Burnley vs Watford to be postponed

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 1,748]

43 minutes ago, nutty nigel said:

Nothing would surprise me as it seems some clubs can change the rules to suit. But I'm sure that since we were shafted by Coventry it's changed so that the last games all kick off together on the last weekend.

Thankfully the football league still allowed in to happen for at least one season after 84/85 as the following season Oxford beat Arsenal after Ipswich had played their last game and condemned our friends to relegation ...and 6 subsequent seasons in Division 2 !

[lake district canary 4,531]

Burnley will face a fixture build up, lots of midweek games and that could go either way for them - they could build up a head of steam and get the results they need - or much more likely, they will get fatigued and injury affected and continue to struggle - and nothing can change the fact they have lost Chris Wood who was their equivalent of Grant Holt - not as good as him, but similar talisman figure in that squad.

Bottom line is they will have a mountain to climb trying to catch up and IF we and Newcastle can get a bit of momentum going, they will likely be cut off at the bottom. 

Edited January 17, 2022 by lake district canary

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 1,748]

1 minute ago, lake district canary said:

Burnley will face a fixture build up, lots of midweek games and that could go either way for them - they could build up a head of steam and get the results they need - or much more likely, they will get fatigued and injury affected and continue to struggle - nothing can change the fact they have lost Chris Wood who was their equivalent of Grant Holt - not as good as him, but similar personality in that squad.

Bottom line is they will have a mountain to climb trying to catch up and IF we and Newcastle can get a bit of momentum going, they will likely be cut off at the bottom. 

The flip side of this is that the teams that they were due to play at the time may not have anything to play for when the games are re-arranged or some might be playing in europe where they werent over christmas and of course Burnley may well have spent that Chris Wood money to have improved their team  ..

[Capt. Pants 4,226]

To be fair Watford called off the original date for the fixture at very late notice because of COVID. It would be outrageous if Burnley were forced to play a significantly understrength team. We'd be pretty pissed if it were us.

[sgncfc 1,227]

All the clubs agreed the process for call offs. They all made the point that with players out with Covid it meant injuries to fit players were more likely so injuries should count too. They decided that the criteria was the number of fit and available first team players i.e. players who had made a first team appearance. Against Palace we had 14. Smith brought Rowe on for his debut which then made it 15.

The only team who may have abused it so far are Liverpool with their pretend "false positives". The coaches who are moaning in public are just trying to excuse a bad result or a potentially bad result.

On the Burnley situation, catching up 4 games in hand with the winter break is going to put huge pressure on what is already a small squad.

[Bluefloyd 58]

Well according to the Burnley pie supplier, it's on. Yes pie. As in pastry encased meat snack. https://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=59654

[shaunieboy77 73]

Burnley u23s play tonight but none seemingly deemed up to standard to feature for the First team squad tomorrow 

[Capt. Pants 4,226]

I'm more concerned with the positive impact this could have on Watford than Burnley if the game is called off tbh.

 

[Greavsy 2,412]

1 hour ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

fair

I think it warranted more than a one word response. Took me ages that! 😊 😊 

[Commonsense 621]

2 hours ago, alex_ncfc said:

You can just a scenario unfolding where Burnley still have games to play and we've finished the season, somehow in 17th. And then they win all of them and stay up in our place. Just like 1985 as FW said above.

No that is no longer allowed. All games must be finished by the appointed date.

[Robert N. LiM 4,336]

1 hour ago, Capt. Pants said:

I'm more concerned with the positive impact this could have on Watford than Burnley if the game is called off tbh.

 

At least the decision is being made so late that Watford will have had to travel. If it is to be called off hopefully it'll be at about 5pm tomorrow 

Or did you mean in terms of getting players back from Afcon?

Edited January 17, 2022 by Robert N. LiM

[Capt. Pants 4,226]

1 minute ago, Robert N. LiM said:

At least the decision is being made so late that Watford will have had to travel. If it is to be called off hopefully it'll be at about 5pm tomorrow 

That will be really tough on the Watford fans, that will be twice. On reflection we don't want this game going ahead really as Burnley will be so weak.

[Alex 26]

23 minutes ago, Capt. Pants said:

That will be really tough on the Watford fans, that will be twice. On reflection we don't want this game going ahead really as Burnley will be so weak.

If Burnley play a strong team they should be fined heavily. Burnley are such a ****ty little club that I wouldn't put it passed them being made to field a team and having pretty much a first team anyway. 

