Morning all.
I think Hincapie’s jumper is the one I’d choose if I absolutely had to have one. Neither are my cup of tea but William Saliba’s is too loud. Saying that, I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever owned one Christmas jumper in my life and that was red with a few subtle gold stars on it. Yep, boring aren’t I…
This time next week, the big day will be upon us and I’ll be enjoying a nice long walk on the beach on Christmas Day for the first time in my life.
Enough about me, Sky Sports has released a few facts/stats about our injury numbers and they do not make good reading.
Not a table we want or need to be topping that’s for sure. As Mikel Arteta acknowledged just a few days ago, when injuries occur, they have an effect on the other players as their workload increases.
Last season was awful as far as injuries go as not only did we suffer many, but a lot of them were long term. Jesus, Havertz, Saka, Odegaard and Calafiori to name the worst cases but others had time out too. With a small squad, injuries had a huge impact on the squad. Going into this season though, with our deep and strong squad, I thought the injuries would somewhat decrease, however, they’ve been just as bad, if not worse.
But one has to wonder why Ben White, who is not long back from making a full recovery after an extensive period of time out injured, played three games in a row. Why Lewis-Skelly didn’t start at left back, allowing Timber to play right back instead I’ve no idea. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of White but how long had he been out for? We were playing Wolves, surely both of Rice and Zubimendi didn’t need to start, not when Norgaard is a very good alternative.
I know it’s easy to be critical or make alternative suggestions after a game but let’s be honest, how many times have you scratched aged you head when looking at the team when it’s announced pre game? Or said to yourself, “I cannot believe player x, y or z is starting yet another game”? I ask myself a similar question when Arteta makes his changes.
We’ll see how the season pans out over the next few months but if injuries end up playing a big part of why we struggle in the fight to the end, then questions really need to asked of Arteta’s management of a big squad. A big squad which he was so desperate to have. A big squad which is there to help prevent injuries, not just for when we get them.
I read in The Athletic that the stats for player changes each game this season made by managers from the start of the campaign through to mid November varies significantly. Guardiola for example had made an average of 3.4 whilst Arteta had made 1.8.
Make of that what you like…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico,
Things are not going to get better anytime soon. The calender is far too crowded, too any games and not enough recovery time between them.
There will be little rest for our international players in the coming summer with the World Cup playing out in North America, endless flights from one venue to another, endless interviews with a voracious media, Mexico and the USA in the height of the summer, only Canada will provide a bit of relief.
By the time our players return the new season will be about to start so not let up in the overcrowded schedule.
Football authorities must get together put their money grabbing preoccupation aside and consider the welfare of their most vital asset the players.
Morning Cicero, but we could make things slightly easier for ourselves with more changes and substitutions surely? We have a good few players not really being used.
Good post Rico, it’s interesting Cicero how very little input we get from the mouthpiece of the players, that is the PFA, do they not have the welfare of their members at heart?
Or maybe the players themselves don’t mind the extra fixtures in international football or european club football. As fans the club game is paramount, but for the players it’s international football and CL next. So maybe the silence of the PFA reflects its members perhaps?
The clubs only have themselves to blame because they never show a unified front and that allows agents and players to play one off against the other whilst to a lesser degree we the fans are also not blameless, we just want to win.
The people who run the clubs are the same people who run FIFA and UEFA, it’s all about the bottom line so don’t expect anything to change…
Morning and thanks Kev.
I think a few players have made reference to the numbers of fixtures expected of them, managers too but you are right, the PFA could do a lot more.
I’m surprised clubs in Europe don’t field a very different starting 11 to that in Europe and the PL. perhaps the message would be loud and clear. Saying that, I love the FA Cup.