Some sceptical views have been expressed about teams getting games called off because of lack of players in order to rush through transfers to get better players in….
My view is that any games called off before the transfer window opened should only have the players involved prior to that window available.
It is unfair that teams like Newcastle could substantially strengthen with their oil money to play games scheduled before Jan 1.
Whilst I understand the desire for something like that, I don't really think it would be viable.
What would you do if a team sell their number 1 goalkeeper in January and bring in a replacement?
Burnley had a lot of games postponed because of their opponents, against Watford, Aston Villa and Everton. They've sold Chris Wood since. If they bring in a replacement now, are you going to say he can't play because he wasn't signed in December?
What about Brighton V Chelsea tonight, which has been brought forward from February because of Club World Cup? If someone scores the winner tonight are they then not allowed to be sold this month? What about players who were originally injured or suspended at the time the fixture was meant to be played?
I just don't think it's possible to try and recreate the conditions a game was meant to be played in when it gets rescheduled and given the number of games postponed due to lack of players then preventing fit and available players from playing in a match probably isn't going to help matters.