Topic: The Impact of COVID 19 on Sport...

[Gerry Attrick]

Jesus, Rickie Lambert is actually completely batshit crazy. Some pointing out that Lovren is one of the likers of his posts too😬

Is it any surprise with Lovren? The fella used to defend like he'd got rocks between his ears. Wasn't the most cerebral of defenders.

[redgriffin73]

BIG NEWS!

Isolation period cut to 7 days if you test negative on days 6 and 7.  Might get players back a wee bit quicker now.

Effective immediately

As unvaxxed people will still have to isolate for 10 days this might start to show which players are and aren't vaccinated you'd imagine.

[TepidT2O]

As unvaxxed people will still have to isolate for 10 days this might start to show which players are and aren't vaccinated you'd imagine.

they might just still be testing positive don’t forget…so we won’t know which it it.

But if it’s a mild case, they should be negative by days 6/7 fingers crossed.

[redgriffin73]

they might just still be testing positive don’t forget…so we won’t know which it it.

But if it’s a mild case, they should be negative by days 6/7 fingers crossed.

yeah good point, I'm sure clubs will do what they can to not make it clear which it is anyway to protect their players.

So is it definite that our lot can make use of this? It's not just for positive cases from today?

[Ghost Town]

As unvaxxed people will still have to isolate for 10 days this might start to show which players are and aren't vaccinated you'd imagine.

They won't necessarily. The new "2 negative test =7 days isolation" rule applies to everyone whether vaccinated or unvaccinated.

The only exception is that unvaccinated people would have to stick to 10 days only if they have "come in close contact with a positive case" whereas vaccinated people would still be able to stop after 7 days +2 negaative tests.

So most unvaccinated people probably will be able to make use of the 7 day isolation

[redgriffin73]

They won't necessarily. The new "2 negative test =7 days isolation" rule applies to everyone whether vaccinated or unvaccinated.

The only exception is that unvaccinated people would have to stick to 10 days only if they have "come in close contact with a positive case" whereas vaccinated people would still be able to stop after 7 days +2 negaative tests.

So most unvaccinated people probably will be able to make use of the 7 day isolation

Ah yes, just re-read it. Still too early for me to be making sense of too many words!

Double jabbed don't have to isolate anyway now if in contact with someone positive, just do daily LFTs.

[red_Mark1980]

Vaccinated individuals are recommended to take daily tests but do not have to isolate. This has been the issue with football clubs. Close contact unvaccinated players add to the unavailable quota. That's how the Watford game was postponed but we went ahead. You know because most of our lads are vaccinated

If you are informed that you are a contact of someone who has had a positive test result for COVID-19, you are legally required to stay at home and self-isolate unless you meet one of the following conditions:

you are fully vaccinated: fully vaccinated means you have had 2 doses of an approved vaccine such as Pfizer BioNTech, AstraZeneca or Spikevax (formerly Moderna) – you are also fully vaccinated if you have had one dose of the single-dose Janssen vaccine
you are below 18 years 6 months
you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

[ScouserAtHeart]

We are in a pandemic. The moral and social imperative is obvious: getting vaccinated protects both the individual and wider society. As for the implications for football, unvaccinated players are clearly putting the game at risk. Their personal choice has professional consequences. Footballers cannot work from home and there is an argument that any unvaccinated player who has to quarantine as a close contact of a positive case should not be deemed a Covid absentee. Games should not have to be called off because a player trusts Instagram instead of scientists.

The selfish disregard for employers, teammates, opponents and fans needs calling out. Tuchel is mistaken to leave it to Jürgen Klopp. Liverpool’s manager, who has called vaccines a moral obligation, is a leader; he knows that the personal choice line does not wash.

It is a weak position to adopt and the disappointment is that Tuchel could make such an articulate argument for vaccines. Having covered him closely since January, I see Chelsea’s brilliant manager as an intelligent, funny and hugely interesting man. Football needs people such as Tuchel to speak up. It is time he realised the power of his voice.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/dec/21/thomas-tuchel-falls-short-in-stance-on-chelsea-and-covid-vaccines

[Dim Glas]

We are in a pandemic. The moral and social imperative is obvious: getting vaccinated protects both the individual and wider society. As for the implications for football, unvaccinated players are clearly putting the game at risk. Their personal choice has professional consequences. Footballers cannot work from home and there is an argument that any unvaccinated player who has to quarantine as a close contact of a positive case should not be deemed a Covid absentee. Games should not have to be called off because a player trusts Instagram instead of scientists.

The selfish disregard for employers, teammates, opponents and fans needs calling out. Tuchel is mistaken to leave it to Jürgen Klopp. Liverpool’s manager, who has called vaccines a moral obligation, is a leader; he knows that the personal choice line does not wash.

