Friday Fulham Stuff - 17/12/21...

[WhiteJC]

What should our January transfer window look like?
Dan gives his thoughts on whether we should dip our toes into the choppy waters of the January transfer window.

I don't think anyone needs reminding (but it's always nice to write it) that we're top of the league. Have we been perfect? Of course not, but we've been bloody good. This run of four draws has led to some uncertainty trickling its way through the fan base; despite this, we still sit five points clear of West Brom, effectively six points with our ludicrous goal difference.

I've watched a lot of Championship football this season, and I will say, with confidence, that we are the best team in this league. We have players in our squad who can't buy a minute for us, but would comfortably slot into 90% of the other teams in the second tier. Couple this with the best manager in the division, it's no surprise that 23 teams are nursing stiff necks from looking up at us.

So, what do we do in January?
Before answering this, I want to give my view of what I think the January window is there for. The summer transfer window is where you do your core business, you build your squad in order to achieve your ambitions. The January window is there if it's all gone tits up.

The first month of the year will see teams who can't put the ball in the net try and find a striker who will change their season (Kostas Mitroglou anyone?). Leaky defences will try to find the plug that will see them chain together some clean sheets (Michael Turner? Havard Nordtveit? Can I tempt anyone for a Johnny Heitinga?).

If the summer transfer window is a five-course, Michelin starred dinner, the January window is the 3am kebab. You need something that will do a job and see you make it home. Sometimes, that kebab will be one of the best things you've ever tasted; sometimes you find an Aleksandar Mitrović, or a Brede Hangeland. But most of the time it's an entirely forgettable, and often embarrassingly regrettable, like Lazar Marković.

This season, unlike many that have preceded it, we are not desperate. When everyone is fully fit, we have such a nicely balanced squad, more than good enough to see us finish comfortably inside the holy grail that is the top two.

In an ideal world, yes we probably need another winger who can make an impact off the bench. Maybe Rodrigo Muniz isn't ready to be Mitro's understudy, and we know that Tim Ream is probably on his farewell tour. However, for a team that is already strong enough to win this league, why should we bring someone in who "will do a job", only to see them cast aside when we hit the big time.

Plan plan plan
This is where Fulham have faltered most years under Tony Khan as Director of Football. This is not a pop at him, as I'm sure we can agree that every season in recent memory, our squad has been in desperate need of mid-season additions. But this year we are not.

This year, we don't need to look for short-term fixes; now is the time for us to look forward. Our previous two promotion seasons under the Khans have been shrouded in uncertainty. Not until the final whistle was blown at Wembley have we known that we would be playing top-flight football. It's not until then that we've known what calibre of player we're looking for and which players we should look to keep and which should go.

I know, those within the club know and even Steven Graham in Snatch knows, that we've got the minerals to win this league. This window should be researching and tapping up players that we believe can help drive a successful Premier League campaign.

The impact that the additional four goals a backup striker would bring pale in comparison to getting the right partner to replace Tim Ream and play alongside Tosin next season.

The summer of 2022 need not be a frenzied panic, scrambling for players. We have the opportunity to make it an efficient, pre-planned success, something that we haven't had the past two attempts, and is absolutely why we've started so poorly both times.

Africa Cup of Nations
There is one thing that puts my stance in doubt: as Jürgen Klopp put it, a "little tournament in Africa". Jean Michaël Seri has been exceptional this season; he's been our midfield metronome. At the core of everything that we do in possession is Seri's ability to run the middle third of the pitch.

The prospect of losing him to AFCON for an extended period of time is concerning. Some of you may think that we need to use the window to find a temporary replacement. I disagree, for two reasons.

    We can't feasibly find a player of his class who would be willing to act as a month-long replacement, only to then disappear into the wilderness once Seri returns.
    We have the squad depth to handle this. Tom Cairney has put in some great performances since his return, and if anything I think it's a great chance for him to get an extended run in the starting XI; as we saw against Luton (and in the Premier League), there may not be space for both him and Seri in the same side. Beyond Cairney, we've been reassured that Nathaniel Chalobah is getting closer to full fitness, perfect timing for a man who has shown glimpses of quality in his fleeting appearances. Finally, Tyrese Francois is making his way back from injury; a player we all had high hopes for after he started the first game against Middlesbrough. Having fallen out of favour, then getting injured, this could be a great opportunity for the youngster to make a statement.

Just enjoy it
I have already braced myself for the comments that I'm being complacent, overly optimistic, that any sign of this sort of complacency will see us drop out of the automatic positions. To those people I say, relax – we're gravy.

