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Post by boshspice on Jan 24, 2021 15:33:04 GMT
Was just about to post this. Probably the only the second time being able to communicate in Polish will ever come in handy in relation to British Basketball! The first time was listening to some of Jack Majewski’s meltdowns on the sidelines back in the day. This can be considered a big blow for British basketball, as I believe they have the depth to give a good account of themselves. I wonder what will happen to their squad now in the long run. Strange the Anwil circulated this message before the Lions themselves, but I wish the players and staff affected a speedy and full recovery more than anything else. |
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Post by leamrider2 on Jan 24, 2021 15:33:44 GMT
That is a great shame for British basketball in general. I wonder where that puts Lions now? Surely they won't continue to support such a large and expensive roster.
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retsek
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Post by retsek on Jan 24, 2021 15:53:18 GMT
Lions doing well to stay with Newcastle, but I see this game going the same way the trophy final did between Derby and Manchester 22 years ago - close first half, blow out second due to a depleated Derby roster. Although that year was due to a massive brawl away at Chester, so maybe a little more deserved  |
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2NFR
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Post by 2NFR on Jan 24, 2021 16:26:00 GMT
Open question Given that Lions are now out of Europe, will we now see a mass exodus of Lions players? With that big budget team in place, this must be a very costly position for them to be in ... Or am I talking sh1te (again  ) Any thought's ??  edit Actually this discusion may end up getting its own thread in time ... we shall see!! |
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retsek
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Post by retsek on Jan 24, 2021 16:57:30 GMT
Open question Given that Lions are now out of Europe, will we now see a mass exodus of Lions players? With that big budget team in place, this must be a very costly position for them to be in ... Or am I talking sh1te (again ) Any thought's ?? edit Actually this discusion may end up getting its own thread in time ... we shall see!! Got to lead to an exodus, they aren't going to pay 15 players to win the bbl |
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2NFR
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Post by 2NFR on Jan 24, 2021 17:25:48 GMT
77 - 84 Eagles win Crap day for Lions, thats for sure  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2021 18:27:11 GMT
Was just about to post this. Probably the only the second time being able to communicate in Polish will ever come in handy in relation to British Basketball! The first time was listening to some of Jack Majewski’s meltdowns on the sidelines back in the day. They were truly epic meltdowns.
We could have done with you at EuroBasket 2009. I'm sure the "wine" we drunk with their fans was actually white spirit.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2021 18:30:02 GMT
Open question Given that Lions are now out of Europe, will we now see a mass exodus of Lions players? With that big budget team in place, this must be a very costly position for them to be in ... Or am I talking sh1te (again ) Any thought's ?? edit Actually this discusion may end up getting its own thread in time ... we shall see!! Got to lead to an exodus, they aren't going to pay 15 players to win the bbl I imagine some of them have break clauses when they're out of Europe. Is it 15, though? They had seven today, six in isolation and the guy they finally announced this week (who presumably we'll never see) |
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Post by sonjel on Jan 24, 2021 19:02:00 GMT
Got to lead to an exodus, they aren't going to pay 15 players to win the bbl I imagine some of them have break clauses when they're out of Europe. Is it 15, though? They had seven today, six in isolation and the guy they finally announced this week (who presumably we'll never see) 15 Listed on Lions web-site and 16 on BBL site. |
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Post by dandayr on Jan 24, 2021 19:37:25 GMT
tough one that this was the week to be impacted - and tougher still that the change in format has ended their european season, as if it had remained spread over a few weeks it would have been a hiccup not a complete ending
also see they are not the first team to be withdrawn, side from Belarus was taken out the tournament yesterday for covid related reasons
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Post by LTFan on Jan 24, 2021 23:37:11 GMT
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Post by LTFan on Jan 24, 2021 23:52:29 GMT
So from everything I’ve read and heard, whilst the BBL were happy for Lions to put forward a team of 7 players (which would have been 8 in Europe Cup) with multiple negative covid tests the FIBA Europe Cup are not. Apparently if any player on the team has tested positive for covid in the last 10 (or 14?) days then the entire team must withdraw from the competition, period.
What’s interesting is this is inconsistent with the rules of other European competitions, like Euroleage and Champions League, which have both so far allowed teams to play with a limited squad on the condition those playing have had negative covid tests.
So it appears the ruling that’s forced Lions to withdraw is either specific to the Europe Cup competition, the fact Lions are from in the U.K. (with an awful covid record and our own more contagious variant), or some international travel policy between the U.K. and Poland (where Lions ‘bubble’ is located - which could explain why the host team announced it before FIBA or Lions).
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Post by everard on Jan 25, 2021 7:29:57 GMT
With the Euro trip being off it would be an opportunity to rearrange fixtures.But doesn't Vince say that they are now isolating for 10 days?
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Post by number23 on Jan 25, 2021 8:02:45 GMT
I took that as referring to the players who are already missing and would have cleared self-isolation by the next game, rather than the whole squad now needing to isolate. I assume they could reschedule and play with these 7 again in theory, but even if you assume there’s no further negative tests, you’d effectively be volunteering to play with a short squad.
Disappointing for the Lions, would’ve liked to see what they could do in Europe Cup.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2021 17:36:27 GMT
That's a poor result for London Lions. Plus it's ridiculous that they weren't given the chance to explain themselves first.
