CONFIRMED Boro (H) POSTPONED

[Pollingtonblade]

All set up for us to lose to a decimated boro side.

 

[Davalon]

It's not 19 players though is it. It's 9.

They need to stop this hyperbolic rubbish.

"The most difficult 48 hours of his 20 year managerial career"

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

We’ll done to the EFL for standing there ground

I don’t blame wilder one bit but this is the situation we are in it’s shit for everyone and can and probably will happen too us

However it’s a massive advantage to us tommorow if it’s played in what is a huge game
I don’t see how we don’t win if we’re playing against the reserves

Tough shit on them. Should have had better protocols in place. We shouldn’t be disadvantaged because of their failings.

Hope we hammer them 10-0.

 

[HeySethUTB]

“The most challenging 48hrs of his career” really? And if the game does go ahead some may say karmas a bitch.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

More results later though. Kinda feel for boro as why can everyone else call off a game but they cant when they have been hit harder by covid. Surely will announce postponement later

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

Tough shit on them. Should have had better protocols in place. We shouldn’t be disadvantaged because of their failings.

Hope we hammer them 10-0.

I dont think covid protocols are to blame

I dot think there's much you can do to stop covid hitting a squad when there's what 50+ people when you include all staff

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

My heart fucking bleeds, Chrissy.

 

[nickwr37]

They'll be having a full squad and reserves/U23's game of murderball in an enclosed windowless, non ventilated arena within their training complex to get their wish over the line by 6pm tonight

 

[Yogi]

More results later though. Kinda feel for boro as why can everyone else call off a game but they cant when they have been hit harder by covid. Surely will announce postponement later

In my opinion if they were playing another side this would be off. I think because they’re playing us a side who has already had a few games postponed for covid the pressure is on the EFL to keep the game on for scheduling reasons.

 

[Bladesman]

This is 100% a covid outbreak. Will some clubs have bent the rules to dodge a fixture? In my opinion 100%.

We are looking at you QPR.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I would say most championship clubs prob have squad of 25 , that’s without U23 players .. leaves it wide open to abuse for getting injured players back , waiting on JTW , not playing rivals too close together blah blah … I pissed myself when QPR lost there two games after the ‘covid ‘ postponement with the injuries brfore playing us

 

[Chris the Blade]

Can't the Boro lads play in masks?

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

That's exactly what Agent Wilder would say.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

In my opinion if they were playing another side this would be off. I think because they’re playing us a side who has already had a few games postponed for covid the pressure is on the EFL to keep the game on for scheduling reasons.

Definitely. We haven't had an outbreak ourselves yet, if we were hit mid January we could end up with 6 or 7 rearranged games to fit into 3 months.

 

[Mojo]

Everyone gets a payout. Would you have turned it down? I doubt it

Yep and you would turn it down, of course you would.

It was a joke

 

[gordoncharles]

We all want the game to go ahead we're all skeptical of the situation, but it's not Squad Game.

That skepticism isn't a reason to throw caution to the wind.

You've got to be kidding.

The other day the EFL announced that it would no longer be necessary for players to be tested on the day of a game. This, supposedly, is to prevent late postponements.

If they truly believed it was dangerous then tests would still be conducted. What does it matter if it's on the day of the game? If anything that's more reason to sideline them.

The reality is they KNOW the whole current raft of "protocols" is first-class, unscientific bullshit, and that's why the rules have been relaxed. The EFL know full well that they have over-reacted.

Unless someone is exhibiting some symptoms there is no need to test them. Anyone fit enough to play is of no risk to anyone else, apart from physically injuring an opponent on the field.

 

[Yogi]

Definitely, we haven't had an outbreak ourselves yet, if we were hit mid January we could end up with 6 or 7 rearranged games to fit into 3 months.

