Anyone feeling the same as me?

[mrfrostsdad]

The perceptive amongst you will note I've not posted on here since the beginning of the year. Lots of reasons for that.
Mainly, I've completely lost interest in football.
As a season ticket holder I can access ifollow free for every home game. I've not watched it once. Saw the two FA Cup games. We won. Meh.
I look for thr results and if we win, OK. If we lose, never mind. It's only a game.
I've watched some Premier League games on Sky. In my opinion, most have been like watching training sessions. Awful.
And am I the only person who thinks that it's time football should also be put on hold, like the rest of of most people's lives? Why should a football team from a tier 4 area be travelling to a tier 2/3 area when it's illegal for everyone else to do it? They will be using service stations, maybe staying overnight in hotels.
I know top flight clubs are being tested regularly, but according to the Ipswich manager for lower league clubs, it's not that often.
We now have four games on the run postponed due to Covid. Six games were off in League One on Boxing Day due to Covid.
Time for football to get its priorities right.

[mrfrostsdad]

I've just seen on Sky Sports, 8 of tomorrow's 12 League One games have been postponed due to Covid

[Alan Southstand]

My sympathies are with you, MrFD.

However, I have to admit that our recent little unbeaten run did give me a bit of a boost. Let’s face it, there’s not much else to be joyful about. I can understand where you’re coming from, but there is a chink of light at the end of that dark tunnel and it’s called vaccination. We’ll all be getting back to supporting our Club properly after that, IF the Club survives that is!

[Barmby Rover]

Postpone league 1 and 2 for the moment, impose a winter break reopen in February when we have much more coverage with vaccines, then start again, maybe even with vaccinated crowds. Prove you're safe you can go in. Extend the current season by two months and we can all enjoy it so much more, but not until it is safe.

[graingrover]

Why on earth the European summer tournament should have obliged our national game to be condensed in this way when the world is struggling through a pandemic shows how aloof the authorities in charge have become .
Unlike you Mr Frost I not only watch every home and away Rovers  game on I follow but I soak up all the videos like League of his own with gusto.I never ever watch the Premiership because that is also aloof. .

[mrfrostsdad]

Alan and Barmby. I note your comments. Unfortunately I think it will be a while before the vaccination programme makes that much difference.
The current one (is it Moderna?) needs to be stores at -70c and we only have around 7 million doses (I think) so therefore enough to vaccinate all the over 80's and the vulnerable. (2 doses)
The Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine, which only needs be stored at +4c hasn't been approved yet. The U.K. has pre-ordered 100 million of this particular vaccine, but it seems to have gone very quiet.
The best guesstimate is around July 2021 for 67% of the population to be vaccinated to create herd immunity

[Filo]

Alan and Barmby. I note your comments. Unfortunately I think it will be a while before the vaccination programme makes that much difference.
The current one (is it Moderna?) needs to be stores at -70c and we only have around 7 million doses (I think) so therefore enough to vaccinate all the over 80's and the vulnerable. (2 doses)
The Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine, which only needs be stored at +4c hasn't been approved yet. The U.K. has pre-ordered 100 million of this particular vaccine, but it seems to have gone very quiet.
The best guesstimate is around July 2021 for 67% of the population to be vaccinated to create herd immunity

I’ve just read a article on Sky News where it is suggested that when the Oxford Vaccination is approved, probably in the coming days, the Govt should roll out a 24 hour a day vaccination programme, and I think its a great idea, I wouldn’t be adverse to going for it in the middle of the night, a small price to pay to get back to some sort of normality

[graingrover]

The Oxford vaccine is due to be authorised later this week .
Meanwhile the football programme can be easily sorted by the authorities extending the season into  June by which time most of us will have been vaccinated and eager to watch our clubs perform in stadium rather than watch Europe finals on Tv .

[NigelJ]

Alan and Barmby. I note your comments. Unfortunately I think it will be a while before the vaccination programme makes that much difference.
The current one (is it Moderna?) needs to be stores at -70c and we only have around 7 million doses (I think) so therefore enough to vaccinate all the over 80's and the vulnerable. (2 doses)
The Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine, which only needs be stored at +4c hasn't been approved yet. The U.K. has pre-ordered 100 million of this particular vaccine, but it seems to have gone very quiet.
The best guesstimate is around July 2021 for 67% of the population to be vaccinated to create herd immunity

No, the current vaccine being given is the Pfizer/Biotech one, of which we ordered 40 million of (as each person needs 2 doses, that would be for 20 million people).
The Moderna vaccine, we only ordered 6 million of, and is not yet approved in the UK.
The Oxford vaccine, we ordered 100 million of, and is apparently on the verge of being approved (and only needs to be stored at fridge temperature).
As of December 20th, we had administered almost 617k of the Pfizer vaccine in the first 12 days, so we aren't hanging around!

