Sports Poets Society

Dove eravamo rimasti? Ah, sì: Leicester City-Aston Villa 4-0, monday night del 9 marzo: doppiette. Un altro mondo fa. Cento giorni esatti dopo, la Premier League ripartirà mercoledì 17 giugno con in campo ancora l'Aston Villa, ma al Villa Park, alle 19 contro la rivelazione Sheffield United.  Sottoclou gustosissimo che farà da aperitivo al piatto forte, alle 21.15, Manchester City-Arsenal. C'è molto oltre il calcio, in questa ripartenza.  Molto più che l'allievo e grande ex, Arteta, contro il maestro, Pep Guardiola.  Mikel è stato il primo contagiato dal coronavirus nel massimo campionato inglese.  Pep nella pandemia covid-19 ha perso, a Manresa il 6 aprile, la mamma 82enne Dolors Sala Carrió; e come il suo ex pupillo Messi ha donato un milione di euro in attrezzature mediche . C'è però anche molto calcio. Il City ha per la prima volta in stagione tutti a disposizione, compresi Sané e Laporte, che Pep aveva recuperato con troppa fretta...

Arsenal have a shot on goal during their friendly  match against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.  https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/08/premier-league-restart-preview-arsenal Mikel Arteta’s arrival had brought stability to a chaotic season – but the importance of the next 10 games could hardly be higher Nick Ames @NickAmes82 The Guardian - Mon 8 Jun 2020  What was the situation like when the league was suspended on 13 March? Mikel Arteta’s positive test for Covid-19 late on 12 March led a rapidly-unfolding series of events that brought the league to halt hours later. We will never know just how consequential that was to wider public health; for their part, Arsenal were already on red alert after several players had been forced to self-isolate, causing their match at Manchester City the previous day to be postponed. Casting this as the latest twist in a turbulent season seems slightly tawdry, but Arsenal were already at the point where...

Arsenal faced Charlton in a restart  friendly at an empty Emirates on 6 June https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/14/premier-league-restart-fans-preview-arsenal-liverpool Arsenal Before lockdown the idea of a trip to the Etihad was like the idea of a trip to the dentist : just hoping to get through it without needing to be numbed. But maybe playing in an empty stadium after such a long shutdown will throw form out of the window? Maybe. Is it right to restart?  I’m not sure it’s moral to ask players to risk infection for themselves and their families just to give us some entertainment. And the sanitised experience is going to be strange. It’s been bizarre to see subs distanced and masked in the Bundesliga while, on the pitch, the players are puffing and panting over each other. What I missed most … Having had to make do with press gossip about the futures of Aubameyang, Saka and co, I just can’t wait for some actual sport. What I m...

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/14/premier-league-restart-fans-preview-manchester-city-wolves Manchester City This is the first time we’ve had a fully fit squad this season, with Laporte and Leroy back. And the various changes should suit City: Pep’s cerebral and intensely detailed brand of football should be easier to imple ment given the lack of emotion in the fixtures, and the ability to make five subs . That helps the bigger clubs. Is it right to restart?  I was strongly against it when lockdown was still fresh and the infection/death rates were very high. Finishing the season on a points-per-game basis seemed the best option at that point. But as the situation in the UK has improved (slightly) and the Bundesliga has shown what’s possible , I’ve become more comfortable with it. I’m struggling to get excited about behind-closed-doors football, though. And from a City perspective, that’s a real shame. We’ve still got so much to play for in Europe ...

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/13/premier-league-restart-preview-no-11-manchester-city Pep Guardiola has one trophy in the bag and, boosted by Aymeric Laporte’s return , is targeting the Champions League Paul Wilson The Guardian - Sun 13 Jun 2020 What was the situation like when the league was suspended on 13 March City had more reason than most to rue the timing of the lockdown, coming as it did between the two legs of a Champions League knockout tie against Real Madrid . Having seemingly done the hard part with a 2-1 victory at the Bernabéu , Pep Guardiola and his players were denied the opportunity to advance to the last eight at home. Though they will get the chance at some point momentum and a degree of excitement will have been lost. In the Premier League Guardiola acknowledged Liverpool’s superiority many months ago but City remain on track to finish second, particularly given the signs that Leicester’s advance was stuttering . That said, ...

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/14/premier-league-emerges-from-lockdown-changed-hope-david-hytner Matches without atmosphere will be strange but making the best of a bad situation is better than leaving the game behind David Hytner The Guardian - Sun 14 Jun 2020 Most people can pinpoint the moment when it became real, the hot flush of panic when it dawned that coronavirus was not some far-off threat but rather one heading to our doorsteps, quickly, inexorably, hellbent on destruction. For English football, it came during the week that began with Leicester’s 4-0 Premier League drubbing of Aston Villa on Monday 9 March and moved through Liverpool’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Atlético Madrid on the Wednesday. What an uncomfortable night that was at Anfield, thousands of diehards wanting to be there but, in their hearts, wondering why they had been allowed. Was it really safe ? In Madrid, parents had been prevented from sending t...