The postponement of today’s Tottenham vs Arsenal game needs very little scrutiny applied to it. The original conditions of the rulings in respect of postponements in the current pandemic climate were straightforward enough, and I really cannot be bothered to present them here for the umpteenth time. In a nutshell, they were sensibly focused upon the Covid virus.
The Premier League has now publicly stated that players absented on international duty, or injured, are now also a factor. Their statement reads:
“The decision is a result of a combination of COVID-19, existing and recent injuries and players on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“All clubs are able to apply for a postponement if COVID-19 infections are a factor in their request.”
This leaves so much latitude as to beggar belief.
“The Premier League’s postponement rules are designed to protect the wellbeing of players and staff, while maintaining the sporting integrity of the competition.
“Club requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, based on existing rules and adapted COVID-19 postponement guidance, implemented in light of the Omicron variant.
The wellbeing of players and staff bears no relation to international games or injured players. The Omicron variant equally has nothing to do with anything.
Both clubs had one (1) case of virus infection, and that ought to be the full extent of any governing bodies’ involvement in respect of extraordinary circumstances.
Now, we have this mother knows best approach which essentially solves nothing, but only serves to further cause chaos in the fixture schedules. Which ironically could cause the well-being of players to be at risk.
The integrity of the game as a whole is quite possibly damaged permanently, and clubs have been inadvertently offered a situation which they might seek to manipulate to their advantage if they were so minded.
Add to which, the fact that in the 21st century, supporters do not live particularly locally to stadiums, and for many, if not all, the opportunity to return to normal life and go and watch the football is just another piece of their lives taken away without their consent – and without a penny of compensation.
For me, the European Super League cannot come soon enough. I find it difficult to believe an organization even more fixated with cash than the Premier League would be so keen to disrupt their fixture list.
They come from a place of no positive male role models, only other kids a few years older who are already fully signed up to ‘the life’. To change this, you have to change the social circumstances and the culture that breeds this life for these kids in the first place. Nobody seems to want to go there, despite ex gang members etc explaining the circumstances. Just play in a white kit eh?
Well said. Totally agree. The lads carrying the knives wont be changed by that game. The word tangible really hits home.
It’s the assumption that you are ‘most likely’ ignorant about these things that winds most people up. This idea that people ‘need’ to be constantly informed and educated about these things. Only certain things I might add. Things, that to use slightly dated parlance are; currently ‘in vogue’.
I suppose forced marriage, preaching extremism and FGM, can sort of go under the radar? 🤔
It’s all a deeply cynical (and actually rather offensive) marketing ploy…
Arsenal are the FA’s darlings after donning a white kit for knife crime. Knife crime is a tragic scourge, but a load of multi millionaires running about in a special kit is virtue signalling at its worst. Raise awareness? If you aren’t aware of 80 young people being stabbed to death annually in London, then what difference does a football kit make? Spend some money in the community, on society, get together and do something tangible that will help. “We’re doing our bit”, like f*ck you are..
The world is more bonkers than it ever has been before, regarding the way it’s run. Everything is about seizing on agendas and putting out a mindset of ‘guilt’ towards anyone that might question the actual motives or lack of justification for whatever they might be pushing. Therefore nothing comes under any reasonable scrutiny, asking awkward questions has been ‘cancelled’.
For example, can do anything you like on the back of the green agenda, even without having to provide evidence that said action will actually reduce damage to the environment. We don’t have much time to reverse climate change, but all governments and corporations are interested is making money out of what is now termed ‘the green economy’. Yes, economics is what it’s about.
Meanwhile all of this green stuff is manufactured in China etc using old coal fired power stations, which is the main driver of global warming. China and a few other countries are committing the main environmental atrocities yet they make all of our sh*t. All of the ‘green’ sh*t too.
Calling off football matches, putting in cycle lanes that never get used. What’s the difference? You cannot question either and they are under no obligation to listen, or provide compelling evidence to justify themselves…
This is now the world we live in, one rule for them and the rest for us.
How else did Theo Walcott end up at the World Cup at 16 after never kicking a ball for Arsenal by that point? Dein has been thick as thieves with the FA for decades…
Perfect summation.
David Dein I’m told.
Hey, cheer up, other than a couple of dodgy results against the Champions League holders I’d say we’re doing alright!
Give any governmental entity an arbitrary millimeter, and they will soon take an arbitrary mile.
No points dropped today. Not a bad result considering recent form.
David Dein is a bona fida genius ..we have Steve Hitchenaride..
Beating Arsenal would’ve cheered my right up until we signed Christian ‘a short sprint away from death’ Eriksen
I thought he was a facilitator to Paedophiles
If the club did agree to the postponement as you say, it is strange that it put out the statement it did, which begs the response from the Goons and PL that we had agreed to it.
You may well be right, but he was recently appointed as the Premier League’s representative to the European Club Association.
You, sir win the internet today!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
amusing comments below -lots of “woke” peeps triggered
A draw against Chelsea would be a ‘win’. If we win the games in hand we catch Chelsea. My view is that if Spurs play all 3 games in 8 days they probably end up with 4 points from the NLD & Leicester games but get humped at the Bridge. Without the NLD Spurs have a better chance of getting something from what is now effectively a 6 pointer.
