Don't think we need to worry about injuries for the Spurs game

[redgunamo]

It seems as though Gabriel will be out until at least then

That is a massive blow...

See what I mean. Injured, suspended, rested or dropped; it makes no difference. As you said, maybe one of the new boys fancies a run-out.

Sad for G, of course, but if we don't want him to play every game because it's too much, knowing full well that we would pick him to play every match he was available for, then injury is actually his only opportunity to get a rest. Even the latter two would presumably mean him at least being on the bench, and therefore ready to play ninety minutes if necessary. It's not as though he could bugger off to Benidorm for the week; he would still have to train each day as if he were going to play.

One mistake we make is in believing football activities increase the risk of injury, whereas the reality is that training, playing and being off injured are all part of the same process; the same life of being a professional footballer.

[Rich]

It seems as though Gabriel will be out until at least then

That is a massive blow...

Well we have Mosquera, White, Hincapie & Calafiroi who can all cover for him. And perhaps that gives an opportunity to MLS or Hincapie if Calafiori is the one he uses there.

[Peter]

See what I mean. Injured, suspended, rested or dropped; it makes no difference. As you said, maybe one of the new boys fancies a run-out.

Sad for G, of course, but if we don't want him to play every game because it's too much, knowing full well that we would pick him to play every match he was available for, then injury is actually his only opportunity to get a rest. Even the latter two would presumably mean him at least being on the bench, and therefore ready to play ninety minutes if necessary. It's not as though he could bugger off to Benidorm for the week; he would still have to train each day as if he were going to play.

One mistake we make is in believing football activities increase the risk of injury, whereas the reality is that training, playing and being off injured are all part of the same process; the same life of being a professional footballer.

We DO want him to play every game but we reluctantly accept that he can't. So we hire a huge team of quacks, bone twiddlers and rub down artists to try and establish what condition our players are in and when they can and cant play.

The point of this, and of rotation, is to ensure they miss the games where we think we can manage without them, instead of losing them for 3 months where we need them most. This increases the risk of overloading their replacements during those 3 months and losing them as well.

If we are just going to play them until they drop we may as well get rid of the medical staff and use the NHS. The savings could be used to buy more players in January, as it is beginning to look as though we'll need some

[Peter]

Well we have Mosquera, White, Hincapie & Calafiroi who can all cover for him. And perhaps that gives an opportunity to MLS or Hincapie if Calafiori is the one he uses there.

Mosquera seems most likely. I think Calafiori would be the least likely

[7sisters]

Mosquera seems most likely. I think Calafiori would be the least likely

I?m reading Calafiori was stood down for Italy. Not sure if he?s injured ?

[WES]

We DO want him to play every game but we reluctantly accept that he can't. So we hire a huge team of quacks, bone twiddlers and rub down artists to try and establish what condition our players are in and when they can and cant play.

The point of this, and of rotation, is to ensure they miss the games where we think we can manage without them, instead of losing them for 3 months where we need them most. This increases the risk of overloading their replacements during those 3 months and losing them as well.

If we are just going to play them until they drop we may as well get rid of the medical staff and use the NHS. The savings could be used to buy more players in January, as it is beginning to look as though we'll need some

Pipe down you bunch of old women!

With a quick read it seems our team is likely to be:

Raya
Timber Mosquera Saliba Calafiori/MLS
Rice Zubi Eze
Saka Merino Trossard

That lot will beat Spurs easily, now grow up

[Peter]

Pipe down you bunch of old women!

With a quick read it seems our team is likely to be:

Raya
Timber Mosquera Saliba Calafiori/MLS
Rice Zubi Eze
Saka Merino Trossard

That lot will beat Spurs easily, now grow up

Anyone can beat ****ing Spurs, that isn't the issue. We have to beat Michael Oliver.

And anyway, this isn't about Spurs, it is about every week for the rest of the season.

[WES]

Anyone can beat ****ing Spurs, that isn't the issue. We have to beat Michael Oliver.

And anyway, this isn't about Spurs, it is about every week for the rest of the season.

Isn't Jesus back?

[Peter]

Isn't Jesus back?

He wont be back for a while. Takes a good four weeks or so of training and full contact to get ready after a long lay off like an ACL.

We have to hope that Martinelli and Madueke are back as both trained ahead of Sunderland. Two weeks should, in theory, have been enough for them if there have been no setbacks.

We don't know anything on the others.

[redgunamo]

He wont be back for a while. Takes a good four weeks or so of training and full contact to get ready after a long lay off like an ACL.

We have to hope that Martinelli and Madueke are back as both trained ahead of Sunderland. Two weeks should, in theory, have been enough for them if there have been no setbacks.

We don't know anything on the others.

Kai had a little setback apparently, and the Germany coach now reckons he won't be ready until the end of the year.

Toll!

[redgunamo]

Anyone can beat ****ing Spurs, that isn't the issue. We have to beat Michael Oliver.

And anyway, this isn't about Spurs, it is about every week for the rest of the season.

Oliver owes us one.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

We DO want him to play every game but we reluctantly accept that he can't. So we hire a huge team of quacks, bone twiddlers and rub down artists to try and establish what condition our players are in and when they can and cant play.

The point of this, and of rotation, is to ensure they miss the games where we think we can manage without them, instead of losing them for 3 months where we need them most. This increases the risk of overloading their replacements during those 3 months and losing them as well.

If we are just going to play them until they drop we may as well get rid of the medical staff and use the NHS. The savings could be used to buy more players in January, as it is beginning to look as though we'll need some

Unless you're an ex-Chav intl manager in which case, breaking Gabby and giving a long rest before the WC is clever tactics. I hate intl football.

[Peter]

Oliver owes us one.

And you can be sure he'll give us one.

****ing arsehole. Why on earth have they given him this game? Surely you'd give him a simple, quiet one first? It isnt as if they are unaware of the issue. This is just asking for trouble.

[redgunamo]

And you can be sure he'll give us one.

****ing arsehole. Why on earth have they given him this game? Surely you'd give him a simple, quiet one first? It isnt as if they are unaware of the issue. This is just asking for trouble.

That's what I mean. Surely he'll be on his "best" behaviour.

Or, to put it another way, Sunday may give us a clue as to whether we will be allowed to win the league this time

[redgunamo]

I?m reading Calafiori was stood down for Italy. Not sure if he?s injured ?

Apparently he's not actually injured but he's also not actually NOT injured.

The Italians seemed to handle that very nicely, Gattuso showing real sensitivity towards the Arsenal's circumstances. For an important game for him too.

Fairplay.