Feral Fox

My thoughts on Saturday. I think it will be an edgy first half. We're either always at it for the first 45 or not. Not many in betweens. I can't see the lineup changing much from the last few games tbh. Obviously fitness is the issue and only the coaching staff know who is ready for the game and who isn't. It would be a great shame to change the back pairing, as Chris says, but it's the most likeliest of changes. Get Dennis up front and crack on lads. COYP!

Head, nail, hit. it is incredibly selfish. The scenes on Saturday make a total mockery of all the weeks we’ve spent in isolation. Totally inept handling of the whole thing. Then to turn in the news to hear Johnson blaming care homes for not following the rules and it’s their fault for all the deaths. Disgusting.

Which is exactly why academies need to be put into reverse and scrapped entirely. Primary schools paying heads 100k+ because it’s an academy rather than an lea school is totally wrong. That money needs to be spent on the children. Academies are the blight of the education system.

National Education Union Press release 9 June 2020 Primary Schools Commenting on the Government’s decision not to press ahead with plans to bring all primary pupils back to school this term, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It has taken the government some time to recognise what was obvious to most. The government’s social distancing rules made it impossible for primary schools to admit all pupils before the summer holidays. Primary schools and secondary schools will not re-open to all pupils until September at the earliest. But even that date cannot, as Matt Hancock has recognised, be taken for granted. “The consequences of Covid-19 are going to be felt in our education system for months to come. What is needed, now, is a national plan for education, along the lines being developed by the Scottish government. This should cover all possible scenarios and focus on blended learning, at home and at school; greatly increased support for disadvantaged children, including free internet access so that they can access online teaching and learning, and the requisitioning of local public spaces, such as community centres and libraries, so that pressure on school space is lessened and more children are able to return to school in safe environments. “The government must also plan for a second spike. “Pupils in years 10 and 12 are facing an uncertain future. They have lost a considerable amount of teaching time in school. The government must work with Ofqual to redesign GCSE and A level qualifications so that they are fair for all pupils – including those without access to computers at home. “The scale of the challenge is immense. We need a national recovery plan for education along the lines of the job recovery plan.”

No problem. I probably read into it and with me sitting in on the formulation session, probably went on the defensive! The NUT as was, has had, and under its new guise, continues to have, many hard working members and reps who willingly have put themselves on the front line of public service. After working in the Meadows for most of my teaching career and seeing members I represented being physically and verbally assaulted on a regular basis, to ask them to put their own lives and that of their loved ones at this critical juncture is a bad call by the government. Any teacher will see the advantage of having the kids back, but the cost of that ( Not financial) needs to be factored in, rather than, as you say, shelved due to the economic need of the current government. Schools should remain closed to general teaching until it is safe to do so. Then again, I think most things should. I genuinely fear a second wave is on the way, and it’ll be down to two factors. Firstly, Cummings and the gen pop thinking sod it then due to his actions and secondly, the Tory driven need to see the cash registers rolling ASAP.

Regards the NEUs line...I was fortunate enough to 'virtually sit in' on the executive board meeting the day after Johnson announced it. I know Both Mary B and Kev C well from my headship years, NUT rep years and political meetings, so when Kevin Courtney asked me to sit in, I jumped at the chance. The decisions made by the unions are sound. The 'tests' that need meeting are secure and sensible to protect the children and all the staff involved from cleaners to teachers. Strike action was discussed, which I cautioned against. Public opinion is volatile at the best of times, but now..... The current education system in England struggles due to the Academisation issue. Take Nottingham City for example. City Council have agreed with the NEU line and refused to open for more than key workers or vulnerable children. (Which is correct imo.) The issue occurs with multi-trust academies making their own decisions so one school may be closed and the next one along only a few hundred yards away may be looking to open for all year groups asap. Ludicrous.

