Christmas fixtures to go ahead

[Ebbo]

Premier League clubs have decided not to postpone the two rounds of fixtures are in place across five days from 26 December.

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

Hark the herald angels sing!

 

[Wolf316]

Possibly behind closed doors from the 27th?

 

[Ebbo]

Possibly behind closed doors from the 27th?

Is that right? Not seen that reported... really hope not!!!

 

[Wolf316]

Is that right? Not seen that reported... really hope not!!!

Think it depends on the government decide today.

 

[Contrarian]

They couldn't face the nations misery of Xmas being ruined by Wolves v Watford being called off.

 

[marrs-guitar]

The issue is not necessarily the cancellation of the matchday, but whether clubs will have sufficient players not to get their own games individually called off.

Tuchel seems on a one-man quest to get his squad a Christmas holiday.

We're supposed to play Watford, yet know that Watford had enough corona cases to manage to get their game midweek called off. Will they manage a repeat?

If you're honest, teams who are in bad form/have a reasonably lengthy injury list have little to lose in applying to get their games delayed at present. What really needs to come out of these meetings are clear rules on what constitutes grounds for a postponement, and ideally that postponement should not be able to happen on the day of the game itself.

Surely one step forward would be to ditch the relentless mass testing of entire squads and staff and simply apply the exact same criteria to teams as are applied to fans attending games, namely you need either proof of being double vaccinated or a negative test 48 hours before the kick-off. To avoid postponements on the day of the game, the players should be able to produce a negative test result at the latest by, say, 10 pm the day before.

As long as teams have 11 players (incl. a keeper) from their main submitted squad list who can fulfil this, there should be no talk of a postponement. The subs bench can be filled with players not on the main squad list (i.e. players aged 21 and under who are at the club).

 

[Sketchead]

Good news if they can get the fixtures away. Even more so if we're going to be told to stay indoors [or only use pubs and restaurants outside!] from 28 December. The more football on TV the merrier.

Presuming they will go that way after Christmas, games behind closed doors again will feel hollow but hopefully won't last too long this time around. Famous last words.

 

[Ebbo]

Clubs have been advised if they have 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper, they should fulfil their games.

 

[Flump]

As long as teams have 11 players (incl. a keeper) from their main submitted squad list who can fulfil this, there should be no talk of a postponement.

It's not just about the number of players out, it's about whether the club's outbreak has been controlled.

I.e. you could have 10 players positive on Wednesday, but if you have no new cases on Thursday, Friday, Saturday morning, the match would likely go ahead.

If you have 2 players positive on Thursday, a 3rd Friday and a 4th Saturday morning, then it's not clear that you've picked up all cases.

 

[Monketron]

Not surprised, one of the rounds of games muted to be cancelled was the Amazon-only midweek ones, they were never going to risk that relationship, it's far too important to the Premier League.

 

[sillytuna]

Positive test in our household means delayed xmas and I can't make the arsenal game as too risky before seeing my folks (and my partner is now isolating so can't go).

Selfish I know but as it stands I wish they'd cancel. That's going to be 4 games in a row I have to miss and loads of lost money too.

I do also think it wrong to encourage fans to travel in the very short term.

On the plus side for someone, I have two arsenal tix available unless its rearranged.

 

[Boss Hogg]

Just as well we registered Shi as a player, think we will need him with our small squad.

 

[Ebbo]

Silly Tuna... my mate will have one of your Arsenal tickets... I know that sounds like I'm jumping in, but he's an AST holder and missed the window to buy as his Dad was very ill.

 

[Wolf316]

Positive test in our household means delayed xmas and I can't make the arsenal game as too risky before seeing my folks (and my partner is now isolating so can't go).

Selfish I know but as it stands I wish they'd cancel. That's going to be 4 games in a row I have to miss and loads of lost money too.

I do also think it wrong to encourage fans to travel in the very short term.

On the plus side for someone, I have two arsenal tix available unless its rearranged.

Think you can get a full refund in tickets due to a positive Covid test.

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

Good news but government are planning a circuit breaker

 

[Scallywolf]

Did they mention anything about the standard of refereeing and VAR while they were all together!

On topic though it’s a sensible decision.

 

[Tring Wolf]

They couldn't face the nations misery of Xmas being ruined by Wolves v Watford being called off.

We’re supposed to be at the Hornet-supporting in-laws on Boxing Day…outnumbered 6 to 3….

 

[Pagey]

Positive test in our household means delayed xmas and I can't make the arsenal game as too risky before seeing my folks (and my partner is now isolating so can't go).

Selfish I know but as it stands I wish they'd cancel. That's going to be 4 games in a row I have to miss and loads of lost money too.

I do also think it wrong to encourage fans to travel in the very short term.

On the plus side for someone, I have two arsenal tix available unless its rearranged.

Same in ours
Daughter then Mrs and grandson positive, isolating till boxing day. Crap aye it.

 

[HICKO]

We’re supposed to be at the Hornet-supporting in-laws on Boxing Day…outnumbered 6 to 3….

Thé underdogs will come good @Tring Wolf
We’ll have Elton’s boys too.
Keep the Faith

 

[Andywolf74]

The issue is not necessarily the cancellation of the matchday, but whether clubs will have sufficient players not to get their own games individually called off.

Tuchel seems on a one-man quest to get his squad a Christmas holiday.

We're supposed to play Watford, yet know that Watford had enough corona cases to manage to get their game midweek called off. Will they manage a repeat?

