ARTICLE: Luton game will need a new date

[rincon]

A bit hard on luton here I think
They probably deep down, never expected promotion this year. Yes their ground needs work but it's quirky and has character and it's good to see teams like Luton make it up into the big league, it puts the big boys noses out of joint and adds to the colour of the league.
Not the best thing from a Burnley point of view, maybe, but it may work out for the better who knows. All the best for Luton this season, I'd sooner they stay up than most of the other sides.

[Rick_Muller]

I was thinking if we should ask for the Man City game to be postponed because the Culvert work may not be finished…

[box_of_frogs]

Whilst unsurprisingly the ground isn’t ready, I don’t see why we can’t switch the fixture. I know the horse fiddlers are at home too, but they’ll only have 10k on (don’t know who they’re playing). Or ours could be moved to Sunday?! It’s literally easy.

[MDWat]

We’ve refused to change the fixture to the best of my knowledge. We could have, but didn’t want to.

[jdrobbo]

We’ve refused to change the fixture to the best of my knowledge. We could have, but didn’t want to.

And that’s the right thing to do, in my opinion. Four consecutive home games….nah

[IanMcL]

This postponement should never have been permitted. A reversal of the fixtures, ok but not a postponement. Mo game is postponed in the prem, except by weather that is impossible, the plague or a cup clash.

I fear it will dramatically affect the rest of the season.

We have Manchester City and although we are going to win, there is a slight chance we may not!

Then we miss. That could leave us adrift and never in a position to catch up or mentally affected by being a game behind.

It was obvious that the work schedule was impossible. They should play elsewhere or reverse the fixture.

[ClaretTony]

To be fair, they have known for over a year what would need doing if they went up. But they have only known for a couple of months that it does need doing.

They’ve known Kenilworth Road needed replacing since the 1980s and done nothing about it.

I'm with thehistorylecturer62. So much was made clear to them eighteen months ago what was needed should they go up and they've been delaying and delaying on a new ground for so, so long.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Why would they start work before knowing they were promoted?

[ClaretTony]

Why would they start work before knowing they were promoted?

They were in the play offs the year before, made them again this year. They knew how much work would be involved and how long it would take. Quite why they waited until they'd won the final while doing nothing is their issue but every club knows its ground has to be ready for a new season and every club knows the rules.

[Rick_Muller]

Simple reason for them not updating Kenilworth Road before knowing about promotion is that they couldn’t afford to. Especially considering they’re trying to build a new stadium too.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Clubs like that are not going to gamble that amount of money on ground improvements prior to knowing they’d actually get promoted to the league that requires them.

Had they spent that money they’d likely have to cut back on the playing budget, especially, as pointed out above, their plans to move to a new ground.

[northeastclaret]

They shouldn’t be able to gain an advantage by the postponement, if they had been told they would have to play on a neutral ground if theirs wasn’t ready they may have got it sorted quicker.

[northeastclaret]

The other advantage they have gained is that, because of their late promotion, when they play us they will have probably signed several players that wouldn’t have been available for the first fixture.

Then again even though we have had six weeks more preparation for transfers at the moment, the same may apply to us . Hopefully not though.

[ClaretTony]

Clubs like that are not going to gamble that amount of money on ground improvements prior to knowing they’d actually get promoted to the league that requires them.

Had they spent that money they’d likely have to cut back on the playing budget, especially, as pointed out above, their plans to move to a new ground.

But clubs know they have to prepare for every eventuality. They will now be fined by the Premier League for failing to fulfil a fixture. You know the rules when you go into a league. Even Blackpool got their mess of a Gene Kelly sorted in a matter of a few weeks with all the extra broadcasting stuff, although in fairness it's not much different other than the roof.

Luton were still using the old camera on scaffolding last season for games. They can't even get the cameras in for VAR although I'm sure many of us would consider that a bonus. I have some sympathy with them but they really should have been better prepared.

[quoonbeatz]

100% the Premier league's fault this. There has to be some leeway given for any club coming up and they should be doing everything they can to assist if they're that bothered about their ridiculous 'standards'. It would have been easy enough to build into the fixtures algorithm that they don't play any of their early games at home as a last resort.

[thehistorylecturer62]

It is indeed the PL who are at fault ..

If they are going to have ground grading standards they should do as the SPL have done in the past and refuse entry to anyone who doesn’t meet the deadline / arrange a suitable groundshare or what is the point in having minimum standards ?

[randomclaret2]

Liverpool are also struggling to have their new Anfield Road stand finished in time for their first home fixture

[aclaretinstevenage]

I can't see why the game could not have been switched to the soulless Stadium MK which is vacant on that day (as it is most game days) as Franchise are away at Colcehester.

[TheFamilyCat]

This postponement should never have been permitted. A reversal of the fixtures, ok but not a postponement. Mo game is postponed in the prem, except by weather that is impossible, the plague or a cup clash.

I fear it will dramatically affect the rest of the season.

We have Manchester City and although we are going to win, there is a slight chance we may not!

Then we miss. That could leave us adrift and never in a position to catch up or mentally affected by being a game behind.

It was obvious that the work schedule was impossible. They should play elsewhere or reverse the fixture.

I agree. Sheffield United will have already won the league by then.

[thehistorylecturer62]

I can't see why the game could not have been switched to the soulless Stadium MK which is vacant on that day (as it is most game days) as Franchise are away at Colcehester.

