Hank shoots Skyler 2,094 Posted December 26, 2021 So just a few things we've heard in the past week or so: Byram thrown into the team despite not being set to play until the FA Cup game 2-3 weeks later than he actually played versus Villa Giannoulis on the bench despite being symptomatic Gilmour playing with a very high temperature And now players like Tzolis and Sargent being asked to come back sooner than Smith would like them to Why are we doing this? What is the criteria for an injured player? These players are still injured / ill under normal circumstances and shouldn't be close to the pitch. Genuinely feels like we'd be close to the 13 if we actually included these players who shouldn't technically be playing! Surely as soon as you are accelerating the rehab process, or playing symptomatic players, you're going dangerously over and above what is needed to assemble a team to meet the PL criteria for playing a game? So why aren't we trying to make our case for a postponement as strongly as possible by not cobbling together a half baked ill-prepared (quite literally) side? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cambridgeshire canary 7,800 Posted December 26, 2021 Beacause we dont have anyone else. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rock bus 1,059 Posted December 26, 2021 (edited) 6 minutes ago, cambridgeshire canary said: Beacause we dont have anyone else. Think that’s the OPs actual point…the game shouldn’t be going ahead! We’re stupidly fielding a squad with players that are still injured and unwell Edited December 26, 2021 by rock bus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robert N. LiM 6,301 Posted December 26, 2021 18 minutes ago, Hank shoots Skyler said: Surely as soon as you are accelerating the rehab process, or playing symptomatic players, you're going dangerously over and above what is needed to assemble a team to meet the PL criteria for playing a game? Quite. Little old too-nice Norwich. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank shoots Skyler 2,094 Posted December 26, 2021 6 minutes ago, rock bus said: Think that’s the OPs actual point…the game shouldn’t be going ahead! We’re stupidly fielding a squad with players that are still injured and unwell Of course it is, fairly sure he just read the title of the OP and answered it without bothering to read any further. Perhaps an indicator of the level of attention he expects posters to give to his own OPs, which is ironic given they are mostly click-baiting the actual truth... 🤨 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newtopia 573 Posted December 26, 2021 The rules seem pretty clear, 13 fit outfield players and a keeper, then you top up with U23 players. I guess the real question is at what point is a player 'fit'. If Sam B was seriously injured again that will be the end of his career, equally if he is fit then he should play. I just do not understand how Tottenham with their huge squad do not have enough to play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,680 Posted December 26, 2021 1 hour ago, rock bus said: Think that’s the OPs actual point…the game shouldn’t be going ahead! We’re stupidly fielding a squad with players that are still injured and unwell Clearly the formula for granting a call off has nothing to do with the state of the club. We would not be playing hardly any of our bench today under normal circumstances but there is a good chance three could come on in the first half. Yet the top clubs can chuck on players who have played CL games as well as Carabao etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pete 371 Posted December 26, 2021 Do we have any U23's who fit within the rules have played a first team match. Dickson Peters called up for a few in Championship but as far as I can recall never got on. There is a CB Tomkinson I think made the bench recently but again not played. Omotoye got on but on loan somewhere not available. We have limited players that fall within the rules only those in first team squad of 25 and under age. That is why Byram called up down to bare bones if Kabak wasn't fit probably not enough to fill a tam sheet. Palace will likely be off Tuesday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites