Coronavirus and League 2

[Posh Harry]

Turn away when tackling?! So the player being tackled does get Coronavirus just a broken leg...

Followed by a trip to hospital where they catch Coronavirus

 

[Boletus Edulis]

The direct mail wing of our shop has started up for business again today, and will bring in a bit of revenue. What has happened to your shops, are they operating online?

Apparently we are going to launch a new shirt for the 20/21 season shortly.

 

[dedwardp]

The direct mail wing of our shop has started up for business again today, and will bring in a bit of revenue. What has happened to your shops, are they operating online?

Apparently we are going to launch a new shirt for the 20/21 season shortly.

Our online shop remained open for orders throughout, just with the caveat that it may take longer to process them as, presumably, there isn't somebody working through them full-time.

 

[valefan16]

Our online shop remained open for orders throughout, just with the caveat that it may take longer to process them as, presumably, there isn't somebody working through them full-time.

Ours was working, fairly large shop anyway so imagine just online orders with one in there.

Don’t think we’ve discounted the kits yet though like usual despite having new kits next season.

We’ve announced we will be doing the retained list now but some of our targets won’t be signed until we are set to go again.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Think a lot of retained lists will be out from Friday afternoon onwards...

 

[Richard Cranium]

Ours is out Friday

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Ours is out Friday

A reliable journo I know who spoke to Artell this weekand the Board allegedly reckons the following will happen.

- League Two cancelled by a large majority Friday, hence the last few clubs are digging up pitches and preparing the release lists.

- Top 3 automatically promoted and will be replaced by the Bottom 3 from League One whether Tranmere like it or not.

- One legged playoffs set to be an idea on the table. As said before, this will be more popular as Sky will get to broadcast the matches, Exeter wont take the battle to Court and only Vale and to a lesser extent Bradford will have a major gripe with it. But given there's a 75% chance of failure, I don't think they'd have any grounds to take legal action anyway.

- Barrow will be promoted to League Two even in the case of a Null and Void season down below. Harrogate don't look likely to be promoted. Could this be due to the fact most non league sides are favouring a null and void season? There's far less financial and legal risk for them if they void the season and Barrow take their place in the higher level. Notts fans will kick up a fuss but it's all hot air and entitlement.

- They expect Stevenage to stay up, which I absolutely disagree with but I can also see why, given the great financial uncertainty given the EFL and NL are about to lose significant revenues and the fact Macc have now had a significant points deduction, it's probably played on the EFL Board to consider not relegating them at the expense of Harrogate. But there've been conflicting reports about that this week.

- Most teams will have 8 or 9 players under the age of 22 in their lineups unless experienced players reduce their wages to significantly lower levels. This is due to appearance fees,bonuses and basic wages being too high for a number of experienced players when we're set for a huge reduction in central revenue from the league for the foreseeable future. Nothing has been mentioned about salary caps yet, but I can see this being common practice across the board next season.

Can see most of this happening, but I really think Stevenage will face the music. UNLESS the EFL are anticipating a club (Macc?) to go bust in the not too distant future in which case I can see why they may be reprieved...

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Our owner said we have five players on contract for next year, and Lowe has said they have been making offers (though I think without agreeing a precise salary).

 

[AdamStag]

In all of this Mansfield have decided to appointment a director of football - David sharpe - formally of Wigan.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

In all of this Mansfield have decided to appointment a director of football - David sharpe - formally of Wigan.

One of the most bizarre appointments I've ever seen. Never played the game, never coached, never managed, was handed the club he was Chairman of through nepotism, was only a success as Wigan had ridiculous parachute payments the first time they were relegated to League One and that Paul Cook was a very good manager to have the second time they were relegated given Gary Caldwell was exposed as a tactically inept, chequebook fraud. Quite what qualifies him for the Director of Football role I don't know.

Dave Artell said yesterday our contract negotiations are suspended until we know what league we're in and what the plan of action will subsequently be. A lot of our players are currently under contract until 2021, but only Olly Lancashire (who would've probably been transfer listed in a normal off-season had we been promoted), Eddie Nolan and Daniel Powell will be high earners.

