Anybody of my vintage [1957] will know all about measles, mumps, German measles [rubella] chicken pox and the rest. Younger readers might not of course and I’m glad for them if they don’t ever experience any of these horribles.
Chicken pox came back to bite me on the butt one Christmas Eve around 2005 in the form of shingles. Blinding headaches, muscles drained of all energy. Truly awful. I dragged myself the short distance to the Coltishall Red Lion but couldn’t finish my pint. Mrs P was not impressed but nonetheless helped me the short distance home.
So that’s probably one of the reasons why I understand and appreciate the Premier League, EFL and SFA’s take on Covid-19.
When you have the entire Arsenal squad self-isolating, three Leicester players removed from association and The Who calling off a lucrative tour we have to realise that this coronavirus thing is for real.
So while not being able to go to Carrow Road on Saturday deeply depressed me it was surely for the best.
Of course we missed out on a truly $hit or bust match against Southampton who have a few injuries [Nathan Redmond once of this parish included] and are on a bad run of form. But I’d like to think it’s a wise decision for once by those “in charge”.
Being relatively healthy,
I would have gone to the match and I’m sure very many others would have done too. But it might not have been much fun for the very elderly and those with underlying health conditions and I know from personal experience that a significant number of these folks attend games regularly.
I was intending to go to the Hub in the City to get my FA Cup ticket for Manchester United on Friday. Luckily the announcement came out before I left.
The Canaries Trust cancelled its AGM of this week first thing on Friday morning.
So where do we go from here?
Those of a selfish [or self-indulgent as I was accused of being the other day] disposition like me just look forward to the resumption of fixtures, of course.
But there is an ever-increasing school of thought that suggests the season might be written off. I doubt that but should it come to pass we will have been saved by something we should call the Canaryvirus. And as of Saturday, that option seems to be becoming more and more of a reality as this thing ain’t gonna go away. Experts reckon it won’t even peak until June and next season the Premier League might even struggle to fulfill its August 7 kick-off date.
I shouldn’t be flippant. Of course I shouldn’t. In a world in which we’re advised that it’s kinder not to visit elderly relatives just in case of inflicting infection upon them I guess football fades into the background.
I didn’t cope well with no MotD and no Colin Murray on EFL on Quest. Selfish again.
Both shows are an intrinsical part of my Sunday morning routine and have been for yonks. Both our terriers howl in unison the second the MotD theme tune comes on although I guess Zoltan and his folks next door don’t appreciate it as much as I do because it’s funny. There’s something in the pitch of the tune that the dogs just go for.
But I guess it must be safety first for all so we’ll have to manage without our beloved football for three weeks at the least.
Quite how any club in the land will cope with training right now I just don’t know. How can you set up for a match when you don’t know when it’s going to be played? It’s the same for everybody of course but…
I’m biased because I support Norwich.
Equally supporters of Liverpool in particular, West Brom and Leeds would be infuriated if we don’t somehow manage to get this season over the line.
But that might not be possible.
Ed Couzens-Lake’s recent article about our Division One demise courtesy of Coventry and Everton couldn’t, ironically, have been better timed. Add in the two occasions we were denied European football through human tragedy and it might just be payback time?
But yet again the human element must come first.
Would I like the season wiped out – oh yes, if I’m honest.
But not against a background of the old and vulnerable becoming seriously ill. Or even worse.
We must all look after ourselves as well as we can, whether we are football supporters or not.
Naughty things, these viruses.
Whether created by mother nature or other hands.
Hi Martin
As one of your seniors (1945 vintage) I’m not looking forward to the next few weeks/months. No football (probably) and now waiting to find out the impact on both indoor and outdoor bowls. We might just complete the winter bowls season, but it could be devastating for the outdoor season, since we have to spend on green maintenance regardless, with little or no income. Outside sport, could also affect cricket!
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Hi Jim
Loved your comment on Robin S’s article when I caught up with it this morning.
As for bowls which I’ve never played in my life [although I used to play tennis next to an outdoor green back in the day – Sprowston? Can’t remember] I do know that ever and ever younger people are taking it up which can only be good. But if “they” bring in a blanket ban on association then that will have to temporarily cease too.
