The new variant of Covid

[dannyc5]

2 week break being mooted .

https://twitter.com/x/status/1343961351656501248

If this is the way they are going then it needs to coincide with the inevitable national lockdown. No point in a circuit breaker whilst players and staff can get infected in their day to day lives, as when they meet again after the 2 weeks it will just be passed around the squads again.

 

[TimeyWimey]

At work we have recently had 2 confirmed Covid-19 cases. These are my first 2 staff in the building testing positive despite the office continuing to work 24/7.
We had 5 people self isolating as a result due to the definition of close contact but they came back with negative tests.
It shows that with the correct Covid secure protocols in place we can stop this whilst continuing some sort of business as usual.

If the EFL were to penalise teams that aren't able to fulfil their fixtures then maybe more clubs would take their responsibilities more seriously.

If you draw up a plan on making the contact sport of football as covid secure as your bog standard office, I'm pretty sure every single club in the world would be happy to hear it.

 

[TractorBoys]

I don't really see what the solution is here.

League one is already looking a mess with some teams having played 5 games more than others.

Ourselves, Ipswich, now have 11 positive covid tests including players (totalling 8) and other club staff (3).

A circuit breaker is pretty much nailed on, but I don't see how it will provide anything other than short term relief. I imagine competitive sport will be halted again before Spring by the government.

Ultimately though I think the only thing we can say with any degree of certainty is that the season will not play out without significant disruption at best.

On a personal note, whilst I know you cannot draw any conclusions from an isolated case, my Mum along with 5 other staff tested positive 2 weeks ago (fortunately with only mild symptoms and full recovery) shortly after her boss did, despite strictly leaving the house only for work (with protective glass, masks, and 2m distancing observed). On that basis I don't see any scenario where the new strain supposedly 70% more transmissible will allow for the league to continue.

 

[dannyc5]

If the more transmissible strain means the risk of infection is too great on the pitch then yes, ultimately the season must be stopped. I hadn’t really thought about it like that until reading the above post. The current guidance is there is next to no chance of in game transmission (I did link to a study funded by the Dutch FA a couple of months ago but can’t remember where I found it). So on that basis I can’t see this Government stopping Football whilst a national lockdown (inevitable) is in place. They would argue it is safe, good for morale etc. So I suppose a circuit breaker for the first two weeks of lockdown 3 followed by BCD would be how this Government will go.

But it will be very interesting to hear what the experts think of the in game risk with this new strain.

 

[TractorBoys]

he current guidance is there is next to no chance of in game transmission

I haven't fact checked so have no reason to suggest that's not the guidance as you state, but if so it's absolutely ludicrous; League one has proven that; stance will surely change in the coming week or two.

 

[dannyc5]

I haven't fact checked so have no reason to suggest that's not the guidance as you state, but if so it's absolutely ludicrous; League one has proven that; stance will surely change in the coming week or two.

A couple of months ago I posted a link to a report by the Dutch FA but cannot for the life of me find it. I’ve looked through my old posts but can’t find it, probably due to all the nonsense I post.

Anyway, this guidance was essentially the basis of the resumption of Football around Europe. They talked about the risk of transmission being pretty much limited to tunnel areas, changing rooms, bus journeys etc. Hence we have teams coming out of the tunnel pre match at different times (though they all wander down the tunnel together at HT and FT which kind of makes the pre match routine pointless).

The only in game risk they talked about was if a team had a number of corners in a row (I think 4 or 5 was the example) which would lead to players congregating together for a risky length of time. The recommendation was for the ref to take the players out of the area (let’s call it a circuit breaker to steal a phrase) for a period, and then resume with the corner. Obviously that bit of advice wasn’t implemented.

 

[dannyc5]

Also I’m not sure if there is currently any evidence of transmission between different teams. Do we have a correlation between team A testing positive within 10 days of playing team B who were riddled with it? I thought the assumption was transmission between squad members thus far?

Just to reiterate, I think you make an excellent point about the new strain. If it is so much more transmissible, then surely the report is now outdated.

 

[valefan16]

Also I’m not sure if there is currently any evidence of transmission between different teams. Do we have a correlation between team A testing positive within 10 days of playing team B who were riddled with it? I thought the assumption was transmission between squad members thus far?

It’s travel as well. Didn’t someone in L2 get cases after staying at a hotel in Oldham for instance? (Possibly the Orient outbreak)

 

[dannyc5]

It’s travel as well. Didn’t someone in L2 get cases after staying at a hotel in Oldham for instance? (Possibly the Orient outbreak)

Don’t know, I’ve not seen that. I don’t understand the staying over in hotels. Surely that’s a risk not worth taking? When project restart started, weren’t teams travelling down in multiple coaches? Why has that stopped?

Research suggests football can be played safely during Covid-19

While the likes of Scotland, France and the Netherlands have ended their footballing seasons prematurely to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the top two tiers of English football are about to join

www.consultancy.uk

I have found a write up of that report. Explains it quite nicely. But as stated above, with this new strain it is possibly completely outdated.

 

[Robie]

If you stay over in hotels you use separate rooms, don't eat together and as many as possible travel down in separate cars. They should not be car sharing or room sharing.

 

[Super_horns]

If you stay over in hotels you use separate rooms, don't eat together and as many as possible travel down in separate cars. They should not be car sharing or room sharing.