I can see every experienced players out of contract crucial to our success sadly leaving. I think it was going to be the case anyway with Porter, Green and Hunt if we'd gone up to League One in a normal campaign, but I think James Jones could well be a casualty now as well as the club now know the saved money can give some of the highly rated Academy players increased wages at a time where austerity is about to hit football, which will let us potentially keep this talented bunch together for a bit longer than we may have previously expected. Some of the young lads out of contract will be kept on for another two years and rightly so, they'll be integral to our future. I also fully expect Michael Nottingham to sign permanently once the situation is clearer as he's not exactly a high earner at Blackpool himself.

 

[AdamStag]

One of the most bizarre appointments I've ever seen. Never played the game, never coached, never managed, was handed the club he was Chairman of through nepotism, was only a success as Wigan had ridiculous parachute payments the first time they were relegated to League One and that Paul Cook was a very good manager to have the second time they were relegated given Gary Caldwell was exposed as a tactically inept, chequebook fraud. Quite what qualifies him for the Director of Football role I don't know.

Dave Artell said yesterday our contract negotiations are suspended until we know what league we're in and what the plan of action will subsequently be. A lot of our players are currently under contract until 2021, but only Olly Lancashire (who would've probably been transfer listed in a normal off-season had we been promoted), Eddie Nolan and Daniel Powell will be high earners.

I can see every experienced players out of contract crucial to our success sadly leaving. I think it was going to be the case anyway with Porter, Green and Hunt if we'd gone up to League One in a normal campaign, but I think James Jones could well be a casualty now as well as the club now know the saved money can give some of the highly rated Academy players increased wages at a time where austerity is about to hit football, which will let us potentially keep this talented bunch together for a bit longer than we may have previously expected. Some of the young lads out of contract will be kept on for another two years and rightly so, they'll be integral to our future. I also fully expect Michael Nottingham to sign permanently once the situation is clearer as he's not exactly a high earner at Blackpool himself.

I think the general consensus is that whenever the league is going to resume he’ll take advantage.

Not sure I’m entirely comfortable with that if it turns out to be true.

Either way, as they’re spending more time in Portugal they need someone more hands on, will be interesting

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I think the general consensus is that whenever the league is going to resume he’ll take advantage.

Not sure I’m entirely comfortable with that if it turns out to be true.

Either way, as they’re spending more time in Portugal they need someone more hands on, will be interesting

As long as you don't sack Graham Coughlan for Gary Caldwell you'll be fine.

Interesting fact about Caldwell, he was handpicked on a shortlist of two managers by Chesterfield when they were in League One apparently. The other manager? Tony Mowbray. I wonder what became of both of them...

 

[AdamStag]

As long as you don't sack Graham Coughlan for Gary Caldwell you'll be fine.

Interesting fact about Caldwell, he was handpicked on a shortlist of two managers by Chesterfield when they were in League One apparently. The other manager? Tony Mowbray. I wonder what became of both of them...

I think Mansfield are well aware of what happened to our now non-league friends across the m1 when Caldwell was appointed - not a good decision - in fairness Redford has been pretty hands on when it’s come to managers - but even then the appointments have been dodgy on occasions like promoting dempster.

 

[northstandexile]

Everyone is talking about playing some games behind closed doors. My understanding is that everyone involved in these matches will have to tested for the virus very often.

At present these tests are limited and not everyone in front line jobs are getting tested, surely it is morally wrong that tests are being used just so some grown up kids can kick a bag of wind about a field for an hour and half.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Everyone is talking about playing some games behind closed doors. My understanding is that everyone involved in these matches will have to tested for the virus very often.

At present these tests are limited and not everyone in front line jobs are getting tested, surely it is morally wrong that tests are being used just so some grown up kids can kick a bag of wind about a field for an hour and half.

Absolutely. It's morally wrong for sure. But the game is so in bed with money and too many clubs are run by self-entitled owners that trying to find a consensus would indeed result in some morally wrong proposals. This is modern football unfortunately.

On the flipside, for 2 L1 and 2 L2 clubs they'd be playing one match, whilst 2 L1 and 2 L2 clubs would be playing two matches. I don't think they'd need to be as tested anywhere near the rigorous amount Premier League and Championship players will be in the coming months. But I still agree, it is morally wrong.

