The return of football

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Originally Posted by Shute

The issue I have is that you don't know when you have the virus. Virus testing is also notoriously dodgy and can take multiple negative tests before getting a positive. Having thousands of footballers, staff and media travelling from city to town is going to be devastating. We will look back on this like we do the Cheltenham festival as a "what were they thinking?" moment.

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I'm genuinely interested by your viewpoint (and I don't mean that sarcastically either). Given that the top two divisions in Germany resumed just over a month ago and the Covid-19 daily deaths figure in that country today is just 3 - their lowest total since mid-March - what leads you to believe that football resuming in the UK under strict protocols will be devastating?

For reference, the daily deaths figures in Germany in the ten days before football resumed in mid-May were:

282 + 117 + 118 + 39 + 20 + 92 + 77 + 123 + 67 + 73 = 1,008

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Originally Posted by celticknight

You have to admit, the fact they've finally won Premier League but they did it when the country is on lockdown with zero fans in the stadium to see it is hilarious timing. :hehe:

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We know this is a dreadful virus and has affected many peoples lives but I think the scousers and their welsh followers have had a right kick in the bollocks

And it's great

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Yes, I'm looking forward to it - not expecting a great deal from City mind.

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So far so good!

I think Harris has done a terrific job in recent weeks. City look fitter and stronger than any of the other teams I've watched in the Championship so far and the players look fully motivated too. That's really admirable under the circumstances. They might have ridden their luck a little in the two games, but they couldn't have done much more and, for my money at least, they've been full value for both victories.

I've been really enjoying football's return. Some good games, some superb goals and plenty of incident. It might be a bit surreal at times, but I think it's proving well worth the effort to get the season finished in the top two divisions.

I'm also really enjoying it, far more than I thought I would. The thought of some socially distance playoff watching in the garden with some friends is really exciting too

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Originally Posted by delmbox

I'm also really enjoying it, far more than I thought I would. The thought of some socially distance playoff watching in the garden with some friends is really exciting too

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I went and had a drink with one of my closest friends on Thursday evening. We did the same three weeks ago. On the first occasion, it was great simply to catch up, not having seen each other for months. On Thursday, it was great to be able to talk about football again!

We'll definitely find a way to get together for the play-off games if City can manage to hang in there. But regardless of what happens from here on in, in my opinion it's already so much better than just cancelling the season would have been.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I went and had a drink with one of my closest friends on Thursday evening. We did the same three weeks ago. On the first occasion, it was great simply to catch up, not having seen each other for months. On Thursday, it was great to be able to talk about football again!

We'll definitely find a way to get together for the play-off games if City can manage to hang in there. But regardless of what happens from here on in, in my opinion it's already so much better than just cancelling the season would have been.

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I agree, and although I had no hugely strong opinions about it I suppose I was leaning more towards cancelling the season than not. I certainly didn't expect to be straight back in to footy mode. I guess that's what 2 wins on the trot can do.

I've been putting the telly in the garden when it's sunny and having a mate round to watch whatever footy's on, few beers, some food, light the chimnea when it cools down a bit later on, heaven

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I went and had a drink with one of my closest friends on Thursday evening. We did the same three weeks ago. On the first occasion, it was great simply to catch up, not having seen each other for months. On Thursday, it was great to be able to talk about football again!

We'll definitely find a way to get together for the play-off games if City can manage to hang in there. But regardless of what happens from here on in, in my opinion it's already so much better than just cancelling the season would have been.

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Absolutely. It's opened things up for me. I use football as a way of punctuating my working week, i really means quite a lot to me and i've missed it. I'm really pleased for Glatzel and Harris. All those who wanted Football cancelled because of covid 19 are officially idiots!

Obviously the two wins really help but it does prove what football means, I was excited for days before the Preston game and now the Charlton game is a perfect midweek boost. So glad now that we’re playing again, just hope it all goes off covid free or as near as dammit.

I did say at the start of this thread that behind closed doors football wasn't for me, especially after watching a German game, where there was an eerie silence.
I must admit though, since the English game started back up, I've really enjoyed it, now that they've added the sound of the crowd ( Great Human league track).
Even the cardboard cut outs at Elland Rd added a bit to it 😁
Have City timed their run to perfection?

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

I did say at the start of this thread that behind closed doors football wasn't for me, especially after watching a German game, where there was an eerie silence.
I must admit though, since the English game started back up, I've really enjoyed it, now that they've added the sound of the crowd ( Great Human league track).
Even the cardboard cut outs at Elland Rd added a bit to it ��
Have City timed their run to perfection?

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Crowd sound is added to TV feeds only... not sure if I prefer that tbh.

Interesting (if you're interested in this sort of thing....) to see Glatzel's ex-team Heidenheim make the last play-off place yesterday, edging out none other than Hamburger SV who needed to draw at home (to Sandhausen) and lost 5-1!

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Originally Posted by Swiss Peter

Interesting (if you're interested in this sort of thing....) to see Glatzel's ex-team Heidenheim make the last play-off place yesterday, edging out none other than Hamburger SV who needed to draw at home (to Sandhausen) and lost 5-1!

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0-0 after the first leg, second leg on Monday night. Werder Bremen looked down and out before the lockdown break, but have battled back to at least give themselves a chance.

Still enjoying the return. Some great games and fine goals in the top two divisions and some real drama in the play-offs too.

