Arsenal have bottled it (and play the rules)
I’ve been away since Thursday and only intended to come back (which I did) on Saturday because of the game on Sunday. I wasn’t the only one who changed their weekend plans to accompany our loyalty to our club. The powers that are do not give a shit about the fans and how we meticulously plan our arrangments. I know some friends arrived in England from places like Europe, America and even Asia, just to watch their beloved Spurs. And all the Premier League does is stick two fingers up at us. These people have no passion for the fans or their clubs, just power and making money (their bureaucracy agenda).
There was no reason to cancel our match against Arsenal other than they had injuries. There were players in the squad they could have used. The whole process was a racket.
The official line coming out of Tottenham is that they are “extremely surprised” at the decision to call off the match against Arsenal. The Bottlers requested postponement of the game, as they did not have enough players, which was granted on Saturday.
Under Premier League rules, it says clubs can apply for postponements if Covid-19 is a factor in teams having fewer than 13 players and a goalkeeper available. However, the club believe there are now “unintended consequences” of this rule.
A Spurs club spokesman said, “This follows an application from Arsenal to the Premier League on the basis of a combination of Covid, existing and recent injuries and players on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations; we are extremely surprised that this application has been approved.”
My thoughts on the matter
The Premier League must stop this sort of abuse now. Adjournments due to a pandemic has now become about clubs not having their best players available. The Premier League must act now and say all games must go ahead unless you have an exceptional amount of Covid cases.
Dion Dublin echoed my thoughts. “There is a combination of reasons why Arsenal’s squad is so thin; where do you draw the line? It is a really sensible question to ask. It needs real clarity. It needs to be down to Covid, but all these other situations happen and you have to deal with it. Is this the same with everybody? What goes on? Can you just have a look around your squad and think, ‘You know what, we could do with him playing… hold on a minute, he’s got Covid.”
The Bottlers said they “reluctantly” applied for a postponement and were “disappointed” that the game was not played. Bollocks. They had injuries and thought they could circumnavigate the rules for their own purpose.
This is the second League game arranged for this weekend to be postponed after Burnley’s game against Leicester City was called off on Friday because of Covid-19 and injuries in the Clarets camp.
The Premier League said: “Postponement rules are designed to protect the wellbeing of players and staff while maintaining the sporting integrity of the competition.” Yeah, my arse… the truth of the matter is, they knew they would get thrashed, got scared and came up with COVID as a way out.
So, there you are… another game added to the fixture pileup. Somebody is having a good laugh… Nevertheless, there might be a positive side for us here. With the transfer window closing soon, and hopefully, we buy, we might be in a stronger position than we might have been if the game was played today (16th).
Next up is a previously postponed game; Leicester away, this Wednesday.
Until next time, take care, Glenn
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1960s (the season of the double). In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London. I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books, Spurs handbooks, Spurs programmes etc.
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
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Hi Glenn
Very well written, i totally agree with every word of it, such a shame the premier league don’t read this & adhere to the rules. There’s only one thing I can think of that you did not mention and that is, by Arsenal not being able to put out a team surely they should have been told that they would forfeit the game and the 3 points awarded to Tottenham. That’s what I thought the rules were and isn’t that what happened to us in the European conference league ? At least our postponements have all been down to severe cases of COVID and not to lack of players. Let’s just see what sort of team Arsenal put out on Thursday when they play Liverpool in the cup ?
I totally agree, and it happened to us in the Europa League Conference… but then there is one rule for one, another rule for the reds.
And thanks. Take care.