I have full confidence in this squad, our manager and his staff. As Fulham fans, we're not used to sitting top of a league – embrace it. Don't spend this season worrying about whether we'll go up, spend it enjoying watching a team that plays gorgeous football. We have a striker who makes Ivan Toney look like Eddie Johnson, a starman playing on the right and Slovakia's finest in goal. We're very good.

So let's get this right, let's be ambitious. Come May I'm confident we'll be a promoted side, so we should plan for that, to be ready for the one thing that has eluded us twice in four years: survival.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-12-16-what-should-our-january-transfer-window-look-like/

[WhiteJC]

Every Championship side's half-term report from fabulous Fulham to doomed Derby

We grade all 24 teams in the second tier as we approach the halfway stage in the campaign, from high-flying Fulham to lowly crisis club Derby County

The Championship never fails to throw up drama.

This season has already seen plenty of shocks and more than a few managerial changes occur in the second tier.

Fulham and Bournemouth are leading the way and looking for promotion to the Premier League.

At the other end of the spectrum, Derby County look doomed to relegation after being handed a 21-point deduction in total this term, for entering administration and a breach of accounting policies.

Now, as we approach the halfway stage in the campaign, we assess every team in the second tier and grade them on their performance so far.

Barnsley

Grade so far: D-

The Reds have had a hugely underwhelming season so far. The summer departure of Valerien Ismael, coupled with the exits of key players such as Alex Mowatt and Daryl Dike, hit them hard.

Markus Schopp's dreadful spell in charge garnered just one victory and new boss Poya Asbaghi has yet to taste a win since being appointed last month.

They look a shadow of the side that qualified for last season's play-offs and unless their form improves dramatically in the second half of the season, they look certain to be back in League One next year.

Birmingham City

Grade so far: C

Lee Bowyer's first full season in charge promised plenty in the early part of the campaign. His side made an impressive start, with Manchester United loanee Tahith Chong catching the eye.

But Chong's injury hit the Blues hard and their form has been patchy since then. They currently sit 15th - eight points off the play-offs.

Add in Bowyer's comments regarding his unhappiness about the funds he will have to play with in January and it does not make for an entirely happy club right now.

Blackburn Rovers

Grade so far: B+

Rovers have surged into promotion contention as winter began to bite.

Tony Mowbray's side are on a fine run of five wins from their last six, losing just one of their last nine.

The form of Ben Brereton Diaz has been a major factor in this, with the Chilean striker notching 17 goals already.

The key for Mowbray will be keeping hold of his star asset in the January window. If he manages to do that, he stands a decent chance of ending Rovers' Premier League exile.

Blackpool

Grade so far: C

Neil Critchley's side were riding high in the play-off spots after they beat Sheffield United in late October. Many had them as dark horses to last the distance.

But since that win at Bramall Lane, the Tangerines have gone seven games without a victory and have sunk to 17th in the standings.

They will be hopeful the winless run does not extend over the festive period as they look to preserve their status in what is their first season at this level since 2015.

Bristol City

Grade so far: D

Nigel Pearson's side have flattered to deceive in what has been another below-par campaign for the Robins.

They're currently bunched in the lower reaches of the table but should have too much to get dragged into a relegation scrap.

City's form has been too patchy this term and something Pearson will want to address in the second half of the season is stringing together back-to-back wins.

Bournemouth

Grade so far: A-

The Cherries have adapted well to life under new manager Scott Parker. They were the last Championship side to taste defeat this season but despite occupying an automatic promotion spot, there is room for improvement.

Parker's men have not won any of their last five, winning just once in the last seven.

That has allowed the other teams below them to make up ground. With so many attacking options, Parker will be hoping his side can rediscover their shooting boots over the busy festive period.

Cardiff

Grade so far: D

The Bluebirds have endured a wretched season so far. Mick McCarthy's reign came to an end in October after eight successive defeats proved too much for the board.

His successor is rookie boss Steve Morison, who has been given the job until the end of the season.

There's been an upturn in form since the change was made but City are still porous defensively and are hovering dangerously above the relegation places.

Coventry

Grade so far: A

The Sky Blues have enjoyed an outstanding first half of the season. They are well in contention for the play-offs as we approach the midway point.

Being back in their spiritual home, and in front of their fans again, has made a huge difference and Mark Robins' side are arguably one of the most entertaining to watch in the division.

Their form has nose-dived slightly over the past month and Robins will be eager to address that heading into 2022.

