And more could follow after two more players tested positive. Mark Catlin reports that Covid could be 'widespread' in the Pompey camp. Also Ipswich and Bristol Rovers reporting infections. I guess Hull will have some now as well. Are the wheels coming off this season?
(20-12-2020, 08:16 PM)Gerry Hatrick Wrote: [ -> ]And more could follow after two more players tested positive. Mark Catlin reports that Covid could be 'widespread' in the Pompey camp. Also Ipswich and Bristol Rovers reporting infections. I guess Hull will have some now as well. Are the wheels coming off this season?
You could well be right. There are rumours the EFL are talking about suspending the season. Watch this space...
Everything is falling apart
Temporarily or permanently? Would we get automatic promotion as Champions?
(21-12-2020, 08:27 AM)Cressers Wrote: [ -> ]Temporarily or permanently? Would we get automatic promotion as Champions?
Probably not as we have played more games than most.
The EFL would use a game weighted index, and of course we'd miss out again...
If they don't suspend the season for everyone, the EFL need to be more supportive of the clubs being hit by outbreaks. As it is, Pompey and all the others face a points penalty if the EFL don't agree that their fixture postponement was necessary. At the moment, we have three players affected. What's the criteria for being able to put off a match without fear of a penalty? One? Two? When Sunderland asked that question, they were told, you must do what you think is best.
Very helpful!
It's not officially off......yet
(21-12-2020, 06:21 PM)Northstander Wrote: [ -> ]It's not officially off......yet
Yes, my bad. My source? The News! It reported on Saturday that it was off, Sunday that it was on and today that it will
probably be off. Aren't you sorry you don't subscribe?
Their Headline says....."Pompey are today waiting to hear their coronavirus fate and whether their season will grind to a halt". So I will wait with anticipation lol
I suppose the probable scenario now is that the season will be suspended in early Jan as happened last season in ?April 2020. In that case even if the league were not resumed until about April 2021 time there should still be enough time by extending it until say July/August 2021 for the league to be completed (thereby retaining its 'integrity' which was the argument last summer). The 2021/22 season start would then be postponed until say November 2021. Does that make sense?
It does make sense Pangus, with the expiring contracts Pompey have at the end of June it could be a nightmare. It would be the same for all clubs I guess.
Catlin was interviewed on TalkSport this morning by Jim White and Simon Jordan, the last minute was a direct question to him “ Will the Portsmouth v Swindon game take place”, he replied that he didn’t know, Covid test results on players are still awaited but everyone at the club was self isolating.
We now wait on the test results.
(22-12-2020, 01:08 PM)Wightblue Wrote: [ -> ]Catlin was interviewed on TalkSport this morning by Jim White and Simon Jordan, the last minute was a direct question to him “ Will the Portsmouth v Swindon game take place”, he replied that he didn’t know, Covid test results on players are still awaited but everyone at the club was self isolating.
We now wait on the test results.
Tks Wightblue
Hi heard the tale end of the Mark Caitlin interview earlier but missed the main bit.
You can listen on catch up in the Talk sport website.
Pompey currently have 3 players tested positive & the rest are self-isolating awaiting full results.
They are also waiting to hear back from Swindon before making a final decision.
But the bigger picture is that the Premier League players are now tested twice a week all paid for by the Premier League whereas EFL Clubs have to pay for their own testing at £140 per player & backroom staff so for 25 the cost is: £3,500 per week or £14,000 per month for weekly testing. A lot of the smaller clubs can't afford to pay that amount. The EFL have cash in the bank & need to foot the bill otherwise all games will be cancelled for some time.
And still we don't know if the match is off. Someone needs to make a decision.
Now confirmed, our Boxing Day fixture against Swindon has been suspended. As has our Tuesday evening game away to the Gas men on 29th December.
It’s not what we need after going on such a good run and halts our momentum, whilst giving our rivals the opportunity to overtake us. We could end outside the playoffs by the time we resume.
But it also gives our injured players more time to recover. The season is a marathon, not a sprint.
No other option, we havent trained since the Hull game. Quite a few games in our league are postponed already, 4 out of 8 already off Boxing Day, who knows whats going to happen next
A bit of a rest & letting the players spend Xmas with their families is Not a bad thing.
How have these players managed to catch it? Nobody round here has got it. Nobody has had it round here since February.
What I have found strange is that Jack didn't play against Hull because of a negative test yet Williams was allowed to room share with him. Surely that is something the club should've prevented or even the player himself querying it.
(23-12-2020, 02:04 PM)Isaac Hunt Wrote: [ -> ]Ask Jack
Just because he tested positive first doesn't automatically make him the bad boy.
It takes about seven days for symptoms to appear, so I guess that fingers Ipswich.