Professional Footballers’ Association chief Gordon Taylor has revealed that the possibility of reducing matches from 90 minutes as the scrap goes on to get the game underway again.
And he has confirmed that there are a lot of ideas on the table including more subs and of course neutral stadiums – all of those named being away from residential areas by and large.
Quoted per the Mail the 75 year old said: “We don’t know the future, what we do know is what propositions have been put forward and ideas. More subs, games possibly not being full 45 minutes each way, neutral stadiums, there’s lots of things put forward.
‘We’re trying to wait to see what the proposals are and have the courtesy to let the managers and coaches and players assimilate all those and come to a considered view.’
‘I like to think that’s how my members are. It remains in process and we will wait and see and take it on a day-by-day basis and see if it’s achievable but if we don’t try then it’s never going to be achievable.
‘If everything looks promising, you wouldn’t be thinking of matches being played middle of June, I would estimate.’
ClaretandHugh says: So there you have it. The integrity of the game has now gone totally out of the window as football’s authorities expect people to accept that the game returns in an almost unrecognisable form to how it’s been for the first part of the season and previously. The idea that we should reduce the game to, let’s say 80 minutes, with more subs while playing on neutral grounds is simply not on. It changes everything and is simply not a satisfactory end to the season. There are far too many complications both from the all important health issues to how the game will actually look should it ever get underway again. Taylor gives no reason for matches to be shortened and we had assumed the reason for more subs (not acceptable either in our world anyway) was a plan to ensure that players still not fully fit from the break could be replaced. But to shorten games as well- what’s that all about? It’s been said many times but this season should be declared over. NOW!
I’m all for it. Daily mail just published an article that shows if the premier league had only lasted 60 minutes instead of 90 West Ham would be mid table on the same points as Arsenal. After 75 minutes we had dropped down to 15th place. It’s obvious our downfall has been towards the end of games. Is that a fitness problem with players like Noble, snoddy, antonio etc tiring towards the end, or is it A concentration issue?
The FA should devote its time to if, when & how next season will be conducted instead of this nonsense that is being talked the moment.
What is the point of 80 minutes & more subs? I doubt any supporters will take the results seriously. It will be more Harlem Globetrotters than competitive football. A token gesture to televise and save money.
The UK has now hit the 2nd highest death rates in the World. End this season now it’s dead in the water anyway.
So is this fine proposal because players are only infectious between the 80th – 90th minutes, or to allow more matches to be screened in a day? Ridiculous. Just call a halt to this charade now.
Absolutely Hugh . Just stop the season now because , in reality we are at war with An unseen enemy and if we let our guard down we are doomed ..