Because that won’t meet current PL standards either

[aclaretinstevenage]

Because that won’t meet current PL standards either

Yes of course, the old VAR , Goal line stuff.

[thehistorylecturer62]

Yes of course, the old VAR , Goal line stuff.

It’s ridiculous really but such is the PL’s list of requirements .. we’ve had to spend on various things again this summer

[Rick_Muller]

Looking at this video, not sure the pitch will be in any kind of decent state at all this season. Guess that’s why VK wanted them early in the season as planned.

https://youtu.be/dveIxCYtlMw

[Corway]

It reminds me of the time In 1989 when despite winning the NPL, Colne Dynamoes were refused promotion to the Conference as their Holt House ground did not meet the required grading. They attempted to arrange a groundshare with Burnley offering them £500,000 to play at Turf Moor, but were turned down. The owner Graham White even tried to buy Burnley but the club suddenly folded in 1990

[dermotdermot]

Bit much really. Having to postpone on account of their ground not being ready. Surely they should have arranged something. Fulham had a whole stand closed for a season a year or so ago while they rebuilt. Other teams have had sections closed at times over the years whilst building work was carried out. Puts a dampener on our start to the season.

[equinox]

First World problems, hey?

[Goody1975]

Absolutely perfect for us.

1) We aren't the first team to visit them, while they are unscathed in terms of beatings from the bigger sides.

2) We have two free weeks to integrate the new signings and work on what has been learnt from pre-season and the City games.

[Woodleyclaret]

We should have switched the away and home v Luton

[claptrappers_union]

Without the fixture list in front of me, that'll mean we wouldn't have a home fixture in January.

I'm sure the suggestion would've been discussed though

[gtclaret]

We should have switched the away and home v Luton

I'm sure we did this with Liverpool a few seasons ago when A field wasn't ready.It worked out well,winning 2-0

[chekhov]

I'm sure we did this with Liverpool a few seasons ago when A field wasn't ready.It worked out well,winning 2-0

It would mean that 4 out of our first 5 games are at home. Not ideal.

[dougcollins]

Absolutely perfect for us.

1) We aren't the first team to visit them, while they are unscathed in terms of beatings from the bigger sides.

2) We have two free weeks to integrate the new signings and work on what has been learnt from pre-season and the City games.

As VK said, it'll probably be rearranged in winter when their pitch is ****. And definitely not to our advantage.

[ClaretInLeeds]

No way. I was hoping for tickets.

[bumba]

Sure it was said that we couldn't swap because it was against the premier league rules to play four weekends in a row at home?

[Vino blanco]

I’m quite happy to see the game cancelled, we now have two more games to get the new players to gel. This extra training break could help us in the short term.

[Spijed]

It would mean that 4 out of our first 5 games are at home. Not ideal.

As it currently stands 4 out of our first 5 games are at home.

Man City (H)
Villa (H)
Spurs (H)
Forest (A)
Man U (H)

[IanMcL]

It is the worst situation. Man City followed by blank means we will be at the bottom and chasing. Mentally not good for us and psychologically better for all the teams above us!

[IanMcL]

My cynical view is that this was known and fixed by the prem, to give us an uphill start.

[chekhov]

As it currently stands 4 out of our first 5 games are at home.

Man City (H)
Villa (H)
Spurs (H)
Forest (A)
Man U (H)

Oh! So not ideal even as it stands, though maybe it’s more disadvantageous for supporters rather than the team.

[Longsider]

Absolutely perfect for us.

1) We aren't the first team to visit them, while they are unscathed in terms of beatings from the bigger sides.

2) We have two free weeks to integrate the new signings and work on what has been learnt from pre-season and the City games.

Agree

[ClaretInLeeds]

My cynical view is that this was known and fixed by the prem, to give us an uphill start.

You have a strange perception about most things.

[Claret Till I Die]

My cynical view is that this was known and fixed by the prem, to give us an uphill start.

Did the drugged up giant tell you that ?

[Andingle]

Did the drugged up giant tell you that ?

poster-500.jpg (43.04 KiB) Viewed 2960 times

[mybloodisclaret]

At the start of last season, after Huddersfield we struggled to win. Once we gelled, we never looked back, yes different league but once we settle, the sooner the better.

[nil_desperandum]

My cynical view is that this was known and fixed by the prem, to give us an uphill start.

Except to many of us it seems that it is much to our advantage having an extra week for the squad to gel and work with VK.
(and one less game before the transfer window closes and when we will have our full squad.)
It's not as though we're likely to get a fixture backlog later in the season. It's only 38 games.

[nil_desperandum]

It is the worst situation. Man City followed by blank means we will be at the bottom and chasing. Mentally not good for us and psychologically better for all the teams above us!

We're not bottom now, and could quite feasibly be out of the bottom 3 by this time next week on Goal difference if some of our rivals lose by a couple of goals.

[mybloodisclaret]

Can't see either Sheff U or Luton being chuffed with their next two matches. Don't worry about early season.

[Leisure]

As VK said, it'll probably be rearranged in winter when their pitch is ****. And definitely not to our advantage.

We had the option of switching the fixtures but Mr Company wouldn't agree to it.

[LoveCurryPies]

Yes, we will be at the bottom of the table for a couple of weeks however Vincent will make the most of the time with bonding the players and possible even bringing in another signing or two. Have faith and don’t waste time doubting. UTC!

[Goody1975]

The initial press reports said the Premier League wanted the game rescheduled at the earliest opportunity. I think in between the Newcastle and Chelsea games was mentioned.