Rolling Updates on 'Project Restart': Week 10

I don't much like this bit:

"Sky and BT have the live rights to 47 games, the remaining 45 - which would all be shown by foreign rights holders - would be shared with Sky getting 32, BT would get eight, five to Amazon and the BBC."

So they are backing off the free-to-air promise, why do Sky and BT get the lion's share of the remaining games?

"Project Restart having generally been a success so far."

Oh yea? Not so much at Watford:

"Troy Deeney and several Watford teammates stay away from training. Players have concerns over returning amid coronavirus crisis. Adrian Mariappa and two staff have tested positive."

If they do back off the free-to-air model, it's a massive win for Sky and BT. Literally nobody will be able to watch live football – not even season ticket holders at Premier League clubs, as the grounds will be empty – without paying the TV companies. And this could go on for a year.

That, for me, would not just destroy any "integrity" the authorities are claiming to protect, but also the entire legitimacy of the competition.

Also, the idea of this season dribbling on into August is ludicrous.

I won't be watching any live football until I can watch it live from my seat in the Top Balcony.

So Sky and BT can do one.

As there are no issues of fans attending, the whole season, IF it has to be completed, should be done and dusted in 5 weeks. Friday, Saturday & Sunday followed by midweek games. No team to be made to play twice without a 2-day break. it's not rocket science.

Frankly, I've seen the farce of the German games, the matches look like training games anyway. I just want this season to be over without anyone getting injured, ill or dead.

We can then get the contracts of players sorted out. Transfers done. And just maybe, the next time the Premier League 'negotiate' any sort of commercial deal, they won't do it bent over with their trousers round their ankles.

As much as I want football back, it's just hard to get enthused about the Liverpool trophy presentation and a few dead rubbers that need ticking off.

If the games are restricted to Sky/BT and Amazon/BBC get the residue, the response by disgruntled fans will be enormous and quite rightly cause major uproar.

I can't see them getting the rights to stitch it up but of course I would not put it past them.

I can't see there being that many disgruntled fans, Martin, and coming up to 11 weeks without a game, I would sooner sit in my garden than watch a meaningless game of football without the fans.

Each to his own obviously, but give me glorious sunshine over football right now and I will be more than happy!

No fans, no point in watching the game IMO.

Atmosphere breeds excitement at a football game and the players raise their game with a crowd shouting their support. With no spectators, the game looses its atmosphere, from meeting friends, having a drink, and watching the game.

Even watching a game on TV with a large set of supporters at the ground creating excitement, you can sense the atmosphere and get exited at home. It is the crowd that creates the excitement; with no crowd, it is not worth watching never mind paying greedy media outlets to watch it.

How many people find it more enjoyable to attend a concert than watch it on TV? Football is an entertainment sport and, with a lot of supporters, it is a way of life. You can't appreciate a sport like football if you can't get involved emotionally and no crowds at a ground removes all emotion and atmosphere from it.

Nobody likes what this pandemic is doing to a population who are basically social beings, but there are limits to what is allowed when they are expected to self-isolate, keep a social distance and then asked to watch a group of people go against these regulations just to please the media and a few clubs.

I watched the start of one of the German league games and switched it off after 15 minutes. No atmosphere... No excitement... Not worth watching.

Remaining matches to be played with no atmosphere, surely that gives Arsenal an unfair advantage.

I'm not too sure of the number of people involved in staging a football match, I'd guess it's into 3 figures, but – whatever the number is – then surely there can be little reason for not allowing social gatherings of a similar size after the season kicks off, again.

I agree with most that there's no point in watching games in empty stadiums. A heads-up for those that have suspended their Sky Sports subscription though. They're gonna start charging from 19 June and your bill for June 1st will already include charges for part of the month. So you'll pay an increased bill next week.

I cancelled my Sports subscription altogether and have to give 31 days notice, which is a bit of a rip-off. Also, when I tried to cancel online, it told me I couldn't and had to ring "this number." When you ring the number it tries to get rid of you by telling you it only deals with front liners, vulnerable people etc... In other words, they're making it hard to cancel your sports subscription. Am I surprised?

Having watched a number of matches in the Bundesliga since the restart, I now have no further interest in watching any more totally soulless and lifeless games without crowds.

Makes you think that when football returns to normal maybe we should pay the clubs and the players less and pay the crowds!!

When the restart happens I shall be glued to the set. The atmosphere will have to be provided by the TW live feed.

Admittedly it won't be football as we know it, but then again, post Corona, many things won't be exactly as we knew them.

There are questions about various members of our squad. We need answers, and the restart and the remainder of the season may well provide those answers.

