Apologies for another article on the topic - ignore if you want. But I've had thoughts on a new take with how to finish the season that I haven't seen discussed before. I posted it on another article as a comment but I'm just genuinely interested to hear opinions on it.
With all the debate about how to finish the season, whether it be voiding, finishing the season with promotion/relegation/winners as it stands, or starting with no crowds, it seems to be done under the presumption that the football season should be completed imminently so that the 20/21 season can start at a time close to when it was planned.
As its becoming quite clear the COVID-19 situation could continue to dominate well into the summer and maybe even autumn, is it best to just finish the season off when it safe to do so and start the subsequent season on a potentially radical new calendar?
Iโm starting to think it may be one of the best options. To just restart this current season when itโs safe to do so (maybe even waiting until this can be done with crowds) and forget about trying to start the 20/21 season in good time. Eg. If it is safe to restart even in like November time, restart then. Following seasons would be on a completely new calendar, from around Febuary in this example, but perhaps over the years it could transition back to normal. International tournaments would have to be held in-between most league seasons.
Cons:
- It would feel a bit weird having a different calendar, but I think fans would get used to it.
- Some work would have to be done with transfer markets and contracts, not that this couldn't be worked out. If we truly wanted to uphold integrity of this season than summer transfers that were planned could only take place once this 19/20 season has finished.
- It would also need all major European leagues to really be working together to be in agreement. It wouldn't really work if half of the leagues void a season / finish as it is because they want to start in September and if half carry on the 19/20 season when safe to do so.
I think it has a number of pros:
- Finishing this current season is seen by everyone as the fairest way to decide winners/losers/relegation/promotion. No one will feel hard done by via any of the relegation, promotion and champions that would come about from voiding the season or finishing as it is.
- If it is just accepted that the 20/21 season can't start on time, there is no time pressure to rush games back into empty stadiums. It can simply just wait until it is safe for full or half-full stadiums to occur. If one wants to restart the season with full stadiums to uphold competition integrity, then this is one of the best ways to support that.
- You could argue that, if we can't start the 20/21 season on time, we should just complete this current 19/20 season when it is safe to do so and avoid doing a new calendar by just not having a 20/21 season. The 21/22 season would then start as originally scheduled. Personally for me I just wouldn't like to see a season go amiss. In my mind it feels like a season 'missed out' of watching our clubs, watching the players. and just seems like a waste.
Feasible or nah? Mad idea from someone bored in quarantine or could it work? I wonder whether it will be a growing topic as time goes on and it becomes clearer or not whether the 20/21 season can start on time.
Accepting a Delayed Start to 20/21 Season
posted on 24/4/20
If 20/21 season was delayed such that it couldn’t be finished before Euro 2020 (..in 2021) then i’d just break the season up either side of it, as would be done for Winter tournament.
I have to say I’m surprised a lot of fans still would prefer a season to be null&void or finished as it is, rather than finish the season. I was under impression that most fans wanted to finish the season as most fair way to decide but I guess not
posted on 24/4/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 24/4/20
Should just do something mad on a one-off and split the 20/21 season into two regional leagues per each division with a mini-league/play-off to crown winners & final positions like they do in MLS.
posted on 25/4/20
comment by Sideshow (U11809)
posted 27 minutes ago
It’s the simplest way to avoid all this pontification about rearranging future seasons just to finish the current one. The momentum of the season has ground to a standstill, picking it up again because it is “fair and just”, like it is some virtuous decision is overstating the importance of football.
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Yeah I’m starting to appreciate that now. To just accept the season has gone, and there’s nothing we can do about it. And then either null&void or finish as it is.
posted on 25/4/20
I can understand crowing champions based on current standings, but to relegate a club on current standings could potentially cripple them, especially as you go down the leagues.
posted on 25/4/20
They should just get everyone to play each other on Fifa
posted on 25/4/20
comment by Giröulski Alt-153 and Alt-160 forever (U14971)
posted 16 seconds ago
They should just get everyone to play each other on Fifa
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You do realise there are some gifted players on here.
UTD could Nick the league.
posted on 25/4/20
?
What makes next season :
a) a higher priority than this season?
b) a shoe in to start on time anyway?
c) guarantees to be played under normal circumstances?
If this season is finished behind closed doors, next season will start on time even if it needs to be behind closed doors as the precedent has been set.
Prefer corona virus is taken seriously though and have football suspended until early 2021 to make sure we have all beaten the virus and recommence with fans back at the game then.
posted on 25/4/20
comment by Why have cotton when you can have silk. (U22200)
posted 8 hours, 51 minutes ago
comment by Giröulski Alt-153 and Alt-160 forever (U14971)
posted 16 seconds ago
They should just get everyone to play each other on Fifa
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You do realise there are some gifted players on here.
UTD could Nick the league.
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If they were still mathematically able to maybe
posted on 25/4/20
I put forward the idea of cancelling next season as soon as Eufa moved the Euros.
Finish all competitions in the new year, hopefully things will have returned to a semblance of normality, (maybe no away fans).
Nice to see that Red and I finally agree on something!