@Chris my two are staying at home until I personally feel it is safe. My political views are well known, but even the staunchest of Tories must be questioning all the decisions made over the last few months. With Ben being shielded due to his disability then it is a no-brainer to keep him at home until totally happy with the schools handling of it. Schools shouldn't be back at all imo. Far too soon for the children and the staff required to increase numbers. School staff have been working throughout the crisis for key workers and that should continue. Regards teaching my two...honestly, that stopped a while back mate. For their own sanity! lol They are getting daily work over the internet from their own teachers and I think we're at the stage now that all the children are in the same boat so I'm not hammering my two, just because I can. School work in the mornings and then XBox in the afternoons. Keeps them busy, plus leeps the all important contact with their mates going over XBox Live.

totally agree mate. All the wet and live markets need shutting down asap. This sort of thing can't keep happening. SARS was bad, but didn't had the snowball effect this COVID-19 has had. With this being world wide and having such an impact, I'd expect international pressure will do the trick.

I'd expect Russia, North Korea and China to 'massage' figures as it's in their very nature, but not to any major extremes nowadays. As was said above, unfortunately the UK is on target to go way past the figures of other countries. And let's not forget the current outcry here now people are realising the UK isn't including deaths in care homes or own homes. Only recording and reporting hospital deaths. So in real terms, people need to forget the 'red under the bed' conspiracy theories and start looking closer to home for governments lying through their teeth. As @DangerousSausage said, China has far too much to loose to try and hide the bulk of it. I think I've said on here before, the China response of total lockdown immediately and total blanket testing is something this country should have done from the beginning. So many lives lost due to incompetence.

I think May will be too soon mate I'm afraid. Especially with your parents. You'll need to be careful for a time yet me thinks. Hopefully it'll be on the way out by the time the six weeks holidays come around (even though by that time, it'll be the the four/five month holiday!) have you got a trip to Skegness booked mate?

You are correct. Any country would suffer loss of life in a pandemic. I would also take a guess that you would agree with me that if the NHS had been fully funded over the last ten years and people’s actual worth recognised rather than diminished, this country would have a better chance of dealing with the pandemic. Not going into the Johnson thing seeming as the guy is in hospital himself. It would take a particularly callous bastard to be debating the rights or wrongs of a decision made by a person in ICU. I can’t stand the bloke, his politics or his choices. But I hope he makes a speedy and full recovery. Unfortunately this virus is getting to the point of touching most people’s lives seriously one way or another now. This morning I lost a political sparring partner due to CV who was chair of our council. We often disagreed, but we also recognised when the times were there to work together for the good of our communities. RIP Tony Brewer.

Loved the bit “ Trust me, I’ve researched this!” Taking one for the team! Really interesting. I would happily try some of them at a match. In fact, happily right now! Just because I know I can’t get one, I’d happily down a McDs at the moment too!

Reading back, last night I forgot another bigger one. Lets not forget that the Tory Government started out dealing with this crisis in the UK by going with... herd immunity. For Christ sake. For anyone that doesn’t understand this, basically it means hoping that millions upon millions get the virus quickly and eventually it will burn itself out due to the fact it has no need target’ to jump to. But by doing that you have to be prepared to accept a fair few million deaths to the virus. With Johnson and Cummings happy to see the strain on the pension system solved by having a couple of million OAPs die in a few days into the virus, says a lot about them. This isn’t political scare mongering. This was from one of his own press conferences So cut him some slack @eighteensixtytwo? I don’t really think so mate.

Without getting political... I think the politics comes into the lead up. Both short term and long term lead in. The NHS has been systematically run down and dismantled over the past few years and sadly, it has and will continue to do so, cause a loss of life, especially in such turbulent times. Getting political... Seems strange how the country choose the Tories in December at the election and demonised Corbyn for his socialism ideals and now when the crap has hit the fan...we see the Tories suddenly turning the country into a socialist nirvana! Wages paid by the government. Companies being nationalised left right and centre. NHS centre of attention. Even a few days ago Johnson saying broadband was a national utility that everyone should have, no matter what! Christ, the outrage when Corbyn said that in the run up to the election! The Daily Fail couldn’t stop laughing at such a suggestion, but now we see the country taking a different approach. Three months ago low skilled workers were worth nothing to the elite who run the country. Now they are vital and key workers who keep the country going! Oh how the tables have turned! As most NHS workers said last week...clapping is lovely, but they’d rather people remember why they’ve been treated so badly before they go into the ballot booth to cast their vote. Even Trump is slowly realising the bluff and bluster can’t get him through this crisis.