Derby

Grade so far: B-

Given the circumstances, Wayne Rooney's side have put up a decent fight so far.

The Rams have been handed points deductions totalling 21 points. That puts them 17 adrift of safety and almost certain to be playing in League One next season.

But on the field the side have won plenty of plaudits, taking the scalps of Bournemouth and Stoke. Arguably the most frustrating aspect of County's performances has been their killer instinct in turning draws into wins.

Ten of their 22 league games have ended in stalemate - the most in the division.

Fulham

Grade so far: A+

The Cottagers have arguably the strongest squad on paper but it still takes good management to get them to fire on all cylinders.

Many questioned whether Marco Silva would adapt to the Championship but the Portuguese is making it look a breeze.

Of course, it helps when you have a goal machine like Aleksandar Mitrovic in your side. He has contributed 22 of Fulham's 51 goals so far.

They look odds-on to be celebrating an immediate promotion back to the Premier League.

Huddersfield

Grade so far: B-

The Terriers were below-par in Carlos Corberan's first season in charge, finishing just six points above the drop zone last term.

They have improved hugely this year and are bunched within the top half and eyeing up a play-off spot that not many would have predicted in the summer.

Hull

Grade so far: C-

The Tigers were placed under an embargo in the summer, limiting the options they could target as they returned to the Championship following promotion.

Grant McCann's side were in the bottom three until their recent resurgent run. They are unbeaten in six, having won four of those, and sit four points above the drop zone.

With a takeover in the background, and improving form on the field, it could be a prosperous second half of the season for City.

Luton

Grade so far: C

The Hatters have improved year-on-year since being promoted in 2019.

Nathan Jones' side were another team that had eyes on the play-offs in the early part of the season. They have been hit-and-miss over the past few weeks but they certainly are looking more up than they are down.

Another mid-table finish looks on the cards.

Middlesbrough

Grade so far: C

Boro's decision to replace Neil Warnock with Chris Wilder looks a wise one in the long-term.

The club were mulling around in the lower to mid-table reaches before Wilder's arrival.

The former Sheffield United boss has already seen an upturn in form and with a few canny January additions they could be in real contention for a top-six berth.

Millwall

Grade so far: C

The Lions have been consistently inconsistent.

Gary Rowett's men are another side bunched in the middle of the table - well clear of relegation but not fancied to mount a promotion challenge.

Their form at the Den, as ever, is likely to be key. They've lost just twice there in the league so far.

Nottingham Forest

Grade so far: B-

Steve Cooper's arrival has transformed Forest from relegation battlers to play-off chasers.

Under Chris Hughton, Forest looked doomed to League One. But former Swansea boss Cooper has got them performing superbly.

They have lost just one of the last 15 league games and are on the cusp of the top six. Cooper qualified for the end-of-season lottery in both seasons he was in charge of Swansea so expect Forest to improve further in the second half of the campaign.

Peterborough

Grade so far: D

The Posh were heavily-fancied for relegation straight back to the third tier and this season is proving to be a slog for Darren Ferguson's men.

They're currently two points adrift of safety but have shown promising signs that they won't go down without a fight.

They mustered a spirited comeback last time out against Millwall but their leaky defence remains a huge issue. They've conceded 41 times - the most in the division.

Preston

Grade so far: C-

North End were sleepwalking into mediocrity under Frankie McAvoy.

With ex-Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe now in charge there seems to be more positivity around the club.

That was displayed in Lowe's first game, a 2-1 win over Barnsley. Deepdale regulars will be hoping they are looking up, rather than down, in 2022.

QPR

Grade so far: B+

The R's were many people's dark horses for promotion following a strong end to last season and some clever additions over the summer.

It has proved a wise bet, with Mark Warburton's side fifth at present.

Rangers play some of the most attractive football in the Championship and the key will now be maintaining results in the second part of the season.

Reading

Grade so far: D

The Royals were deducted six points for breaking the EFL's financial regulations.

That docking has put them in a relegation scrap and poor form has not helped their cause.

Whilst they should have enough to stay clear of danger, keeping hold of John Swift during January will be crucial.

Sheffield United

Grade so far: C-

The Blades made a bold call when they decided to dispense with Slavisa Jokanovic, just months after hiring the former Fulham and Watford manager.

Paul Heckingbottom has won both games at the helm since being appointed and the South Yorkshire side are just six off the play-offs. They would have targeted the top-six as a minimum this season and rightly so with the squad they possess.

Expect them to push on in 2022.

Stoke

Grade so far: B-

The Potters look a well-oiled side this term and are inside the top-six places.

