Wow this can’t go on any longer they are going to have to take a break and see where they are at after it.

I fear the season won’t finish.

Agreed, no way can football carry on like this for the next few weeks.

Had to laugh at the headline in the Daily Mail website
Game called off JUST 7 hours before kickoff - if only !

There’s basically two approaches now; carry on no matter what, tell all teams they have to field teams and let them work out how, or just put the lot on hold.

I’d personally go for the former because as soon as you restarted, the whole cycle will carry on. Suspect it’ll be pulled though.

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:38 pm

There’s basically two approaches now; carry on no matter what, tell all teams they have to field teams and let them work out how, or just put the lot on hold.

I’d personally go for the former because as soon as you restarted, the whole cycle will carry on. Suspect it’ll be pulled though.

Agree.
I'd go for the former - the results will be more or less the same at the end of the season.

Spurs game off, you say?

Quelle surprise.

Nonayforever wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:44 pm

Agree.
I'd go for the former - the results will be more or less the same at the end of the season.

Agree. This approach probably slightly favours the bigger teams with bigger squads and better Academy players but otherwise I can’t see a) the point of squads (Watford allegedly had 3 positives yesterday), or b) where it will end because it’s not going away before Spring.

Bungling Boris is totally clueless and lurching from one crisis to another
This started with given people the chance not to wear masks and the choose to mingle uncaccinated.
Potter at Brighton is right players who are taken ill need naming and clubs need to more proactive with their testing regimes
Watford must have known some players were ill prior to setting off.

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:59 pm

players who are taken ill need naming

For what reason do players who have contracted covid need naming?

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:59 pm

Bungling Boris is totally clueless and lurching from one crisis to another
This started with given people the chance not to wear masks and the choose to mingle uncaccinated.
Potter at Brighton is right players who are taken ill need naming and clubs need to more proactive with their testing regimes
Watford must have known some players were ill prior to setting off.

Didn’t they set off on Tuesday? Players then notified the club they had symptoms weds morning, took tests that came back positive mid afternoon? Not sure what your trying to insinuate?

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:59 pm

Bungling Boris is totally clueless and lurching from one crisis to another
This started with given people the chance not to wear masks and the choose to mingle uncaccinated.
Potter at Brighton is right players who are taken ill need naming and clubs need to more proactive with their testing regimes
Watford must have known some players were ill prior to setting off.

So if people were wearing masks, there'd be no increase in positive cases?

Everyone should be hoping that this variant really is weaker than Delta or we are completely f**ked

I can think of one club that will be pushing very, very hard for all remaining games in December and early January to be postponed.

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:38 pm

There’s basically two approaches now; carry on no matter what, tell all teams they have to field teams and let them work out how, or just put the lot on hold.

I’d personally go for the former because as soon as you restarted, the whole cycle will carry on. Suspect it’ll be pulled though.

Seeing as clubs have a 25 man squad, plus U-23's plus whatever else then there's no reason games can't actually go ahead.

Needs strong leadership. Lets pause it now for a restart 1st Feb, allowing time to get back up to speed with a mini pre-season. Then take time playing the season out after a Jan window, taking advantage of the lack of a summer tournament to play into June or later if required

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:20 pm

Seeing as clubs have a 25 man squad, plus U-23's plus whatever else then there's no reason games can't actually go ahead.

To be fair If what I have read online is correct Derby currently have 9 players that are able to play (including u23s).

How can we expect them to continue unless they draft in the U18s

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:33 pm

To be fair If what I have read online is correct Derby currently have 9 players that are able to play (including u23s).

How can we expect them to continue unless they draft in the U18s

In defence if Derby, they were only just about able to put together a squad for the season so I understand why they'd be short of players.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:20 pm

Seeing as clubs have a 25 man squad, plus U-23's plus whatever else then there's no reason games can't actually go ahead.

Forcing teams to play isn't the answer, completely destroys any fairness and integrity in the game. If you saw the farce in Portugal, you would agree it's not fair or intelligent to force teams to play.

