Middlesbrough record 19 positive Covid-19 but Guess What?

Ten members of staff and nine players have come down with the virus.
Seven of the nine players featured at Bloomfield Road against the Seasiders on Wednesday night.
Despite the outbreak, manager Chris Wilder has been told by the EFL they must find a way to get their New Year's Day game against Sheffield United on.
Boro have even been told they should recall players to make up the numbers.
"It's possibly been the most difficult 48 hours of my managerial career. That says a lot," Wilder told BBC Tees.
"The game is on. We've talked to the EFL, who have told us we need to do everything we can to get it on.
We have a number of players that are available and what they've wanted us to do is supplement that group with players out on loan. I can't get my head around that.
"I'll be making a call to (Nottingham Forest boss) Steve Cooper to see if we can have Djed Spence back to sit on the bench. And the same with Lewis Wing. And Rumarn Burrell. We have players travelling down on their own to Sheffield.
"We'll have to recall the likes of Stephen Walker, Lewis Wing.
"The blunt message we keep getting back from the EFL is 'you have an obligation to fulfil this fixture'.
"People have been cutting corners. We're not. This is genuine. I'm not that type of manager, this isn't that type of club.
"This is 100 per cent a Covid outbreak. We have one injury, and he could play for 30 minutes. Let's put the cards on the table. Will some clubs have bent the rules to dodge a fixture? In my opinion 100 per cent..
"I'm a man of integrity and honesty. I will play a game anywhere against anybody on a level playing field. We have been absolutely decimated from a player and staff point of view."
Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here
 
So for once the EFL appear to be applying the rules. They won't be asking for loan players to return, they tell them.
 
Such a shame.

It would be terrible if they called it off an hour before kick off given its a 12.30 start, given Wilder's pronouncements about it not being fair on the fans that we were trying to get the game called off.

Such a shame as well if they have to play and have an u21 on the bench. Not like we did...
 
I'm surprised they even tried to get it called off, since they must know 9 players out isn't enough. And injuries don't count - if they weren't sure of that they could just ask their fans, who are very clear on that point.
 
I would love to see how the EFL govern these rules, dothey send an operative to every club to carry out the testing ?
 
I’m afraid we’ve been way too honest and tried too hard. I don’t want games off, but it should be a level playing field. Boro simply want a 2 week break in the league after a good run.

Are we the only Championship club not to have been involved in a postponement?

Maybe Boro had a Covid party.
 
Must be a North East thing.
Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, all games off. edit, Down the coast at Hull, suddenly 6 players available against a team who haven't had a break!!
The hypocrisy of the Middlesbrough fans is staggering.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
Apparently a few of the player's parents have also got Covid, as well as several fans, one well known Pub Landlord, the owner of a fish and chip shop near to the stadium and an unnamed local tobacconist.
Click to expand...
I do not understand why it's not off then! Fuck the EFL no one ever said on here tonight😎🤣

Edit: That didn't age well.
 
Last edited:
Simonized said:
Ten members of staff and nine players have come down with the virus.
Seven of the nine players featured at Bloomfield Road against the Seasiders on Wednesday night.
Despite the outbreak, manager Chris Wilder has been told by the EFL they must find a way to get their New Year's Day game against Sheffield United on.
Boro have even been told they should recall players to make up the numbers.
"It's possibly been the most difficult 48 hours of my managerial career. That says a lot," Wilder told BBC Tees.
"The game is on. We've talked to the EFL, who have told us we need to do everything we can to get it on.
We have a number of players that are available and what they've wanted us to do is supplement that group with players out on loan. I can't get my head around that.
"I'll be making a call to (Nottingham Forest boss) Steve Cooper to see if we can have Djed Spence back to sit on the bench. And the same with Lewis Wing. And Rumarn Burrell. We have players travelling down on their own to Sheffield.
"We'll have to recall the likes of Stephen Walker, Lewis Wing.
"The blunt message we keep getting back from the EFL is 'you have an obligation to fulfil this fixture'.
"People have been cutting corners. We're not. This is genuine. I'm not that type of manager, this isn't that type of club.
"This is 100 per cent a Covid outbreak. We have one injury, and he could play for 30 minutes. Let's put the cards on the table. Will some clubs have bent the rules to dodge a fixture? In my opinion 100 per cent..
"I'm a man of integrity and honesty. I will play a game anywhere against anybody on a level playing field. We have been absolutely decimated from a player and staff point of view."
Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here
Click to expand...
Wilder is a knob.
 
For any neutral fans out there looking for a club to follow, you don’t have to look too far away from FY1 to find a team built on honest values and integrity.
I’d be deeply embarrassed if I was a fan of any other championship side at the moment who seem to be falling over themselves to get games postponed just because they fear defeat.
 
It’s funny to read Wilders comments about integrity. Shame the guy has zero class. All the respect I had for that club has gone.
 
In an interview, Wilder commented that the EFL realised they were a big club and that the covid shit didn't matter a jot.
The target that was on their backs has been removed so as to tone down any speculation that may arise.
He's happy that the integrity the club has has remained intact as they feel as if they've done nothing wrong.

The sooner they go the same way as Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland the better.
Smoggy wankers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top