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Post by everard on Jan 26, 2021 22:25:29 GMT
Explain themselves how? Guess Vince could have said "Some of our players tested positive for covid but you know from the way we've played this season that we don't practice (even before a final) or play as a team so the rest are all ok!"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2021 23:07:15 GMT
I read a few posts further back that it was Anwil who announced that the Lions had pulled out, the Lions themselves never got the chance to announce the news of their withdrawal themselves
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Post by LTFan on Jan 27, 2021 9:52:41 GMT
I read a few posts further back that it was Anwil who announced that the Lions had pulled out, the Lions themselves never got the chance to announce the news of their withdrawal themselves Yes, everything else aside, the communication and management of this was poor from FIBA. Anwil were the first to announce Lions were being removed from the competition, at the same time as Lions's announced they were still fully intending to compete. An hour or so later FIBA announced Lions were being removed from the competition. And then Lions issued a statement confirming a few hours later. And just to add to the drama, this was all happening in the hours before and during Lions appearance in the Cup final game (with just 7 players cleared to play). I understand Anwil are hosting the group, but they should have had no place in announcing this news. It should have been Lions first, closely followed by FIBA. |
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Post by Solly on Jan 27, 2021 10:38:41 GMT
At the end of all this are we any closer to uncovering the motivation for the new owners lashing so much money into the Lions?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2021 14:36:57 GMT
I read a few posts further back that it was Anwil who announced that the Lions had pulled out, the Lions themselves never got the chance to announce the news of their withdrawal themselves Yes, everything else aside, the communication and management of this was poor from FIBA. Anwil were the first to announce Lions were being removed from the competition, at the same time as Lions's announced they were still fully intending to compete. I think it's fairly clear that Anwil didn't want Lions there, whether for playing or safety reasons - possible both. I expect they made the announcement to push FIBA into making the call. |
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Post by LTFan on Jan 27, 2021 14:40:25 GMT
At the end of all this are we any closer to uncovering the motivation for the new owners lashing so much money into the Lions? I think it's just a belief that basketball in the UK is a market that isn't being exploited to it's maximum. I think they see London Lions, as London's only professional basketball, as a good investment opportunity - buy when it's cheap, throw a load of money at it, and then reap the rewards a few years later when the investment pays off (in terms of game attendance, sponsorship, merchandise, media coverage, etc.). Are they correct? Only time will tell. But at least everything suggests they know this won't happen overnight, I hear they've got a 5-10 year plan. Would be interesting to know what kind of return they're expecting on the investment in 5-10 years though. |
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Post by LTFan on Jan 27, 2021 14:45:50 GMT
Yes, everything else aside, the communication and management of this was poor from FIBA. Anwil were the first to announce Lions were being removed from the competition, at the same time as Lions's announced they were still fully intending to compete. I think it's fairly clear that Anwil didn't want Lions there, whether for playing or safety reasons - possible both. I expect they made the announcement to push FIBA into making the call. I suspect you might be right, but even as the host nation/team I don't know what makes them think they have the right to dictate who plays and who doesn't, that surely undermines FIBA's authority. Anwil don't dictate and enforce the competition rules, FIBA do. Whether the decision was the right or wrong one - and I'll admit I'm still undecided myself, it was managed poorly. |
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Post by Steven McTowelie on Jan 27, 2021 18:12:30 GMT
All sounds a bit messy but I'm not sure I see any great controversy here. Does it really matter that much who announced what and when? If Anwil were the first to learn that Lions were being withdrawn I don't see why they should feel compelled to withhold that information from their fans. They were due to kick off this group against Lions not much more than 48 hours after they made the announcement so it was relatively last minute as it is.
Extremely unfortunate timing? Yes. Disappointing for Lions fans? I'm sure. Big blow to British basketball? Is it really? Were these games really going to get much coverage over here? Were many honestly going to watch? The Dnipro fixture was an 11am tip off. Relatively open group this in my estimation. No obvious standout team but I don't think this opposition was going to be any easier than Neptunas, and minus Mullins Lions are arguably a weaker team on paper now than they were then. I wasn't that big on their chances of advancing with a full squad and if they'd turned up with half a side, I reckon there's a pretty good chance they'd have gone winless.
It's a shame they've not even been able to give it a go but if this 777 lot are in it for the long haul I imagine Lions will dive straight back in next season. When they will hopefully be able to stage at least four home fixtures in front of crowds.
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Post by everard on Jan 27, 2021 18:56:03 GMT
Bit at a loss to understand why we're feeling sorry that the announcement came from other than the Lions. This thread like so many others starts by saying how bad Lions are at communicating. If it had be left to them it would only be announced after they didn't play the first game!
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Post by LTFan on Jan 28, 2021 10:16:18 GMT
In regards to how Lions withdrawal/expulsion from the competition was announced I'd say it's less controversial and more unprofessional, that's all.
I think with a full team Lions had a chance of getting past the group stage of the competition, and being the first British team to win a competitive game in Europe for something like 20 years. But continuing competing with a team of just 7 or 8 players (who hadn't practiced together in days), as they were intending to do, wasn't going to end well. No way they'd get beyond the group stage, and I agree they'd likely lose all 3 games. So given the unfortunately circumstances an exit was probably the right thing.
And whilst it's a real disappointment for the Lions organisation and fans, I do understand FIBA's decision, even if it is inconsistent with other European competitions already being played this year.
If a team have 7 players testing positive for covid in the week prior to the competition I'd likely withdraw them from the competition too. I know the other 7 or 8 players have at least 2 negative test results each, but knowing the virus can sometimes take several days to materialise I wouldn't risk an outbreak within the entire group of teams either.
Extremely disappointing, but probably the right decision all round.
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