https://twitter.com/_pauljoyce/status/1 ... 1403812872

Surely this is going to change by tomorrow one would have thought

Apparently Everton have had a request to postpone the game rejected

Must be close to the required threshold.

Time yet.

I’m taking that as the match is unlikely to go ahead. I can’t see Everton not going back tomorrow with more cases, or an extra injury or two.

No infections in Burnley squad. Cornet got it but being injured was away from everyone else.

PL said that it's too early to make a decision but they'd look at it again two hours before kick off.

So in short it's off, as I'd bet a penny to a pound the have more positive cases crop up by Sunday...

They clearly want it postponed, so it'll no doubt happen

With our team news

https://www.uptheclarets.com/no-infecti ... urned-down

Bet they manage to find more positive cases before then...

Time to ask for proof to be given by teams. I don't really get what they're trying to get out of it. Prolong the season? Why?!

Five infections at Everton plus injuries

You'd have thought clubs would have to provide documentary proof of any positive test.
.
However, that can no doubt be easily rigged by any club.

Got to love conspiracy theories haha

What would happen if we had no COVID cases, but couldn't field a team due to injuries alone?

I shan't be travelling over, now. The game will 100% be postponed.

The sooner we acknowledge that football cannot continue under these rules the sooner we can get the season abandoned. At this rate we're going to end up with something like 8 games in hand, which just isn't feasible.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:13 pm

Got to love conspiracy theories haha

No real conspiracy theories here I can see. Benitez has made it clear he wants it off

Will be off, I honestly think with the cases at the moment being so high it might not be such a bad idea.

And that’s the first time I’ve said that in 2 years

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:13 pm

Got to love conspiracy theories haha

Nope. Just common sense and a bit of experience.

Everton have 9 fit players plus 3 keepers, 5 out with covid and 6 injuries.

It's hard to see this game going ahead. You just hope they give people enough notice this time.

Rombald wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:17 pm

No real conspiracy theories here I can see. Benitez has made it clear he wants it off

It was more aimed at people suggesting it can be easily rigged.

Will be off, they’ll get a couple more cases and the PL will relent a few hours before KO.

claretandy wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:21 pm

Everton have 9 fit players plus 3 keepers, 5 out with covid and 6 injuries.

Not quite correct - Everton have 9 SENIOR fit players plus 3 keepers, 5 out with covid and 6 injuries.

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:18 pm

Will be off, I honestly think with the cases at the moment being so high it might not be such a bad idea.

And that’s the first time I’ve said that in 2 years

Just knock on the head for a few weeks and class it as a winter break, as Scotland have sensibly decided to do, and yes I'm well aware that the natural winter shutdown would have been happening up here in early January anyway, but this farce surely can't continue as it presently is being allowed to do.

The fixtures are falling by the wayside at a rate of knots anyhow, so who'd notice the difference, and if needs be extend the campaign into June/July.

At least then fans know the drill, instead of wondering whether games are going to be cancelled at short notice.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:32 pm

Not quite correct - Everton have 9 SENIOR fit players plus 3 keepers, 5 out with covid and 6 injuries.

I understood under the new rules youth players were now being considered in such cases, so therefore if they only have 9 SENIOR fit players that's their problem I'm afraid.

They've used 28 players in the first team so far this season. They've more than enough available to play.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:38 pm

I understood under the new rules youth players were now being considered in such cases, so therefore if they only have 9 SENIOR fit players that's their problem I'm afraid.

Yep, and they played a lot last game so I assume they’ll now class as having PL experience.

Call me sceptical but I think when Rafa wants it off as much as he does, the Everton medical team will find a way to find reasons to request another postponement before Boxing Day!

There is not. Chance this game will be played.
The keepers will get it next, but it will not be called off till Boxing Day.

Two games already called off, they will fall like a pack of cards.

My 'concern' is how this backlog of games we are going to have may impact us later in the season. Yes, if we can get a bit of momentum it may work in our favour. However, with a squad that lacks any real strength in depth, a couple of unfortunate injuries at the wrong time could see us really up against it, whilst also having to play every four days against more well rested teams in an effort to make up the lost ground.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:32 pm

Not quite correct - Everton have 9 SENIOR fit players plus 3 keepers, 5 out with covid and 6 injuries.

Do they only have a squad of 23?

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:38 pm

I understood under the new rules youth players were now being considered in such cases, so therefore if they only have 9 SENIOR fit players that's their problem I'm afraid.

I understand that if they have nine fit SENIOR outfield players then they need one u23 to play and they are OK.

