Decisions being made

[Shaun]

I think the title of this thread needs the following words adding at the beginning...
'Lots of pages of lots of people speculating on...'

Love to all,
Concussed-feeling guy.

[Wintergreen]

My view is that it would be very unfair to expect teams to compete in playoffs for a promotion place after such a long layoff. Normal playoffs are simply an extension of a team's season, so squad is the same and players are match fit. Playing again after 2 or 3 months, or more, without team training would make it a lottery, even if all squad members remained.

In addition, I can't see spectators being allowed into football grounds for several months yet, so playing behind closed doors would add to the lottery.

True enough Jim, not to mention the lack of any gate money which would further impact on club finances as the Borehamwood guy realised some time ago now.

PS
Is today D-Day for us?

[Suffolk Blue]

My view is that it would be very unfair to expect teams to compete in playoffs for a promotion place after such a long layoff. Normal playoffs are simply an extension of a team's season, so squad is the same and players are match fit. Playing again after 2 or 3 months, or more, without team training would make it a lottery, even if all squad members remained.

In addition, I can't see spectators being allowed into football grounds for several months yet, so playing behind closed doors would add to the lottery.

True enough Jim, not to mention the lack of any gate money which would further impact on club finances as the Borehamwood guy realised some time ago now.

Perhaps the real purpose of confirming a play-off list is not in the actual anticipation of the play-offs actually happening but in the establishment of a pecking order to go up. If you are going to have promotion without relegation (which maybe is looking more likely) you cannot void and you have to have some means of creating a prioritised list. If you follow the re-balancing of the EFL approach you might need 1, 2 or even 3 teams to be promoted. You dont know how many - yet.

If you invite your members to say whether they want to be part of this process, you can also use it to weed out the likes of Bhamwood. Any result declared just using a mathematical formula would for example confirm Borehamwood in 4th place. However it is believed that they do not seem interested in going up. So asking them the play-off question in advance could enable the NL to remove them from the list and this might avoid a scrap between the likes of Stockport and Barnet about what method you use to determine the last play-off place. It would make little difference to the ultimate outcome but it might help the NL reach an "acceptable" solution.

[barrowfan]

Is today D-Day for us?

I think today is the deadline for clubs from the three NL divisions to tell the NL what they think is the best conclusion to the season.
It's not a vote and I think the NL Board is due to meet early next week - or not!
Today could have an effect though as the Premier League is supposed to give its view on how to finish the season.
May be different from what they've already said - or not!

[blue nige]

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/125 ... 70912?s=19

[Suffolk Blue]

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/125 ... 70912?s=19

I guess it doesn't matter what League we are in, we are unlikely to be playing football again until next year. The sooner they make a decision, the sooner they and we can move on to the issue of ensuring clubs are still there when the time comes.

[Alley_Cat]

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/125 ... 70912?s=19

I guess it doesn't matter what League we are in, we are unlikely to be playing football again until next year. The sooner they make a decision, the sooner they and we can move on to the issue of ensuring clubs are still there when the time comes.

You've missed the point here mate, they're saying that fans won't be able to attend until January not that the season will start in January

[barrowfan]

You've missed the point here mate, they're saying that fans won't be able to attend until January not that the season will start in January

And they've also said that's a non starter as if the likes of Liverpool were playing behind closed doors at a neutral ground they'd still have thousands around the ground and the surrounding streets.

[Suffolk Blue]

Fair enough. So let me refine my point then. There is currently no model that I'm aware of that allows for a football club at or around our level to function without gate revenue. The sooner we know what the EFLs decision is going to be the sooner we can move on , like all other clubs, to work out how on earth we survive for that period.

[HenneysKnee]

You've missed the point here mate, they're saying that fans won't be able to attend until January not that the season will start in January

And they've also said that's a non starter as if the likes of Liverpool were playing behind closed doors at a neutral ground they'd still have thousands around the ground and the surrounding streets.

No they haven’t. The Prem and probably the Championship could start. It’s the financial problem of playing half a season behind closed doors that is the issue for League One and Two not any problem with fans congregating outside grounds

[Adam29]

I think barrowfan is talking about the argument that’s been used by people against behind closed doors football that if Liverpool were one win away from being crowned Champions - then mass crowds would congregate outside Anfield to celebrate

[blue nige]

I think barrowfan is talking about the argument that’s been used by people against behind closed doors football that if Liverpool were one win away from being crowned Champions - then mass crowds would congregate outside Anfield to celebrate

The problem is they`re going to have to announce it sometime & just appeal to the fans (good luck with that one)

[Nigel Bamford]

I think barrowfan is talking about the argument that’s been used by people against behind closed doors football that if Liverpool were one win away from being crowned Champions - then mass crowds would congregate outside Anfield to celebrate

Indeed, and that includes the mayor of Liverpool who thinks it would be unwise.

[barrowfan]

Decision for PL is no decision:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sport ... eason.html

[Suffolk Blue]

Decision for PL is no decision:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sport ... eason.html

No decision but at least an intention. So I suppose that means progress.

By the way The Mayor of Liverpool is an Evertonian and as such wouldn't be seen dead standing outside Anfield. Although if the scouse press is anything to go by there are many red flag waving residents of Liverpool that would like to see him seen dead outside Anfield.