As far as I'm concerned social distancing has finished, it's back to normal for me

I understand why people have an antipathy towards football resuming without crowds. It's soulless. But what will you all be saying if next season has to start in the same manner? No interest in next season either?

Ray#17.
Yep, that'll be me anyway.

Ray, little interest from me. I barely look at the sports pages at the moment. The perspective might differ based on whether someone is able/does go to the games or watches remotely anyway. Worth a poll?

Eric #16, let me know how that goes for ya with the people you walk up to.

Bill #10, personally I don't need crowd noise to enjoy a game on TV. Probably 3/4 of the games I watch, I mute the idiot commentators anyway. So it's all a matter of taste. Me, I'm just into the games, not so much the atmosphere.

Ray #17

Yes, definitely for me. I'm fast falling out of love with football given the farcical attempts to get this horrific season restarted and finished all in the name of money and ensuring Liverpool get their trophy. When the world is taking stock over what's important, and focusing inwards on health and family. It's quite frankly sickening and quite the turn off.

I will keep interested in Everton as always, but that's it.

I got somebody to check my router last week Brian W, and it seems like Sky, are charging me top dollar for my internet, but not giving me anything near this amount coming into my house.

I can't get through to the conniving buggers, but I wonder how many people are also getting ripped off at the minute?

Another question, is it the final day for season ticket renewals tomorrow, even if some of the fixtures are going to be in an empty stadium?

Mike@20
Very polite because they all think the same

@Tonyy 22 - when you call them, press the number for 'cancel subscription' and then they'll take notice, and address your issues...

Tony #22, the club issued a statement a week or two ago stating that season ticket renewals have been further delayed and an announcement will be made at a later date (or words to that effect).

I must admit going to Goodison sometimes feels like your watching from home to an empty stadium 😂

Thanks Neil. The lines were all saying closed, the last time I tried to phone them John, but that's what I intend to do anyway if they don't acknowledge their genuine mistake!

Peter Roberts - entirely agree. This event has shown us a great deal about the sheer greed and stupidity associated with this game.

The fact is, Liverpool will not win the Premiership this season any more than Everton were champions from 1914 to 1919, or from 1939 to 1946.

Personally I'd be happy if the entire enterprise was bankrupted and we got back to national leagues and cups being the most important and world cups or continent wide competitions being a periodic "who cares" freak show.

Eric #23, you must hang out with a very carefully selected group of people.

This is only about protecting the income from the broadcast sponsors. It has no credibility as a continuation of the season. Empty grounds unfit players and all played under the shadow of a global pandemic. The conditions have changed too fundamentally to link this with the season played before lockdown. Let us be honest and accept this. If we want to start football in order to help us regain a sense of normality, then let us have a one off competition which does not pretend to be something it is not. Why not arrange a Home International tournament? This could be used to involve all parts of the United Kingdom and provide meaningful competition for supporters.

If football cannot learn to live with the virus, bankruptcies will the outcome throughout the whole game. Most clubs were running at a loss and all will be expected to refund season ticket money. Little wonder most of them are keen for matches to resume and for the associated TV revenue to arrive as soon as possible.

The Premier League is about managing media deals and keeping the money flowing in, certainly not about giving it back. I don't think they care too much about the fans or the clubs.

What the top six clubs want. . . they get, just shows what their attitude is to their fans.

The whole thing is a farce and it could keep going into next season as well, the way they are going.

Mike @29,

I don't think people care anymore when they see the people making the rules breaking the rules and footballers back in contact training. My wife has to go back to teaching 4- and 5-year-olds with no concept of social distancing, so it doesn't matter what I do.

If there was any season over the past 30 years that you would be least concerned about the outcome, it is this one.

A season interrupted by a serious pandemic that has killed thousands and remains a serious threat. More important issues than Premier League football. But, even from a football perspective, there are compromises to the integrity of the game.

As I've said before on here, winning this Premier League trophy will be like retrieving something out of an un-flushed toilet. It might come up shiny but the memory of it will always stink the place out.

No wonder we call them ‘the shite'.

Mike @34, superb analogy. I agree with all that. The true spirit of the game is down to contract money with the media.

Normal PLCs are going bust, bankrupt, or being forced to shed jobs. The impact of this virus will last for years and personally I don't think the game will be the same again, when people reflect on what's happened.

I want EFC and all Evertonians to stay healthy and safe, flourish in life, but for now how in the future crowds are allowed back, it seems will only be when a vaccine is created.

The Bundesliga games are like pre-season warm-ups with no urge or inkling from the players to step up through the gears. I'll not be watching any games, plenty of other things to sort out in the garden and odd jobs, I never do because of little time to do.