Pretty much what Karl Robinson said earlier .

Clubs being too complacent in their handling of the virus and measures in place .

 

[Luke Imp]

The EFL are doing a pre-planned round of testing on 4th January.

 

[dedwardp]

The EFL are doing a pre-planned round of testing on 4th January.

Was just about to mention this - one of our players said last week in a pre-match interview that there was going to be a mass blanket testing from the EFL next week. Wouldn't surprise me if it turns out next week that half the players have got it, half the teams can't play and it forces their hand somewhat.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Apparently there hasn’t been a blanket test since October

 

[Indian Dan]

So much for Oxford’s holier than thou attitude to covid

Oxford United suspend two academy players

OXFORD United have suspended two academy players over allegations the pair attended a New Year's Eve party.

www.oxfordmail.co.uk

 

[eric read]

So much for Oxford’s holier than thou attitude to covid

Oxford United suspend two academy players

OXFORD United have suspended two academy players over allegations the pair attended a New Year's Eve party.

www.oxfordmail.co.uk

What exactly have the club done wrong here?

Two youth players allegedly break COVID regulations and the club instantly suspend them, pending a full investigation. It's a shame a few other clubs didn't adopt the same zero tolerance stance as us.

 

[Robie]

So much for Oxford’s holier than thou attitude to covid

Oxford United suspend two academy players

OXFORD United have suspended two academy players over allegations the pair attended a New Year's Eve party.

www.oxfordmail.co.uk

I'm not sure what part of that article shows the club aren't treating the individuals letting the team down as seriously as they should?

 

[Indian Dan]

The difference being your players knowingly broke covid regulations and, although I certainly don’t know, I presume most of the other positive tests have come about by just being unlucky catching it.

In general, though, the entire postponement of games is a real mish mash from the EFL. Anyway, I believe clubs don’t call off games the EFL do in cahoots with NHE. What criteria they use, God knows.

 

[Robie]

The difference being your players knowingly broke covid regulations and, although I certainly don’t know, I presume most of the other positive tests have come about by just being unlucky catching it.

In general, though, the entire postponement of games is a real mish mash from the EFL. Anyway, I believe clubs don’t call off games the EFL do in cahoots with NHE. What criteria they use, God knows.

I'm glad that all the other teams in this league have had none of their staff or players breaking Covid Regulations. I'm sure they would have released such a press release if they had.

 

[Super_horns]

What exactly have the club done wrong here?

Two youth players allegedly break COVID regulations and the club instantly suspend them, pending a full investigation. It's a shame a few other clubs didn't adopt the same zero tolerance stance as us.

Agreed - we gave Andre Gray a small fine for breaking the rules twice !

 

[Indian Dan]

I'm glad that all the other teams in this league have had none of their staff or players breaking Covid Regulations. I'm sure they would have released such a press release if they had.

How would you know if players have broken regulations? You’re just guessing they may have. Anyway, it won’t matter in the long run when this season gets binned.

 

[eric read]

How would you know if players have broken regulations? You’re just guessing they may have. Anyway, it won’t matter in the long run when this season gets binned.

Nice try, but I can't see the season getting binned. You're getting relegated, and no matter how many times you say it, the season getting binned is not going to come along and save you.

 

[Indian Dan]

What a calamity!

 

[eric read]

What a calamity!

Swindon Town? Yeah, what a calamity.

The gift that keeps on giving.

 

[Indian Dan]

Didn’t give you 3 points, though. Or even 1.

Got rid of that awful keeper of yours yet? I’ve only just stopped laughing at the clown! Nearly as bad as ours!

 

[dannyc5]

Scottish Football carrying on in lockdown so guess ours will as well. Swindon won’t get off that easy.

Also, good that Oxford are taking a firm stance, but too far to talk of sackings. I’m sure most of us in some way have broken the rules at least once since March. Bollocking and a fine should do the job.

 

[eric read]

Didn’t give you 3 points, though. Or even 1.

Got rid of that awful keeper of yours yet? I’ve only just stopped laughing at the clown! Nearly as bad as ours!

Eastwood hasn't played a single minute since his comedy act against your lot. Since which we have kept four clean sheets and not lost a game in eight, while rising into the top half of the table.

Meanwhile Swindon have............???????????

You have been the worst side we've played all season and if we played that game 100 times we'd win 99 of them. You've had the high spot of your season and all you've got to look forward to is relegation and having Oxford injected into your veins. Enjoy!

 

[Indian Dan]

Can’t disagree with much of that but it was funny as fuck beating you. The meltdown was brilliant!

And, strangely, you were the worst side we’ve played all season, too.

Hope you haven’t been stuck with too many of those commemorative ‘in a row’ mugs and tea towels!

 

[Robie]

Can’t disagree with much of that but it was funny as fuck beating you. The meltdown was brilliant!

And, strangely, you were the worst side we’ve played all season, too.

Hope you haven’t been stuck with too many of those commemorative ‘in a row’ mugs and tea towels!

Just had a look through your results to see the teams you have played for us to be the worst side you have played all season.

Cheered me up, thank you.

 

[Indian Dan]

Come on, all rivalry aside, you were dreadful against us - second half especially. Very timid.