They are finally starting to threaten a return to the top flight after three below-par campaigns since relegation.

Michael O'Neill's business in January could prove crucial, but he recently said he is likely to be limited to free agents or loan signings.

Swansea

Grade so far: C-

Russell Martin's appointment saw the Swans adopt a possession-based model, one that he brought with him from MK Dons.

But despite bossing the ball, City find themselves marooned in mid-table mediocrity.

They are eight clear of both the relegation zone and the top-six. Whilst the club were always going to take time to adapt after a summer of change, fans will be expecting a much more consistent second half of the campaign.

West Brom

Grade so far: B

The Baggies have adopted well to Valerien Ismael's brand of football and look well on course for a Premier League return.

The question is whether that will be via the play-offs or can they push on and break into the top two?

Encouraging signs so far for Albion.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/every-championship-sides-half-term-25713494

[WhiteJC]

Harrison Reed facing fitness test for Fulham before Sheffield United showdown

Fulham are assessing the fitness of midfielder Harrison Reed ahead of their Sky Bet Championship clash with Sheffield United.

Reed has not played since the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on December 3 because of a muscle injury and boss Marco Silva revealed he is a doubt to face the Blades.

"Let's hope he will be OK, but we're not sure," said Silva, whose team sit at the top of the table.

Defender Antonee Robinson was an unused substitute for the 1-1 draw with Luton last Saturday having recovered from illness and is pushing hard for a start.

United's underperforming former Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster is unavailable because of a hamstring injury.

Boss Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed that Brewster has done "significant damage" to the muscle, pointing to a lengthy spell out.

The £23million signing from Liverpool has not played since a 2-0 victory over Bristol City on November 28 when he scored only his second league goal of the season.

Midfielder John Fleck has not played since collapsing against Reading on November 23 but has resumed training.



https://www.theleaguepaper.com/latest-news/379124/harrison-reed-facing-fitness-test-for-fulham-before-sheffield-united-showdown/

[WhiteJC]

Games for the Weekend 18/12
We have to wait until Monday for our game against Sheffield Utd at the Cottage.

This should have been the game where we welcomed back Slavisa however the "powers that be" at Sheffield decided he wasn't the man for them and replaced him with Paul Heckingbottom who was their caretaker manager last season.

It was good to see Mitro back scoring after a couple of barren games hopefully all of the squad will have recovered from the bout of sickness and be fully fit for this game.

Our record against Sheff Utd is quite good with 4 wines, 2 losses and 2 draws.

current form
Fulham: WDDDD
Sheff Utd: LDWWW

my team would be, assuming everyones available...

COYW's

Games of Interest...

Friday 17th
Barnsley v West Brom

Saturday 18th
Cardiff v Derby
Middlesborough v Bournemouth
Millwall v Preston NE
QPR v Swansea

Monday 20th
Fulham v Sheff Utd

come on over to the forum and join in the discussion...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=1885

[WhiteJC]

Steve Cook makes bullish remark on Fulham and AFC Bournemouth amid West Brom, Blackburn Rovers, QPR challenge

AFC Bournemouth centre-back Steve Cook believes it will take a 'very good team' to push his side and automatic promotion rivals Fulham out of the top two, speaking on the club's official podcast.

The duo previously emerged as the two favourites to secure their returns to the Premier League, pulling away from a stuttering West Bromwich Albion side and capitalising on other sides' inconsistency as both were able to limit their draws and maximise their victories.

This proved to be West Brom's downfall in November, drawing four of their five games and even falling out of third position at one point after QPR's victory at Derby County late last month.

But they have managed to get their act together in recent games, winning against Coventry City in spite of an unavailability crisis in central midfield and dealing with multiple Covid cases to take all three points against Reading last weekend.

This, combined with Fulham's four consecutive draws and Bournemouth's failure to win in their last five league matches, has opened up the race for the automatic promotion spots once again and the Baggies now find themselves just three points behind the Cherries.

With Albion's tie against relegation strugglers Barnsley taking place tomorrow night, Valerien Ismael's men have the opportunity to go level on points with Scott Parker's side, though it would take a win by a margin of six or more goals to take the West Midlands outfit into the top two going into the weekend.

But experienced Bournemouth central defender Cook believes it will take something special for the current top two to be knocked off their perch, saying: "It (Fulham vs Bournemouth match) reminded me of a Premier League game.

"I thought Fulham were very good and you can see why they are up there with us. Obviously, we would have loved to have held on but I did think it was a good game, great game for the Championship.

