Coronavirus

[#Beebot]

Eastbourne Borough/Maidstone now off due to covid.

Sadly with how things are going there's noway this season is actually going to finish. Nearly 3 months into the season and we've only played a quarter of our games.

Just to put things into perspective, since the 18th of November we have only played 2 league games. Yet somehow we now need to play at least another FA Trophy game and 30 league games in 5 months.

Unless the virus suddenly disappears I just can't see how we are going to pull this off.

Need to introduce flexible fixture scheduling so teams whose opponents cancel play each other at short notice.

There is no reason, for example, why Maidenhead and Dover cannot play each other on Monday.

 

[Pinner Stones]

We were suckered left, right and centre by Danny Hunter. The overnight rain had left part of the pitch with wet patches, certainly it was pretty wet out there yesterday, so Hunter, it appears, went to the league first, got their approval and then issued a press release that was a fait accompli, all before we had even announced that a pitch inspection was required, that he was offering to switch the game to their ground, where the playing surface was is immaculate condition!

We have a long injury list, so if our pitch isn’t playable - doesn’t seem to have rained overnight so probably would have been ok - why would we switch?

 

[Pinner Stones]

Eastbourne Borough/Maidstone now off due to covid.

Sadly with how things are going there's noway this season is actually going to finish. Nearly 3 months into the season and we've only played a quarter of our games.

Just to put things into perspective, since the 18th of November we have only played 2 league games. Yet somehow we now need to play at least another FA Trophy game and 30 league games in 5 months.

Unless the virus suddenly disappears I just can't see how we are going to pull this off.

I believe the NLs plan B is that each club only plays each other once to ensure the season is completed.

 

[jacobncfc]

I believe the NLs plan B is that each club only plays each other once to ensure the season is completed.

Aren’t some teams due to play each other for the second time in a couple of days? Don’t really see how that can be workable.

 

[Stoney Ground]

Aren’t some teams due to play each other for the second time in a couple of days? Don’t really see how that can be workable.

I believe it was agreed if they decided on playing one team once criteria, the first game is the one used.
Its a shame that the National League don’t keep their stakeholders informed of decisions made, then we would know where we stand.

I’m sure Danny Hunter will have all the answers and if he doesn’t well Kleanthous and Parrmenter are only a phone call away.

 

[jacobncfc]

I believe it was agreed if they decided on playing one team once criteria, the first game is the one used.
Its a shame that the National League don’t keep their stakeholders informed of decisions made, then we would know where we stand.

I’m sure Danny Hunter will have all the answers and if he doesn’t well Kleanthous and Parrmenter are only a phone call away.

Indeed. With the season already due to go until the end of May, and presumably some scope to extend that, I would’ve thought we should at least be able to get to the number of games last season. It’s going to be a case of squeezing in whatever games we can for the next couple of months, but should be better from March onwards.

I do think the league and clubs should be more proactive in moving games around at late notice. There’s no reason for two teams who know they’ve got a spare date due to the opposition having issued a few days in advance not to move a game forward from later in the season, freeing up gaps that will then be really useful.

 

[doveranddover]

I think we have 8 free Tuesday's [+2Saturday's] and 2 games to be rearranged, So i suppose the club/league aren't too worried yet.
there are the FA trophy dates - eg we are due to play Stockport on Trophy final day [8th may]

 

[Raymondo316]

Maidstone/Tonbridge on Saturday is now off because we're infected again.

 

[BornUnderTheElmslie]

Indeed. With the season already due to go until the end of May, and presumably some scope to extend that, I would’ve thought we should at least be able to get to the number of games last season. It’s going to be a case of squeezing in whatever games we can for the next couple of months, but should be better from March onwards.

I do think the league and clubs should be more proactive in moving games around at late notice. There’s no reason for two teams who know they’ve got a spare date due to the opposition having issued a few days in advance not to move a game forward from later in the season, freeing up gaps that will then be really useful.

Clubs will find solutions with the situation getting better over the coming weeks and months as the vaccine rolls out. I've read a number of fans calling for the season to be curtailed right now, but the implications for their clubs are huge. Refunding unused season tickets/streaming season tickets, refunding sponsors, refunding TV money, obliged to honour player contracts etc. The league has to find a way to muddle through this.

 

[John Still]

There are always two or three teams with fixture pile ups at the end of the season, might be 5 or 6 teams this time around so hardly anything new to most in this division.

 

[ForzaCounty]

I believe it was agreed if they decided on playing one team once criteria, the first game is the one used.

And I thought last season's PPG introduction was a kick in the teeth - it'll be nothing compared to (hypothetically) beating Alty 6-0 then having it wiped off the board

I’m sure Danny Hunter will have all the answers and if he doesn’t well Kleanthous and Parrmenter are only a phone call away.

