I'm sure I read somewhere that if there is an all English final, the match might be moved to England, to avoid two clubs from the same country having to go to Turkey, with or without fans, because of the Coronavirus situation there. Is a Wembley (or Villa, or Sheffield) location a more sensible solution? When have football decisions ever been sensible, anyway?
If fans were allowed, either Wembley or Villa Park would be the obvious venue. As it is, any neutral ground would do, and capacity isn’t an issue either. How about St. Mary’s?
Nyewood Lane, home of Bognor Regis Town FC. Because the stands have few seats, it will not be difficult to keep fans away from one another, it's totally open so ventilation will not be an issue, and the players will delight in the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of Bognor Regis. Also, the TV cameras will probably have to be placed practically on top of the pitch, providing a truly kinetic viewing experience. A memorable occasion for all involved.
Well done to Villareal on reaching their first European final, a club that is tiny in comparison to Arsenal in terms of income and support. It really will be a meeting of David and Goliath in the final, but, perhaps Emery's mastery in this competition will triumph again. I hope so!!
I'm actually more impressed with how Lampard managed to get a team with that much talent playing poorly. That there is a real achievement, winning with them should be easy.
Schad What sites and sounds are there at Bognor Regis, unless you count the Tesco bags blowing along the sea front ? It is one of those places that always sounds that it should be nice but it actually a bit if a dump. Stuck in an Edwardian time-warp. Inter Milan have trained at the Simply Health ground in Winchester and therefore would have a better claim to hosting European football. If you want scenery, I would recommend New Alresford's which has some nice views from the Sports Club balcony.
You might occasionally be able to hear the cries of a maudlin wind, but that's actually the vocals of The Cure's Robert Smith, who is a Bognor Regis resident.
I can only think of Prince Albert’s reputed last words ...”Bugger Bognor” and the trip I once took to the town, where, when passing the holiday camp there (Pontins?), my old man said “look at all that barbed wire they’ve put up to keep the inmates in”
Oh yes, (useless trivia alert which has been useful a couple of times in pub quizzes) of course. It’s one of the original sites isn’t it? First one was Skeggy, then Minehead .....
I've no idea of the evolution timeline but have memories of family get togethers there as day visitors to those doing time by the week. I had the choice at the age of 11 or twelve to spend a fortnight there with my Mum and Sister plus family or go with my dad, a school friend and an uncle on a camping trip to Italy in our Ford Consul, Italy won, I didn't take much persuading.