That's the big question, and feedback on BBC news, suggests 12-18 months minimum, for a vaccine. Cardboard cutouts, like when the old North Bank at Arsenal was being rebuilt but the rest of the ground was full.

Empty, soulless stadiums, isn't professional football.

All stay safe and well.

Mike # 34. Slightly off topic, but the BBC website are reporting that the RS are interested in Adama Troare at Wolves, with Klopp even reportedly personally contacting the player himself. Now in my opinion, isn't that a form of "Tapping Up"?

That club will stoop so low to get anything. No wonder the whole country despises them.

Eric Paul #33 – I think you're right in that some, possibly many, will think like that. I'm hoping, however, that the majority are far more responsible than Dominic Cummings and his supporters within government and will see the benefits of at least trying to maintain some sort of social distancing.

To borrow a phrase from our hapless Health Secretary, it's our "civic duty" to try to curb the spread of this virus, whether or not those in a position of power adhere to that belief.

Paul #35.

Whilst out walking the dog in the park yesterday, I bumped into someone who I know from going the game. He told me he heard a rumour that, for the start of next season, Everton's "capacity" will be reduced by 50%, ie, every other seat will be vacant to abide by the 2-m rule. Now how they would work that out, I don't know, considering we have about 33k season ticket holders now. He told me it would be a ballot to determine who gets into the match.

I can't see this happening meself, but I suppose 20k fans is better than no fans at all. With all away fans banned, of course.

Rob #36 – they got away with tapping up Dick van Dyke and hacking City's computer systems so they're obviously confident that they're untouchable. Cheating scumbags.

Rob #36 – that "story" appeared in the Daily Mirror, it's "source" being The Sun! Enough said?

Rob #38,

I haven't seen that but, as usual, their crimes and misdemeanours will be glossed over by the media.

People call me bitter and biased against them. But it's not my fault. I just can't stand anything about them!

(Mind you, I would feel equally indifferent to this season even if it was another club 20-odd points clear.)

I can't see that ballot working, Rob, mate. The crowd would look good at Goodison sitting in this way though, because we would be getting little miniature Archibald Leitch patterns all over the ground!

In three months time, or before, the 2-m social distancing rule will become 1 m, then spaced seating will be likely.

There will probably be no away fans for the 20-21 season so those seats will be taken by home fans.

Does anyone seriously believe that social distancing is possible in a football stadium, particularly one like Goodison? What about stairs, concourses, catering for those pushing past after arriving late, going for a piss/sly smoke etc etc?

Each stand would have to be restricted to an infinitesimal number of people to make this ridiculous idea work – then again, the latest proposal is that "tackling should minimize close contact as much as possible" so I suppose the clowns running the game could come up with anything!

I think a bigger problem than finishing this season will be what they do about next season.

Obviously football grounds were not built with social distancing in mind, and without a successful treatment being found or better still a vaccine, I don't see how crowds will be allowed back into football grounds, even if, as Rob suggested, they take out alternate seats, which I don't think many would accept.

What happens at the end of a game when you have fans all leaving the stadium at the same time.

Rob @ 38; If they did do a fill a seat, miss a seat sort of thing, it would be all too 'Everton That' to have all the restricted views filled and the decent-ish seats empty.

rs in - feed tame journo an off-the-record tidbit on Traore, it's not tapping up, it's the media making things up – nowt to do with us, etc. One player possibly has his head turned and the idea planted in his head... Shocker!

While the restart will enable all Premier League sides to fulfil their obligations to Sky and therefore will not have that money taken away, I also find it really annoying that the money from Sky will in large parts be fed right into the bank accounts of the Premier League players. Yet very few clubs have been able to get any of these players to agree to a pay cut during this time.

We were told a while back that, under the guidance of Jordan Henderson, a fund had been set up for Premier League players to make a donation to the NHS. Yet we have heard nothing as to how much has been donated and if any of those donations have been assigned to any organisations.

Seems remarkable that we could get daily updates from a 100-year-old man on how much he was raising on a daily basis yet, after several weeks, we have no idea how much the players have donated to their fund. Which makes cynical old me think it's a lot less than many of us would have expected, so they are keeping quiet on the subject.

Morning people, I just found this:

Danish Superliga club AGF Aarhus are using technology to bring 10,000 fans to the side of their pitch, despite the season being played behind closed doors when it restarts on Thursday.

At their home game against Randers, AGF will install a giant screen along the side of the pitch, creating what they call "the world's first virtual grandstand" so fans can support the team for free via Zoom - there will even be a section for away fans.

The only good thing is I would always have a bevie in my hand and me tea will be ready at full time!

