The international break presented the opportunity for the respective hierarchies at Manchester United and Liverpool to present themselves as saviours of the domestic game. Project Big Picture was announced, with top 6 Premier League clubs justifiably, given the supportive response, sensing that the EFL are so desperate for financial help they are willing to back what amounts to little more than a power grab.

 

On the weekend where the problem with the EFL’s failure to devise a plan to ease the financial burden on EFL clubs ready for introduction of mandatory testing below Premier League level was laid bare at Oxford where 2 positive COVID tests within the Crewe Alexandra team saw their game postponed at the Kassam half an hour before kick-off, it was another round of games without fans in attendance. With the cultural, financial and social damage being caused to EFL clubs, cornerstones of communities around the country, plain to see, all we can really do is urge you to sign this petition….

It was supposed to be the weekend when the EFL attendance pilots were ramped up however the government promptly stopped that with new Covid-19 restrictions, a severe dent in the hopes that supporters will be back at stadiums before the season's end. Discussions were held amidst genuine concerns over the futures of clubs, who rely on ticket sales as a main source of income. All very sombre, yet on the pitch the action still continued apace... 

It marked a weekend when the first sets of fans were allowed back into stadiums since lockdown came into effect in March, but with the government still fumbling the public message it is sadly very difficult to divert the narrative around Covid-19. Norwich, Blackpool, Shrewsbury and Carlisle were among 7 clubs to play host to 1,000 fans in EFL pilot events and here are a few talking points from the weekend in which fans began to walk back through the turnstiles....

Played out in front of empty stadiums, there was a overwhelmingly odd feel to the opening week of the 20/21 EFL season, but the court verdict on Macclesfield produced another instance of disheartening familiarity for its clubs. If some defenders haven't got quite got the memo the season has started yet, we have. Some talking points from the opening week and a half;