ToffeeWeb - Season 2010-11

The Mail Bag

How to survive

Is there a reason for the unusual amount of injuries suffered by our young players when on international duty? Could it be caused by doing everything flat stick or perhaps a different kind of warm up routine?

If it is the first of these, an element of self-preservation introduced into their training could help. Throwing caution to the winds and tackling everything with gay abandon is a recipe for a short career. Too many times, I have seen the enthusiasm of youngsters and lack of care bring about their own problems.

On a strictly amateur level, when a junior was nearing senior level, I would mix their schedule with sensible auld arses just to learn the ropes in a kind of survival course.

On a professional international stage, young players should be made to understand that they are expected to exhibit the attributes that led to their selection, no more no less. They should not be expected to indulge in Kamikaze-like tackles.
Dick Fearon, West Australia Posted 13/10/2010 at 23:40:43

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James Flynn
1 Posted 14/10/2010 at 03:26:24

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Are we talking about the kid Barkley? A double fracture no less. Thank goodness he's athletic, fit, and, more importantly, still a teenager; which means his body's still producing heavy doses of testosterone for healing (Just like Drogba's apparently still is at 33! Hmmm).

Best of luck to the young man. I know it's away from Dick's post, but has anyone seen Barkley play?

Chad Schofield
2 Posted 14/10/2010 at 04:48:42

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Perhaps it's the type of player we have on our books which leads to this in terms of 'luck'. Moyes likes committed players, fans get on the back of 'lackluster' players, so our players are perhaps more likely to go in hard and potentially get injured.

However, it's the freak injuries (Barkley with his teammate?!) that we seem to get that unless anyone knows any good juju/voodoo stuff, I'm not sure what we can do.

Conor Feeney
3 Posted 14/10/2010 at 09:54:32

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Is there any factual analysis to suggest that young Everton players have an "unusual" amount of injuries when on international duty or is it just that we notice them more because we follow Everton?

Jimmy Hacking
4 Posted 14/10/2010 at 10:29:16

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Aye Conor I was thinking the exact same thing; which other Everton players have ever picked up a serious injury on international duty besides Barkley?

I can vaguely remember a couple of minor ones over the years, but that's all.

Eric Myles
5 Posted 14/10/2010 at 11:42:14

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Jags last week, it's serious enough for him to miss a game at least, so it's not minor.

Dave Roberts
6 Posted 14/10/2010 at 12:30:10

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James Vaughan? His knee injury while with the Under-19s was the start of injury woes.

Dave Roberts
7 Posted 14/10/2010 at 12:33:09

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Shane Duffy. Poor bugger thought he was going to die!

Anthony Millington
8 Posted 14/10/2010 at 12:36:36

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It's terrible luck. Every young promising prospect seems to get crocked at a young age or have some serious injury. James Vaughan was out for over a year after picking up an injury on international duty, Anichebe out for a year from the Nolan challenge and is still out now. Coleman had a hole in his foot last summer, Duffy almost died playing for Ireland, Agard is just coming back after 10 months out with a knee injury, Gosling also ruptured knee ligaments last season and is still out now even though he has now left the club.

The list goes on... even players like Osman who were in the youth setup had serious injuries at a young age and Rooney broke his foot before he left. And the one player I thought might escape from such luck was Rodwell but he got scythed down by Warnock against Villa and sentenced to three months out!

Anthony Millington
9 Posted 14/10/2010 at 12:42:23

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Begs the question: why do Everton not seek some sort of compensation for some of these injuries considering we have no money! Other teams do it.

Thomas Christensen
10 Posted 14/10/2010 at 12:56:26

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Anthony - do we not ask for compensation?

Andy Crooks
11 Posted 14/10/2010 at 19:15:33

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Dick, you raise an important issue. I think it can be narrowed down to Everton. James Vaughan's career has been blighted by busting a gut trying to prove himself. David Moyes's treatment of Vaughan, Baxter, Coleman, Duffy, Anichebe Turner, Ruddy etc has only demonstrated his limitations as a coach. They get a chance in an emergency, not in a planned development of their career.
Duffy needs experience in our first team but will only get it as part of a crisis. The training ground can only demonstrate so much. If I had a talented 18 son Everton is not where I'd like him to be underDavid Moyes.

Mike Hughes
12 Posted 14/10/2010 at 20:58:16

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I just heard on Radio Merseyside that Fellaini may miss the derby match. Anyone have any news?

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