Eddie Howe has said something like this too.

Re the unfairness the only slight positive is we might get less congestion as the Cup and CL games come in thick and fast after Christmas.

Never been so demotivated for a game. Not because of our form but this whole covid situation is defo going to impact the season and can see the league being suspended soon. 

We'll probably win this one because the general aura is demotivating. 

Having a large squad looks like a detriment now. We're going to get screwed over in the next two weeks.

This one and all games this weekend should be called off.

With Burnley vs Villa now postponed due to a Transformers outbreak (Omnicon) why isn't our game televised tomorrow??

7 minutes ago, Luca Vialli said:

Having a large squad looks like a detriment now. We're going to get screwed over in the next two weeks.

This one and all games this weekend should be called off.

i don't mind as long as the games that are cancelled aren't played in a way that give teams more recovery time. in stead of international break let them play the games, without their internationals, if it's just nations league then who cares anyway, just give them only 2 or 3 days in between each game

4 hours ago, Sindre said:

Surely it's unfair that we need to hobble along with several Covid-cases, extreme fatigue and injuries while several other clubs gets a long break to refresh mind and bodies, get healthy and then restart the season with brand new energy? Massive advantage in favor of Manchester United and Tottenham as far as i'm concerned.

As a matter of fact I would not at all be surprised if they are both right at our heels very soon the way our situation is.

For tomorrow we have no match-fit midfielders. We are going to lose this match badly if it goes ahead.

 

Agreed, with so many matches having called off, everything should be called off, so at a "restart" there is a level playing field. Same circumstances for everybody, during this weekend and whenever.

Edited December 18, 20214 yr by Valerie

Dear Santa, as I've been a good boy this year, could you please leave a large cardboard box under the Xmas tree so that I can send Saul back to Spain as he's f**king useless...

Edited December 18, 20214 yr by doctorblue

So at the mo the game is still on, no fresh cases for us or Wolves then?

As today showed though games can be called off just 2 hours before kick off so who know.

6 down 4 to go.

So assuming TT does not dip in to youth side for starting 11 players, and me personally not wanting to risk Kante or Kova to start, more 25 minutes or so game time, and finally assuming no new covid cases, arguably this is the strongest side we can play imo:

 

Mendy

 

AC

Silva

Rudiger

 

James

Chalobah

Barkley

Alonso

 

Mount

Havertz 

Pulisic/Ziyech

 

Depending on Silvas fitness of course, otherwise you shift Dave in to the back 3 and AC to the middle. Midfield in a diamond Trev at the base Ross at the top

Edited December 18, 20214 yr by axman2526

Two more Chelsea players have tested positive. I don't wish Ill health on anyone but hopefully Saul is one of them

Need to stop the league, where’s the level playing field w some clubs playing with key players out while other squads rest and regroup?  But greed will prevail not the players and other staff members & their family members well being.

 

 

With 6 players ruled out already through Covid the club should be doing everything they can to get this game called off. It is highly like that we will have more cases identified in the next few days anyway. United had their first game called off when most of their cases were on the coaching side.

Just now, General said:

Need to stop the league, where’s the level playing field w some clubs playing with key players out while other squads rest and regroup?  But greed will prevail not the players and other staff members & their family members well being.

 

 

Beyond the playing staff it is also irresponsible to create situations where 1000's of people will congregate given the current spike. Every game is effectively a super spreader event. The league should have shut down before the midweek fixtures.

1 hour ago, The Don Antonio said:

Two more Chelsea players have tested positive. I don't wish Ill health on anyone but hopefully Saul is one of them

Who now?

 

Best we send the youth to Wolves then.

Our luck it will be James and Mount, though would not be surprised if Havertz test went from negative to positive.

Should just call it off. It's not fair to have to try and play a game with half the team out with COVID, when others have had theirs postponed. Nor is it safe, as there will undoubtedly be more positives soon.

21 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Should just call it off. It's not fair to have to try and play a game with half the team out with COVID, when others have had theirs postponed. Nor is it safe, as there will undoubtedly be more positives soon.

No excuse for us not beating Everton though.

 

Arsenal and City seem to be doing well at staying clear of the virus so far.