I also believe it is possible for Spurs to win this game. Chelsea didn’t really beat Spurs in the cup. Spurs lost to Chelsea. League game will be different tactically and in terms of selection.
Haha.
Have a look at tv advertising and the way life is portrayed for supposedly everyday normal people, it’s unrecognisable to reality.
[…] This woefully woke Premier League makes me yearn for a European Super League – opinion – Harry Hotspur […]
Get used to it. The Catholic Church are trying to embrace this type of ideology at the moment. Gives a whole new dimension to the rhetorical phrase; “is the Pope Catholic?”
Isn’t Levy the Euro super league guru on behalf of the EPL?
The game is rotten now, we know that, but we continue to follow it solely because of our love for Spurs. I wouldn’t mind so much if they were doing well at the moment, but they ain’t!
It’s endemic in the corporate world. My employer has published articles on its intranet site about Black History month, LGBT stuff, climate change and so on. It’s all so tiresome.
Yup
There has been little evidence from the 3 games we have played Chelsea this season that we can get anywhere near a win. If we get a draw this would be a positive. I know that on any given day special things can happen, but this is more in hope than expectation.
I disagree outside the top three the gap between the rest has closed up, that’s the effect of TV money. Comparing the rest to Man City and saying they’re not up to much isn’t taking into account their different resources.
Arsenal were never at the top of my favourite teams but the contempt they have exhibited here beggars belief. This has nothing to do with the NLD but to be fresh for the semi final v Liverpool.
If we have to be brutally honest, without Son we are a completely different team, so as long as we have one Covid case we could postpone every game until he is fit. I hope we don’t because I would like to think we would have a moral compass. However, I don’t think Levy has!
Injuries are part and parcel of football, as are suspensions and missing players for tournaments, just a shame Arsenal couldn’t see that and have exploited a loop hole. The irony that Liverpool have Salah and Mane missing in the Afcon and Liverpool cannot do anything about it isn’t lost.
This could become farcical. EPL teams could make the EPL a bit more interesting in theory. Every team that Man City have to play for the next 2 months should postpone, leaving City to play 4 games a week in April and May. They certainly have a squad that could cope. We though have to find space for 4 games, who knows how many more. With our squad weak in quality the congestion will only harm us.
The media are slaying the EPL, but they should equally scathing of Arsenal. This isn’t football, it is gamesmanship bordering on cheating. I wouldn’t expect anything less from that lot though.
The ESL better hurry up before we are by-passed!
Stellar new signings. Classic.
Get back to me when the game is played.
The whole thing is a diversion. Leicester would have been fresher for the game against Spurs on Wednesday if the NLD went ahead. Spurs are ‘surprised’. Mmmm.
Arguably it suits Spurs to call the game off as much as the goons. I suspect Spurs agreed to this, behind closed doors, before the EPL put out a statement.
How many points do Spurs get from the NLD, Leicester on Wednesday and Chelsea on Sunday if all 3 games are played?
The Leicester game without the NLD looks more winnable now.
Precisely.
‘Hey, we’re all-inclusive because that’s what our marketing Dept thought would enhance our market share and ethical footprint!’
We will have empty slots that would’ve been for the European Plate…
Probably will be the only candidate at that point!
Very short sighted view imo. By the time the game is rearranged, Dier and Romero will be fit again and we will be able to field our stellar new signings that the esteemed Mr Levy is currently working on. The Goons will come to rue this postponement.
Prefer Sgt Bilko myself
Or maybe the rest of the football world think he’s as odious as we do. Horrible little creep.
I don’t see the connection between the definition of woke you supply and the quote from the Premier League, at least not as it applies to the decision about today’s game, which I would say seems manifestly unjustified. Presumably when referring to postponements and the wellbeing of players, it the reference is to health and cancelling a game because large numbers of players are suffering from, recovering from or do not wish to be exposed to a contagious disease hardly falls within the realms of wokeness.
As to wishing for the European Super League, I’d be careful what you wish for. The assumption that it would be any less scummy than the Premier League is a bold assumption in my book.
Where I would take aim at the Premier League and its decision making in this case would be in relation to our game against West Ham. You would think an organisation dedicated to the wellbeing of the Spurs players involved and the integrity of the competition would have postponed that game.
We can get him once Conte resigns.
What grinds my gears is how not just limited to the Preimer League but in everyday life how everything is about protecting wellbeing, the rights of certain groups etc.
The hard truth is they dont care. They just give the illusion that they do. All they care about is $$$ and saying the right things.
its shocking the game has been called off with a single covid case, only a few years ago Pep played a side and he had a smaller bench ( though some slating he didn’t fill the bench with a youth player).
the Premier League are no different to the super league it’s just about protectionism but fans can be fooled.
On a slight different angle, our chairman has been in place for over two decades, you’d have thought he would by now have more influence over the runners of our game. He should be manipulating behind the scenes for the Tottenham benefit… but oh wait that’s about football.
