on matchdays to get you as close to your tried and tested routines as possible. We will collate the best entries and some may feature on a special BBC Radio 5 Live programme on Tuesday which will examine how football might look different when it resumes.

I've entered as a Mr N. Orway from Oslo and put:
Like most Liverpool fans, there will be absolutely no change to my routine. I will be donning my full kit and bobble hat and sitting in my lounge hundreds of miles away from Anfield, a place I have never actually been to in my life anyway.

At least some players are coming out and saying it's all about the money.

My own feeling is to wait and start the finish of this season by finishing this one later this year and then starting the new one in January all being well.

As stated above, we will start against Liverpool on June 20th, most likely at a neutral ground.

Except for the relegation candidates opposing at the start, Marcel said most clubs were unanimous about the outcome of the meetings concerning finishing the season.

At Finch Farm, only the most necessary employees are allowed for the time being. Most meetings were able to take place by web-cam, whether they be medical, scouting or technical etc.

The most important reason for finishing the season is financial – no surprises there.

I can't understand why some are bleating “it's all about the money”. If we hadn't had the backing of John Moores we wouldn't have won the four league titles between 1963 and 1987. And without Moshiri, we would probably be in the Championship by now.

The resumption of the Premier League will also provide funding desperately needed for Football League Clubs to stay in business. If the UK does not go back to work soon, the economy will never recover so why should the resumption of professional football be such a problem?

One positive must surely be that we will have the opportunity to finish rather higher in the table than 11th.

With regards to the derby match to come, it should be the strongest side we can put out not the weakest. The circumstances are no excuse, we know what is at stake, we do the necessary to win the match and prevent them winning the title until their next game. That is motivation enough; if it isn't, then we are truly lost.

This virus is still out there and some players are currently sufferring from it and it will derail the plan to get the 90-odd games completed.

Imagine if, after a couple of these games, a player from say Villa, tests positive. The protocol would then surely be to isolate all those who have had any contact with him. That would include all of the players, and matchday workers from the previous game. This will cause cancellation of fixtures and the whole timetable will soon fall apart.

Perhaps the clubs are aware of this but know that by attempting to play the games, they will avoid paying back revenue from the TV companies. It is clearly all about the money, just as is the UK government's keeness to relax the lockdown.

Personally, I think that if games are played at neutral venues, then the season becomes meaningless. It will already have been devalued by playing behind closed doors but for the teams that are in the relegation mix, the loss of home advantage, and a full house of home fans will surely have an impact on results.

I would put it all on ice. This is short-termism at it's worst. If we stayed in lockdown for another 2 months, the virus could be severely reduced and normal service could be continued. This rush to protect investment will most likely result in many localised spikes in infection, leading to a rise in cases and future problems.

Mate, I get you're just having a pop at Liverpool but, speaking as a lifelong Everton fan from New Zealand (coming up to 40 years of support) and having only seen Everton in the flesh twice – once in NZ and once at Goodison – it is a little unnecessary to judge overseas fans just because they aren't from Liverpool or can get to games regularly.

Not sure how many games you've had to get up in the middle of the night to watch, mate, but it shows commitment to the cause, just as valid as going to games.

Also, the season restarting is bonkers while the virus is still circulating but the only thing that matters is beating them to delay their celebrations a bit longer... Failing that, then take out a few players in true Stevie G fashion.

I was living in New Zealand, when Duncan Ferguson scored against Liverpool, in Joe Royle's first game in charge, and I'm sure that game kicked off about 6/7am. I remember getting dropped off in the small town about 9am anyway, and finally got in this working men's club when it opened, so it's not even easy celebrating special victories!

I watched the Wimbledon escape by myself in the middle of the night. Woke up the house with my yelling and screaming when Barry Horne pulled a worldie out of his arse.

Over time, I've found quite a few Toffees to have a beer with, so no dramas celebrating a big win here.

I was talking to a fella last night who very rarely gives any dodgie info, and he reckoned Everton have already got six injured, which is incredible really when you think they've only just gone back to contact.

Maybe loads of players took it to easy during lockdown, probably thinking that the season was over, but with Everton still needing at least a couple of wins, I hope this hasn't been the case.

Today, following yet another glorious victory by the greatest team ever, it has been reported at least fourteen players let rip in the bath.

"The smell was horrendous, said captain super Jordan, but a lot of players enjoyed the luxury of a bubble bath, and besides, we are well used to the smell as we are surrounded by fifty thousand smelly bastards every other week".

This was surely a stunt dreamt up by their American owners to get them yet more media coverage.

Pathetic.

It was mentioned in The Times in Sunday that Everton and another club, Newcastle or Spurs I think, were both late starting training. It'll be interesting to see how fit or unfit we are compared to the RS when we play them. Having our players injured so soon, sadly, comes as no surprise.

You've just given me my first belly laugh of the day here in Brazil, and heaven knows I need one!

You really don't like the 'bours very much, do you Rob?

There is a definite feel of suiting the greed merchants by the way the Premier League has conducted themselves since the Coronavirus lockdown started. They began with self-interest and completely ignored local communities, determined to keep the money flowing. Under pressure, they made token gestures but quickly resumed as before. This whole end-of-season sham is not about future competition, but to maintain the status quo for the richer Clubs.

I also think this whole crisis is going to bring in changes for the worst. The whole scenario has changed for Everton and the normal expectations of change will not be realised. The previous mismanagement of the club is not the ideal foundation for what is to come.

ToffeeWebbers are also thinking in terms of what has gone before, which will not be the case. There will be shocks in how the coming transfer window will play out. The other shock will be in the coming games, when the performance of an already hit-and-miss team is exposed to a compact fixture list. The majority of the squad will look as if they are going through the motions, but to some extent are surer of their position.

The Gbamin injury was a 'Get out of jail free' card for an underperforming midfield, which I doubt will have more completion in the coming season. The backline needs backup, which may not arrive and, if Kean is sold, Everton will have decreased attacking options.

We are probably heading into another limbo season.

I've said it before and I will say it again, there has always been a disparity in the finances of clubs, but in my opinion, the playing field changed when the TV companies threw obscene amounts of money primarily at the Premier League clubs. Those clubs instead of starting at the bottom, with non-playing staff, office workers, groundstaff etc, paid ridiculous transfer fees, which in turn led to ridiculous salaries, and when they had attended to those issues, they either miscalculated the gravity of the situation or ignored the well-being of the most important people in football – The Fans.

I accept that not everyone will share my view, but it might explain my preference of talking about what I regard as the Good Times. I sincerely hope that the younger supporters will be able to witness some of their own Good Times.