Man Utd - missing the point ! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54716149 In essence, circa 23,500 fans in Old Trafford wouldn't be a problem for 'Social-distancing.' - inside the ground.... BUT -- that's not the problem ! The infection rate continues to grow -at an alarming rate.. People, everywhere, are TOO close to each orther - hence the infection passes from one person to the next, and next, and next - to the tune of around 20,000 every day - and the figure is rising. What Man Utd fail to appreciate is - you can have all the precaution protocols as is possible, in, and around the ground - BUT - THAT will not prevent the obvious ''congregation' of fans as they approach the venue - and, probably even WORSE - as they all depart en masse - and go onto public transport, or into pubs in large numbers --- to be infected by the person next to them etc etc etc. I hate not being at the stadium to watch our games - but - it really is not safe - and getting increasingly more dangerous to be out there in the public domain.... We have got to be patient - and if that means next August ( hopefully ), so be it............... everyone - please keep safe - nobody is immune.
Keep Priestfield CLOSED !.......... ..... I never thought I'd be saying that ! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54977370 I am as desperate as the next Gills fan to want to go back to attending the stadium for matches - BUT - is it really wise ? Is it really safe ? The infection numbers ( and deaths ), are rising higher than Gills hoofing the ball on (off) the pitch. Realistically that situation is unlikely to have dramatically decreased in time for late December. The Government are still not ruling out extending lockdown beyond 2nd December ! So - what has Football got - which makes it think it will be safe / safe enough, to allow fans back into stadiums - before next season - without causing ,, not so much another 'wave' of infections and deaths, but a massive tsunami of people dropping like flies. December is traditionally a 'party' season. People do all sorts of stupid things - in their desperate attempts to get admitted into A & E. There'll be many tongues down 'strange' throats over Christmas and New Year - to ensure the spread of infection remains through the roof . How on Earth can Football even think that it won't be a serious risk to life -- a lot of lives --- thousands more lives -- if fans are allowed into stadiums before next season - let alone in a month which begins in less than 2 weeks?
BUT What do I know ? ** https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54973530 ** Answer = I know that you can't trust a word I say - after all, it's not as if I am a doctor !
Sadly my experience with the pandemic so far is selfish people, it's nice to blame the government for doing the wrong thing. The truth is there are too many selfish people who won't stay in, won't wear a face cover, won't keep their distance.
I can't see that they will open stadiums before new year. It may just be possible it could happen next year. A very big if though. Prem and championship will stay closed as too big stadiums and too many people on public transport.
This is a point that I raised a while ago... It might be very well to 'manage fans inside a stadium -- but - before, and after the matches, there will be large numbers ( in the EPL, it will be hundreds of thousands)), who will be in environments where social distancing will be the last consideration (( I've been on the underground in London after games - absolute nightmare ! )) --- I'm not sure if Football or the Government have thought this through.
The problem you have here it is clubs like Manchester United that are pushing for it. I've had these debates about crowds dispersing after the game, all arguments that weren't accepted. The fantastic Six, did I hear someone say! It appears it is something they do week in, week out, and with say 20-25% capacity they know how to manage these things, plus supposedly the infastructure is there to cope with it after the game, along with staggered exits. Well, they have me convinced NOT. But it's not clubs like Man Utd that will have to wheel their dead out, it will be our A&E departments, but hey, we never learn. This all has about as much appeal to me as watching Hereford play.
Tiers ! So, I am waiting to see in what 'Tier' Kent will be placed. I'm not confident that it will be 3, even if that is not enough ! I expect that the Government will bow to pressure to continue to 'fart-arse' around with rules and regulations - to keep us all from catching Coronavirus !............... Rules and Regulations ?? -- don't make me laugh... We know that we're all living in 'Yobland' - where too many people don't think ! The initial lockdown 'rules' were pretty flexible - and took a long time to have a small effect.... Then we get the 'Dine out to help out' & back to school and university - and a month later the infection rate goes through the roof... The Government have admitted, only this week, that the R number is still above 1 ------ which means that the infection is still rising -- Yet -- come next Wednesday, it will, somehow, be 'safe' to have thousands of people going to football matches all over the country .... and for 5 days over the Christmas period, Coronavirus has apparently agreed not to infect everyone in the country as we pull our crackers !......... but don't worry about not having enough to feed everyone at your table, because, the way that people are still dropping like flies, there is a grave danger that your Christmas party might have to be a 'wake.' If you care to read what's going on in the World, you'll find that the infection and deaths are rising -- alarmingly -- in practically EVERY country. It makes for grim reading - which, at least, is better than meeting the Grim Reaper ! ..... This Christmas season is hardly one that is going to be jolly - for millions of families - - our Government is doing its' best to make sure that 2021 is not going to be a 'happy' one ...... Tiers ? -- more likely - Tears ! .... at this point, I was going to wish you a Merry Christmas -- but I don't do hypocrisy.
