I guess unless the squad after taking out any infected or isolating players hasn't enough players to field a team with subs then it will still go ahead? I assume that is the criteria the EFL will use?
Don’t blame them for wanting a postponement. Playing a team with much greater resources than them and missing “several players’. Issue is though, if you let one team do it you have to let them all, and the season could just go on and on with rearranged fixtures.
I wouldn't want to play them if this is the case. One positive is it helps keep our players from burning out.
Use the same criteria the EFL used against us v West Ham away in the cup this season, which was play or face a hefty fine and give them 30 minutes to decide.
I think Burton said several players and staff, which generally implies no more than 3 or 4. In that case, it would imply no more than 2 or 3 players which isn't enough to call it off. BUT, that is about what the EFL might say, and I think I'm right in saying that there have been instances this season where the EFL have been happy to allow a game to go ahead and Public Health England (PHE) have said no. Giess it will depend on when affected people last had contact with rest of group.
“Keane Lewis-Potter has had to test. He came back negative but he’ll still need to isolate this weekend and will miss the game against Burton“. Lewie Coyle is back in training, but won't be involved on Saturday.
Burton will be severely depleted at the KCOM on Saturday (six players missing), but the game definitely goes ahead.
According to the HDM and partly backed up by the Burton statement it's 12 players out, 6 +ve tests and 6 self isolating. Their original statement said several players and staff had tested +ve, it was actually 10 total. We may have to explain what the word 'several' means (actually, there is no definition of how many several is, but it's not as many as ten). Anyway, that amount of players out means we are in the strongest position for quite a while for a Typical City performance. 0-2.
This is what a reserve team is for, for exactly this scenario. I never understood why a game needs to be called off because your first team is out. You've got enough players at the club, what you're saying is you're worried that you'll lose because your best ones aren't playing. Exactly why strength in depth is so important. I hope the Burton lot pull through alright, but we should be putting them to the sword. I expect they'll set up ultra defensive too, try and nick a draw.
Hopefully an early goal could open the flood gates, I've been saying for a few weeks that one game with the chances we create, we will give someone a hammering
Didn't we spend a couple of seasons, never mind just one match, in that sort of situation (not covid related but with virtually the equivalent of a full team out of action)! Hell, we even started a season in the PL with barely a full senior 11 to 'select' from ...... and still won our 1st game if I remember right.