ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Playing through the pain

Do players ever play well when they are injured? Cahill has apparently been troubled with a heel complaint in recent weeks, which help to explain his poor form.

Moyes says "He had injections before the game and he was desperate to play, that?s what we like about him." (!!!) Don't worry about the damage, eh Davey? ?It?s not directly related to his foot problems in the past, but it?s maybe been a result of the way he has had to be rehabilitated and change things around a bit.? So he may need an operation but that has not stopped him flying out to Bahrain for Australia?s World Cup qualifier. Am I the only one to find this astounding considering his recent history?
Paul Hardcastle, Hoylake Posted 18/11/2008 at 07:05:11

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Joe McMahon
1 Posted 18/11/2008 at 08:36:57

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Pain killing injections didn’t stop Paul McGrath playing well.

Rob Sawyer
2 Posted 18/11/2008 at 08:43:18

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Pain killing injections didn?t stop Paul Mcgrath playing well but I?d dread the thought of having his knees based on the damage they?ll have suffered.Some injuries can be nursed along with the occasional injection and minor/no damage - others will only lead to further damage.

One would hope that the medical team at Everton have assessed the risks for Cahill. In the long run form is affected as the players are unable to train properly and there must also be a mental aspect of knowing that something is "not right" - especially when going in for a 50-50 challenge.

Steve Templeton
3 Posted 18/11/2008 at 09:04:40

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I thought Cahill played well on Sunday, in fact I thought it was the best he has played in a 4-4-2 formation for some considerable time.

Marc Williams
4 Posted 18/11/2008 at 09:26:50

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Wish I’d had a pain kiliing injection before some of our home games this season.

Andrew Fletcher
5 Posted 18/11/2008 at 12:21:35

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I used to pop 2 paracetamol, 1 cigarette and a can of Red Bull with a Mars bar before playing. I certainly didn't get paid £20k per week.

Seriously though, Cahill?s body is suffering and he?s probably only got 2 or 3 years left in him in the top flight.

Therfore from a selfish point of view I would play him even when "a bit injured"

Anthony Millington
6 Posted 18/11/2008 at 12:44:24

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Moyes is an idiot! Why does he insist on playing injured players? Why can?t he rest them for the odd couple of games if they are injured and then get them back so they can play at the top of their game?

I seem to remember listening on the radio last year before we played West Ham at home and the commentators said after watching Cahill?s fitness test prior to the game they couldn?t believe he was selected to play. And low and behold 20 minutes in he was brought off and out for the rest of the season!

Playing injured players is asking for trouble, Mikel Arteta played through injury all of last season and made it worse and worse. Why did Moyes not rest him in the first place and after a couple of weeks he probably would have been fine! Maybe Moyes thinks he hasn?t got good enough cover for his first team... well, if so, why has he not brought some half-decent players in on the cheap who would act as good cover? Even players like Tom Soares (1 mill) and Geovanni (free) would do a job if we are struggling for cash.

And before people start slating me for saying their names, I?d much rather have them than having to play centre forwards (Ancihebe) out wide because we?ve got no-one else.

Andy Callan
7 Posted 18/11/2008 at 13:40:25

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Cahill?s poor form is a constant these days; although he did Ok on Sunday in my opinion.

Unless he scores he?s shit.

Dave Wilson
8 Posted 18/11/2008 at 14:00:16

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Pain killing injections? Doesn't really explain why his head turned into a 50-pence piece on Sunday though does it?

Clyde McPhat
9 Posted 18/11/2008 at 17:23:25

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I can rightly say I have no idea what kind of pain you can play through. I have had various knee surgeries over the last few years, and I still do some refereeing. On Monday, I can hardly walk. I have no idea why I keep doing it though. Can we give Shandy Andy an injection too?

Stephen Graham
10 Posted 18/11/2008 at 19:51:27

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Clyde,

Shandy Andy is on permanent painkillers by all accounts!

Dick Fearon
11 Posted 18/11/2008 at 22:13:54

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Fer Christ sake! Stop going on about that no good dutch twat. When his name is mentioned I get this uncontrollable and frustrated desire to plant one straight in his ugly mush. If the idle bastard had a skerrick of decency he would long ago have torn up his own contract.

Pardon the language but I guess it is par for the course where that piece of shit is concerned. Lessons have hopefully been learned from the AVDM episode with clauses in all player contracts that never again will allow Everton be victim of such shysters.