[Alex 26]

2 hours ago, shaunieboy77 said:

Burnley u23s play tonight but none seemingly deemed up to standard to feature for the First team squad tomorrow 

Covid only impacts first team players up there obviously 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[Rottingdean canary 117]

It's been postponed https://www.premierleague.com/news/2443865

 

[Van wink 2,994]

It’s off

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 1,748]

Confirmed as off...probably a good thing in hindsight, we need a draw from this game , not an easy win for Watford

....but what it does mean is that if we win in Friday ...WE'RE OUT OF THE RELEGATION ZONE !!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited January 17, 2022 by GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary

[paddycanary 539]

4 minutes ago, GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary said:

Confirmed as off...probably a good thing in hindsight, we need a deaw from this game , not an wasy win for Watford

....but what it does mean is that if we win in Friday ...WE'RE OUT IF THE RELEGATION ZONE !!!!!!!!!!!!

And no Sarr

[cambridgeshire canary 6,711]

Kinda silly given their under 23's played today..

[Greavsy 2,412]

Just now, cambridgeshire canary said:

Kinda silly given their under 23's played today..

Unless they played, so they can then say their u23s can't play again within 24 hours....thus aiding the call off. 

[cambridgeshire canary 6,711]

4 minutes ago, Greavsy said:

Unless they played, so they can then say their u23s can't play again within 24 hours....thus aiding the call off. 

It's all getting a tad farcical

[Greavsy 2,412]

4 minutes ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

It's all getting a tad farcical

It's all about playing the system to your best advantage, unfortunately. 

 

[Ken Hairy 3,771]

Burnley are going to be screwed when come middle of April and they've got 10 games to cram into about 4 weeks 😊

[Greavsy 2,412]

11 minutes ago, Ken Hairy said:

Burnley are going to be screwed when come middle of April and they've got 10 games to cram into about 4 weeks 😊

Wont stop them moaning about it though 

[Thumbbass 318]

11 hours ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

Kinda silly given their under 23's played today..

This is part of the problem. Clubs are now actively discouraged from giving u23s first team game time because an appearance means that they are then considered part of the senior squad for COVID purposes. So, it's in Burnley's best interest not to play them while they wait for their strongest players to return.

[Mason 47 1,376]

In fairness I wouldn't put it past Watford being in agreement with cancelling the game.

If they played against a depleted Burnley away they have a good chance (but no guarantee) of a result, at the same time they would themselves be depleted for our upcoming visit. Cancelling the game at worst means they'll probably have players back too (by the time of the rearrangement) and they have a rested squad for a home game against a relegation rival.

It has all gotten a little bit silly.

[chicken 2,624]

18 hours ago, Ian said:

I suggest it's probably more to do with the level of testing that goes on in the EPL.

Which in itself is a funny old thing. In theory you can be back at work within a week going by government guidelines.

Even the NHS website says that positive LFT tests after a set period are not indicative of being transmissible and a new cough/high temperature are better indicators that you are still transmissible etc.

[Jim Smith 2,317]

I think the club needs to try and exert some pressure on the premier league to get them to play some of these games sooner rather than later as the table is distorted and it could end up giving them an advantage if they can play them all after they have lots of players back (or signed) and/or at the end of the season when their opponants may have nothing left to play for. Cannot allow a Coverntry type situation to arise.

And they need to clamp down on these postponements. Clubs are now effectively chaeting/playing the system to buy time for when they can put out a stronger team whether due to new players or AFCON players returning. Very few players are missing due to covid. 

[Greavsy 2,412]

https://www.premierleague.com/news/2211279

Interesting figures there. 

I believe they are down this week. 

[Google Bot 3,275]

14 hours ago, GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary said:

....but what it does mean is that if we win in Friday ...WE'RE OUT OF THE RELEGATION ZONE !!!!!!!!!!!!

To think back to the week before Farke was dismissed (Week 10):-

 

To now (Week 21):-

 

The thought that we could be out of the relegation zone end of this week is massive, really.  Sure there's games in hand around us, but what a mental lift that would be. Once you feel the cliff-edge grass in your fingers it provides an extra emphasis to push.

btw, Those tables aren't a direct comparison on Farke vs Smith, but more how low everyone felt after that Leeds match and the 8 point gap that appeared which really hurt.