Aston Villa v Liverpool (FAC3) Friday 8th January 7:45pm KO - Pre Match Thread

[cdward]

Southampton v Shrewsbury has already been called off after Shrewsbury players tested positive for COVID. So the precedent is set.

[andyh]

Southampton v Shrewsbury has already been called off after Shrewsbury players tested positive for COVID. So the precedent is set.

Not really.
I doubt Shrewsbury have a squad big enough to cope with a covid outbreak and STILL find 14 fit players.
I think they have postponed it to determine a suitable response...no doubt it’ll be forfeit by Shrewsbury.
Screw the little guy.

[BC54 VFC]

Southampton v Shrewsbury has already been called off after Shrewsbury players tested positive for COVID. So the precedent is set.

Not really.
I doubt Shrewsbury have a squad big enough to cope with a covid outbreak and STILL find 14 fit players.
I think they have postponed it to determine a suitable response...no doubt it’ll be forfeit by Shrewsbury.
Screw the little guy.

It had better not be, but I understand your cynicism.

[Dave P]

Each case is on its merits.  If we cant field a 14 man squad, it'll be off no question.

[robleflaneur]

There are 5 PL managers at least who are over 60,Ancelotti,Bruce,Bielsa,Hodgson and Allardyce and probably some support staff as well.Should elite football be risking their lives ?

[cdward]

I wonder when the vaccines will be given? You'd think that PL clubs would have a plan in place.

[Dave]

Each case is on its merits.  If we cant field a 14 man squad, it'll be off no question.

Then what? As fbriai says on the Covid thread, it can't really be postponed. 4th round is 23rd January, between this weekend and then looks like this:

13/01 AVFC v Spurs
16/01 AVFC v Everton
17/01 LFC v Man U
20/01 Man City v AVFC
21/01 LFC v Burnley

Presumably we play tomorrow or forfeit.

[Richard E]

They should cancel the match and award the tie to whichever team won the last time these two sides met.

[lovejoy]

Sack it off, in the overall scheme of things. Get back up for the league matches.

[algy]

They should cancel the match and award the tie to whichever team won the last time these two sides met.

That's not really fair, though, because it might get affected by freak results.  They should do the aggregate score of the last time the two sides met, and the last time the two sides met in a cup competition.

[olaftab]

Each case is on its merits.  If we cant field a 14 man squad, it'll be off no question.

Then what? As fbriai says on the Covid thread, it can't really be postponed. 4th round is 23rd January, between this weekend and then looks like this:

13/01 AVFC v Spurs
16/01 AVFC v Everton
17/01 LFC v Man U
20/01 Man City v AVFC
21/01 LFC v Burnley

Presumably we play tomorrow or forfeit.

It can be played on 18/1. The PL games are only staggered the way they are for Television. LFC v Manu can be played on the 16/1. Man City v. AVFC  can be played on 21/1. 

[Meanwood Villa]

Imagine a team getting to Wembley having not played a game because all their opponents had Covid. Also does this raise the possibility of teams playing poker with revealing positive tests so they're not seen as the cause of postponement?

[Richard E]

Imagine a team getting to Wembley having not played a game because all their opponents had Covid.

It'd be a great question for pub quizzes in about 20 years' time. If any pubs have survived.

[olaftab]

Given a choice which one would you take

Win the FA Cup
Finish in a Europa spot (5th)

the answer to that question probably affects which team you think we should put out

You obviously haven't thought this through

Anyway my answer as always is FA cup unless the other choice was being champions.

[olaftab]

Martinez

Targett
Mings
Konsa
Cash

Luiz
McGinn
Barkley

Grealish
Watkins
El Ghazi

They've had 7 days off, Liverpool will be strengthening their side by playing the reserves, lets win the fucking thing.

Absolutely. Play the best team available and fuck them.