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The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur news and links for Thursday, May 7

No fans. Now what?

Soccer - Carling Cup - Final - Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Wembley Stadium Photo by Mike Egerton - PA Images via Getty Images

Hello, all!

Today we have former Tottenham defender Teemu Tainio rocking a Carling Cup winners’ medal.

Ramble of the Day

A couple of months ago, we asked: What would we do without football? As a few leagues around the world begin to plot returns, the question has flipped: What will football do without us?

A number of people have taken a first stab at the answer, with Borussia Mönchengladbach sharing photos we’ve all probably seen at this point. The cutouts make the desired impact from a distance, though I must admit I am more than slightly creeped out by the close up shot. As weird as it might be for me, it will probably be weirder for the players that may take to the pitch and really, anyone inside that stadium.

Imagine all those cutouts, grinning but motionless, especially after we’ve all grown accustomed to having living and breathing people sitting at sporting events. One could pair this with an app some are saying is being developed so supporters can cheer and boo from the comfort of their own homes. I’ll wait before assigning truth to this, but I will consider the idea an interesting complement to the cutouts in seats. I’m not entirely sure it eliminates the terrifying nature of having cutouts stare at you, motionless while sound is coming from elsewhere.

There is another idea possibly being contemplated by Sky: CGI fans. I will try not to take the idea too seriously for now, but with this we can eliminate a spooky environment for anyone in the stadium (unless you think closed door matches are inherently creepy, but then I ask: Is it creepier than having cutouts stare at you, with or without imported sound). Good CGI won’t spook the at-home audience, either, though opens up the broadcaster to glitches. They could think it was a problem, and maybe it is but ... it also might just be funny, like a good EA FIFA glitch.

tl;dr: Are any ideas to simulate the supporter experience while respecting social distancing guidelines good, or are they just slightly funny?

Links of the Day

Coronavirus:

Today’s longer read: John Duerden on the K-League as it prepares to finally begin its season and as coronavirus infection rates decrease in South Korea for The Guardian