I can’t imagine Potters being too happy, let alone the smaller private clubs.
Many small-scale sporting venues are going to come under financial pressure real soon.
I used to play a lot of table tennis at the Norman Centre and still do so on occasions, but they do at least have a heavy subsidy from Norwich CC. That indoor environment wouldn’t be for me just now but I’m sure the regular club night guys and gals will be able to carry on.
Strange days indeed.
Keep good.
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I really want the season to be played to it’s conclusion. However, if it is abandoned and we stay up and Leeds stay down it would be really, really funny.
Keep well.
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Hi Don.
The only way that might happen is complete abandonment. I do quite like this idea of Leeds and WBA make up a 22-team PL league next season with 4/5 teams going down thereafter.
I’m just as biased as the guy from Brighton who allegedly thought it up!
And if Leeds were blocked I would laugh like a drain as well.
Keep good.
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Like a lot of NCFC fans, I too was looking forward to trying to garner all 3 points on Saturday, but the correct decision was taken by the powers that be!!!!
I’ve seen/read various scenarios suggested as to what should happen in the likely case that the season will not resume any time soon –
1. That it is declared Null and void
2. The ‘pools panel’ (younger readers may need to use a ‘search engine’ on the internet!! :-))’ sit and decide the results of matches!!!
3. The PL has 22 teams next season and 5 clubs are relegated in 2021.
4. That the bottom 3 clubs in the PL play a home and away with the top 3 clubs in the Championship!! etc, etc
Any of the above will obviously result in legal challenges from clubs in the play-off places in the Championship
As you rightly state, everyone’s health is of the utmost importance and it saddens me to see MANY shoppers very obviously ‘stockpiling’ with no thought to the rest of the nation.
Another concern is how many clubs in the lower leagues rely on Match Day revenue to survive and if as many suspect, there is a lengthy ban on the suspension of the season, how many will cease to exist.
Then there is the multitude of businesses that rely on people travelling/going out for coffee & cake/a meal in the evening/ a few alcoholic beverages and the list is endless. A great many employees may suddenly find themselves with a meagre or in many cases, NO income!!
Worrying times ahead for most of the world and where/when it will all end is anyone’s guess. 🙁
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Hi Ed.
Yes there’s a lot of content in that post so here’s my ten cents.
1: That’d do for me with a reasonably clear conscience as well.
2: Sure I remember the Pools panel. No ta.
3/4: Yes that seems sensible to me.
Moving on this will quickly become a moneypit for the lawyers whatever is decided. I have never had my fingers burned when dealing with the legal profession but I suppose all my stuff has been small potatoes. They’ll already be itching with open-tilled anticipation, although at least in my experience NCFC’s official solicitors [who I use myself when the need arises] are pretty damn good.
Not cheap, but thorough and efficient so I guess that’s all you can ask.
Kings Lynn’s top man Stephen Cleeve has an interesting take on the financial effects on National League clubs somewhere on Archant today – Pink Un home I think.
And it won’t be much easier for those in EFL I&II.
Keep good.
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Definitely NOT the Pools panel! What do you think they would have predicted for our home match with Man City? And whatever you do, don’t let Lawrenson forecast the probable results! (Not that anyone has suggested that,,,)
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He he!
He has some strange guests on his prediction broadcasts, does Lawro.
Last weekend I think it was dancers AJ and Curtis Pritchard.
Oh well I’m sure they know more than me.
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There is a lot of emphasis on the number of deaths, and the fact that all so far have been older people with “underlying health issues”.
But what counts as “underlying health conditions?” Well, I’ve just had a hernia op. Nothing to do with the lungs, I wouldn’t consider that was relevant.
But it’s been politely pointed out to me that this means my immune system is already working hard to deal with the assault on my abdomen, and would not appreciate having a second issue to handle. I don’t know how long this will be the case for, but it certainly made me think.
I suspect a lot of people – including many middle-aged or older people who are not currently obviously unwell, are thinking “I’m not particularly vulnerable. I can cope with a few days fever and a cough, I’ll keep away from granny, but otherwise I’ll carry on much as normal for now. If I do get it, so what?”.
