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

[Peter]

Michael Oliver is refereeing

[Rich]

Michael Oliver is refereeing

All we can do is hope that Newcastle do us a favour on Saturday against City

1 point from our next two PL would be a nice result.

[Peter]

All we can do is hope that Newcastle do us a favour on Saturday against City

1 point from our next two PL would be a nice result.

And of course whoever he sends off will miss the Chelsea game. Maybe more if he manages to manufacture a red for violent conduct.

[Rich]

And of course whoever he sends off will miss the Chelsea game. Maybe more if he manages to manufacture a red for violent conduct.

Sounds like Gyokeres is out of Sunday's game too. Don't think we'll actually have anyone back - maybe Madueke.

[Peter]

Sounds like Gyokeres is out of Sunday's game too. Don't think we'll actually have anyone back - maybe Madueke.

I think Martinelli trained before Sunderland so he should be back. The sounds they were making around Gyokeres weren't very positive and I can't see Havertz coming straight back into the side. Odegaard is apparently not even close.

[Rich]

I think Martinelli trained before Sunderland so he should be back. The sounds they were making around Gyokeres weren't very positive and I can't see Havertz coming straight back into the side. Odegaard is apparently not even close.

Jesus also not in contention until early next year. I hope we can get Havertz on the bench at least to start to build some minutes up.

I guess maybe Martinelli is an option up front instead of Merino.

[7sisters]

Jesus also not in contention until early next year. I hope we can get Havertz on the bench at least to start to build some minutes up.

I guess maybe Martinelli is an option up front instead of Merino.

You have to ask what?s going on these days. I don?t remember Bergkamp, Wrighty, Henry being constantly sidelined through injury. I think Adams, Dixon & Wintetburn went the entire season.. Perhaps Campbell, when he went all wafty that season.
Games gone.

[Peter]

You have to ask what?s going on these days. I don?t remember Bergkamp, Wrighty, Henry being constantly sidelined through injury. I think Adams, Dixon & Wintetburn went the entire season.. Perhaps Campbell, when he went all wafty that season.
Games gone.

We had crazy injury problems in 97/98. Wrighty missed most of the season. Bergkamp missed large parts of it, hence Chris Wreh up front. Adams and Seaman missed huge chunks of it.

We had a couple of good years of injuries and now we are suffering some pretty awful luck.

[7sisters]

We had crazy injury problems in 97/98. Wrighty missed most of the season. Bergkamp missed large parts of it, hence Chris Wreh up front. Adams and Seaman missed huge chunks of it.

We had a couple of good years of injuries and now we are suffering some pretty awful luck.

Perhaps there?s a tendency to look at the past through rose tinted specs but we?ve now gone through two seasons of a ridiculous amount of injuries on the spin. I can?t get past the fact that not only are we barely a quarter of the season in but it?s the spread of players missing. What is it now, four or five forwards. It?s mental..

[Rich]

Perhaps there?s a tendency to look at the past through rose tinted specs but we?ve now gone through two seasons of a ridiculous amount of injuries on the spin. I can?t get past the fact that not only are we barely a quarter of the season in but it?s the spread of players missing. What is it now, four or five forwards. It?s mental..

I think part of it is the intensity with which they're asked to play without the ball. Pressing, tracking back, occupying spaces etc.

It's all very important but means that of their km covered in a game; a lot of it will be done at quite high intensity. Over a period of months and weeks that's going to cause issues.

[Peter]

I think part of it is the intensity with which they're asked to play without the ball. Pressing, tracking back, occupying spaces etc.

It's all very important but means that of their km covered in a game; a lot of it will be done at quite high intensity. Over a period of months and weeks that's going to cause issues.

Particularly when you can't or won't rotate them and force them to do it twice a week.

Gyokeres was the only fit striker from day one. Saka got injured and came back just as Madueke departed. Odegaard has barely been able to break into a sprint without getting injured.

The last few weeks have placed a bit strain on Saka, Trossard, Merino abd Eze. Don't be surprised if one or two of them are next to suffer.

It has been very unfortunate and we are due a bit of luck. Losing Gabriel is a huge blow. And we don't know who else we have lost yet. Rumour is that Calafiori is ok.

[redgunamo]

Particularly when you can't or won't rotate them and force them to do it twice a week.

Gyokeres was the only fit striker from day one. Saka got injured and came back just as Madueke departed. Odegaard has barely been able to break into a sprint without getting injured.

The last few weeks have placed a bit strain on Saka, Trossard, Merino abd Eze. Don't be surprised if one or two of them are next to suffer.

It has been very unfortunate and we are due a bit of luck. Losing Gabriel is a huge blow. And we don't know who else we have lost yet. Rumour is that Calafiori is ok.

Are you saying even a January shopping-spree cannot save us

[Chief Arrowhead]

Particularly when you can't or won't rotate them and force them to do it twice a week.

Gyokeres was the only fit striker from day one. Saka got injured and came back just as Madueke departed. Odegaard has barely been able to break into a sprint without getting injured.

The last few weeks have placed a bit strain on Saka, Trossard, Merino abd Eze. Don't be surprised if one or two of them are next to suffer.

It has been very unfortunate and we are due a bit of luck. Losing Gabriel is a huge blow. And we don't know who else we have lost yet. Rumour is that Calafiori is ok.

I read an article blaming the injury on the 5 subs. Seems nonsensical at first. Consider, however, that the opponent can swap half the team for fresh legs coupled with the intensity of play (pressure, backtracking, etc.) that the players are being asked to do you expose the players going the full 90+ to the kind of injuries we have been experiencing. In the old days with 1 sub, or even 3 with one held back because of a keeper injury, the pace of the game was sort of policed by the players themselves. Walking the ball up was beneficial for everyone to recover a bit. Sometimes the keeper held the ball for awhile for everyone to catch their breath. Now you have the 8 second rule.

As a result of all this a player can't walk back into the starting XI unless he is tip top 100% ready, so they are out for a lengthy amount of time. But what the heck, let's pile more games onto the fixture list.

[redgunamo]

I read an article blaming the injury on the 5 subs. Seems nonsensical at first. Consider, however, that the opponent can swap half the team for fresh legs coupled with the intensity of play (pressure, backtracking, etc.) that the players are being asked to do you expose the players going the full 90+ to the kind of injuries we have been experiencing. In the old days with 1 sub, or even 3 with one held back because of a keeper injury, the pace of the game was sort of policed by the players themselves. Walking the ball up was beneficial for everyone to recover a bit. Sometimes the keeper held the ball for awhile for everyone to catch their breath. Now you have the 8 second rule.

As a result of all this a player can't walk back into the starting XI unless he is tip top 100% ready, so they are out for a lengthy amount of time. But what the heck, let's pile more games onto the fixture list.

Excellent observation, Chief.

Whilst I'm still not sure injuries are avoidable, if you do happen to have a big squad you must actually use it; having lots of good players on paper will not cut it. Of course, it's only when you actually have to use all your players that you find out how unsuitable, unusable and unserviceable the outer reaches of your squad really are.

The last point is amusing because the whole reason the Champions League, for example, was expanded was because everyone had spent a fortune on bigger squads and needed more games to pay for it all.

[Peter]

Are you saying even a January shopping-spree cannot save us

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

That is a massive blow...