Yeah I’d imagine anyone looking us from a scheduling point of view is pulling their hair out right now. Like you say all it’ll take is our own outbreak coupled with one or two more postponements and we’re up the swanny

 

[Belvedere Blade]

Boro forced to play Blades despite 19 covid cases, with loanees to be recalled

Baffled Chris Wilder says Boro have been 'decimated' by positive tests but all they're getting from the EFL is a blunt message

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Working Class Hero]

To be fair to Boro, the EFL's stance does seem harsh given what's happened over the last month. Assuming Boro can prove they have 9 first team players testing positive, there have been teams calling games off for far less than that.

Not that it should be called off, but neither should the others have been.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Bell4]

Lets lend them Burke , McBurnie & Robinson

 

[ghandi]

Boro forced to play Blades despite 19 covid cases, with loanees to be recalled

Baffled Chris Wilder says Boro have been 'decimated' by positive tests but all they're getting from the EFL is a blunt message

www.gazettelive.co.uk

Wilder saying he has integrity and honesty. Yep 4 million and a backdoor exit really exudes those qualities.

 

[Belvedere Blade]

Sheffield United's game with Middlesbrough is called off as Chris Wilder hits out at EFL

SHEFFIELD UNITED'S home game with Middlesbrough has been postponed - with the EFL compelled to act due to a raft of Covid cases among the visitors' players and staff.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

 

[WhiteHawk]

In my opinion if they were playing another side this would be off. I think because they’re playing us a side who has already had a few games postponed for covid the pressure is on the EFL to keep the game on for scheduling reasons.

Or maybe it's because Sky want to make sure Wilders return to Bramall Lane goes ahead as planned?

 

[mattbianco1]

Bleeding covid why can,t EFL or premier league make it compulsory all players get vaccinated or they will not be able to play.

Italian FA have done this today.

Doesn't change things though does it. Can still catch and spread it

 

[Tezza1889]

The trick is they never name the players who've got positive results, this is so they can play thier starting 11 if the game is made to go ahead...

Do not be surprised to see pretty much thier first team out there.. Should it play..

 

[Yogi]

Or maybe it's because Sky want to make sure Wilders return to Bramall Lane goes ahead as planned?

I’m sure Sky have moaned but I don’t see them being able to bring the kind of pressure required to keep the game on. A championship game isn’t that big of a draw regardless of the narrative. This is either the EFL making Boro an arbitrary example which isn’t impossible or is more likely being made for the practical reasons of keeping the league running

 

[Bladesman]

Hecky calling other clubs out on their bullshit.

 

[Panini]

You've got to be kidding.

The other day the EFL announced that it would no longer be necessary for players to be tested on the day of a game. This, supposedly, is to prevent late postponements.

If they truly believed it was dangerous then tests would still be conducted. What does it matter if it's on the day of the game? If anything that's more reason to sideline them.

The reality is they KNOW the whole current raft of "protocols" is first-class, unscientific bullshit, and that's why the rules have been relaxed. The EFL know full well that they have over-reacted.

Unless someone is exhibiting some symptoms there is no need to test them. Anyone fit enough to play is of no risk to anyone else, apart from physically injuring an opponent on the field.

I'm not justifying the EFL's protocols.

I don't especially disagree with any of that but isn't much of it is based on proving the unprovable?

Whilever the situation involves unknowns and variables, it will create a variety of outcomes and timings. Very little of this is black and white. It can't be managed like a away team coach breaking down (game off) or not (game goes ahead).

Do you think the 'no testing or postponements' rule will see no games called off on the day? It felt like a time-buying response and there's no way a club affected by late symptom-showing won't press the panic button.

I think it could be argued that EFL are singling out Boro / this game because of circumstances unique to it. Boro missing no games so far, us missing 3. No doubt there are TV pressures from Sky too.

 

[Maidenhead]

“The most challenging 48hrs of his career” really? And if the game does go ahead some may say karmas a bitch.

As I recall he had 48 weeks or so that were more challenging from April 2020 to March 2021.