 

[Indian Dan]

PL are now saying the Championship has to play out to get promoted.

Fucking charlatans

 

[Conker]

Appointment makes sense for me, it’s basically so Carolyn doesn’t have to fly back from Faro to finish up contract negotiations everytime.

Retained list out tomorrow.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

PL are now saying the Championship has to play out to get promoted.

Fucking charlatans

They can say what they like though these bottom feeders. A mix of perennially bottom half PL clubs at best going nowhere and two clubs who climbed the leagues and now exaggerate their own importance. It's a mask designed to stop relegation. If only we could relegate all six of them.

And what happens if the Premier League is cancelled when Corona hits us again? "We can't be relegated, we didn't complete a 38 game season".

4 of these 6 have higher net spends than Real Madrid in the last five years, 1 invested heavily this season to go backwards, 1 have said all season they've budgeted for 20th and have thus propped the table up all season. Why should their failure be rewarded with an extended stay at the top table where they'll no doubt take advantage of the upcoming EFL cost-cutting and pillage players from the likes of Leeds and West Brom if promotion was annulled? They can get to fuck. Opportunists who are using a freak historical event to push forward a delusional case to stop relegation to mask their own failures.

 

[shoddycollins]

Appointment makes sense for me, it’s basically so Carolyn doesn’t have to fly back from Faro to finish up contract negotiations everytime.

Retained list out tomorrow.

I thought Mansfield's thing was to fly players out to Faro for negotiations.

 

[AdamStag]

I thought Mansfield's thing was to fly players out to Faro for negotiations.

That’s when we sign the player when the squads already in Portugal haha.

Did us a world of good last season!

 

[AdamStag]

PL are now saying the Championship has to play out to get promoted.

Fucking charlatans

Is that the premiership saying that, or just the Norwich chairman?

 

[Super_horns]

Is that the premiership saying that, or just the Norwich chairman?

Norwich and Brighton.

The latter seem very worried they will go down.

Sure it's nothing to do with the fact they have to play:

Arsenal
Man U
Man City
Liverpool
Leicester

 

[AdamStag]

Norwich and Brighton.

The latter seem very worried they will go down.

Sure it's nothing to do with the fact they have to play:

Arsenal
Man U
Man City
Liverpool
Leicester

Brighton giving it the big boy act is most annoying really, it’s been done already by others but really?

I can’t take a side in the premiership seriously If I’ve seen Mansfield beat them home and away.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Norwich and Brighton.

The latter seem very worried they will go down.

Sure it's nothing to do with the fact they have to play:

Arsenal
Man U
Man City
Liverpool
Leicester

I actually think out of the six you lot are the ones that wouldn't mind it being on even if your owners or executives may be trying to wriggle out the prospect of being relegated. I mean you're the only team to beat Liverpool, Nigel Pearson had taken you back to basics and you were grinding out results.

Norwich were almost dead and buried. Mathematically they had a chance yes. But to me? Nah. They had a rickety defence in the Championship that's been exposed again at a higher level. But Pukki's goals bailed them out in the league below. This is no longer the case at the higher level.

Brighton the only side yet to win in 2020. Chief Executive got his handpicked manager in from Swansea and hastily rewarded him with a ridiculous contract extension mere months later because they won 3-0 against a beleaguered Spurs side before a live TV audience. They're now not scoring goals, are boring to watch and are on a steep decline.

Throw in the fact Villa, Bournemouth and West Ham have net spends higher than Real Madrid in the last 5 years which means it'll be nothing but a fire sale if they're relegated and you can see why these clubs are giving it the big bollocks act. Using a pandemic as an opportunity to play on but scrap relegation is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Brighton giving it the big boy act is most annoying really, it’s been done already by others but really?

I can’t take a side in the premiership seriously If I’ve seen Mansfield beat them home and away.

I can't take them seriously after Gudjon Thordason masterminded a 4-0 win over them at their place in 2009 when we were disgustingly bad. A crying shame ours and Northampton's collapses towards the season's end that year enabled them to stay in League One when they looked on course for League Two in the dying weeks of the season.

