Peter Anderson ⚽ You have to feel sorry for "our Brendan". His Leicester City side have been decimated by injuries over the last few weeks, yet had to face Liverpool, Man City and Liverpool again in a week over Christmas.

The first game was in the Carabao Cup and despite playing Liverpool off the park in the first half, Liverpool came back to draw the game and send it to penalties, which Leicester lost. Klopp had played a weakened team while Rodgers played his strongest available, with his eyes clearly on the silverware.

A few days later and his side faced the champions and with his defenders Evans, Soyuncu, Pereira, Fofano and Justin all injured, they did well to lose the game only 6-3. Now they face Liverpool again in the league on Tuesday, after Liverpool have had a free week due to their Boxing Day game being called off for Covid reasons. Rodgers was stoic when he faced the cameras after the City game, but you can't help thinking that it just ain't fair. 

Every season the topic of the Christmas schedule and the winter break raises its head. This season with covid it is even worse. The Premier League can't seem to tell the managers the protocol for calling games off. It seems to depend on the club rather than the number of players out. All footy fans love the Christmas schedule but having the Carabao Cup games just before Christmas doesn't make any sense. Some would say having the Carabao at all doesn't make sense. I wouldn't miss it if it disappeared from the calendar. I think at least allowing the teams in Europe to field their reserves would be a start. Also having two legged semi-finals is just uncalled for. I appreciate that finding a place for all the games is difficult, so maybe now is the time to speak about the Carabao Cup and how necessary it really is. Also having a short staggered winter break would work well. They could also have the FA cup third round played mid-week to allow a few extra days off. What is clear is that Leicester have been punished for getting so far in the Carabao and not having a Covid outbreak in the camp, and that is just not on. 

Klopp also had his say on the festive madness pointing out that while the hectic schedule is traditional and loved by the fans, it was unreasonable to ask Liverpool to play on the 26th and then again on the 28th. Professional athletes need 72 hours to recover or they risk injury so are the EPL really looking after the players' welfare? Surely two full days between matches is not unreasonable. Trying to reschedule all the Covid postponements is going to be a nightmare for those involved, especially the teams in the Champions League. Clearly some change is needed but I think that the EPL, as usual, has its eyes only on the money.

This is the last post of 2021, so a Happy New Year to all the Quillers, thanks for your comments and let's hope that 2022 is a good one.


Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Leicester Losers

Peter Anderson ⚽ You have to feel sorry for "our Brendan". His Leicester City side have been decimated by injuries over the last few weeks, yet had to face Liverpool, Man City and Liverpool again in a week over Christmas.

The first game was in the Carabao Cup and despite playing Liverpool off the park in the first half, Liverpool came back to draw the game and send it to penalties, which Leicester lost. Klopp had played a weakened team while Rodgers played his strongest available, with his eyes clearly on the silverware.

A few days later and his side faced the champions and with his defenders Evans, Soyuncu, Pereira, Fofano and Justin all injured, they did well to lose the game only 6-3. Now they face Liverpool again in the league on Tuesday, after Liverpool have had a free week due to their Boxing Day game being called off for Covid reasons. Rodgers was stoic when he faced the cameras after the City game, but you can't help thinking that it just ain't fair. 

Every season the topic of the Christmas schedule and the winter break raises its head. This season with covid it is even worse. The Premier League can't seem to tell the managers the protocol for calling games off. It seems to depend on the club rather than the number of players out. All footy fans love the Christmas schedule but having the Carabao Cup games just before Christmas doesn't make any sense. Some would say having the Carabao at all doesn't make sense. I wouldn't miss it if it disappeared from the calendar. I think at least allowing the teams in Europe to field their reserves would be a start. Also having two legged semi-finals is just uncalled for. I appreciate that finding a place for all the games is difficult, so maybe now is the time to speak about the Carabao Cup and how necessary it really is. Also having a short staggered winter break would work well. They could also have the FA cup third round played mid-week to allow a few extra days off. What is clear is that Leicester have been punished for getting so far in the Carabao and not having a Covid outbreak in the camp, and that is just not on. 

Klopp also had his say on the festive madness pointing out that while the hectic schedule is traditional and loved by the fans, it was unreasonable to ask Liverpool to play on the 26th and then again on the 28th. Professional athletes need 72 hours to recover or they risk injury so are the EPL really looking after the players' welfare? Surely two full days between matches is not unreasonable. Trying to reschedule all the Covid postponements is going to be a nightmare for those involved, especially the teams in the Champions League. Clearly some change is needed but I think that the EPL, as usual, has its eyes only on the money.

This is the last post of 2021, so a Happy New Year to all the Quillers, thanks for your comments and let's hope that 2022 is a good one.


Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

9 comments:

  1. Pep acknowledged that the score line flattered his side. Leicester put up a spirited rally

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  2. I watched the Man Utd game against Newcastle last night. If Howe can firm up this side, they could stay up. I would not want to see Newcastle go down, either them or Leeds. Some of their football last night was scintillating.

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  3. AM
    Utd were shockingly bad last night, great to see!
    Would you like to see the Carabao changed or ditched?

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    Replies
    1. I thought Toon were very good to be fair. Manure got lucky with the goal.

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  4. Peter - it is not something I have given a lot of thought to. I always liked the coopetition from the time Swindon did Arsenal over in the 60s. Liverpool had a great run in it in the 80s. So I am nostalgic about it

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  5. I do not like the idea of abolishing trophies like the League Cup. Winning cups still means a lot to those who have been starved of the experience.

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  6. The Carabao is Lfc's best chance of a 🏆 this season. Fenway should sell up , or else provide the readies to replace the likes of Gini , Mo , Mane , Bobby. Another transfer window without any investment in the Lfc squad . City to win the 🏆 with 5 games to play. 😞

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  7. Ronan
    I really thought we were in for a cracker of a season with a 3 horse race to the end, but no-one can stay with City. League over me thinks!

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    Replies
    1. It is still within City to slip up but the safe money would have to be on them now. Liverpool did this a few seasons ago and dropped points at Leicester that if secured would have won the title. I'm still hoping but ...

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