Boxing Day

[FGR Stroud]

SEASONAL BEST GREETINGS TO ONE AND ALL.
Hopefully a full set of fixtures are played on this the most traditional day in the football calendar.

SkyBet odds

 

[Indian Dan]

I think we’ve got 15 out with Covid - staff and players. No way is our game going ahead.

 

[Chief Rocka]

I can't see our game going ahead, I dunno how many have it or what state the squad is in but I'd be surprised if we play, shame as well because Boxing Day games are generally well supported, especially since it's one of our 'closer' away games.

 

[valefan16]

Hopefully goes ahead but would be surprised. Depends when the isolation period began and the amount of unvaccinated players isolating in our squad (assuming Salford don’t have any cases or we have it spread further since then). With our injuries and Dan Jones suspended it doesn’t leave many out for it to be below the threshold to play.

if it goes ahead hopefully we can get a result, these look crap when I see them on TV but do appear to have hit some form.

Interestingly we are supporting the homeless charities and wearing our gold away kit at home for this, assume other EFL clubs are backing it too?

If it goes ahead I anticipate it will be the last game with fans for a few weeks.

 

[BarraMatt]

I think we're clear at the moment and obviously Tranmere played yesterday so unless something develops through the week there's at least a chance of ours taking place.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I think we’ve got 15 out with Covid - staff and players. No way is our game going ahead.

Sad to hear. Would have been a great atmosphere.
Is the training ground closed too?

 

[EricSabin]

Can’t see ours going ahead either

 

[Greenacres]

By my reckoning we will still have players isolating on Boxing Day...unless I have got the dates completely wrong...so I can't see us being able to fulfil this fixture. Even then we are dependant on Wales allowing people to cross the border from England...which sadly, for those of us with family in the country, was not the case this time last year.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

This is all assuming that those 'positives' are without symptoms or have since tested negative, which would extend them beyond any notional ten days

 

[The Terminator]

Kenny Jackett said in his post game interview yesterday that we had 4 players missing through covid - but that they were having to isolate due to their living circumstances rather than having covid themselves.

He also confirmed that RWB Tom James is out until March/April with his hamstring injury, which is a huge blow to us as he was one of, if not the best right back in the division IMO, could defend and attack equally as well.

It was the only position we didn't go into the season with any natural cover for and now its bit us because we're gonna have to improvise with the 3 games we have in the next week before we can bring someone in to fit in there, Craig Clay will likely be moved there for the time being.

So right now, unless Colchester or ourselves end up having any covid cases in their camps in the coming week, I'd expect our game to end up being played. A few of our injuries/isolation players will be back for the game.

 

[AdamStag]

basically it’s not happening and we all know it.

Apart from games involving stevenage and salford as no-one cares haha

 

[loz]

I think we’ve got 15 out with Covid - staff and players. No way is our game going ahead.

Think Boxing day is cancelled and not just talking football. Even no 10 wont be having a party.

 

[Chris FGR]

By my reckoning we will still have players isolating on Boxing Day...unless I have got the dates completely wrong...so I can't see us being able to fulfil this fixture. Even then we are dependant on Wales allowing people to cross the border from England...which sadly, for those of us with family in the country, was not the case this time last year.

No idea how many players are out, but like you say given they tested positive on Thursday (at the earliest) they won’t be available on Boxing Day. Not sure who’s even at training or if it’s even happening.

Plus I very much doubt Wales will be happy to let people in with cases through the roof.

 

[Indian Dan]

Every cloud . . .

 

[valefan16]

Looks like EFL clubs meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation and a football circuit breaker looks now possible.

 

[Greenacres]

Looks like EFL clubs meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation and a football circuit breaker looks now possible.

I think the PL clubs may be meeting today...perhaps the EFL clubs will wait to see what is decided and follow suit, if the decision is to have a short break in fixtures it would certainly make their decision easier.

 

[valefan16]

Bradford City's Boxing Day game off but EFL vow season will go on

CITY are facing the prospect of a blank Christmas and New Year as football considers a “circuit-breaker” because of the sharp rise in Covid…

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

 

[denzel ecfc]

Yes I think the key decision will be the Premier League one today. If they stop then so will the EFL. Its catastrophic timing though as I'm sure our Boxing Day game would be the best payday of the season

 

[valefan16]

Cobblers v Walsall off.

 

[LordJord]

Our boxing day game V Walsall is now off sadly.

 

[Greenacres]

Our game at Newport has also been postponed.

 

[valefan16]

I expect us to make an early decision to save policing costs and food orders for the hoards of Salford fans due down...

 

[Bone Idle]

Our game against fgr is off! due to covid cases in the fgr squad.

oops already posted, my bad.

 

[Chris FGR]

Gone from ‘no cases in the squad’ on Thursday to having most of the squad and staff isolating a day later and 3 games called off.

Something tells me we weren’t testing properly up till Friday.

 

[valefan16]

Gone from ‘no cases in the squad’ on Thursday to having most of the squad and staff isolating a day later and 3 games called off.

Something tells me we weren’t testing properly up till Friday.

They didnt have to until the EFL re-implemented it Thursday.

 

[Chris FGR]

They didnt have to until the EFL re-implemented it Thursday.

Fair point, but how could Edwards confidently have said we didn’t have any cases then? We could easily have infected Oldham players the previous Saturday if it had spread through a number of the squad by Friday.

 

[MadJohn]

Premier League have just confirmed they will go ahead with fixtures

 

[denzel ecfc]

Our game has now gone.

 

[Indian Dan]

Our game has now gone.

And it wasn’t us who called it off! Ripping through the Exeter squad as well.

 

[Chris FGR]

Well at least if everyone catches it now the rest of the season should run smoothly.