 

[shoddycollins]

I can't take them seriously after Gudjon Thordason masterminded a 4-0 win over them at their place in 2009 when we were disgustingly bad. A crying shame ours and Northampton's collapses towards the season's end that year enabled them to stay in League One when they looked on course for League Two in the dying weeks of the season.

I always seem to think of us as having a decent record against Brighton and Bournemouth and looking at the head to head, we did for a bit when we were in L1, not overall but we would win threes and four in a row against them a few times in the 21st century

 

[redjed]

I can see Norwich and Brighton losing a couple of games behind closed doors, therefore getting relegated, then crying that they have players with coronavirus, and demanding the competition null and void !

 

[AdamStag]

I don’t blame the chairman I blame the system/money

If I were the chairman of Norwich or Brighton or whatever and realised there would be a £100m difference (or whatever it is) id probably be saying the same thing - whether I truly believed or not.

Whereas I don’t agree to what they’re saying/their approach I can see where they’re coming from in their situation.

 

[Super_horns]

I actually think out of the six you lot are the ones that wouldn't mind it being on even if your owners or executives may be trying to wriggle out the prospect of being relegated. I mean you're the only team to beat Liverpool, Nigel Pearson had taken you back to basics and you were grinding out results.

d.

I did get the impression from the statement our CEO put on our website (rather than rushing onto TV and radio..) that he'd accept the season being played to a finish but expressed concerns about playing at neutral venues which as it turned out quite a few clubs had due to the worries about losing more through advertising... which just about sums up how much money talks!

Just shows it wasn't really down to health and sporting fairness...

We aren't exactly in a great position but I think a lot of money is owned to the Pozzos so unless they pulled out we'd probably be ok and there are a few sellable assets in the squad.

I mean they might have not played well but a Doucouré or Pereyra will command a fee somewhere abroad.

Sarr had a great game on telly v Liverpool and is young so that could attract bigger clubs.

Quite frankly we could do with cutting the wage bill down and given there isn't likely to be a lot of money for clubs to spend in the "summer" most of these clubs will probably be in the relegation area next season....when that happens.

Norwich also furloughed their staff saying it had to be done to cut costs..

I always thought part of the reason why they didn't want to spend that much was to ensure a long term future even if they went down.

Maybe its not quite as rosy as it seemed..

Quite agree about Brighton - they must have no faith in the same manager they gave a new contract to only months before.

And they are still 2 points ahead of 3 teams and 4 ahead of Villa (albeit they have a game in hand) so they still have a very good chance of staying up.

If this had been 15-20 years ago everyone would have accepted the circumstances and even the season would have been voided totally or the season stopped with relegation and promotion counting.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

The problem is they want to have their cake and eat it too. Because they're offering no alternatives, they simply believe another huge slice of that Premier League cake is what they're entitled to.

Now, if they were arguing for greater wealth redistribution through the wider football pyramid to alleviate their potential relegation, I may have taken a slightly more sympathetic view. But the thing is they're making out they don't want to play on or go down because of the dramatic loss in revenues potentially incurred if they do so, threatening dubious legal action in the process. However, if they're reprieved, they're not going to challenge the flaws of the current system and they'd just be happy to lap it up and be given the millions.

This is why I can't stand their flawed argument. They try and say things in the name of morality and integrity, but they're contradicting themselves at every single turn! I know for a fact if this was 12 months ago and Norwich were on the outside looking in at the Premier League bubble whilst a pitiful Huddersfield side on the road to oblivion were saying "You can't relegate us" they'd be angry and demanding their promotion on PPG or by playing the season.

It's a shame Gary Neville is just a name and not as intelligent as people like to think he is. I watched that Webber interview yesterday and I heard Webber say if the Championship failed to complete the season, then you can't promote sides on PPG if the Premier League was able to complete the season. But going from Webber's logic, Norwich would have technically "earned" relegation from completing the season. So if you were to apply his logic in a literal sense, you'd end up with a 17 team Premier League and 27 team Championship! I mean he can't have it both ways, right?