S.A.F.C. - the future

[alan reed]

We know its our decision, but it shoudnt be, the efl should be saying call it off andbthere will be no sanctions, as its a health risk to our players and the wimbledon players and staff. The efl are basically saying they will investigate and to see if the club had enough players to fullfill the fixture whichnin theory they did

So going by that. Bristol will begetting punished then

 

[Alebeac]

It seems to me it's another example of The EFL failing in their duty of care to the players.

 

[Snaggey]

I think the efl have to investigate to check any postponement is actually due to covid.
It would be too easy to postpone a game due to other reasons (other illness, injuries etc) otherwise.

 

[Roppa]

We had players who hadn't trained and weren't fit after injury playing. They wouldn't have been on the bench and would've been resting and recuperating from their injuries not being risked further injuring themselves. We also had players who had played the night before for the under 23's who won't have recovered from that. No way can anyone claim that was a fully fit team/squad playing.

Doesn’t have to be a full squad, just enough to field a team, and fitness isn’t the league’s issue, just those effected by covid.

 

[Zidane]

I think EFL said they investigate every case and having enough squad players left to play is one of the lines of enquiry.
The club subsequently **** themselves and decided to play.

 

[Nathan Brazil]

Can't believe fans have turned on McFadzean after one poor game, maybe even one poor moment which he will know himself. Right up until kick off the debate was how will Hume get back in the team? We are seriously fickle!

You mean a few people on the interweb said he had a crap game.

 

[dansafcman]

If you read our statement it is very carefully worded, 'extensive dialogue' 'couldn't come to an agreement' etc. The EFL cant just postpone a game a few hours before without an investigation. And if there is an investigation there may well be sanctions if we are found to be in wrong. It was maybe our decision not to take that risk. If the players have been mixing socially we could have been docked points or whatever. Nobody really knows.
As far as I'm concerned we just need to get on with it and move on. This virus is destroying lives every single day but I dont think postponing games is the right thing to do. We cant keep running away from this. Play the game, live our lives.

There shouldn't be need for a ****ing agreement. If a 1st team player is found to be positive the efl should automatically postpone the game. Its a risk to both teams. The efl guidelines are unclear and lacking.
There are lockdowns in place, whether or not you agree with it is another argument. The current situation is what it is, and based on that the game shouldn't have gone ahead. Any club can follow the rules to the letter, but you can't reduce the risk to zero so I don't see why any club should be investigated and potentially sanctioned as its an exceptional situation. The efl should be clear about this, not making it up as they go along.

 

[John 11:35]

I think EFL said they investigate every case and having enough squad players left to play is one of the lines of enquiry.
The club subsequently **** themselves and decided to play.

Going by Stew’s long and storied time at the club it’ll be something along these lines.

 

[Guy Incognito]

I think the efl have to investigate to check any postponement is actually due to covid.
It would be too easy to postpone a game due to other reasons (other illness, injuries etc) otherwise.

While I agree, clubs will take advantage if they can, the possible penalties should be known in advance. That way teams will know what happens if they take the chance to call a game off with out good reason. That said, I wouldn't rule the EFL out of making an example of a club if they decided the club didn't have a good reason for postponing. Just look at what they've done with Sheffield Wednesday. How did Accrington get away with having a substandard pitch since coming into the league, with games called off at short notice or abandoned and it being a running joke hiw bad it was for years, but not sanctions taken on them about it? Look at how they were quick to get Bury out of the league, yet seemed to accommodate Bolton, all because Bolton could field a team (weak, full of kids and not competitive), which skewed the division in the first few weeks of last season. Its why I have no faith in them. They may not have a vendetta against us, but they aren't on our side either.

 

[Millfield Maestro 1879]

You mean a few people on the interweb said he had a crap game.

Seemed to be the loudest voices I suppose! Always amazing the people that don't comment unless something bad happens

 

[Lewberry Pie]

I think EFL said they investigate every case and having enough squad players left to play is one of the lines of enquiry.
The club subsequently **** themselves and decided to play.

Which is a completely unfair position to put a club in, "you do what's best for you, but by doing that we might punish you" is an absolutely barmy position, there obviously needs to be proof of a positive test which any club should be able to provide.

 

[JC91]

I dont think you are right with this, I think as its a public health matter I think Joe public has the right to know who is carrying the virus, I think its govt enforcement to make all virus carriers known

I believe you're in the wrong my friend, no one has the right to know who has the virus or any other medical condition, it is up to the person themselves, if they wish to disclose that information with the public. That is regardless of it being a public health matter.....

Government can't force people or companies to disclose that information, GDPR & all that my friend.

 

[Robref62]

I think the answer is in the fact that we put a team out with every position covered, how can we say we couldn’t fulfil the fixture, we’d have been deducted points or the game awarded to Wimbledon.

It doesn't say that in the EFL statement, in fact it says nothing but 'it's your choice and you'll take whatever comes your way, as we see fit" They're incompetent buffoons.

 

[Billy Batts]

We know its our decision, but it shoudnt be, the efl should be saying call it off andbthere will be no sanctions, as its a health risk to our players and the wimbledon players and staff. The efl are basically saying they will investigate and to see if the club had enough players to fullfill the fixture whichnin theory they did

Exactly. They are absolutely weak as piss as an organisation. Bit like how they settled last season, let the clubs decide the outcome instead of growing a pair and make that decision themselves.

 

[6inarow]

I believe you're in the wrong my friend, no one has the right to know who has the virus or any other medical condition, it is up to the person themselves, if they wish to disclose that information with the public. That is regardless of it being a public health matter.....

Government can't force people or companies to disclose that information, GDPR & all that my friend.

Cheers for that my friend (not Jim White are you?)

 

[Norman Stanley Fletcher]

Shouldn't the EFL have asked Wimbledon what they thought about it? Maybe they weren't too keen to play under these circumstances. In such rare cases as this, if both teams are against it, they should postpone it without the worry of any sanctions

 

[Vincemac]

We know its our decision, but it shoudnt be, the efl should be saying call it off andbthere will be no sanctions, as its a health risk to our players and the wimbledon players and staff. The efl are basically saying they will investigate and to see if the club had enough players to fullfill the fixture whichnin theory they did

I don’t think it had anything to do with having enough player
Teams only have a very small squad
We have a healthy squad
Therefore we cannot be discriminated

 

[Blyth_bucaneer]

Players can walk off the pitch if racially abused, but you can't if there's a risk of catching a virus that can be lethal, also potentially passing it on to other folk who may not fare well with it. Wonderful, well done the EFL.

 

[Mackem 10.1]

The rule is there. If you have a positive test you can call off the match. The EFL will then investigate the circumstances to check you’ve acted correctly. If they find the positive test has come about as a result of breaching the guidelines, the club can be sanctioned.... either forfeiting the match, points deduction, a fine, or all three!
We opted to play the match.... draw your own conclusions!

Its not just that, the efl investigate to see if you have enough available players to fullfill thhe fixture

 

[Vincemac]

Its not just that, the efl investigate to see if you have enough available players to fullfill thhe fixture

Is that correct