ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Injury woes ahead of Benfica

I have just clocked this report on the BBC website

It seems Pienaar is not the sole 'short-term' absentee. Yobo (head injury picked up against Wolves) and Osman (ankle) are out too. I suspect the Osman absence will raise a cheer or two in many quarters, but I don't think it is useful having him absent, certianly not for this game.

I say this because the Yobo absence drains our options further. He is one of our only two senior fit centre-halves eligible for this competition. As such, I foresee Hibbert at centre-back and Gosling at right-back. I'm not a fan of Osman on the right of midfield, but who else do we have who can realistically play there?

If we had options at centre-back, Gosling would surely be there. Will Moyes be brave and blood a youngster, or will he shove Cahill out wide and continue with the disjointed 'square pegs in round holes' midfield theme?

It never rains but it pours....
Andy Morden, Newcastle, Staffs Posted 21/10/2009 at 16:09:22

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Mike Oates
1 Posted 22/10/2009 at 16:13:01

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I dont know what others think but I’m beginning to feel that there is an underlying issue with injuries at Everton.

We have probably since 2004 (when we finished 4th and we only used about 20 players) had year after year of true injury crises.

Is it because our training methods are wrong , our physio dept is crap , shortage of players and therefore our players are played too much and become injury prone , are knackered, we have too many lightweights or we are just unlucky ?

I dont know the answer but clearly there is theme which isn’t being fully understood and solved.

I’m sick and tired of seeing player shortage on the bench, 3-4 players aged 16-18yr on the bench, we must be the current laughing stock of the Premiership - how can you aspire to Top 4 , obtain Cup silverware if we cant get 20 fit proven Premiership players out every week.

Ajay Gopal
2 Posted 22/10/2009 at 16:59:13

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I predict:

Howard
Gosling, Hibbert, Distin, Baines
Billy, Fellaini, Rodwell, Cahill
Saha, Jo

SUBS: Yakubu, Baxter, Wallace, Coleman, Duffy, Nash, Agard

Jay Wilson
3 Posted 22/10/2009 at 17:48:25

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Yeah and watch the usual suspects be called every name under the sun if we lose. There are on occasions mitigating circumstances...let’s hope we get some perspective from all concerned but first of all let’s hope we pull off a miraculous win. Up the blues

Sean Patton
4 Posted 22/10/2009 at 20:37:21

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Mike

I agree with you I think we are reaching the stage now where someone’s head should roll for this.

Time and again players are picking up injuries and it can not all be down to bad luck. It is worth pointing out that at least three of the injuries our players where taken out.

Anichebe
Neville
Pienaar

Against Wolves I lost count of the number of times that Craddock went through the back of Saha and Billy was fouled on numerous occasions but the perperators got off scott free which gives them carte blanche to carry on dishing out over zealous tackles.

As for the other cases either Moyes is playing people who are already injured are not fully recovered or the medical staff are not treating the players correctly.

Steve Pugh
5 Posted 22/10/2009 at 21:33:08

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Something that has been going through my mind is that certain players are getting targeted. Everyone knows that we are weaker without Mikky and Piennar, so they constantly go in heavy. As it becomes clear that referees give us no protection the tackles get worse and the targets more dispersed.

Watching the Wolves game I was horrified at the tackles they were getting away with. Even if the tackle itself doesn’t cause an immediate injury, constant abuse will weaken muscles, ligaments and bones.

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