I know I'm dreaming but right now the Minister of Sport, the bigwigs in the PL, EFL, FA, club chairmen and the PFA (oh, and the Home Secretary too) should all be meeting (virtually of course). The TV companies would have to be involved (unfortunately). People on big salaries should be working flat-out to reach a solution. But I'm not holding my breath.

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:32 pm

Needs strong leadership. Lets pause it now for a restart 1st Feb, allowing time to get back up to speed with a mini pre-season. Then take time playing the season out after a Jan window, taking advantage of the lack of a summer tournament to play into June or later if required

There's Nations league games scheduled for June.

Took over an hour for both clubs and the PL to confirm it was off despite the decision being made at 12pm

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:42 pm

Forcing teams to play isn't the answer, completely destroys any fairness and integrity in the game. If you saw the farce in Portugal, you would agree it's not fair or intelligent to force teams to play.

It's called asking clubs to use their full squads, U-23's otherwise there's no real point in clubs having these extra players.
I'm aware of that Portugal game where they couldn't even field a subs Bench worth of players but this is different.

We either halt the season or we ask the club's to actually use all these players they've got.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:42 pm

Forcing teams to play isn't the answer, completely destroys any fairness and integrity in the game. If you saw the farce in Portugal, you would agree it's not fair or intelligent to force teams to play.

I suspect if teams were forced to play regardless then you'd see the clubs implement much stricter covid protocols (which may or may not be a good thing overall).

"I think the path we're on, I'm not sure how long we can stay on it for"

According to Graham Potter. Although he may have been talking about Brighton's form.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:53 pm

It's called asking clubs to use their full squads, U-23's otherwise there's no real point in clubs having these extra players.
I'm aware of that Portugal game where they couldn't even field a subs Bench worth of players but this is different.

We either halt the season or we ask the club's to actually use all these players they've got.

I agree with you but we have to ask ourselves how often do we see the words "fairness and integrity" linked to the activities of the Premier League. Especially the so called "big 6".

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:53 pm

It's called asking clubs to use their full squads, U-23's otherwise there's no real point in clubs having these extra players.
I'm aware of that Portugal game where they couldn't even field a subs Bench worth of players but this is different.

We either halt the season or we ask the club's to actually use all these players they've got.

u23's aren't first team players, they are in the u23s for a reason, being forced to play those players in relegation 6 pointers worth hundreds of millions of £ is a stupid idea.

Lancasterclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:14 pm

Everyone should be hoping that this variant really is weaker than Delta or we are completely f**ked

If it is weaker and has far fewer hospitalisations and becomes the dominant variant could it be our way out of this awful situation?

RMutt wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:06 pm

If it is weaker and has far fewer hospitalisations and becomes the dominant variant could it be our way out of this awful situation?

I did wonder the same myself. If it spreads a lot quicker but is quite mild (hopefully) then would it be a good thing in the long run?

RMutt wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:06 pm

If it is weaker and has far fewer hospitalisations and becomes the dominant variant could it be our way out of this awful situation?

Thats the hope

Course, its pretty much the only hope now

Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:11 pm

I did wonder the same myself. If it spreads a lot quicker but is quite mild (hopefully) then would it be a good thing in the long run?

The hope is that this new strain is the final fling. Though there seems little hard evidence it is milder, that seems to be the smart money… a highly contagious but milder final burst. However, the new variant could only be the first of the next generation of mutation, each one potentially containing virus immunity to vaccines.

I still think it very much in the balance whether ‘Christmas’ will be in virtual lockdown… the direction of travel, or if the Government will gamble that the results are not those expected, by seemingly every biological expert, that we will pay a heavy price in the new year.

The Governments policy is based on economic not welfare considerations, and Britain’s lack of action will lead the rest of Europe to impose extra sanctions against the UK, just as France has done this morning.

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:49 pm

There's Nations league games scheduled for June.

