EPL Matchday 19 - On Optus Sport

[hawkman]

Has it been confirmed when players have to be released for AFCON? Some clubs will be down another 3 or 4 players

 

[glenferry23]

Has it been confirmed when players have to be released for AFCON? Some clubs will be down another 3 or 4 players

Aubameyang was made available around a week and a half ago, in a gesture of goodwill between Arteta and the football federation of Gabon.

 

[moomba]

But what is the alternative moomba.

Premier League status is worth £100m+ to clubs per season. Norwich must prioritise accruing points or they risk the championship next season. But the volume of game between Mid December to Mid January is bonkers, and what for? To maintain ‘Ebglish tradition’ of festive football.

No festive break and 2 domestic cup competitions. Managers have a point on player welfare but ultimately must send them out regardless to accrue points, and it harms the smaller teams with smaller squads far more than the teams with burgeoning squads fit for European nights.

I understand that he doesn't like the fixturing. It is hard for clubs without deep squads.

But his concern is 3 points, not player welfare. And by pushing players to return before they're ready because 3 points is more important to him than player welfare he's as much a part of the problem as the fixturing.

 

[RossFC]

 

[joop]

So burnley are now 4 games behind some teams?

 

[RossFC]

So burnley are now 4 games behind some teams?

Yep, Burnley's matchday 13, 17, 18 and 19 games have been postponed.

 

[RossFC]

Have the prem missed a trick not pairing up 2 clubs that have yet to play each other and that don't have covid to fill empty slots here (and opening up spots for games later?).

 

[RPCB]

He would have accidentally turned into Everton’s best forward.

 

[RPCB]

Have the prem missed a trick not pairing up 2 clubs that have yet to play each other and that don't have covid to fill empty slots here (and opening up spots for games later?).

Too much thinking involved.

 

[moomba]

Have the prem missed a trick not pairing up 2 clubs that have yet to play each other and that don't have covid to fill empty slots here (and opening up spots for games later?).

It seems the common sense thing to do, but logistically quite difficult, especially if it's a TV game.

 

[moomba]

Bit of talk that Spurs v Palace is off.

 

[chef]

Seems a bit scatter gun in their approach to calling off games.

 

[jd2010]

With the Liverpool game off I guess this is why Klopp hasn't come out and gone after one of his own for this?

 

[jd2010]

Have the prem missed a trick not pairing up 2 clubs that have yet to play each other and that don't have covid to fill empty slots here (and opening up spots for games later?).

Listening to Carragher they try and keep sides within a couple of hours from home on boxing day. Spurs going up to Burnley tomorrow would make sense but on Xmas day it's very tough to slap together

 

[jd2010]

Bit of talk that Spurs v Palace is off.

2 back room staff and 3 players tested positive. Unsure what the next round tomorrow would bring. That seems light on considering what Chelsea went through. Even more glad we are out of the intertoto cup with 4 make up games and 2 legs of a league cup semi final to play

 

[jd2010]

Anyway Xmas morning so not going on with this but if the team has to play and their only choice is an unready teen or a player just back from injury what is that team supposed to do?

Look after their players and take the 3-0 walkover and protest. If player welfare meant that much make a stand, tell the league to * off, look after your players and for Norwich bank the GD from not getting battered with an unready kid or player at risk. If the league chose to fine a club for not fielding a side during this there would be more on the side of the club taking a stand for player safety than a money hungry league.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Bit of talk that Spurs v Palace is off.

Calling it now. This gets called off and we’re out of the FA Cup in the early rounds. We’d be minus 4 on everyone else.

We’ll get a game rescheduled a couple days before/after a cup game and it’ll cost us.

 

[RPCB]

Covid to save Leeds twice in 3 years, love it.

Wasn’t football postponed due to Covid and then it returned so you ended up getting promoted? In this instance, the same thing would be to finish this season?

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Look after their players and take the 3-0 walkover and protest. If player welfare meant that much make a stand, tell the league to fu** off, look after your players and for Norwich bank the GD from not getting battered with an unready kid or player at risk. If the league chose to fine a club for not fielding a side during this there would be more on the side of the club taking a stand for player safety than a money hungry league.

Well then I expect Pep, Klopp, Tuchel & Conte to do the same for their teams as they’ve commented on player welfare concerns. You think they’re going to take a forfeit?

 

[Zidane98]

With the Liverpool game off I guess this is why Klopp hasn't come out and gone after one of his own for this?

View attachment 1302141

If Kavanagh was the VAR and it was a Spurs player making the challenge nothing to see here.

 

[Zidane98]

Any reason why Spurs cant play Burnley tomorrow morning?

Admin issues aside for RossFC in the tipping comp aside.

 

[jd2010]

Well then I expect Pep, Klopp, Tuchel & Conte to do the same for their teams as they’ve commented on player welfare concerns. You think they’re going to take a forfeit?

We already have in Europe. Pulled out of a game when it was very likely to be a forfeit and whilst we weren't happy to cop the result we took our squad and youth squads health seriously.

All it will take is a team to say we aren't playing we don't have enough fit and the league will buckle. It needs to happen because this wishy-washy way of ruling isn't working and is causing more problems for later

 

[jd2010]

Any reason why Spurs cant play Burnley tomorrow morning?

Admin issues aside for RossFC in the tipping comp aside.

Getting spurs players on Xmas day to go from staying at home for a home game to travel up to a hotel in Burnley would be tough to organise

 

[jd2010]

If Kavanagh was the VAR and it was a Spurs player making the challenge nothing to see here.

Got the same live call as Kane and is a tackle to the kneecap

 

[jd2010]

Calling it now. This gets called off and we’re out of the FA Cup in the early rounds. We’d be minus 4 on everyone else.

We’ll get a game rescheduled a couple days before/after a cup game and it’ll cost us.

We still have all the European knockouts for these games. 3 of our 4 catch ups are against sides not in Europe