It is a weak position to adopt and the disappointment is that Tuchel could make such an articulate argument for vaccines. Having covered him closely since January, I see Chelsea’s brilliant manager as an intelligent, funny and hugely interesting man. Football needs people such as Tuchel to speak up. It is time he realised the power of his voice.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/dec/21/thomas-tuchel-falls-short-in-stance-on-chelsea-and-covid-vaccines

He must be the first person to describe Tuchel as funny 

But he also should not be surprised Tuchel doesn’t have the guts to make a stand. 

[Yorkykopite]

Another one of our ex-players to go in the bin for me along with Lovren (who shares Lambert's views).

Yokels, both of them.

Lambert especially, in the two weeks he was here, always came over as thick as pigshit.

[Fromola]

Always thought Lambert’s forgotten spell here was a case of the wrong man at the wrong time. Caught in an era of uncertain change.

Turns out it was because he’s a fucking moron. Surprised he could put his boots on the right feet.

Wouldn't matter if he was brain of Britain. It was a ridiculous signing. Replacing Suarez with Balotelli and Lambert is up there with the stupidest bit of business ever. One was fat, slow and average and the other was lazy, slow and average.

What is about podgy Southampton legends and anti-vaccines?

[newterp]

He must be the first person to describe Tuchel as funny 

But he also should not be surprised Tuchel doesn’t have the guts to make a stand. 

yeah I posted this in the Klopp thread - contrast Tuchel and Klopp.

[AndyMuller]

I dealt with Rickie Lambert mid last year and noticed a red flag when he was talking about restrictions and COVID.

[amir87]

The only person more mental then Rickie Lambert is the person who decided he would be an able replacement to Luis Suarez.

[Ghost Town]

To be fair I don't think Lambert was meant to be the Suarez replacement. That was Sanchez initially and, when that failed to manifest, there was an unseemingly scrabble about that took in players like Eto'o before finally landng, incomprehensibly, on Balotelli.

Lambert, if I recall correctly, was a little favour of the month at that time due to his Saouthampton and England exploits, but really his was more a feelgood transfer, a boyhood fan who had failed to make it at the club first time round, getting a swansong chance late in his career.

Whatever one may think of him now, that moment when he first scored for us...his emotion and reaction were genuine and you'd need a heart of stone to not have felt happy for him.

[JackWard33]

Personal choice for professional athletes is total bollocks
Beyond the wider ethical questions they play in a completion where being unvaccinated massively increases the chances of that competition being disrupted
Leagues and associations govern what they put into their bodies at all times already (they are drug tested out of competition)

Really it’s down to the league to enforce a mandate but they’re too cataclysmically run with zero leadership to do it
Then players have the ‘personal choice’ of abiding by the rules for the benefit of the collective or not playing

[dutchkop]

still think The FA Covid policy is wank,, yes we now have more transparency of how many players need to be available 13 .. so that means 12 players out with Covid.

No change to the number of subs.. they could have increased the number of subs allowed to 5 during this period


No repurcussions if premier league clubs still do not have vaccinated players in the 90% range..
or transparency as to waht the % is for each club


As I mentioned on the Liv - Leicester EFL pre-match thread,  tonights selection will also influenced by the fact that some of our covid players could be available for Leeds - due to change in UK quarantee  rules reduced to 7 days this week. so if Curtis, VIrgil and Fabinho are available for Leeds and Tiago for Chelsea. that could also influence all 3 match days squads.

interesting debate on penalties for unvacinated players - rather than going after salary. I would say if an unvacinnated player gets Covid then that should not count as a covid injury but as a normal  injury so peanalising the club for the player not being vaccinated

[Dim Glas]

Leicester’s lineup seems a tad strong for a team desperate for games to be cancelled just a few short days ago and with a worsening covid crisis (Allegedly).

THIS is why transparency is needed. Farcical.

[Hazell]

Leicester’s lineup seems a tad strong for a team desperate for games to be cancelled just a few short days ago and with a worsening covid crisis (Allegedly).

THIS is why transparency is needed. Farcical.

Anyone hear Conte pre match? Something like we have to change the team because we have issues with Covid and injuries. Then he got asked if any of his players currently have Covid and he said no, only injuries.

[Nick110581]

Leicester’s lineup seems a tad strong for a team desperate for games to be cancelled just a few short days ago and with a worsening covid crisis (Allegedly).

THIS is why transparency is needed. Farcical.

Who were they due to play recently? Wasn't it two games too?

It has certainly been taken advantage of by loads of Teams especially if they say that 14 is minimum you need to fulfil a fixture.

[Dim Glas]

Who were they due to play recently? Wasn't it two games too?

It has certainly been taken advantage of by loads of Teams especially if they say that 14 is minimum you need to fulfil a fixture.

they defo had an away game at Everton postponed.