[Dagenham Rover]

The one licensed at the moment  needs to be stored at -70 then when its "defrosted" and stored in a fridge it must be used in x number of days

[rich1471]

Life will not get back to normal until the back end of 2021 at the earliest, We just have to accept it, Football needs to take a back foot

[BillyStubbsTears]

Alan and Barmby. I note your comments. Unfortunately I think it will be a while before the vaccination programme makes that much difference.
The current one (is it Moderna?) needs to be stores at -70c and we only have around 7 million doses (I think) so therefore enough to vaccinate all the over 80's and the vulnerable. (2 doses)
The Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine, which only needs be stored at +4c hasn't been approved yet. The U.K. has pre-ordered 100 million of this particular vaccine, but it seems to have gone very quiet.
The best guesstimate is around July 2021 for 67% of the population to be vaccinated to create herd immunity

No, the current vaccine being given is the Pfizer/Biotech one, of which we ordered 40 million of (as each person needs 2 doses, that would be for 20 million people).
The Moderna vaccine, we only ordered 6 million of, and is not yet approved in the UK.
The Oxford vaccine, we ordered 100 million of, and is apparently on the verge of being approved (and only needs to be stored at fridge temperature).
As of December 20th, we had administered almost 617k of the Pfizer vaccine in the first 12 days, so we aren't hanging around!

Just shows what a task it is.

600k in 12 days is a fair start. But we need to give 50million people 2 doses. At the current rate, that would take nearly 6 years!

If we want to have enough people vaccinated by summer 2021, we need to be administering 6million doses every 12 days, not 600,000.

That's a massive upscaling challenge but really there's not much that is more important at the moment. We need to do whatever is needed to get up to several hundred thousand jabs a day, ASAP.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

My sympathies are with you, MrFD.

However, I have to admit that our recent little unbeaten run did give me a bit of a boost. Let’s face it, there’s not much else to be joyful about. I can understand where you’re coming from, but there is a chink of light at the end of that dark tunnel and it’s called vaccination. We’ll all be getting back to supporting our Club properly after that, IF the Club survives that is!

I'm with you on this one. It's been a very welcome distraction to all the doom and gloom and I hope it continues as long as practically possible. If there has to be a break then so be it afterall, the players and families welfare is just as important.

A factor in extending the season is the potential clash with the Euro Championships. I guess some things will have to give to allow for completion of domestic leagues.

[Retdon1]

I’ve watched all our home games on I follow and bought the odd away game. I’ve enjoyed watching soccer Saturday and checking my Accas off on a Saturday afternoon and then when not at work pretty much watched every Premier league game on TV... it pains me to say this but I’ve not missed not going to games as much as I thought I would.... I just hope we can get back to games soon as I don’t want to turn into a full time arm chair fan... 2 out of the 4 lads I go with have said they won’t be renewing their season tickets and will just pick and choose there games from now on. Hope there’s not too many more like them but got a feeling there will be quite a few.

[mrfrostsdad]

I’ve watched all our home games on I follow and bought the odd away game. I’ve enjoyed watching soccer Saturday and checking my Accas off on a Saturday afternoon and then when not at work pretty much watched every Premier league game on TV... it pains me to say this but I’ve not missed not going to games as much as I thought I would.... I just hope we can get back to games soon as I don’t want to turn into a full time arm chair fan... 2 out of the 4 lads I go with have said they won’t be renewing their season tickets and will just pick and choose there games from now on. Hope there’s not too many more like them but got a feeling there will be quite a few.

I've not missed going to the games as much as I thought I would either. Especially night games. Bloody hate that drive back to Scarbados after a night match.
I hope I get into it again once we are allowed back in

[Retdon1]

I’ve watched all our home games on I follow and bought the odd away game. I’ve enjoyed watching soccer Saturday and checking my Accas off on a Saturday afternoon and then when not at work pretty much watched every Premier league game on TV... it pains me to say this but I’ve not missed not going to games as much as I thought I would.... I just hope we can get back to games soon as I don’t want to turn into a full time arm chair fan... 2 out of the 4 lads I go with have said they won’t be renewing their season tickets and will just pick and choose there games from now on. Hope there’s not too many more like them but got a feeling there will be quite a few.