What needs spelling out much more clearly is that this virus can do a lot of damage to the respiratory system in those that survive. At this stage it’s obviously hard to say how much damage and how long that will take to repair, and of course it’s harder to report if it’s not quantifiable. Even if people do not feel vulnerable now, it’s still well worth avoiding it if they can.
Many people are totally stymied by their family and work situations, which is why it can spread so fast. But I do feel that the country’s mindset needs to change from “so what if I get it?” to “I’m absolutely determined to do everything possible not to”.
Meanwhile I’m stockpiling Chardonnay….
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Hi Keith.
Doc Martin says:
As for “underlying health issues” I believe these mainly refer to folks with respiratory deficiencies, severe cases of diabetes, morbid obesity, those undergoing chemo/radio and others with all the many degrees of asthma.
Older folks – who knows at what age that definition actually kicks in – will have reduced immune system capacity.
You’ve had a hernia op, I’ve had all my teeth removed. We both had general anaesthetic so must have been judged fit enough for our respective operations.
And we both [un]comfortably survived so that should tell thee and me that we are not really in the vulnerable category.
Abdomen not lungs, skull not lungs.
But the only advice I can offer and medically I’m nigh-on a charlatan is this. If possible keep away from hospitals, doctors, dentists and pharmacies.
This crisis means that I probably won’t get my new teeth until 2021 – but worse things happen at sea as we all know.
I take the Jeremy Clarkson line of defence – plenty of booze and a minimum of ten Café Crème cigars a day. Let’s see Covid-19 take on that combination!
Stockpiling the Chardonnay seems like an excellent idea.
Keep good. You will.
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Hi Martin
Northern Ireland have suggested that they are closing schools and it will possibly last 16/18 weeks the knock on effect will be out of this world for working parents.
Being just short of 70 part of my week is looking after with my wife our grandson and occasionally granddaughter, how many others of our age do similar things without any thought as it is expected.
Self isolating will maybe have an effect that these grandparents will not be able to help out and then nursery might have to be closed all putting a strain on people’s working day.
The playing behind closed doors according to some papers will not work as people will congregate in pubs, clubs just to be with similar minded supporters so the danger is still there can you stop Sky, BT from televising games, can you ban the pubs and clubs from showing games or go the way of R of Ireland and request pubs and clubs to close till the virus has run its coarse.
As with many I would laugh my cotton socks of if LIVARPOOL were denied the title due to the league being voided, and if Dirty Leeds missed out on promotion for a similar reason life would be a happy one for a short period.
One good point so I am told EBAY has stopped people profiting from panic buying by reselling on line how this will work I don’t know but one person has been banned from selling sanitizer and loo rolls already.
My last thought is that all the sports lawyers will be compiling lists of possible points of law that can be taken to court for clubs either relegated without completing the season or not promoted, then there will be claims for loss of revenue and then the playoff places.
Greed comes in many forms making money out of a virus pandemic is one of the worse.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
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Hi Alex.
Yeah I think the reverberating effect on families has been largely ignored in the middle of all this.
It must be so impossibly difficult for working single parents, it really must.
You’re only seven years older than me and imo I wouldn’t consider it selfish of you to continue to look after your grandchildren. I would – if I had any [still hoping].
Healthy people over 70 are not going to self-isolate anyway. Matt Handjob is an illogical delusionist if he thinks they will. The concept is flagrantly ridiculous.
I made my point about the lawyers earlier – at least NCFC retains Fosters, which I have learned to be an expensive but excellent Company.
This whole scenario will turn into a cash-grab for the few and a nightmare for many.
Keep good.
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Hi
Could do without my weekly dose of grandson.
My daughter and son are hoping to come up here next month from Mountain Ash could just be the excuse to stop them but no I am not that nasty.
Dental check-up due 28 March – not heard if that will be cancelled, but all the ones that have will be rescheduled at some time.
Hope you and family stay as healthy as possible and good luck with your new gnashers when they arrive.
Keep healthy
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Actually I’d swerve the dentist mate.
Just my view but if you’re gonna get it that would be the ideal place to contract it.
My first jaw cast is due for April 29 but considering the procedure [painless] involved I think I’ll put it off. Better to carry on with finely chopped smoked salmon, egg mayo, all the Asian soups I make and smoked haddock chowder.
