Options as I see things at the moment.
Play out all remaining games.
- “Integrity of the game” maintained. Each team have then played each other twice, MONEY situation not compromised and final league position earned or lost on merit.
- Desirable in all circumstances? Other than CV19 yes; but games could be started and the competition fall flat on its face if any of players, staff, officials, TV crews contract the virus. Contracted within the game situation or outside? No one would know. God forbid someone contracts and does not recover. The effect on the “game” going forward? What will the cost/risk be to clubs required to compete, whether the season to them is potentially meaningful or not?
Cancel the season with whichever convoluted points per game formula best suits the majority voting.
- The season restricted to a handful of games in some contrived formula. Could be completed in short time-frame removing the possibility of players not completing the competition. Satisfies the promotion and relegation conundrum. Less cost to clubs and less potential for all involved around the games to become infected.
- If the means to decide the points system is decided by vote, then obviously determined in the majority by self interest. Whatever system decided is artificial and can’t possibly be faithful to a season with games completed. Otherwise perm the limited systems and win the pools every week?
Cancel the season as is, with top 2 promoted & mini play-off comp for 3-6.
- benefits as above but positions based on reality of games played.
I’d prefer the latter option, Maintains the “integrity” of the game. Not subject to artificial Mathematics or biased votes. No expenditure/risk for those not involved, meaning the majority of clubs. This means only teams 2-6 in the Championship need to actually play any games (per REM above, 3 games only. All other teams in the pyramid are exempt from the finance and risk involved in setting up games.
The Premiership should be cancelled as is. Liverpool champions, bottom clubs relegated. All based on an equal number of games played. Any other option can only be motivated by self interest and greed and involve unwarranted risk for many.
I like to watch football, I’ve loved PNE for (too!) many years. But we are talking when all is said and done about a game. When we should be thinking about loss of life, family, friends, livelihoods.
Get this season over based on the reality of games played to date, points earned or lost, and with only 4 teams needing to actually cross swords.
Only then consider a new season as dictated by the realities of the months ahead, which at this moment are total unknowns.
In reality, cash is king it seems. Despite all the challenges and unknowns we currently face, we are happy to put large numbers of people, sons, daughters, husbands, wives etc at risk. At the end of the day for a game. And not so much that as bad as that is, but in all honesty, for money.
