I never know where to put things like the following .... I think we need a thread for this stuff ... https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...21-schedule-fixtures-statsports-a9679851.html How Premier League clubs are being forced to prepare for ‘two seasons in one’ The line from one fitness coach sums up the problem. “It’s like preparing for two seasons in one.” Thursday morning saw the publication of the 2020-21 Premier League calendar, and it isn’t so much a fixture list as an endurance test. The crunch caused by the 2020 Covid-enforced postponement means this season is going to be the most congested ever seen. An international player at a Premier League club competing in Europe faces the possibility of 73 different match-days in 274 days, before the delayed Euro 2020 starts – a fixture every 3.7 days. There has never been a calendar like that. There is just no space for any kind of breaks. One particularly brutal spell in January could see some clubs play a Premier League match every three days for two weeks. It’s going to result in squads and players stretched to the limit, and we’re going to hear and see a lot about injuries. Premier League fitness teams have thereby been trying to come with all manner of solutions. If players are being pushed to the margins, it means marginal gains may have greater effect.
Premier League away fans will not be permitted to attend matches 'all season' Away fans could be kept away from Premier League matches for the entirety of next season as clubs tell supporters they could be welcomed back in October. https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/premier-league-away-fans-not-22560623
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...ed-supporters-attendance-latest-a9693076.html With the re-entry of fans less than six weeks away, arrangements are still up in the air. The clubs are struggling to come up with a coherent policy in the absence of direction from Westminster. Politicians are keen to create an atmosphere of normality, but the lack of leadership from the top is causing concern across the Premier League. “It’s a mess,” one top-flight executive told The Independent. “Some big decisions need to be made at government/league level before we can make our own. If there’s no away fans, that will have an impact on things. So would the potential for local lockdowns. It’s a big, bad minefield.”
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...clubs-make-second-push-for-five-substitutions Premier League's top clubs make second push for five substitutions The Premier League is split over the use of five substitutes for the coming season with the big clubs pushing for the rule to be implemented at Thursday’s shareholder meeting and the smaller ones digging in against it. The matter was voted on at the last meeting on 6 August when it was proposed by the league’s board and defeated by 11 votes to nine. If new legislation is to be passed, it requires a two-thirds majority – in other words, 14 votes in favour. Another item on the agenda will be curtailment scenarios to determine final league positions in the event that the competition has to be suspended because of the coronavirus. A working group was set up after the last meeting, when these issues were discussed, and it is set to make a presentation.
more bad news on the financial front ... Liverpool and Everton face missing out on millions after the Premier League pulled the plug on its biggest overseas television deal. The governing body has confirmed they have terminated with immediate effect the agreement with Chinese broadcasters PPTV over the right to show live coverage of top-flight matches. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spo.../liverpool-everton-tv-premier-league-18872275
yep, and really frustrating to see what Chelsea are already doing and what Manure and City will probably do.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...s-rule-three-from-seven-to-be-used-in-2020-21 Premier League clubs vote against five subs rule; three from seven to be used in 2020/21
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54016886 Premier League clubs have held positive talks about the prospect of additional matches being televised. A final decision on the move is set to be made next week. The government urged the top-flight league to make more games available while fans are not allowed in stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic. At present, 160 of the 380 fixtures next season will not be shown on TV, a decision which has been criticised by fans groups. But with broadcasters willing to help, having already committed to showing 20 additional live games when the season starts on 12 September, it is hoped more matches could become available to supporters.
That’s not bad. I’ve always been against tactical subs. Subs were introduced to replace injured players. Pretty sure I’ll be outnumbered on that tho. We have to be like American sports.
I take your point, but I can guarantee you that anyone in Liverpool's team last year or Arsenal's 10 years ago would have run 95% of mid -70s midfielders into the ground. This is not to say they were innately better, but that they were and are getting more (via intensity of training and preparing) out of their bodies...... so, subbing seems justified ... sometimes Marathon runners fall over and cease to be ...
I'll be amazed if they don't agree to this ... Europe's clubs will lobby Uefa to bring back five substitutes per game in the group stages of this season's Champions League and Europa League. World governing body Fifa has given individual competitions the green light to continue with the move, aimed at reducing the burden on players in a season that has been cut by four weeks because of the impact of Covid-19 on 2019-20's fixture calendar. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54069438
all the changes for this season: fans .... tv ... cup games .... VAR ...pens... handball.. BLM ...Covid tests .... https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53667684
Four people have tested positive in the latest round of Premier League Covid-19 tests. A total of 2,131 players and club staff were tested between Monday, 7 September and Sunday, 13 September. The four who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days. “No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the league and results will be made public after each round of testing,” said a Premier League statement. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54156086
Only Manchester has a higher rate than Liverpool Stats in article: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-8738859/Fans-allowed-German-stadiums-WEEK.html
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54196341 Premier League clubs have urged the UK government to stick to its proposal of allowing fans to return to stadiums from 1 October. The government has restricted pilot events to 1,000 spectators and is reviewing its initial target date of when more fans could attend venues. The move followed a rise in coronavirus cases in parts of the country. The Premier League met with clubs on Thursday and ensured stadiums "will be among the safest public places".
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed plans for fans to return to watch live sport events in England from 1 October will not go ahead. The plans were placed under review after a rise in coronavirus cases earlier this month. The UK's Covid-19 alert level has moved to 4, meaning transmission is "high or rising exponentially". https://www.bbc.com/sport/54246745
https://www.bbc.com/sport/54248379 The postponement of plans for fans to return to sporting events in England may lead to the "devastating impact" of football clubs folding, says Tranmere Rovers vice-chair Nicola Palios. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday plans for some fans to return from 1 October will not go ahead. The Premier League said it was "disappointed" by the announcement. It added that "the football economy is unsustainable" without fans attending matches. =========== our instalment-fee deal for Jota now looks even better and I'm sure is a big part of many transfer discussions right now. If we are in fact negotiating for Sarr that option must be part of Edwards' playbook, but from a seller's perspective it could negate their ability to quickly replace a key asset so they may hold out for cash up front.
oh shit .... not a good sign ... Tottenham’s Carabao Cup tie at Leyton Orient has been called off but a decision delayed on whether to award the Premier League club a walkover after the majority of Orient’s first-team squad tested positive for Covid-19. Orient announced on Monday that they had closed their stadium and training ground until further notice and it has been confirmed the tie will not go ahead as planned on Tuesday evening. https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-cup-leyton-orient-tie-called-off-coronavirus
West Ham United manager David Moyes and two of the club's players have tested positive for coronavirus. The Premier League club were informed of the positive tests while preparing for Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie against Hull City at London Stadium.