I've not missed going to the games as much as I thought I would either. Especially night games. Bloody hate that drive back to Scarbados after a night match.
I hope I get into it again once we are allowed back in

That’s similar to me... I only have a 30 minute drive to to but getting in late to be up early for work the next day during the winter months is no fun.... I’m hoping once we’re allowed back in, the bug of going again will be back

[Donnywolf]

I’ve watched all our home games on I follow and bought the odd away game. I’ve enjoyed watching soccer Saturday and checking my Accas off on a Saturday afternoon and then when not at work pretty much watched every Premier league game on TV... it pains me to say this but I’ve not missed not going to games as much as I thought I would.... I just hope we can get back to games soon as I don’t want to turn into a full time arm chair fan... 2 out of the 4 lads I go with have said they won’t be renewing their season tickets and will just pick and choose there games from now on. Hope there’s not too many more like them but got a feeling there will be quite a few.

I've not missed going to the games as much as I thought I would either. Especially night games. Bloody hate that drive back to Scarbados after a night match.
I hope I get into it again once we are allowed back in

That’s similar to me... I only have a 30 minute drive to to but getting in late to be up early for work the next day during the winter months is no fun.... I’m hoping once we’re allowed back in, the bug of going again will be back

It wont be a unique situation you are in mrfrostsdad (and welcome back btw)

I am watching everything on I follow both home and away and i (stupidly) think sometimes - ah when this is all over this is the way to go. Dont miss a game ! Then  I think - wait - its only here because the games are not available

The Ifollow experience has been good from the point of view of its better than listening to radios or watching Sky or other screens waiting to see Plymouth 1 Doncaster 0 pop up on screen and better than wondering what is happening.

It has answered my question of what would I do if I went to live in Spain or Florida in the future - longer shot now than 2 years ago - I would simply sign up for this

I watch odd Prem Games on Sky etc but in truth they ARE like training games to me and I have to be really interested in the Teams to be tempted to turn one on. Liverpool v Man U cert. Man City v Man U cert. Brighton v Leicester or anybody for that matter NO

No other Division of the pyramid will work for me either and in fact any Div 1 game that didnt involve Rovers it would also be a NO . I dont care about Sunderland v anybody or anybody v anybody

So I am in a bit of a hole there with you and I think many more will have had their viewing habits etc changed. I have a mate with a rather nice welcoming Pub and he is scraping by with off sales and the other night he said he was worried that people would have got out of the habit of going to Pubs and just buy in booze or quit altogether.

Seen it questioned on here too - i.e. have people or will people have got out of the habit of going to football and I would think for Pubs and Football it may be a very real challenge and even if people do give up on one or the other or both and its even a small percentage that do that is still a large hole in the finances of Pubs and Football Clubs

Strangely I passed the Moto Cross park yesterday near J3 and never seen it so full. There must have been at least 100 Motorhomes and it has obviously allowed to continue but I do wonder how ? Meadowhall was rammed according to reports on Boxing Day with car parks full to overflowing and queues at almost every shop and of course people being well less than a metre apart and again I wonder how * ?

Sport is not been done any favours but from that point of view I think that is fine - I probably would not yet go to a live game but other activities are being favoured it seems

* I know why - but I dont know how some of it is being "decided" - and while it is sensible to keep the lid on crowds at Footy it may be yet prove bad for the game long term.

[Janso]

I've probably watched every televised game since the restart other than ones that have been on at the same time as others or clashed with Rovers obviously. Not missed a single game on iFollow other than the EFL Trophy which I never went to anyway.

I can't wait to get back, I especially miss the away day road trip with friends.

[Donnywolf]

Yes - thats good going - I have also watched the EFL Trophy ones despite what I said above

Ironically I wanted to go to Plymouth Swindon and AFCW this Season and have missed 2 of them already and the third will go soon I guess !

Cant beat the 10th rendition of Baby Shark - and Retford Rover Bingo ! I DO miss that Supporters Club coaches to Away games (Ive got a bit of mojo back just writing that down lol)

[sha66y]

Once the doors open and you walk through the concourse, seeing those you know and those you nod at....it will all come back, the completeness of having shared a terrible experience will draw everyone together,
The team running out to see 7000 fans will choke some of them up, and I’m sure a fare few of the 7000 will be wiping away tears of happiness....

[Donnywolf]

I will wear a second scarf in memory of the (only) man I personally knew that has died from this horrible blight on our lives - at the first home game after we resume playing at the Keepmoat

I have done this for a few years after people have "left us" and I have to say it was sad but good to do it AND Rovers have lost every one of the games so thats a record I would like us to "lose"

Maybe we can get everyone who knows any victim to wear a second scarf in their memory at what will as you say be an emotional occasion ?

[Nudga]

The one licensed at the moment  needs to be stored at -70 then when its "defrosted" and stored in a fridge it must be used in x number of days

This is what must have been kept at the Asda at Redhouse in October under high security then.