All due respect to the Nations League games, they can wait, if need be

A pause must be imminent at this point, and I cannot see AFCON happening either. Football needs curtailing to February at the earliest you'd think.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:03 pm

u23's aren't first team players, they are in the u23s for a reason, being forced to play those players in relegation 6 pointers worth hundreds of millions of £ is a stupid idea.

They're in the U-23's because many clubs are just gathering them up and selling on for profit where possible, because they know most won't make it, they're just hoping to find the odd gem.

Brighton United off on Saturday too

They'll just have postpone the season until the new year... How can clubs and supporters make prepare with every match day under these conditions?

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:33 pm

They're in the U-23's because many clubs are just gathering them up and selling on for profit where possible, because they know most won't make it, they're just hoping to find the odd gem.

Are we talking about Chelsea or the rest of the league?

For all the moaners about Chelsea's incredible business model at youth level, Chelsea promote more youth team players than any other club, they develop more young players into first team players than any other club. A thriving academy most young players should dream to be apart of.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 3:08 pm

Are we talking about Chelsea or the rest of the league?

For all the moaners about Chelsea's incredible business model at youth level, Chelsea promote more youth team players than any other club, they develop more young players into first team players than any other club. A thriving academy most young players should dream to be apart of.

Every club does it, whilst I know you're enamoured with Chelsea's model it took a long time to be successful for them and involved them loaning out up to 40 players a season some years.

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:59 pm

Bungling Boris is totally clueless and lurching from one crisis to another
This started with given people the chance not to wear masks and the choose to mingle uncaccinated.
Potter at Brighton is right players who are taken ill need naming and clubs need to more proactive with their testing regimes
Watford must have known some players were ill prior to setting off.

I love it how people still think that wearing masks makes any difference whatsoever.

The pause needed may not be as long as some assume.

Chris Whitty today suggesting since it's so transmissible it's going to rip through everyone and peak earlier than the previous wage, a very sharp but maybe shorter spike.

Given the sheer amount of support staff, managers, coaches, caterers, physios, kit people etc to support a squad of 25 it's impossible to bubble a team properly. Not even including families and friends who they will want to see over the coming weeks.

Should press pause now before they start forcing teams to play the U14s on the bench and leave themselves open to accusations of unfair competition because it won't affect all teams exactly the same at any one time.

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 3:50 pm

I love it how people still think that wearing masks makes any difference whatsoever.

This a genuine question, why have Dentists / Surgeons etc worn them for years if they don’t work?

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:25 pm

All due respect to the Nations League games, they can wait, if need be

That's the problem though, everyone in football is too greedy/self absorbed to show any compromise. UEFA wouldn't even cancel a set of meaningless friendlies last season when there was a huge fixture pile up, along with border restrictions.

Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 4:07 pm

This a genuine question, why have Dentists / Surgeons etc worn them for years if they don’t work?

Because once they put them on, they stay on. If they touch their mask, they replace it (or they're supposed to). That's a world away from people wearing different types of masks, pulling them in and out of their pocket and.not wearing them properly (below their nose, I see it every day!)

In all fairness, the occupations you mention were doing that long before anyone had heard of Covid.

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 4:15 pm

not wearing them properly (below their nose, I see it every day!)

I see plenty of that as well to be fair. Great intelligence indicator.

cancel the season, award us the title then wait for VAR to overturn the decision

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 4:42 pm

cancel the season, award us the title then wait for VAR to overturn the decision

Which they would if Kevin Friend is on VAR.

Really hope I’m not tempting fate here but despite ‘Armageddon” like warnings from the medical experts there are still apparently only relatively low numbers of Covid patients in East Lancs hospitals and only a handful on ventilators etc? NHS are swamped with elderly patients many of whom are unable to go home due to social care issues. It’s the same at this time of year virtually every year. Let’s hope that the current strain turns out to be less lethal than previous variants. Press and media are extremely dramatic in their warnings but I think that the more they hype it up the less believable some of their claims become.

They've just postponed another four games this weekend

Tall Paul wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 7:02 pm

They've just postponed another four games this weekend

If ours goes ahead we still won’t be first on MOTD

If we're the only game, do you think we'll be first?!