"Bournemouth and Fulham and setting the standards so far and I think it will take a very good team to break that. In saying that, we need to get back to winning ways soon."

The Verdict:

In fairness to Cook, he did go on to say there's plenty of football still to be played, but this is a bold statement and one that will be a great source of encouragement for Fulham with this heavy praise coming from a direct rival.

They certainly look like they have the attacking firepower to secure their return to the Premier League and if they can keep Aleksandar Mitrovic on top form, there's no reason why they can't go on to achieve this aim.

Bournemouth also showed their capabilities earlier in the season, staying strong defensively and conceding just one goal away from home in their first eight league matches on the road this term.

Although the goals haven't stopped flowing for them, their main task will now be getting their backline back on track after failing to keep a clean sheet in their past five league matches.

But West Brom certainly shouldn't be ruled out at this stage despite their weaknesses, because they have some very capable players and if they can start firing in the final third, there's every chance they will take one of the top-two spots at the end of the campaign.

A fearless Blackburn Rovers squad and a very capable QPR side should also be looking up at the automatic promotion spots after their solid respective starts to their campaign, although the Baggies look like the team most capable of staying with the top two with the strength of their squad.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/steve-cook-makes-bullish-remark-on-fulham-and-afc-bournemouth-amid-west-brom-blackburn-rovers-qpr-challenge/

[WhiteJC]

The Sean Davis Column

Bournemouth was one of those games where we'd done everything but score. Obviously we got the equaliser in the end but up to that point I thought we'd done everything we could – played well, created chances, were the better side. I couldn't fault our performance. To be fair, their goal was exceptional. I'd never seen that before, it was kind of like a set-piece from kick-off and they executed it so well. But the lads showed a lot of character and eventually got back into it after a fantastic ball by TC to create the opportunity for Tosin to get his first goal for the Club. Before the game you might consider a draw to be two points dropped, but the way it panned out, I don't think it's the end of the world.

After Bournemouth took the lead they were happy to protect it, sticking lots of bodies behind the ball and getting deeper and deeper, and that can be frustrating to play against. When you're the better team and then the opposition go and score, that can deflate you, so fair play to the lads for keeping their heads up and giving it everything they had to get back into the game. The Manager made a couple of changes and they worked well, and we got the least we deserved in the end. A win for Bournemouth over us would have given them a real shot in the arm, so it was important to deny them that.

Luton was never going to be an easy game. Kenilworth Road is a tough place to go, but you always fancy us to get us a result on the road this season. We would have liked a win, of course, but a draw at least keeps the unbeaten run going. The only disappointing thing for me is that after taking the lead I was hoping and expecting that we'd see it out. Usually it suits us when we go 1-0 up as it forces teams to come at us a bit more, and that gives us spaces to exploit. But we take the point and move on.

That goal at Luton took Mitro to 22 for the season and I'm sure he's buzzing with that tally. Strikers live for goals but I think his all-round play has been fantastic. The team are playing to his strengths and hopefully he can go on and break all sorts of records. He's already made a bit of history in becoming the first player to ever win three consecutive PFA Player of the Month awards. As a player it's nice to get those sorts of awards, but I reckon all Mitro's focusing on right now is the Sheffield United match.

It would have been nice to welcome Slaviša Jokanović back to Craven Cottage on Monday, but to be fair they've had a good upturn in results since appointing Paul Heckingbottom. They're a big club, Sheffield United, and sometimes it can take a bit of time to get over the deflation of relegation. It's going to be a tough game, they're going to be right up for it after winning their last three. I always enjoy night fixtures at the Cottage and I'm sure everyone else is looking forward to it, too.

We've then got Birmingham City on Boxing Day, and if the lads are anything like I used to be, they'll be delighted that they're at home for that one. As a player, the first fixtures I looked for were where we were playing on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Being a footballer is a very privileged job and you get paid handsomely for it, but at the end of the day, family is the most important thing, so it's a nice little bonus if you don't have to travel at Christmas and can come home to them after the game. Hopefully in a good mood after getting three points!

Obviously there has been some new rulings brought in ahead of this next round of games. My advice to everyone would be to make sure you're familiar with these in plenty of time ahead of the match. I can imagine it's going to be a longer process getting into Craven Cottage if stewards are having to check proof of people being double jabbed or showing their negative lateral flow results, so make sure you get to the ground nice and early. We don't want to be missing a minute of the action this season if we can help it! I was at a home game recently and the Club had cheap beer if you got there early enough – what more incentive could you need?!

