Home Match Build Up 24-10-2020 L1 OUFC v Swindon Town MATCH OFF

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Much as I hate Sw*nd×n, I don't see how we can critisise Crewe for their shameful lack of common sense whilst similtaneously critisise Pighill for at least not coming to the ground and potentially endagering our squad and all OUFC staff.
Stop being so bloody sensible.
 
Giving them no praise, just going to add it to my extensive list of reasons to hate them and stick to the story that they s**t themselves and refused to play.

That’s 9 in a row now then.
 
I've only just caught up with this, so perhaps don't share the same frustration that many of you have had from following this on-again-off-again saga all day, but do think it seems like Swindon have done this in the right way. Suggestions that they are somehow concocting a number of covid tests to avoid playing us are, I think we all know deep down, a bit silly.

I fully understand all the arguments about how penalising teams for having positive covid cases simply won't work, as it will just lead to even more opaqueness in teams' reporting of their testing. I agree. I would hope, though, that at some point the fact that we are clearly taking this issue extremely seriously, and going out of our way (presumably at no little expense) to keep our squad, personnel and club in general free from covid, is recognised by the relevant authorities. I'm not blaming anyone from other clubs from getting the virus - it's a global pandemic, this happens. But it seems too coincidental at this point that our explicitly tough line on covid has led to 0 cases at the club, while three home games, nearly in a row, have been suspended because of the other clubs' positive cases. Has any other club been involved in this many called-off fixtures? Are we more demanding of other clubs providing evidence of no positive tests results before we agree to allow them into the stadium? If so, why is it only OUFC who are taking this crisis this seriously? If I were being cynical, I might suggest that most clubs are operating on a 'don't ask don't tell' model with regards to their opponents' covid testing - especially given the costs involved in consistent testing. I'm sure that's not the case, but this just seems too coincidental at this point to still be coincidence. And I can imagine it is hugely disruptive to the team to have match plans being consistently changed at the last minute.

A big disappointment, and Saturday ruined, but as others have said - a delay to later in the year, once we've found form, the defence has developed an understanding, Taylor and Winnall are in searing form, Brannagan has returned, and Wellens has left them, to be replaced by some mediocre lower league journeyman manager on the cheap, can only be a bad thing for them.
 
Are we more demanding of other clubs providing evidence of no positive tests results before we agree to allow them into the stadium?
It was Swindon, not us, who called it. Also the final decision seems to have been with PHE, who I'm sure don't give a flying fish about football politics.

Otherwise I enjoyed your post.
 
I've only just caught up with this, so perhaps don't share the same frustration that many of you have had from following this on-again-off-again saga all day, but do think it seems like Swindon have done this in the right way. Suggestions that they are somehow concocting a number of covid tests to avoid playing us are, I think we all know deep down, a bit silly.

I fully understand all the arguments about how penalising teams for having positive covid cases simply won't work, as it will just lead to even more opaqueness in teams' reporting of their testing. I agree. I would hope, though, that at some point the fact that we are clearly taking this issue extremely seriously, and going out of our way (presumably at no little expense) to keep our squad, personnel and club in general free from covid, is recognised by the relevant authorities. I'm not blaming anyone from other clubs from getting the virus - it's a global pandemic, this happens. But it seems too coincidental at this point that our explicitly tough line on covid has led to 0 cases at the club, while three home games, nearly in a row, have been suspended because of the other clubs' positive cases. Has any other club been involved in this many called-off fixtures? Are we more demanding of other clubs providing evidence of no positive tests results before we agree to allow them into the stadium? If so, why is it only OUFC who are taking this crisis this seriously? If I were being cynical, I might suggest that most clubs are operating on a 'don't ask don't tell' model with regards to their opponents' covid testing - especially given the costs involved in consistent testing. I'm sure that's not the case, but this just seems too coincidental at this point to still be coincidence. And I can imagine it is hugely disruptive to the team to have match plans being consistently changed at the last minute.

A big disappointment, and Saturday ruined, but as others have said - a delay to later in the year, once we've found form, the defence has developed an understanding, Taylor and Winnall are in searing form, Brannagan has returned, and Wellens has left them, to be replaced by some mediocre lower league journeyman manager on the cheap, can only be a bad thing for them.

Didn't we have two COVID cases at the end of last season, just when the promotion picture was being finalised?
 
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Odd that the wording of the official statement on OUFC/swindle/efl sites says "Sky Bet League One fixture between Oxford United and Swindon Town has been suspended" - why suspended rather than postponed? The Crewe game was called postponed.
 
That's irritating, I was looking forward to it.

They've probably done the right thing, and (unless the whole thing is called off) they won't be able to avoid us all season anyway!

Does the EFL have any actual, published guidelines about all of this? Or are they too busy brown-nosing the Prem to actually get on with the things they should be doing?
 
I had a quick look on their official websites when I first heard the game was in doubt this afternoon for some clarity and was very surprised as there was absolutely no pre-match build up, PR or media for the game. They were advertising the change of scheduled start for another game in the future and absolutely nothing mentioned about our match in the news feed. I'd prefer not to critasize a club if they truly have got a covid issue but something doesn't appear right to me, particularly as our stance as a club is very much against the cancellation decision, which is unusual when taking into account protecting our players being detrimental, and also the "suspension" rather than "prostponed" official line.

.
 
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Odd that the wording of the official statement on OUFC/swindle/efl sites says "Sky Bet League One fixture between Oxford United and Swindon Town has been suspended" - why suspended rather than postponed? The Crewe game was called postponed.
What's the difference in terms I wonder?
 
Seems like the EFL might decide upon an outcome depending on their investigation, otherwise the wording would have been postponed?
 
Seems like the EFL might decide upon an outcome depending on their investigation, otherwise the wording would have been postponed?

Any investigation will just be a formality, it will be announced that the game has been moved a new date and that will be that.
 
Seems like the EFL might decide upon an outcome depending on their investigation, otherwise the wording would have been postponed?
Why would there be an investigation? If Swindon have followed protocol and looking at things they have, then Crewe should definitely be investigated and hammered by the EFL
 
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Swindon did not even name a full bench on Tuesday away at Northampton so if they had a few injuries then COVID-19 is an easy out and you wouldn’t put anything past them....
The term “RISK OVER REWARD“ comes to mind..
We all get up for work sometimes and think “I CAN‘T BE BOTHERED” and this is being used to advantage of clubs who are short of “FIRST TEAM PLAYERS”....
This has Bolton Wanderers last season written all over it where the EFL made them play games with no proper squad and all teams were wining 4 or 5 - 0 until they stopped their youngsters playing due to playing too many games. We were penalised until they got a squad together...
Every member of the public in the whole UK know the restrictions, if you break them, you risk catching COVID-1, If you contract COVID-19 you stay away and isolate for a period of time, your company and business will still operate and continue.
IF SWINDON HAVE 14 FIT PLAYERS THE EFL SHOULD MAKE THEM PLAY, THE SAME RULING SHOULD APPLY TO EVERY CLUB.......
IF NOT, SCRAP THE SEASON NOW ESPECIALLY IF FOOTBALL CLUBS ARE WAGGING THE TAIL OF THE EFL....
 
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