Two here that wont be at the Lane until this had calmed down I'm afraid. Went shopping today and it was like bloody Armageddon! Radio Nottingham will do just fine for tomorrow, but can see Notts stopping after tomorrow. Harrogate suspected outbreak so that'll be booted into the long grass I'd expect. As was said above, now is the time to be sensible, think of not just yourselves, but others. Ensure elderly have all they need for a long haul of isolation. Make sure their phone or even better, their computer works so they can talk or skype. Share your Netflix membership logon with them so they have something to do! (Sorry gov. Thinking of the elderly for a few weeks. Not looking to break the rules. Honest!) But most importantly, think for yourself. Not politically aimed, but if you think listening to Johnson now is all fine and dandy, then fair play to you. When his own ministers are saying we should be starting the social distancing immediately then I'd tend to go with that idea for the next month or so.

You forget @DangerousSausage this country is being led by a buffoon! By this stage of the virus, the schools should be notified of closure, large gatherings banned etc... If Ireland can do it with only one death, then the UK should be doing the same, if not more, I hope in the next few days this country gets its act together. Financially for me it's crap as we're both self employed and will not only have no cash coming in, but will have to refund parents of the children we look after, but if it means sensible measures, then so be it. People tend to go into the 'I wont get it' phase here around now. Just sometimes they need to think about all the people they have contact with and how quickly it can spread.

I'd agree. I think the way Neil has managed the squad has been nothing short of remarkable. He has a large squad that needs keeping happy and more importantly, refreshed. We have had a lot of injuries so it's good he has the faith in the whole squad to come in and keep the momentum going. Great win yesterday, due imo, to the change of ends at half time. First half was a 'Shut up shop' job. If the penalty had gone in, who knows what would have happened? But it didn't and second half we sounded up for it, using the wind to our advantage. Yes, a sending off always helps, but it can also hinder when the opposition become more compact and the siege mentality sets in. The team has had its ups and downs. The up is coming at the right time with the schedule we've got coming up until the end of the season. Hands down, the best manager we've had for a while. Uses his brain and his squad. My main criticism would be his praise for the opposition all the time. Then again, this may well be managing expectations of an unruly crowd of supporters who are known to call for a managers head on a very, very regular basis!

One thing that’s just been pointed out... With the peak likely to be over April and May, it’s a strong possibility that the play off finals will be held behind close doors. They've just announced the delay to the Bond film due to limiting gatherings at cinemas, so something like this would make sense. BT Sport needs to continue for a bit on the box then. Was going to cancel as soon as we go up, hopefully by May!

I know one thing for sure. You can’t get hand sanitizer gel for love or money! We run a childminding business and was going to put a bottle of gel by the sign in registers etc... just so parents can use it. Christ. You would have thought WW3 was in the offing. Went to a couple of local supermarkets and local warehouse/cash and carry and totally bare empty shelves!

I’m in agreement with those that suggest Flyde have the game moved either to the Lane or a different, more reliable pitch in their area. The league needs to step in now.

Excellent read. I would echo @DangerousSausage with the sentiments. Ricardo was and is, a philosophical coach who needs all around him to buy into that. With all the background stuff at Notts, it was always going to be difficult. Branston. Say no more. As I said on another thread, he is one that I’ll admit, I called for his head too early. Imagine what he could do with a boardroom like we have now behind him. His teams were always value for money on the attacking front and he deserved more than what the staff and fans gave him.

Love this. Been sharing it all morning. It amazes me that people who voted for something still expect the consequences to not affect them! There was a lady on the radio this am saying she was disgusted at the fact food prices will rise next year and she was saying even though she voted for it, she thought it was all paper talk and how dare people add import taxes onto the UK when they’ve left the EU. The reporter kindly pointed out ‘ errrr that’s the point!’

As I say, if not postponed, I’d expect quite a few to look out their window and think “the radio seems a good option today!” Plus with the amount of rain due, it’s not going to be a ‘pretty match’ by any account. I’d expect reduced attendance on Saturday. Don’t really want it cancelling though due to fixture pile up with this fa trophy thing doing a double headed semi! Why it needs to be on a Saturday, god only knows!

I'll be surprised if either A) the game goes ahead or the crowd from Notts is above 4000. Weather report is absolutely terrible for Saturday with another storm (Dennis!!!) to be in full swing from before lunch to evening. It'll be raining sideways!!!