aletheia

Any team news 😉

Yep I thought that was unpleasant.

Following discussions with the match officials, who are satisfied with the playing surface at Ewood Park, tonight’s game against Oxford United will go ahead as planned. Blackburn Rovers wishes to stress that the club shares the frustrations felt by supporters following the abandonment of Saturday’s Championship fixture against Sheffield Wednesday. Following the abandonment of our home fixture against Ipswich Town in September, the club engaged leading drainage specialists to assess and implement measure (1) aimed at improving the pitch’s ability to withstand periods of heavy rainfall. Despite these steps, and the best efforts of the club’s grounds team, torrential rainfall throughout Saturday’s game – as well as the forecast for further rain – ultimately resulted in referee Ruebyn Ricardo calling the match off. Over the past 48 hours, the club has been working closely with the EFL, has again sought external specialist advice and is exploring all available options to minimise the risk of any further fixture disruption. (2) The club is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and is committed to doing everything in its power to address the current concerns regarding the pitch, while balancing time constraints, the congested fixture schedule and the significant financial implications involved. (3) However, we also recognise that weather conditions can present challenges that are, at times, beyond the club’s control. (4) The club is currently awaiting guidance from the EFL Board regarding the Sheffield Wednesday fixture and will provide a further update to supporters once confirmed. We thank all fans for their patience, understanding and continued support, and look forward to seeing everyone back at Ewood Park for tonight’s match. 1 We asked some people at City and United for advice. 2 We already know what to do –Waggot’s report already told us but we won’t pay 3 We’ll do everything so long as it is cheap –if we have to cough up significant funds for pitch improvement then nout for transfers etc 4 Not our fault, we are victims of the weather

The club is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and is committed to doing everything in its power to address the current concerns regarding the pitch, while balancing time constraints, the congested fixture schedule and the significant financial implications involved. However, we also recognise that weather conditions can present challenges that are, at times, beyond the club’s control.

Can only think it will be on. Not going to call it off at 5pm surely?

Metaphor for the club under the Rao's? Crossed my mind that some wag might find it fun to stuff something up that pipe.

Been falling in for 15 years......

Who is still above the 10k? Pickering, Pears, Cantwell, Carter?

Sky have any input?

3pm and 5pm. If so, then more likelihood of going ahead. But 5 is late for Oxford fans.

More likely then to play safe and call off? Had the usual email at around midday today re the match -no hint of cancellation.

At the highest level the first two yards are in your head.

That's what I was getting at last night -what looks like breaking of ranks and a rant from Val is perhaps just an orchestrated brief from the puppet master.

2pm for a 3pm kick off for one home match -can't recall who we were playing. Was just getting out of the car.

Rev, coming round to your pov. A good rant from Vi but gives the Head ofs a nice excuse for no spend in January and beyond.

Really dislike conspiracy land but with this club’s lack of communication it’s hard not to get embroiled. Did Val already know that no new money would be forthcoming in January and thus his plea for a pitch remedy instead of transfer money is straight out of the club playbook as Rev says? His rant seemed a little long for that to me -he just seems embarrassed and doesn't want blame attached to him.

Top players have the picture in their head and the pass in their head early-Xavi, Scholes, Adam.

Isn't that down to the ref? Don't know what time they make a decision. Heavy rain forcast from 1 in the morning tonight until 1pm tomorrow. If that plays out, then all tomorrow afternoon for it to dry out. Who knows?

Yes I wondered about that phrase. Does he already know how they are thinking and accepting it?

You would think so but JE and JDT had to virtually break out of the place.

So how does it play out? Thinking aloud… Thinking about it does VI know already know what RG and SP think and possibly accepted it? That is, we will do the ground (at some stage) but will cut back elsewhere (player wages, transfers etc). That is, no new spend. And if we get deducted points, we’ll have to take it? Probably, business as usual. Fans get irate, managers gets irate, Pasha just rides it out. Won’t sack VI –too costly. Won’t spend money on pitch unless cut backs elsewhere.

Interesting. Not his biggest fan but well done Val. "You're not pinning this one on me, it's various Head ofs responsibility." Usually results in a sacking if you challenge the hierarchy.

Anything official from the club yet on the postponement, the pitch etc? Nothing yet from the Head of Operations, Head Coach, Head of Football Operations, Head of Football Administration, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Media and Communications and Chief Executive Officer – oh, no, not the last one, we haven’t got one.

FIFA. Infantino. Blatter. Corruption. Who'da thunk it?

https://www.efl.com › documents › efl-handbook.pdf Ground Maintenance 2.1 The Club is to be responsible for the maintenance of the pitch and for the general maintenance of the ground, including (but not limited to) ground safety. The Club must ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to maintain its pitch in good order, as required under Regulation 13. 28.4 Each Club shall take all reasonable steps to maintain its pitch in good order. The League may require a Club to take such steps as it shall specify if not satisfied that an adequate standard of pitch is being maintained, including but not limited to The League commissioning an independent report on the state of the pitch by a Club, the cost of such independent report to be borne by the Club concerned. Guidance Both the referee and away team manager mark the condition of the home pitch. Should a Club’s average pitch mark fall below 3, The League will write to the Club requesting observations on why their pitch has deteriorated and what remedial measures will be undertaken to ensure that the pitch improves. 28.9 Each Home Club shall provide full pitch frost covers and/or under soil heating (the specification of which shall meet the reasonable satisfaction of The League) which shall be operated to the extent necessary to procure, so far as it is reasonably possible, that the pitch is playable on the occasion of each match. A breach of this requirement which results in the postponement or abandonment of a match shall be dealt with in accordance with Regulation 32, and not Regulation 8.4. 29 Postponements, Abandonments and Re-Arrangements 29.1 In the event of a fixture postponement no matter the cause, the League will decide the new date on which the fixture is to be played following consultation with both Clubs. Guidance It is not permissible for a club to make a decision to postpone a match and in the first instance Clubs should contact the Football Services Department for advice. The full guidance document is available here. Re-dating of Postponed Fixtures. Detailed guidance is available for Clubs here, however in summary: • The League will ask the Clubs to mutually agree a date in the first instance; • if Clubs are unable to mutually agree a date, The League will set the date of the fixture and will take into account the following considerations: the provisions of the relevant League policy (as updated from time to time); • the preferred dates of both the Home and Away Club and the rationale for preferences; • Home and Away fixtures either side of the proposed dates; • the ability to date already existing and further potential postponed fixtures; • any interference or possible clashes with Cup fixtures, replays or international fixtures; • any Police and SAG views/requirements; and • any pairing issues. • Notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation 29.1, The League reserves the right at any time to reschedule a League match after consultation with and consideration of representations from the Clubs involved. • Each Club must ensure that both: 29.3.1 its home ground (being the ground that is registered in accordance with Regulation 13.5); and • 29.3.2 any Registered Players, • Every Club must have a publicly stated policy regarding ticket refunds or other arrangements for abandoned matches. remain available to the Club during the period of four days commencing with the day after the day of the Club’s last fixture in the League Competition (including play off matches) so as to enable the fulfilment of any fixtures (in full or in part) ordered by The League to be played after the end of the Season (if any). Guidance 56