Yesterday, Thursday 14 May, the Government’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden M.P. met with the Football Association (F.A.), F.A. Premier League (F.A.P.L.) and English Football League (E.F.L.) and the media has reported plans were “progressed” for a restart to the F.A.P.L. season 2019-2020. The F.A.P.L. wants Friday 12 June as the date of the first matches, 4 weeks today. England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, perhaps not missing football as much as some or merely speaking professionally, suggested a “slow and measured” return. Group player training may start on Monday 18 May for 75 minute sessions under social distancing protocols and strict guidelines. What happens there may well be the deciding factor since the Culture Secretary said the F.A.P.L. should only resume if it is “safe to do so”, presumably that is for players and staff since it will be behind closed doors and in front of TV cameras but no fans. He added that income coming back into the game should also support “the wider football family”. Even if football does resume the Premier League Clubs may face a £340 million (£17 million each if shared evenly) revenue loss from broadcasters.
Meanwhile off stage the wrangling has been about neutral venues even though there will be no home crowds. Most noise has come from Watford F.C. who seem to imply that their by any measure shock victory over Champions-elect Liverpool F.C. was the result of weeks of careful planning and showed the advantage of home venue for the under-dogs! So let’s look at the balance of fixtures remaining for the bottom F.A.P.L. 6 Clubs. From the bottom up Norwich City, AFC Bournemouth, Watford F.C., West Ham United, and Brighton and Hove Albion all have 9 to play, and evenly 5 at home and 4 away. Aston Villa (second to bottom) have 10, but equally 5 home and 5 away. Their last game is away to the Hammers. So do neutral grounds really matter, and especially when there are policing fears about unwanted home fans turning up in the streets outside the closed gates when their team is “at home”.
One sympathy for the Hornets is that 3 of their 4 away games are Premier London derbies (PLDs), at Chelsea, West Ham United and, as their last match of the season and as they fear perhaps in the F.A.P.L. for a while, Arsenal. Ironically if the season did not restart and F.A.P.L. positions were decided on points per game so far played and goal difference, they would remain safely in the top-flight in 17th place by a one goal better negative goal difference. There may be plenty of twists left in this season’s tale or is it tail, if it wags again!
Until next time, keep safe and if you are an essential worker “thank you”, Andrew at PLDs.