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LFC are 100% getting the trophy this season. I'm sure there are some that want to earn it over 38 games so rival fans won't talk crap, but everyone knows the trophy is coming. So its' really about doing this the right way. Health first, the financial future and sanctity of the game 2nd, then worry about all the rest.
As long as they are no better then 2nd on that list. 3rd if you believe the Invincibles were better.
Even though I am a United fan, and its fun to laugh about Liverpool not getting it this year, they deserve it with what they've done. 
I don't think so. I have ESPN+ and it is an amazing value for soccer generally, especially for those of us who have a USL team to watch. But I think FX has American rights to Bundesliga. ESPN+ does have Serie A, FA Cup (Magpies are still alive if it's not cancelled!), eredivisie, EFL Championship and League 1, Indian Super league, Champions/Europa, I think Australia, a couple randos like the Russian and German Cups, Copa del Rey, and MLS. There might be a few more.
I dunno. They were fading pretty fast. It's not inconceivable they could have lost out the rest of the season, maybe even be relegated.
I know I'm a broken record on this, but the pro/rel part is the fly in the ointment. I don't have a good solution for that one and don't think there is one. I don't think you can relegate a team that is even on points with two others, when they've played different schedules and have 9 games left. Somehow playing out the season behind closed doors isn't much better.
That Invincibles team had 12 draws. It's not even a discussion IMO. 34-2-2 (or whatever) is miles better.
Rub of the green ultimately. Something has to happen. But I think they try to spread the financial gain/pain somehow.
I think so but ESPN+ shows this on their offerings. Maybe they have different rounds or something.
Promotion/relegation is why they haven't ended early, imo. Look at baseball. They will simply shorten the season, and play it. Same with basketball.
I have to believe this too. LFC needed 2 wins, the title is theirs.
Easy to decide? You think the team in 18th place is going to meekly submit to relegation? Lawsuits everywhere.
This has less to do with Promotion/Relegation, and more to do with money - lost revenue from broadcasters and sponsors.
If the EP could figure out how to get their money, the Pro/Rel issue is easily decided.
I think this is an added factory. All the teams want their money and noone wants to lose it due to the TV contracts. But teams who have 9 or even 10 games left to survive relegation are going to push to avoid that first.
This has less to do with Promotion/Relegation, and more to do with money - lost revenue from broadcasters and sponsors.
If the EP could figure out how to get their money, the Pro/Rel issue is easily decided.
If PL gets their money then money solves the other issues.
Sort of.
Won't they have to play to get their money?
I've seen this with Ighalo. His Chineese team wants him back for the start of their season or to have him bought outright. United wants to keep him for the end of the season and isn't sure about buying him. Will be interesting to see how this gets resolved.
ESPN International owns the rights to Champions League but that is not for America. CBS owns the English rights starting next year and Univision retains the Spanish rights. for the US.
Correct, nothing is finalized. Players have to agree. But I can’t imagine that will be difficult.
I think they will play - behind closed doors, neutral venues.
Yes, its always about the money.
Loans are a problem, but expiring contracts can be just as difficult. Just looking at Chelsea, I'm thinking why would Willian, Pedro or Giroud extend? Especially if they can't pay a sweetner to the existing contract. They're looking for their next club - why bust your balls to get in shape and participate in this thing, risk injury, etc.? These guys have been great players for the club, but they don't owe Chelsea anything after June 30. There are probably dozens of players on teams up and down the table in similar situations. Think about the clubs in the middle of the pack, who aren't playing for anything in terms of top or bottom. The owners are desperate for leverage on their tv deal, but these players with expiring contracts have no incentive to come back and play.
I guess that depends on how much the open market will pay right now?
It again comes down to finances, not pitch sizes or home field advantage per say.
How are they gonna fit Bundesliga in the ESPN feed? Are they really gonna cover it like Fox did or just shove it behind a paid wall with all the others? Pretty disappointed that ESPN has Serie A but does very little with it on the actual TV besides random matches at 6:30 am or a seldom 2:45 EST match featuring one of the top match ups. At least when Fox Sports had Serie A rights games were shown exclusively on the network and it helped for me that AC Milan was still good then. Only way to watch most of Serie A or other matches is on the phone on on the last top if you have a TV adapter and hook it up through an HDMI cable which I have but that's a hassle to go through a bunch of wires in the back and hook up the lap top for 2 hours
I'm currently watching the Champions league final Thrashing that AC Milan gave 'Pool in what we refer to as The Revenge Match. God the names on these teams is legendary and the coaches. Ole Special One Jose Mourinho vs Carlo ANcellotti.
Dude they were falling so fast I think 2nd division is too nice. They would've been in 3rd division which is impressive relegation in any standards.
That was quick. I want them back on Fox or ESPN getting them. At the very least I can watch replays on my own time but if CBS gives CBS access to this I'm all in
This is true in Serie A where the 6th and 7th spot is within reach of everyone from 10-6 at this point. Milan has a tall task in the Coppa Italia vs Juve to win if its even played to reach the finals and even then victory isn't guaranteed so their best hope is to get one of the final 2 European spots as that could be huge in what they do for the Mercado. These things have huge effects around Europe for leagues and clubs. Theres already some pushback in EPL of teams possible filing legal action if the season is ended without all matches played.
But pro/reg and european spots is a huge issues, esp with the games in hand.
1 team in the relegation zone is 1-2 points behind 17 with a game in hand. Huge differnence in $$$.
Sheffield is 1-2 points behind United for 5th, with a game in hand. With City potentially banned, 5th means Chamions League and better $$, attract some players and Sheffield can solidify its future as a contender. Huge for them.
There's been chatter on Sky Sports Italy from the big guys that we might see a lot more player for player NBA type swaps then guys going for just cash this summer. There's belief smaller clubs who are loosing out on gate money and other match day revenue will more likely sell their better players for lower prices just because they need to sell them at this point. It's looking more like a buyers market for the summer experts are saying.
Great that means some of these clubs can't overspend. THere's talk from transfer experts that this whole Virus issue might be a blessing in disguise in terms of money lost will mean the market goes back down to a more normal transfer rates rather than players being sold to clubs for 2xs -3xs their market value.