Some journalists on Twitter saying tomorrows game is “questionable”. Surely it isn’t in the clubs best interests to be playing the match with a depleted and fatigued team? We’re not in the greatest form anyway so best to give the squad and manager a breather. 

9 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Some journalists on Twitter saying tomorrows game is “questionable”. Surely it isn’t in the clubs best interests to be playing the match with a depleted and fatigued team? We’re not in the greatest form anyway so best to give the squad and manager a breather. 

It is not, however the league seem to only be letting games be cancelled of sides cannot put forward a minimum of 13 players plus a keeper.

Lets say, just for example, Mount and James are the two and just for kicks let's say two more have it tomorrow, let's say Mendy and Sarr. Including Jorgi and RLC being injured the league would ask who do you have who is negative test and not injured. So that would leave

 

Kepa

Marcus B

 

AC

Silva

Rudiger

Chalobah

Dave

 

Saul

Kova

Kante

Barkley

Alonso

 

Havertz

Pulisic

Ziyech 

 

That is not including Vale, who has been in our squad before, or other youth like Webster and Jude SB. So the league would say you have enough to play.

They don't give a cr@p how weakened we are and how strong Wolves are, they made Everton play who could not name a full bench against us. They don't care that it means we show up to lose basically. They just want as many games played as possible.

Edited December 18, 20214 yr by axman2526

10 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

It is not, however the league seem to only be letting games be cancelled of sides cannot put forward a minimum of 13 players plus a keeper.

Lets say, just for example, Mount and James are the two and just for kicks let's say two more have it tomorrow, let's say Mendy and Sarr. Including Jorgi and RLC being injured the league would ask who do you have who is negative test and not injured. So that would leave

 

Kepa

Marcus B

 

AC

Silva

Rudiger

Chalobah

Dave

 

Saul

Kova

Kante

Barkley

Alonso

 

Havertz

Pulisic

Ziyech 

 

That is not including Vale, who has been in our squad before, or other youth like Webster and Jude SB. So the league would say you have enough to play.

They don't give a cr@p how weakened we are and how strong Wolves are, they made Everton play who could not name a full bench against us. They don't care that it means we show up to lose basically. They just want as many games played as possible.

That’s not entirely true, is it? Utd or Spurs could play and the PL decided to postpone their games. Brighton pointed at that already, there’s a bit of a bias in who plays and who they allow to rest.

Just now, RMH said:

That’s not entirely true, is it? Utd or Spurs could play and the PL decided to postpone their games. Brighton pointed at that already, there’s a bit of a bias in who plays and who they allow to rest.

Not sure on Spurs, but has been said ahead of Uniteds game with Brentford they have only 9 players fit, and only 7 for Brighton.

I mean don't get me wrong you know @RMH I love a good conspiracy against Chelsea idea more than most, but I just cannot have it that some pointed that way for the Everton game as a reason we drew. I mean come on is our fault we drew all those chances and two sitters missed. Completely on us, we had a good team out.

For this one all depends how badly we are affected however let's say we are lucky and Saul and Sarr are the new cases. If we can name a side in 343 of

 

Mendy

 

AC

Silva

Rudiger

 

James

Chalobah 

Barkley 

Alonso

 

Mount 

Havertz 

CP

 

Or a 433 of:

 

Dave

AC

Silva

Rudiger

 

Chalobah

 

James

Barkley

 

Mount

Havertz 

CP

 

That is still a good side, it is a front line of arguably our best academy product since JT, a 72mill forward, a 50mill forward, all 3 international. What is their excuse for missing sitters?

10 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Not sure on Spurs, but has been said ahead of Uniteds game with Brentford they have only 9 players fit, and only 7 for Brighton.

I highly doubt that as no players were actually named. The day after the Brentford game United were back in full training and ready to play Brighton, until further positives hit them the next day. Plus without knowing names we don't know for sure who was out. A squad of United's size plus their academy would mean 20+ players out. I think there are only 40 or so in the whole league officially.

26 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I highly doubt that as no players were actually named. The day after the Brentford game United were back in full training and ready to play Brighton, until further positives hit them the next day. Plus without knowing names we don't know for sure who was out. A squad of United's size plus their academy would mean 20+ players out. I think there are only 40 or so in the whole league officially.

Who knows, there is no transparency about it as it affects people's privacy.