[Football] When will Albion v Arsenal be postponed?

[Lindfield by the Pond]

As long as Arse realise that Matty is self isolating, and that they are not allowed within 18 yards.......

 

[Invicta]

Should finish the season by playing all remaining games as 5 a side in one day at Wembley, like a kids tournament.

 

[Beanstalk]

Times reporting it’s going to be behind closed doors from tomorrow onwards.

[tweet]1237875834167242753[/tweet]

 

[LamieRobertson]

Times reporting it’s going to be behind closed doors from tomorrow onwards.

https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/1237875834167242753?s=21

In the report it’s ‘’COULD BE as early as tomorrow”

I’ll counter this by taking an extract from the bbc website

Delay is the stage where "social distancing" measures will be considered - which could include restrictions on public gatherings above a certain number of people, although this is not thought likely at this stage.

 

[vagabond]

On a positive note... we may actually play better at home without the pressure of the crowd.

 

[RossyG]

Perhaps the club could stream it on Seagulls TV for everyone with a ST.

 

[essbee1]

On a positive note... we may actually play better at home without the pressure of the crowd.

That's true actually.

 

[wealdgull]

Will this change Tony's request from "get behind the team" to "get five miles behind the team"?

 

[atomised]

Perhaps the club could stream it on Seagulls TV for everyone with a ST.

Anything to avoid refunding season tickets

 

[Easy 10]

Our next two home games are v Arsenal and Man Utd.

If those play out to empty stands, with the feel of practice matches, we will get absolutely dry humped in both. I'm not saying a 30k full house would necessarily see us home in those two games - but it sure helped us on our way to 6 points last season.

Behind closed doors, I reckon we lose both.

 

[dangull]

Since you didn't I'm not sure your opinion is worth much............

Well I'm going on Saturday if the game is on. I suspect a few others will as well.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Our next two home games are v Arsenal and Man Utd.

If those play out to empty stands, with the feel of practice matches, we will get absolutely dry humped in both. I'm not saying a 30k full house would necessarily see us home in those two games - but it sure helped us on our way to 6 points last season.

Behind closed doors, I reckon we lose both.

Actually 4 points last season. 6 the season before.

 

[Easy 10]

Actually 4 points last season. 6 the season before.

Fair enough, lost in a blur.

What a huge 4 points that was though.

And if this comes to pass - teams playing in an empty Amex - then we'll truly see the acid test of that fabled "12th man" from the crowd. If we put Arsenal and United to the sword, play well and harvest some points, then we can put to rest this Amex "we need an atmosphere to perform" mantra. If we lose, and lose dismally, then it will heighten the "see what the lack of atmosphere does to the team" brigade.

Interesting times.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Fair enough, lost in a blur.

What a huge 4 points that was though.

And if this comes to pass - teams playing in an empty Amex - then we'll truly see the acid test of that fabled "12th man" from the crowd. If we put Arsenal and United to the sword, play well and harvest some points, then we can put to rest this Amex "we need an atmosphere to perform" mantra. If we lose, and lose dismally, then it will heighten the "see what the lack of atmosphere does to the team" brigade.

Interesting times.

I must admit that I agree. We face Arsenal, Manchester United, Man City and Liverpool with one major element of any home advantage taken away.

Of course, we also won away to Arsenal when they had home advantage so maybe we shouldn't panic just yet. And it's also true, as some have said, that players will be able to pass back and sideways if they have to without the usual moans from certain sections of the crowd.

 

[vagabond]

Fair enough, lost in a blur.

What a huge 4 points that was though.

And if this comes to pass - teams playing in an empty Amex - then we'll truly see the acid test of that fabled "12th man" from the crowd. If we put Arsenal and United to the sword, play well and harvest some points, then we can put to rest this Amex "we need an atmosphere to perform" mantra. If we lose, and lose dismally, then it will heighten the "see what the lack of atmosphere does to the team" brigade.

Interesting times.

Our other relegation rivals will have the same problem too at least.

 

[Easy 10]

I must admit that I agree. We face Arsenal, Manchester United, Man City and Liverpool with one major element of any home advantage taken away.

Of course, we also won away to Arsenal when they had home advantage so maybe we shouldn't panic just yet. And it's also true, as some have said, that players will be able to pass back and sideways if they have to without the usual moans from certain sections of the crowd.

Player for player, against those 4 teams you list, we absolutely should not be able to live with them. But 2 out of those 4, we've done ok and got points on the board (even Liverpool needed a hugely generous pen last season to get all 3 points, but then you just routinely expect that with the likes of Kevin-Friend-of-the-Big-Clubs).

But I think a raucous crowd CAN have an influence. There is without doubt an extra CHARGE at the Amex when the big boys call in. A feeling of "this is us v a Big Team, we NEED to support". And that really does make a difference IMO - performances would bear that out, even if the results don't always.

I think an empty Amex in these next 2 games would be a disaster for us TBH. Its a late call for Saturday, so I don't THINK at this stage it'll happen. But if we have any in the pipeline, its not going to be condusive to our chances of staying up, IMO.

 

[Easy 10]

Our other relegation rivals will have the same problem too at least.

True. Whether its v a T6 team or a relegation rival, playing in an empty stadium is undoubtedly going to pose issues that point towards a big disadvantage for the home team.

I've never known the like. Makes me laugh at some of the early posts on that humungous Coronavirus thread from mid January, when so many posters were saying what an exaggerated load of old bollocks it all was, and that it'd never be a pandemic.

Let the quotes commence.

 

[5ways]

Should be suspended immediately. Will be surprised if it is not.

 

[Palacefinder General]

Even if not suspended the crowd is surely going to be massively down due to uncertainty over the fixture plus virus paranoia.

 

[Driver8]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...-as-part-of-coronavirus-crisis-plan-h8bcxm2bj