I’m thoroughly fed up with all that kind of stuff but I would rather carry on with it than attend any NHS premises just now.
You keep good too.
ATB.
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What to do going forward, I also like the idea of liVARpool being awarded the title, no going down, OK . but to put up WBA and Leeds, Fulham may be upset they were due to play Leeds this Saturday and a win would have left a 3 point gap with 6 to play.
Play offs just ignore them , can you, season started with them in place. Championship QPR in 13 th only 6 points off Preston so I make that at least 11 teams sueing the league for £100m as that’s what promotion is worth..
No doubt the teams in the prems bottom 6 all think they can stay up and while three have to be safe the other three can also sue for that sort of money… Mind if you did a 12 month freeze and pick up next march with nine games to play .Sky would want a years TV money back, and as for the punters with their subscriptions, refund carnage.
Had a quacks app this morning blood pressure up ,but she was a pretty little doctor. Stay safe everyone.
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Hi Bernie.
The next couple of months are going to be incredibly complicated. Nobody knows how it will all end but if I am honest with myself, as it stands, I really feel for the Scousers.
They had it won on merit.
At the other end of the scale Bolton makes me laugh – if we restart next season will their points reduction remain in place?
And why did the National League eejits keep games on when clubs with potentially affected players/staff were postponing by the minute?
It’s all about money mate as we all well know.
The doctor comment didn’t go un-noticed.
Keep good.
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Hi Martin,
Not much to disagree with you this week except for your line “They had won it on merit”.
No, they haven’t yet just as we are not relegated yet.
You absolutely cannot give them the title just because you think they’ll probably win it anyway, likewise Leeds and WBA in The Championship.
It’s either played to a finish sometime, who knows when, or cancelled all together. There can be no other option.
Anyway, I thought I was getting on a bit at 57, I didn’t realise I was so young compared to you and Alex B.
Stay Safe.
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Ha!
Nice one Derek.
The only point I was really making about the Scousers is that to be 25 points clear in March is virtually unique.
The trouble is that not a single one of us knows how this will all pan out and unfortunately you and I don’t make the decisions. I wish we [and football supporters like us] did!
I think we’ve got even older MFW readers than Alex and myself – but luckily we’ve got some younger ones too.
Keep good.
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Hi martin hope you and family all ok keep healthy is all that matters now .football will always come back more than be said for some poor folk .Got to find something to do on Saturdays now rekon my garden will look the best it has in years 😊😊
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Hi mate.
Yeah you’re spot on – football will return but some folks won’t. I’m no conspiracist teenager in his American bedroom but something about this whole thing doesn’t quite add up for me.
Mrs P does all the garden stuff [really, seriously well too] so I don’t even reckon I’ve got that escape route! Model railways? Airfix kits? No I’ll get the Washburn axe out, plug it in and see what kind of a racket I can kick up.
I’ll see you when I see you, obvs.
You keep good.
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This may be an unpopular opinion, but in terms of fairness I’d stop the season now (assuming it’s not picked up again early April).
There can’t be too many complaints about Liverpool winning the league, the bottom 3 going down, and top two coming up. Perhaps play the play-offs behind closed doors.
It’s a miserable way to end the season, but again, it’s probably the most fair.
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Whoa there David!
I quite agree that the Scousers are deserved Premier League champions. As much as some of us are not too fond of them they truly are.
But even Norwich City have a theoretical chance of avoiding relegation as things stand. In reality it would be totally unjust to demote us, and I’m sure, Villa, Bournemouth, West Ham and even Brighton would question that decision if the day of timestop was set now.
I don’t know what is fair I really don’t.
But with the exception of Liverpool, surely this issue cannot be decided on the balance of probability?
Keep good.
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Thanks to each and every one of you for your comments on what remains an incredibly complex, possibly cohesive and certainly worrying issue.
I’ve nothing further to add so I’ll leave you with Manic Street Preachers from 1992.
This refers to AIDS/HIV but is chillingly appropriate today. If the link doesn’t work it’s my bad cos I can’t get it to turn blue. Anyway it’s called Another Invented Disease by the Manics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSUXjy21zoU
Thanks MFW folks all – keep good and I’ll see you soon..
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