We are going to be playing Saturday Tuesday Thursday towards the end of the season. I can’t imagine Fifa/Uefa allowing the season to be extended as they are internationals in June and that is where they make their money.
As always it benefits the big clubs, if they have to play 3 a week they have the squads to do that. It’s boll*cks.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:32 pm

Not quite correct - Everton have 9 SENIOR fit players plus 3 keepers, 5 out with covid and 6 injuries.

Absolutely amazed the league are letting the game go ahead if this is the case.

Especially given that one of the 9 players is Calvert Lewin coming back from 3 months out.

talk about integrity of the game.

Getting beyond a joke now....games in hand won't help us at all...I'd knock it on the head for a week or two,but the only thing that matters is Sky have game to show over the holidays

Job's fooked!

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 2:41 pm

Yep, and they played a lot last game so I assume they’ll now class as having PL experience.

Call me sceptical but I think when Rafa wants it off as much as he does, the Everton medical team will find a way to find reasons to request another postponement before Boxing Day!

Steady on fella, the geordie has already pointed out that suggesting things would be manipulated to achieve a cancellation is merely a conspiracy theory.

These tests are open to abuse pure and simple. There’s that much at stake here it will be classed as another weapon in a clubs armoury to be used to ensure their goals.

The whole situation is utterly pathetic. Just bin this season and start again in August. We stay up and Rovers stay down. Perfect

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:12 pm

The whole situation is utterly pathetic. Just bin this season and start again in August. We stay up and Rovers stay down. Perfect

This is the only option we have left now. What a complete and utter sh1tshow we've got ourselves into.

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:14 pm

This is the only option we have left now. What a complete and utter sh1tshow we've got ourselves into.

What do you mean "got ourselves into"? We haven't cried off once. Nowt we can do if no-one wants to play us.

Nothing we can do about these situations-all down to the dishonesty and creativity of other PL sides

scouseclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:30 pm

What do you mean "got ourselves into"? We haven't cried off once. Nowt we can do if no-one wants to play us.

Exactly! seems they're all running scared, and I doubt this enforced break will be of much benefit to us, as we were just starting to show signs of getting back to better form these past few games.

scouseclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:30 pm

What do you mean "got ourselves into"? We haven't cried off once. Nowt we can do if no-one wants to play us.

"We" obviously did not mean Burnley. Thanks.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:00 pm

Absolutely amazed the league are letting the game go ahead if this is the case.

Especially given that one of the 9 players is Calvert Lewin coming back from 3 months out.

talk about integrity of the game.

But it isn't the case. As Sproggy pointed out, they have used 28 players in league games this season. If they have 11 out, they have 17 left including the 3 goalkeepers, and even that is based on the idea that those 28 are all the players at the club. I wouldn't be surprised if they have one or two more who played in the League Cup. They have more than enough to play.

dsr wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:40 pm

But it isn't the case. As Sproggy pointed out, they have used 28 players in league games this season. If they have 11 out, they have 17 left including the 3 goalkeepers, and even that is based on the idea that those 28 are all the players at the club. I wouldn't be surprised if they have one or two more who played in the League Cup. They have more than enough to play.

But tomorrow they will find more positive tests. And if that isn't enough to get the game postponed, they'll find a few more on Christmas Day. And if that isn't enough...

Team's that can't make a team from the massive amount of players registered with them should have to forfeit the game and the 3 point's given to the other team, injuries shouldn't come into it.

dsr wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:40 pm

But it isn't the case. As Sproggy pointed out, they have used 28 players in league games this season. If they have 11 out, they have 17 left including the 3 goalkeepers, and even that is based on the idea that those 28 are all the players at the club. I wouldn't be surprised if they have one or two more who played in the League Cup. They have more than enough to play.

Yes I am sure they have let loads of kids get a few mins here and there.

It’s just a bit of a joke.

The team that Everton put out is going to feel like a league cup game rather than a game in the best league in the world.

Look it’s great for us but it makes a mockery of the league

20 games postponed in the PL and EFL on Boxing Day thus far, so it's not just Burnley who'll have to catch up on games.

You do have to pose the question, if this was an FA Cup tie would Everton be forced to field a side come what may, I strongly suspect they would, or otherwise forfeit the match, but for some reason the rules are different when it comes to the holy grail of the PL.

a winter break after the boxing day fixture is long overdue in England imho.

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:14 pm

What a complete and utter sh1tshow we've got ourselves into.

Really! Care to explain? Who is the 'we'?

Leisure wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 3:52 pm

Really! Care to explain? Who is the 'we'?

The Premier League.

You can be almost guaranteed that Everton will pull another stunt before boxing day . Most likely covid related .