Such is the fear of fiscal meltdown due to Corona Virus 19, that football authorities througout the globe are looking at any and every option to ensure their respective seasons can be brought to fruition. The implications are enormous, they are particularly focusing attention in England due to the massive TV and rights deals that are applicable both nationally and internationally, in excess of £5,000,000,000 is at stake and no one wants to be onthe losing end of any negotiated settlement.

How long is a piece of string? No matter what you think, the answer is nobody knows, except that it is the same length at both ends! The will they won't they stance regarding the completion of the Barclays Premier League, the EFL, the Champion's League, the Europa Cup and all of Europe's domestic cup and league competitions has created more questions than answers.

Inevitably the Barclays Premier and EFL football clubs have come to the conclusion, in a similar way to how Australia did when canceling the Formula One grand Prix at the eleventh hour, that they can only sanction the playing of games behind closed doors in order to try and prevent the spread of The COVID-19 Corona virus. However with the situation being so fluid, it now transpires that all games will be postponed for an initial two week period but with the potential for the season to either terminate early or for all results to be nullified and the season played again next year!

Due to the rapid spread of Coronavirus 19, the advice being given by the chief medical officer is being updated on an hourly basis, consequently there is more than a distinct chance that West Ham United's crucial home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers due to be played at the London Stadium will be postponed.

Arsenal: Leno, Sokratis, Mari, Luiz, Saka, Xhaka, Ceballos, Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang, Nketiah. Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Lacazette, Nelson, Willock, Guendouzi, Martinelli.
West Ham: Fabianski, Ngakia, Ogbonna, Diop, Cresswell, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio, Haller. Subs: Randolph, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Anderson, Lanzini, Snodgrass, Soucek

There was a time when Manuel Pellegrini used to do his obligatory pre-match presser for the Barclays Premier League with hopeful references as to when one of his highest earners would be fit enough to play, Pellegrini has gone now but the player in question is still at the club, drawing an enormous salary and will be beginning the third and final year of his lucrative contract next summer and is still injured!

Having an injury list as long as your arm, a list that in the past would have had Old 'arry bringing out his "down to the bare bones" one liner, David Moyes could be forgiven for thinking his 'second coming' was cursed. Now however the situation is much rosier, only 'lonely' Jack Wilshere remains on the long term injury list along with Ryan Fredericks because injury prone Andry Yarmolenko has returned to fitness, and is training without any new issues.

West Ham: Fabianksi, Ngakia, Diop, Ogbonna, Creswell, Rice, Noble, Antonio, Fornals, Bowen, Haller. Substitutes: Randolph, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Anderson, Lanzini, Snodgrass
Southampton: McCarthy, Ward-Prowse, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Armstrong, Smallbone, Hojbjerg, Boufal, Obafemi, Long. Substitutes: Gunn, Vestergaard, Ings, Adams, Romeu, Walker-Peters, Valery.

Often when a new manager arrives at a football club he has already made certain decisions regarding which players he 'fancies', this tried and trusted technique is designed to ensure that there are no nasty surprises, however the downside is that unknown talent can end up going by the by.

If as a viewer you were able to watch the Liverpool v West Ham game with sub titles instead of commentary, then you would have witnessed a spirited but eventually fruitless display by a battling Hammers side against 'the best team in the world'. Unfortunately SKY having a Liverpool stalwart as well as a Manchester United crony heavily involved in the 'match day experience' ensured any enjoyment Hammers fans had was kept to a minimum.