If you're honest, teams who are in bad form/have a reasonably lengthy injury list have little to lose in applying to get their games delayed at present. What really needs to come out of these meetings are clear rules on what constitutes grounds for a postponement, and ideally that postponement should not be able to happen on the day of the game itself.

Surely one step forward would be to ditch the relentless mass testing of entire squads and staff and simply apply the exact same criteria to teams as are applied to fans attending games, namely you need either proof of being double vaccinated or a negative test 48 hours before the kick-off. To avoid postponements on the day of the game, the players should be able to produce a negative test result at the latest by, say, 10 pm the day before.

As long as teams have 11 players (incl. a keeper) from their main submitted squad list who can fulfil this, there should be no talk of a postponement. The subs bench can be filled with players not on the main squad list (i.e. players aged 21 and under who are at the club).

I agree that the players should be double vaccinated or produce a negative pcr test 48 hours prior. Klopp summed it for me when before the Spurs game he said “we have some out with positive covid tests but Henderson is the only person actually unwell with a stinking cold that isn’t Covid.”

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

Clubs have been advised if they have 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper, they should fulfil their games.

I'm surprised Tuchel voted for that?! 14 players is not many to go into a Pre match with? And we lost RAN in the warm up recently so it's theoretically possible for a Prem match to go ahead with the 11 on the pitch and 2 subs (and possibly no spare GK)!!! For us old uns it's just like the old days!

 

[Fenrir_]

Clubs have been advised if they have 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper, they should fulfil their games.

Yeah this is what I like about it. Under 21s are included in that so it's pretty clear to everyone as to the requirements. They've all been told to take enough U21s to games just in case they need them

 

[hollo]

Newcastle would have wanted these games postponed so they could bring in new players.

 

[old wittonian]

Yeah this is what I like about it. Under 21s are included in that so it's pretty clear to everyone as to the requirements. They've all been told to take enough U21s to games just in case they need them

So Moulden or Ruddy might be the answer to our lack of goals problems.

 

[Wolf316]

Looks like no new restrictions at the moment so games should be going ahead with fans which is great news.

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

Really hope to be off to the Emirates on the 28th.

Really hope not to spend the whole journey watching for updates on whether the game is on.

 

[Wonder Boyo]

Really hope to be off to the Emirates on the 28th.

Really hope not to spend the whole journey watching for updates on whether the game is on.

Now that teams only need 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper (and under 21s are included) I imagine most games will be on and escape last minute rumours. Although there is talk about the government bringing in stricter measures on 26th or 27th December, so that could mean games may be played without fans. Who knows, so maybe you won't be on a journey!

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

Now that teams only need 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper (and under 21s are included) I imagine most games will be on and escape last minute rumours. Although there is talk about the government bringing in stricter measures on 26th or 27th December, so that could mean games may be played without fans. Who knows, so maybe you won't be on a journey!

Saw us play their u21s at Highbury in the League Cup, hope it goes better than that!

 

[Bill S Preston Esq.]

I agree that the players should be double vaccinated or produce a negative pcr test 48 hours prior. Klopp summed it for me when before the Spurs game he said “we have some out with positive covid tests but Henderson is the only person actually unwell with a stinking cold that isn’t Covid.”

The scientific and medical World are still feeling out this new variant. I've no idea what the outcome will be but there's a chance despite transmissibility that it's deemed so mild we can live with it.

They just need to collect enough data, again I've no idea how much data is enough data, but given the lack of knowledge on it, it would be wise to play it safe.

 

[Wonder Boyo]

Saw us play their u21s at Highbury in the League Cup, hope it goes better than that!

That was a very depressing evening!

 

[GV Wolf]

Possibly behind closed doors from the 27th?

Nothing has been reported like that - why be a WUM?

 

[Wolf316]

Nothing has been reported like that - why be a WUM?

Because a lockdown was being discussed in a cabinet meeting this afternoon.

 

[JonahWolf]

The cynic in me says: to any team fielding only 1 goalkeeper…expect them to get clattered on the first cross into the box.

 

[topcat99]

The cynic in me says: to any team fielding only 1 goalkeeper…expect them to get clattered on the first cross into the box.

And if the GK is playing against one of the slimey six, VAR will also give a penalty against the goalie.

 

[Oh When the Wolves]

Good news but government are planning a circuit breaker

Link?

 

[Urko]

Don’t bank on the Watford game going ahead

The Times can also reveal that at least one Premier League match over the past fortnight, Burnley v Watford, was called off two hours before the scheduled kick-off last Wednesday specifically because some unvaccinated players had to isolate.

Players who have not been double-jabbed must isolate for ten days after coming into contact with a positive case, instead of just taking a test, and it is understood that situation affected several Watford players, which led to the game at Turf Moor being postponed at such short notice that most Watford fans had already completed the 200-mile journey to Lancashire. Watford declined to comment.

 

[Wolf316]

Don’t bank on the Watford game going ahead

The Times can also reveal that at least one Premier League match over the past fortnight, Burnley v Watford, was called off two hours before the scheduled kick-off last Wednesday specifically because some unvaccinated players had to isolate.

Players who have not been double-jabbed must isolate for ten days after coming into contact with a positive case, instead of just taking a test, and it is understood that situation affected several Watford players, which led to the game at Turf Moor being postponed at such short notice that most Watford fans had already completed the 200-mile journey to Lancashire. Watford declined to comment.

Wasn’t that the 15th so they’d be ok for the 26th?

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

Link?

Two week lockdown from the 27th I’m hearing from close sources

 

[sc91]

Two week lockdown from the 27th I’m hearing from close sources

Wales just shut all sporting events from the 26th. No fans/all games off.