Brian @48, even though it comes naturally, I hate being cynical, but it still doesn't stop me agreeing with your post 100% mate.

I suppose if they play the games, then the players are obligating their contracts, but maybe it's best not to blame the players, because the clubs have been stupid enough to give them the money in the first place, and must now be beginning to realise how much they are overpaying every member of their first-team squads.

Yes Tony, The real inherent risks to revenues will need to be built in to any future wage deals. I can see the amounts offered being halved to reflect reality. Clubs that continue to offer possibly unsustainable contracts to players won't deserve to get much sympathy when they are on the verge of bankruptcy.

A crowd of 20k at 2 m apart means that when they queue up to get in the last bloke might be just outside Manchester. Mind you, if they all line up along the Mersey then the last few might have to beware the early kick-off at Edgely Park.

Seems on a par with players maintaining a distance apart in training except when tackling which I suppose is a free kick if it becomes a missed tackle?

Social distancing is not possible at football matches (it's barely possible in supermarkets let alone football grounds). Taking out alternate seats would not suffice anyway, you'd have to take alternate rows out (if not more). There's a guy in my row who needs a drink / piss at least 4 times during a match. He'd have to experience cold turkey and cross his legs in such a scenario.

Agreed that there is too much greed in the Premier League (players wages, agent cuts etc) but I do not blame the clubs at all for wanting to protect their finances and, by definition' their futures. That is called survival, not greed.

Whilst I think that the idea of finishing the current season should have been scrapped - for all the obvious reasons, I'm afraid that we're all may have to get used to the idea of "behind closed doors" matches for the foreseeable future. I agree that it's soulless but football, just like the restaurant that reinvents itself as a takeaway, the retail outlet that strengthens its on-line channel, is having to adapt. Only a handful of clubs could survive the rest of this and whole of next season with no revenue.

You may not like it but I'd rather stomach behind closed doors football it than have no footy at all to watch in the future.

One idea that springs to mind is that is that Premier League clubs could all agree to suspend all transfers for several seasons. This would force clubs to rely more on locally produced and coached lads who do not earn as obscene amounts, place the emphasis on coaching and raw talent, give youth a chance, increase identity with the clubs (fans and players alike), level out the playing field for a few seasons at least (more like it used to be), put a downward pressure on salaries and cut out the bloody agents!

I know, it'll never happen!

Couldn't have they add in-game fake cheering like on video games? Not rocket science. That said, if Peter Drury commentates, I mute it anyway.

Tony McNulty #15.There maybe some hope for optimism as you say with the TW live feed.

Despite the sterile German league games, tonight I watched the first Australian Rugby league game since the pandemic. The empty stadium was hardly noticeable because of the effort and endeavor of every player on the pitch.

If our team puts in half that effort it will be worth watching.

June 17th restart

Villa v Sheffield and Man City v Arsenal

Full fixture list June 19th-21st

RS champs by the end of June, football immediately put back on hold until 2037.

I am afraid I don't care very much. The first Bundesliga game after lockdown was fine, but I was starving. The Dortmund-Bayern match was more of a test and it was shockingly drained by the absence of the real occasion and fans.

I will be half-watching.

Rob @38, thanks, I wasn't aware of that idea. Imagine trying to police and enforce such an idea at Goodison or any other ground? It would be a form of drafts paint out on floors in the concourses but very difficult to see how they could do that with steps, and escalators.

Then queuing for a pie, or beer pre-match and half time... calls of nature...

Logistically to enforce such ideas would cost more than the day's takings, or close to it.

I see this could lead to plenty of dissatisfaction with all fans and would become a lottery but perhaps they'll bring in mini segregation barriers etc..

Interesting times for mankind, football and all sports.

All stay safe and well.

Ray @53, that's a very good idea, regards transfer policy.

All-in-all, it's reducing risk and maintaining health and safety regards international travel and potential spreading of Covid-19.

First 10 minutes of the Dortmund Schalke game was enough for me. No crowd, no point.

The Premier League and all the clubs including Everton are an absolute disgrace. People's Club always was and still is a fucking joke.

Paul (55),

See you on the live feed at the re-start.

I may be wrong (it has been known), but I find it hard to believe that if we take a 2-0 lead against the RS in our first televised game, some of those on here who say they aren't interested won't leap up out of their deckchairs in the garden and head for the electronic nipple.

My, that was a long sentence.

So, let me get this straight.

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?

Martin @45, can you still get away with a sly smoke in the Gwladys Sreet bogs? I was in there a couple of seasons back and there was about 12 smoking in there, a policeman came in, walked to the other outward door, without saying a word.

Just my luck I would have got busted and thrown out... there again under big Sam, it was a risk worth taking.