They’ve gone from not having enough players to play apparently, to an almost full strength team about 6 days later 

 

[Nick110581]

they defo had an away game at Everton postponed.

They’ve gone from not having enough players to play apparently, to an almost full strength team about 6 days later 

 

Whole thing is a farce.

Then we play away at Spurs with four first teamers 😂

[Samie]

This getting games called off shtick could work for us too. I mean both Spurs and Leicester have not played for 2 weeks look bang at it where we're looking fucked. 

[jillcwhomever]

This getting games called off shtick could work for us too. I mean both Spurs and Leicester have not played for 2 weeks look bang at it where we're looking fucked. 

Not when you've played the number of games we've had. Leicester have taken the piss on this though. I've never seen people recover so quickly from covid...

[Dave McCoy]

As expected the isolation rules were updated as the Omicron data comes out.  Not that it's not serious and people won't get sick and need help but it certainly seems this isn't anywhere near as bad as it could have been and possible already peaking in London.

[Fromola]

As expected the isolation rules were updated as the Omicron data comes out.  Not that it's not serious and people won't get sick and need help but it certainly seems this isn't anywhere near as bad as it could have been and possible already peaking in London.

The panic is mostly about hospitals coping through winter, which they struggle to do anyway thanks to the health service being cut to the bone for years. Added to all the front line staff having to isolate.

[Linudden]

50 % capacity should be very easy to accomodate. One spare seat between. Strict rule with no exceptions. A completely empty ground at a place as large as Anfield was already insanely stupid even last season.

[Dave McCoy]

By the time they decide to cut crowds out the wave could already be over with how the UK data is looking. The time for empty grounds was 3 weeks ago if that was to ever make a difference.

[rafathegaffa83]

Leicester’s lineup seems a tad strong for a team desperate for games to be cancelled just a few short days ago and with a worsening covid crisis (Allegedly).

THIS is why transparency is needed. Farcical.

Absolutely.

[thaddeus]

As expected the isolation rules were updated as the Omicron data comes out.  Not that it's not serious and people won't get sick and need help but it certainly seems this isn't anywhere near as bad as it could have been and possible already peaking in London.

Presumably means Virgil, Fabinho and Curtis are in contention for the Leeds game.  Healthy, young and fully vaccinated individuals so it's hard to imagine them still showing positive results after a week.  Whether we'd want to rush them back for it is another matter.

It was interesting to see both Leicester and Spurs go pretty much full strength - certainly much more so than either ourselves or Chelsea - despite the Christmas fixtures on the horizon.  It's almost like they've just had a nice little break.

If there's any moaning from Leicester, Spurs or Man U about fixture congestion when those games get rearranged I think I'll lose it.  The only team I have any symapthy for, for the first and last time, is Burnley who have repeatedly missed out on playing due to their opponents.

[TepidT2O]

Leeds match postponed!


Didn’t see that coming…

[smicer07]

So you're telling me they don't have 14 players available?

[El Lobo]

50 % capacity should be very easy to accomodate. One spare seat between. Strict rule with no exceptions. A completely empty ground at a place as large as Anfield was already insanely stupid even last season.

  

Would literally make absolutely no difference to the chances of spreading the virus, unless you're advocating the use of masks?

[afc tukrish]

Leeds match postponed!


Didn’t see that coming…

R u 4 rl?

[Linudden]

 

Would literally make absolutely no difference to the chances of spreading the virus, unless you're advocating the use of masks?

Not sure about your math grades my friend but 50 % is a lot fewer people than 100 %

[TepidT2O]

Not sure about your math grades my friend but 50 % is a lot fewer people than 100 %

It’s not the seating area where the virus spreads….

[El Lobo]

[Linudden]

Looks like homeboy just got a migraine

It’s not the seating area where the virus spreads….

It's a lot easier to plan entrances and depatures of 27,000 people compared to 54,000 and so on.

[SamLad]

article in today's Athletic re AFCON .... [the "WLF"?  never bloody head of it]

https://theathletic.com/news/premier-league-clubs-could-delay-releasing-players-for-afcon/ZEVrUaRhqjZO/

The World Leagues Forum (WLF) has written to FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to say that players will not be released for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) until January 3.

This goes against FIFA’s regulations, which stipulate that players have to be made available from December 27 — 13 days before the tournament gets underway on January 9.

The WLF is the umbrella organisation for domestic divisions around the globe.

Its general secretary, Jerome Perlemuter, says that FIFA’s regulations in this instance are “unreasonable and disproportionate” for many clubs whose domestic leagues are ongoing.
As well as claiming that the WLF has written two previous letters which have gone unanswered, Perlemuter says that any sanctions imposed by FIFA for clubs who do not adhere to the December 27 date “will be deemed abusive, null and void”.

[Nick110581]

Rafa saying they have a number of players out and can't field a team but game going ahead.