Frey Benitez….sacked not enough meat in the pie …same old..
Boom tish 😃
When the NLD was first called off my thoughts were that it suited both clubs. Spurs arguably have a better chance in the Leicester away game on Wednesday than we would have if we had played today. Leicester’s game against Burnley yesterday was also pulled meaning they would have not picked up any further injuries or suspensions and players will be rested.
What use would it have been to Spurs if they beat Arsenal but lost or drew to Leicester? This is my logic.
The Chelsea game next week is now huge. Winning that one would be a game changer in terms of what Spurs can do in the league this season.
Yup. Two cheeks of the same press office
That’s appreciated 👍
Ah, Levy thinks he is a smart fella but in reality he’s just a fart smeller.
Some people like the smell of their own farts….
Reads like our board.
I’ve said before on earlier blogs that with the exception of the top three clubs,the PL is of generally poor quality.The fact that we are “handily”placed with games in hand is entirely due to any number of clubs around us failing to consistently put together a run of results.This has contrived to make us appear relevent,but we are all aware of our deficiences.
He’s as popular as a fart in a space suit.
Just the way my suspicious mind has been working on this but we all know how unpopular Levy is within transfer negotiations amongst clubs, however I would not be surprised if this extends to being on a personal level with clubs and authorities alike.
Well said. Spot on
I thought it may be to do with when Chelski and Liverpool play in Europe. I’m now thinking that Chelsea and Liverpool will probably be safely in the top 4, but with no chance of winning the league, by the time these fixtures are arranged. In other words; they may prioritise other fixtures ahead of these league matches that are yet to be arranged.
That’ll be sky deciding when not the PL.
What is very interesting is that in the course of trying to figure out when the goons are playing their toughest remaining league fixtures I couldn’t find any information about when they play Chelsea away, Liverpool at home and the rearranged NLD.
They don’t play West Ham away or Man Utd at home until the end of April. Their only other tricky games are Wolves away, Villa away and Newcastle away which is one of their last two fixtures. Newcastle will be desperate for the points by then.
Arsenal have lost 7 games so far this season to Chelsea at home, Liverpool away, Man Utd away, Brentford away, Everton away and home and away to Man City.
It is odd that 3 of the goons remaining tough fixtures are yet to be arranged.
Sure. I’m the author, and I’ll explain it to you, in language which you can hopefully understand.
Woke: alert to injustice in society, especially racism.
“we need to stay angry, and stay woke“
The Premier League has decided to become social guardians. Specifically this line (which was above in the article).
‘The Premier League’s postponement rules are designed to protect the wellbeing of players and staff while maintaining the sporting integrity of the competition.’
There are no wellbeing issues. In actual fact, the League has caused harm, both financially and emotionally, to many fans by postponing this game.
The League, in my view (and the article was clearly labelled opinion), is just another organization playing mother knows best.
I don’t wish any organization conducting themselves in the manner well, and hope that they are kicked to the kerb, by the introduction of a European Super League.
I trust this assists you in your enquiry, and if you fail to understand anything else I publish, feel free to ask for me directly. My concern with you asking the room, using the word, ‘someone’ might encourage an interpretation that as the author – I don’t agree with.
Spurs had a genuine civid outbreak and were dumped out of Europe because we had the sense not to risk the opposition and expose them to the lurgy. Arsenal get what 1 or 2 cases max but cry off because they have injuries, bans and players off in Africa, plus they have players out on loan. It doesn’t suit then to lose 3 points so they adapt the dodgy rules to suit themselves.
I smell a rat between the FA and the Arsenal board.
Can someone please explain how this has anything to do with “wokeness”?
The trouble is, they don’t answer to anyone. They’ve always been out of date, sluggish and a waste of money.
Its not the first time in history, that the football league has made a decision that directly benefits the scum ahead of us.
My take on this latest gufuffle is as follows;
The title ‘decider’ was yesterday and the lottery winners from Manchester beat the scratch card winners from West London. Spurs were involved in real games like this a few years ago.
The postponement of this particular NLD, via the Premier League decision makers, is akin to the police having to intervene in a street fight between two bald men arguing over a comb. It really doesn’t matter.
We know how poor this current Spurs team is and yet if they were by some miracle actually able to win their 4 games in hand they would go 2nd in the league.
I’m starting to think that as bad as Spurs currently are the whole league is pretty rotten at the moment. City are the exception and what are the chances of anyone catching them in the near future? Yesterday answered that one.
Would be a waste of time. They make the rules to suit themselves.
So Arsenal get a helping hand from their old friend David Dein. They’ve been given a boost in the quest to reach a Carabao Cup Final.
They’ve been helped field a stronger team against Spurs in a game that could have a big bearing on who gets fourth place and Champions League football.
The fate of clubs, managers and substantial amounts of money could be affected by this move. Integrity of the game, excuse me while I have a good laugh.
Statements are like passive aggresive notes. They mean nothing. I would take this further by pursuing this legally.
We have been on the wrong end of a cup exit and already have games in hand with no end at sight.
Should of forced them to revert the postpoment and make the game either go ahead or forfeited.