Tell that to David Bernstein... they don't seem to be returning his calls

 

[Stoney Ground]

Last season we managed 75% of games and went on PPG, and that was having started the season expecting a full calendar.
All clubs knew or had a fair idea that this season may not finish, so you would think certain scenarios were discussed, for half season or two thirds completion.
Hopefully by NYD Dover will have completed 25% of games and the majority of sides will have played 35%. That is in 3 months and we have a further 5 months to play, I can not see the majority of clubs playing less than 33 games by then so 75% completed.
You may get one or two who only mange 27/28, that would mean even Dover or Solihull only managing just over 3 games a month until the end of May.

The League need to be proactive and demand fixtures are made where 2 teams have spare Capacity. No 2 teams should have a spare midweek or Saturday if they haven’t yet played.

The problem could be that 3 of the current bottom 4 have Chairmen on the league management board.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Boris hinting this morning at tougher restrictions. Possibly Tier 5? In Tier 5 I think Elite sport will be stopped and schools closed.

 

[John Still]

It will happen because they’ll want low infections to merge with high vaccinations as this will ensure a normal enough spring/summer. I expect Easter onwards will be the start of some normality (gradual restrictions eased the warmer the weather gets). They’ve got 12 weeks to drive down infections and get as many vaccinations sorted and they’ll probably mess that up too, not forgetting furlough ends around the same time and I doubt this time any extension will be granted.

 

[#Beebot]

Boris hinting this morning at tougher restrictions. Possibly Tier 5? In Tier 5 I think Elite sport will be stopped and schools closed.

I see very little point in stopping elite sport. It has so little impact on the spread of the virus that it's not worth doing.

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

Looks like full lockdown is coming can’t see this season finishing, very depressing

 

[#Beebot]

Looks like full lockdown is coming can’t see this season finishing, very depressin.

"Full lockdown" is likely to consist of the whole country being put back into November restrictions, which wouldn't impact elite football

 

[Chief Rocka]

Let's just all agree to PPG it and have some February playoffs!

 

[JaredSUFC]

Let's just all agree to PPG it and have some February playoffs!

Just promote the top 2 after PPG, it’s safer that way.....

 

[Jerry]

Let's just all agree to PPG it and have some February playoffs!

No argument from me!

But the sweaties have just announced a full lockdown which apparently allows football to continue, so I'd guess we will be the same.

Home

2209434

www.eveningexpress.co.uk

 

[ForzaCounty]

Just promote the top 2 after PPG, it’s safer that way.....

Agreed, with the obvious caveat that clubs with artificial pitches will have to be excluded due to FL rules.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Agreed, with the obvious caveat that clubs with artificial pitches will have to be excluded due to FL rules.

We’ll just have to do a Harrogate then....

 

[Super_horns]

Although the Rochdale chairman expects the season to be stopped .

Suspension of EFL season is 'inevitable'

Rochdale chief executive David Bottomley says it is "inevitable" the EFL will have to suspend the season due to rising Covid cases.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Master D]

"Full lockdown" is likely to consist of the whole country being put back into November restrictions, which wouldn't impact elite football

Correct. We have been in a national lockdown since 20th December and are still playing.

 

[#Beebot]

Although the Rochdale chairman expects the season to be stopped .

Suspension of EFL season is 'inevitable'

Rochdale chief executive David Bottomley says it is "inevitable" the EFL will have to suspend the season due to rising Covid cases.

www.bbc.co.uk

Why? That's just his opinion. Football has next to no impact on transmission of the virus.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Why? That's just his opinion. Football has next to no impact on transmission of the virus.

Yeah he’s an idiot. There is no logic to taking a month’s break.

What makes it even more weird is that Rochdale figures have been a lot worse than they currently are.

 

[Master D]

Although the Rochdale chairman expects the season to be stopped .

Suspension of EFL season is 'inevitable'

Rochdale chief executive David Bottomley says it is "inevitable" the EFL will have to suspend the season due to rising Covid cases.

www.bbc.co.uk

*checks where Rochdale are in the league...

 

[Jerry]

Elite sport to continue under the new lockdown.

Covid in England: Professional sport to continue in national lockdown

Professional sport in England will be allowed to continue behind closed doors, despite a new national lockdown announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

From a League One perspective, Rochdale and Ipswich are the two banging for a season suspension in the division. The former have an appalling home record, look in serious danger of going down and have taken some serious batterings in recent weeks. The latter have an unprecedented injury crisis in addition to a few COVID cases.

I wonder why they want football to stop...

On a serious note though, don't know how you guys are gonna manage a 46 game season in this current climate...

 

[Bluandwite]

From a League One perspective, Rochdale and Ipswich are the two banging for a season suspension in the division. The former have an appalling home record, look in serious danger of going down and have taken some serious batterings in recent weeks. The latter have an unprecedented injury crisis in addition to a few COVID cases.

I wonder why they want football to stop...

On a serious note though, don't know how you guys are gonna manage a 46 game season in this current climate...

I'm just expecting us to plug on as long as we continue to get financial support. Some teams will have loads of games in hand and end up playing Thursdays probably but we are allowed to continue playing. Next season may even follow a similar schedule starting later again.

Don't know how below NN & NS can carry on though, surely have to call it quits I'd have thought.