It wasn't approved for use then though of course.

[ravenrover]

It seems I'm the opposite to most. I can't get into watching our matches on line, I've watched 1 on iFollow and the cup game. I can't wait to get back in the ground, you can't beat watching LIVE football

[Spud]

I've been everything from a home & away never miss to a two or three homes games a season fan in the past thirty odd years, all depending mainly on whatever else is going on in my life (off the top of my head the only time stuff on the pitch influenced this was Fergie's "football").
It's been different watching at home, certainly easier & warmer, I don't think I've missed a game, even the EFL trophy games, but I can't wait to go back & enjoy the match day experience properly again. It's one thing me & my youngest lad, now a grown man, do together & I can't wait for us to jump out of our seats & hug as the net bursts from a 25 yard screamer from the Ginger Cafu......


The other thing Wolfie alluded to earlier may be the habit that changes for me, & that's the pub. Working away a lot, it's something that I really have done out of habit, three or four after work before eat & sleep. This second lockdown, & subsequent tiers particularly, have got me out of that habit, (I've worked through the second one). I'll probably go back but hopefully abstain a bit more as I've felt the health benefit from it, certainly can't say I've missed it.

[Lifelong supporter]

Alan and Barmby. I note your comments. Unfortunately I think it will be a while before the vaccination programme makes that much difference.
The current one (is it Moderna?) needs to be stores at -70c and we only have around 7 million doses (I think) so therefore enough to vaccinate all the over 80's and the vulnerable. (2 doses)
The Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine, which only needs be stored at +4c hasn't been approved yet. The U.K. has pre-ordered 100 million of this particular vaccine, but it seems to have gone very quiet.
The best guesstimate is around July 2021 for 67% of the population to be vaccinated to create herd immunity

I’ve just read a article on Sky News where it is suggested that when the Oxford Vaccination is approved, probably in the coming days, the Govt should roll out a 24 hour a day vaccination programme, and I think its a great idea, I wouldn’t be adverse to going for it in the middle of the night, a small price to pay to get back to some sort of normality

I wouldn't be averse to having the vaccine at whatever hour of the day either but it would be a massive logistical challenge and I just don't have any faith in this Government getting anything right.
The best thing they could roll out is themselves.

[mushRTID]

Missing it like crazy, it’s killing me!

[Filo]

Alan and Barmby. I note your comments. Unfortunately I think it will be a while before the vaccination programme makes that much difference.
The current one (is it Moderna?) needs to be stores at -70c and we only have around 7 million doses (I think) so therefore enough to vaccinate all the over 80's and the vulnerable. (2 doses)
The Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine, which only needs be stored at +4c hasn't been approved yet. The U.K. has pre-ordered 100 million of this particular vaccine, but it seems to have gone very quiet.
The best guesstimate is around July 2021 for 67% of the population to be vaccinated to create herd immunity

I’ve just read a article on Sky News where it is suggested that when the Oxford Vaccination is approved, probably in the coming days, the Govt should roll out a 24 hour a day vaccination programme, and I think its a great idea, I wouldn’t be adverse to going for it in the middle of the night, a small price to pay to get back to some sort of normality

I wouldn't be averse to having the vaccine at whatever hour of the day either but it would be a massive logistical challenge and I just don't have any faith in this Government getting anything right.
The best thing they could roll out is themselves.

I agree, but we’re stuck with them, but if they can chuck a few billion quid away to their mates, they can chuck a few billion at rolling it out in double quick time, I’m sure there would be plenty of people willing to work unsociable hours it the pay was right for a few months

[Donnywolf]

The other thing Wolfie alluded to earlier may be the habit that changes for me, & that's the pub. Working away a lot, it's something that I really have done out of habit, three or four after work before eat & sleep. This second lockdown, & subsequent tiers particularly, have got me out of that habit, (I've worked through the second one). I'll probably go back but hopefully abstain a bit more as I've felt the health benefit from it, certainly can't say I've missed it.

Good for you - and if you ARE ever tempted try Luton Conservative Club - that would cure you of pub craving for months later

There must be a patch to simulate that place thet you can get to stick on your arm I bet lol

[scawsby steve]

Once the doors open and you walk through the concourse, seeing those you know and those you nod at....it will all come back, the completeness of having shared a terrible experience will draw everyone together,
The team running out to see 7000 fans will choke some of them up, and I’m sure a fare few of the 7000 will be wiping away tears of happiness....

I was thinking exactly the same the other day, Sha66y.

Then I woke up and reality set in.

[dickos1]

Once the Oxford vaccine is approved by the MRSA, then the volume of vaccinations will increase dramatically.
You can criticise the government but we’re well ahead of other nations with this