There are things that need to happen regardless of what tier we are put in, People made to wear masks when leaving the house, people being made to keep their distance, blow up the sheppey bridge. Bring in the army with 007 license to enforce the rules.
Pricks ! The Government seem to think that if we all form a social 'bubble' everything will be alright - that we can carry on our 'normal' routine ----and that would be possible -- if people used common sense -- but -- we know that bubbles are very fragile. They are very easily burst by just one prick...... and, as we know, there are many bubble bursters out there !
So - it's Tier 3 for Kent and Medway - at least until 16th December..... Little prospect of any fans at Priestfield until 26th ( even then it's likely to be 2,000 maximum )...... with the amount of 'close' time with families by that date, you might want to take risks with Coronavirus !
As I understand it with crowds returning to grounds, and I'm using a Prem club as an example; You 'opt in' if you want to be considered as an STH in returning to the ground, obviously if it's more STH's then numbers allowed it will be drawn as lots or maybe some other criteria. For me, that's is the only way it can be done, because a football club does not know your medical history, hence it also does not know your vulnerability other than by age. Even IF after the 16th December, Kent is reduced to Tier 2, it does not mean as an individual you are fit to return, everyones circumstances are different and for that reason, STH's have two other options, Live TV access or Part refund, dependent on number of games streamed and that were accessible. No football chairman is going to want the potential legal consequences of forcing supporters to return, until such time the UK is lifted of all restrictions, or legalities cover proof of vaccination.
brb - Your post makes sense - but is it a guess, or have you seen it ''set in stone?'' I actually doubt that Gills have 2000 STH (( bearing in mind that the first lockdown happened before the end of last season - and I am sure that not many fans were as stupid as me - and purchased an 'early bird.' )) I am uncertain if I would wish to take the extra risk, in December, by attending Priestfield (( I might still be in a Tier 3 area - and, technically / legally / morally not allowed to travel. )). I'd like to think that sense would prevail - and that STH would be allowed to have the option of 'free' ifollow for the rest of the season - THIS would actually make economic sense for Mr. Scally - because it would free up a place for a 'full paying' fan, not a STH, whose money has already been taken by the Club.
And even less like me who purchased a 2 year early bird. but I'm another who is unlikely to go at the moment even if it was allowed.
Mostly a guess, but I do know a prem club that is doing an opt in for attending a match for STH's. Obviously for a prem club there will be more ST's then availability, so it's a way with an opt in of giving the seats to those who are comfortable attending. However, the guess bit is that legally surely if you 'opt in' to something, you are taking part ownership of your own well-being, I certainly would hope that a 75 year old with a heart condition wouldn't be opting in, but I'm sure you get what I mean, and there will be others, who will just not feel comfortable until a vaccine is available - after all, we've have been conditioned by the government since March to be cautious. As for our club, I think we should do the same, opt in for STH's and any remaining seats sold at full price. Not for me to sort out the criteria regarding who they are sold to, but the club has a data base, so surely it wouldn't be that difficult to see who your regular attendees are.
brb Thanks for the info - ( post 115 ). I am like grumpygit - and purchased a 2 year season ticket.... and whilst I appreciate the use of ifollow - that cost ( if I had to pay ), is considerably less than the cost, per match, even at season ticket 'rates' -- so, in effect, it is costing me a lot more, as a STH, to watch games - which, as a 'casual' fan, I could chose not to bother !... With that in mind, I would think that the least that Mr. Scally should do is to give STH the option of free ifollow for the rest of this season - rather than to 'force' a STH to attend a game - or not be given complimentary ifollow......... ..... You might say that, if I have purchased a season ticket, then surely it was always my intention to go to the match -- and, in normal circumstances, that would be true -- but -- times are not 'normal.'.... There are a whole load of variables that may prevail - to prevent a STH from attending -- and I personally do not think it fair - to fans whose money may have been the 'difference' since March - to now expect them to take extra risks to health - or even break Government Tier 3 guidelines, by 'illegal' travel - AND - to expect STH to 'lose out' by not being able to go to Priestfield, - or expect them to pay even more !