Contrary to what the doom-mongers were suggesting, there were zero positive Covid-19 test results from the latest batch of tests in the Championship earlier in the week. More than 3,000 players and staff were tested at the 24 clubs and all came up negative.

I guess all those City fans who wanted the season abandoned and said they wouldn't watch football without crowds must be feeling a bit awkward right now.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Still enjoying the return. Some great games and fine goals in the top two divisions and some real drama in the play-offs too.

Contrary to what the doom-mongers were suggesting, there were zero positive Covid-19 test results from the latest batch of tests in the Championship earlier in the week. More than 3,000 players and staff were tested at the 24 clubs and all came up negative.

I guess all those City fans who wanted the season abandoned and said they wouldn't watch football without crowds must be feeling a bit awkward right now.

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There are lots of cardiff fans who do not enjoy watching football without crowds

Why would they be feeling awkward ?

City won , it's not the same but city won

Be pleased for once in your miserable existence

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

There are lots of cardiff fans who do not enjoy watching football without crowds

Why would they be feeling awkward ?

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Do you ever actually read this message board properly?

There are a number of regular contributors who were dead set against the season restarting and said they wouldn't watch any matches if it did. I read similar comments from fans on other social media platforms before the restart. I suspect a few have changed their minds now.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Still enjoying the return. Some great games and fine goals in the top two divisions and some real drama in the play-offs too.

Contrary to what the doom-mongers were suggesting, there were zero positive Covid-19 test results from the latest batch of tests in the Championship earlier in the week. More than 3,000 players and staff were tested at the 24 clubs and all came up negative.

I guess all those City fans who wanted the season abandoned and said they wouldn't watch football without crowds must be feeling a bit awkward right now.

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The virus is barely out there in the public at the moment so I’m not surprised at all. Out of 3 million people in Wales was there even 30 new cases?

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Do you ever actually read this message board properly?

There are a number of regular contributors who were dead set against the season restarting and said they wouldn't watch any matches if it did. I read similar comments from fans on other social media platforms before the restart. I suspect a few have changed their minds now.

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I have no idea what you are talking about

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

0-0 after the first leg, second leg on Monday night. Werder Bremen looked down and out before the lockdown break, but have battled back to at least give themselves a chance.

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Crazy if both Hamburg and Bremen end up in Bundesliga 2.

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Originally Posted by ccfc_is_my_life

Crowd sound is added to TV feeds only... not sure if I prefer that tbh.

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Watching without the crowd noise is horrendous. At least with the noise you feel there is some sort of occasion going on. When left to the shouts of the players, it’s reduced to a parks kick about feel to it unfortunately.

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Originally Posted by Dave Blue

Watching without the crowd noise is horrendous. At least with the noise you feel there is some sort of occasion going on. When left to the shouts of the players, it’s reduced to a parks kick about feel to it unfortunately.

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I'm the opposite - I much prefer it without the fake crowd noise. I've been choosing that when the option's available. Been talking about this with a few friends and family members this week, and it seems some of us who used to attend reserve games prefer it without the canned crowd, while those who never bothered with any reserve games prefer the fake background noise.

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Originally Posted by Swiss Peter

Crazy if both Hamburg and Bremen end up in Bundesliga 2.

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Don't think Bremen have been in Bundesliga 2 since the early-Eighties.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

There are lots of cardiff fans who do not enjoy watching football without crowds

Why would they be feeling awkward ?

City won , it's not the same but city won

Be pleased for once in your miserable existence

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They must be plastics. dedicated city fans have been all to used to watching games with out fans!!!!! :hehe:

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Now that it's about to happen, how do you feel about football returning in the UK? A few weeks ago, a reasonable percentage of this board's contributors were saying stuff like they didn't think it was appropriate, they weren't interested in football without fans in the stadiums, they wouldn't bother watching it, it's all about money and nothing else, etc. So how are those people feeling now that it's about to happen?

Personally, I'm really looking forward to it. For starters, it will be nice to have something new to talk about with friends and family. Although football behind closed doors is obviously far from ideal, I've felt all along that it's a much better solution than simply cancelling the remainder of the 2019/20 season, which is what plenty of people seemed to want. From my perspective, it will also be good to be able to have a bet on games again - something I really enjoy.

While football matches being played behind closed doors is clearly not a normal situation, the sport getting going again feels to me like another step towards normality. I'm really pleased it's happening.

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I was sceptical about it returning but it does not appear to have caused any issues apart from the scousers getting over excited and unruly.

The positive point is that being able to watch sport on tv is for many an important pastime that can make long days bearable.

As a spectacle, with or without crowd noise, it has been flat and the incessant chatter of commentators and pundits seems even worse.

But our results have overridden the negatives and made our matches must watch TV and I guess that will continue whist we have a chance of the play offs.

For me, the fans have become less and less of a factor in watching games on TV. Probably starting with all seater stadia. When I was a kid I was fascinated by the Kop, the Gallowgate End, The Jungle, etc. Every season there would be the odd game that the Bob Bank seemed full and it was amazing. That's all gone now though. Maybe it's because I've been starved of football. Maybe it's because now we actually have a chance of getting into the playoffs. Maybe it's because I don't go to games anymore. I don't know. But at this moment, I honestly don't care about whether or not there are fans in the stands. I just want to watch the football.