Please all stay safe, but try and have as merry a Christmas as possible!



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/december/16/the-sean-davis-column/

[WhiteJC]

EFL: A quarter of players not intending to get Covid-19 vaccine as more games postponed

The English Football League says a quarter of players at its member clubs "do not intend to get a vaccine" against Covid-19.

And as of last month 31% of players had not received a first dose.

The EFL revealed the figures as it introduced tighter protocols at first-team training grounds and enforced more regular testing.

It follows the postponement of more fixtures scheduled to be played on Saturday across all three divisions.

Updated guidance on the minimum number of available players required to fulfil a fixture has also been passed on.

'It's a sad situation' - EFL bosses react to escalating Covid situation
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LISTEN: Should sport get tough on vaccine hesitancy?
Clubs will be expected to play a fixture where they have 14 players, including a goalkeeper, available from the their registered squad list.

Vaccine data collected by the EFL in November showed 75% of players were either fully vaccinated, had had a single jab or intended to be vaccinated.

Double-vaccinated players totalled 59%, with 10% having had a single dose at the time, while 6% were set to get a first jab.

However, 25% of players said they "currently do not intend to get a vaccine".

In September, 49% of players in the EFL were double vaccinated, which was up from 18% the previous month.

In comparison, as of October, 81% of Premier League players had had at least one jab, while 68% had been given two doses.

Across England the vaccination rate for under 40s is below 75%.



The EFL's medical adviser, Dr Richard Higgins stressed they are continuing to "strongly encourage players and staff at clubs to get fully vaccinated and obtain a booster jab if eligible to do so".

He added: "We know getting double jabbed and boosted now will reduce the risk of getting seriously ill or dying from Covid-19, reduce the risk of catching or spreading Covid-19 amongst team-mates and loved ones, while helping protect against variants including Omicron."

As fixture postponements have increased over the past week, the EFL has also confirmed all 72 clubs will need to implement their set of "red" protocols in a bid to mitigate the spread of infection in first-team training facilities.

Those protocols will come into effect from Saturday.

What are some of the red list protocols?
The EFL had issued guidance in July around two 'green' and 'red' protocols. Clubs have been following 'green' protocols of daily screening for symptoms, with stricter 'red' protocols, including testing, only triggered by any local outbreaks or further restrictions imposed by the government - as has happened in recent days. 'Red' protocols include:

Attendance at first-team training grounds to be limited only to players and essential staff.
Daily lateral flow testing for all first-team players and staff, subject to supply chain availability.
PCR tests to be taken by any player or member of staff who displays Covid-19 symptoms or has received a positive lateral flow test.
All players and staff (with the exception of medical staff providing treatment) to maintain physical distancing at all times when not in training.
No player or staff member to be within 2m of another player or staff member for 15 minutes or more.
Face coverings to be worn at all times in indoor training spaces.
Closure of poorly-ventilated gym spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained.
Staggered use of club kitchen and dining facilities with minimal staffing numbers.
No media attendance at training grounds, with all pre-match conferences to be held virtually.

Why are some players not getting vaccinated?
Exeter City manager Matt Taylor told BBC Sport he would not be influencing any of his players to get vaccinated, stressing it was "their decision".

"From my discussions with players who haven't had the vaccine, there's a lot of influences, and they're understandable," Taylor said.

"Whether it be things in terms of enlarged organs, heart problems, respiratory problems, possible fertility issues, they've got a whole host of questions which come up and often remain unanswered.

"Sometimes people think it's a straightforward decision as to whether you do or don't get the vaccine. But it's not as easy a decision because everyone's circumstances are totally different.

"I've tried to educate the players as best I possibly can, I don't hide away from the fact I'm vaccinated and am encouraging my staff and players to be vaccinated.

"But it's personal preference and there's a moral compass here in terms of what players are allowed to choose and what they're not allowed to choose.

"We can't think any more or any less of any players who decide either way, all we can do is make sure our environment is as safe as we possibly we can."

Saturday's postponed EFL matches
Championship

Cardiff City v Derby County

Coventry City v Stoke City

Millwall v Preston

QPR v Swansea City

Reading v Luton Town

League One

Bolton Wanderers v Wycombe Wanderers

Burton v MK Dons

Gillingham v Crewe Alexandra

Lincoln City v Doncaster Rovers

Sheffield Wednesday v Accrington Stanley

League Two

Crawley Town v Oldham Athletic

Northampton Town v Barrow

Swindon Town v Walsall



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59686996