Absolutely. But they agreed, I think back in the summer according to recent reports, to change that rule to deal with Covid.
Anyway, Newcastle is their last game of the season. Let’s all hope for their sake they don’t have a fixture pile up before that game.
At the start of the season all clubs register their 25 man squad and a list of contracted U21 players don't they? The rule should have just been if you have covid absences then make up your squad with the players from those two lists.
No, as arsenal weren't a totally **** relegation rival already relegated. Having said that, with Arsenal focussing on the FA cup final, I did hope they might be distracted and field a "just-about-get-away-with-it" weakened side to avoid a fine and injury risk. However the strong line up and that stupid Dawson challenge killed that hope...
I wonder how many league games in a row the PL will tolerate a single club cancelling in a row? There will have to be a limit where sanctions will be handed out to the visiting teams? I am not suggesting declaring the opposing side given a "bye", but let's say Burnley cancel their next two fixtures, I would expect a new rule brought in?
But presumably the team who need something will be the totally **** relegation rival and the team that don’t, won’t be by then?
I personally think that clubs should just be made to play their games and field reserves/kids to fill the gaps. That would focus their attention on encouraging vaccinations and covid care amongst the squad.
Wwwhat ???? It's pretty clear what I'm saying. If two **** relegation threatened teams play eachother on the last day and one has nothing to play for, it will be much easier for the team that still has a motivation needing a point or three to save themselves, to get what they need. It's not the same as playing a good top half side who have nothing to play for. If you disagree, that's fine just say so.
Oh, so you’re saying one will be down already? My point is a bit like WH when we got relegated, they were relegation threatened at one point, but then in the end were safe and effortlessly beat us.
Yes that's what I'm saying. 2 relegation rivals playing on the last day is really bad if one of them is down, so it both **** and has nothing to play for. Didn't beating us make WHU safe so they had great incentive to win ? Not sure but that's as I recall.
I get you point but what you have said makes no sense. How can you have two relegation threatened teams, where one has nothing to play for? edit: answered as I was typing!
See what you mean, I was imaging a scenario where one was safe (probably Newcastle) so not that **** after all. Hopefully they both need something and we’re safe by then, although that’s incredibly unlikely.
Ok. To clarify I meant one team that is threatened with relegation today but has nothing to play for on the last day as they have been relegated by that last game. Sorry, could have been clearer.
There’s a few on here who like to peddle similar conspiracy theories regarding us. But against us, they’ll all be in on it - Kevin Friend, MOTD presenters…
On top of that, there is an absurd clause in the PL guidelines regarding their definition of which u-21s are 'experienced' enough to play: - Players listed on the club’s squad list who are still available to play in the match, including appropriately experienced Under-21 players (which includes Under-21 players who have played for the club, another Premier League or EFL club, or an overseas club in the current season. However, any Under-21 player who participates in a club’s FA Cup Round Three match and has not played in any other first-team competitions for the club this season will not be considered by the Board as appropriately experienced). What nonsense.
Isn’t that more or less them saying, the FA Cup third round is a joke and we don’t recognise it as competitive?
Given that much of the rest of the footballing and non-footballing world is, to put it mildly, uncomfortable with the Saudi ownership, I'd suggest it is a far more plausible conspiracy theory than one involving us.
I would agree as far as other clubs are concerned, although some of them think there is an actual PL conspiracy against them, which is nonsensical considering they could’ve just continued to block the deal, plus they’re obviously going to want the money and associated star players coming into the league.
The question is if we combine conspiracies from both sets of fans, considering Pep allegedly fielded a weakened team against Bournemouth to help Saint Eddie out, then a stronger one against us, what will he do this season….
It makes a farce of it all. The chances of one of your 25 man squad testing positive at any one time is more or less guaranteed given how prevalent it is and that they have a low vaccine rate. It's essentially saying if you have injuries you can postpone and play the system to your advantage.
What a kerfuffle. Kind of glad we wont be playing 3 games in 6 days but obviously we have to make these fixtures up at some point. Does give the new lads more time to bed in I suppose.
It's locking the stable door after the horse has bolted but they should surely have included a criterion that a certain number of those unavailable (5? 7? 10?) should have been due to Covid.
We need to play 3 games, the cup 4th round weekend is an obvious one, the so-called winter break of one weekend off in the first week of February is another. Otherwise after the midweek of 8th/9th Feb, there are no other scheduled midweeks so there are plenty of opportunities to make up the backlog between now and May.
According to a post above that's not available for Burnley because that is a TV match, and both Palace and Wolves are in the 4th round.
Difficult (and we will never know) if this postponement has worked to our advantage, however I would say as we have to play Norwich on Friday and not Saturday just shades it for me to say ok will take it!
Manager Sean Dyche revealed that just 10 first-team players had trained on Monday, and Watford will now travel to Turf Moor at a later date. Above from the Mirror on line, not as if we haven't travelled twice before this season already!
Unfortunately Burnley will be playing a 24 hour match with teams swapping every 90 minutes to make up all the postponed games.
