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The Mail Bag

Saha ruptures achilles?

Three days have gone since Louis Saha was carried off the Goodison Park field in the closing stages of the game against Fulham, and still not a word from the club regarding his injury.

Having followed Everton for nearly twenty years, I know from experience that when the club goes silent it doesn't bode well.

I read everywhere in the media that he "landed badly", but for me it seemed like something terrible happened to the frenchman just as he leaped into the air, not on his landing.

I'm no doom monger and I deperately hope I'm wrong in my suspicions, but to me it looked like Yakubu all over again. Very similar circumstances.

Saha turns 33 in August. If he faces a year on the sidelines, I fear he will never play for us again.

Get well soon, King Louis!
Thor Sorensen, Norway Posted 22/03/2011 at 17:22:44

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Trevor Lynes
1 Posted 22/03/2011 at 18:45:20

I have already asked the question and like you I fear the worst... We are really threadbare all over the squad with lack of cover in many key positions. Almost every other team in the Premier League have decent benches but we are really poor.

The start of the season was heralded with stupid quotes about having our strongest squad... since Lescott left, we have had absolutely no cover for Baines and, now that Gosling went on a free followed by the departure of Pienaar, we are scrambling through to maintain Premier League survival.

We have TEN players out on loan and Yobo, Vaughan and Yak have all spoken about looking to leave. We have drastically cut our wage bill with a speed that would have David Cameron drooling!!!!

We have a number of players at or over 30 years of age with NO youngsters other than Coleman and Rodwell pushing for starts in the first team....

NOW I read that in July the annual JOLLY to the States will take place, which has seen us start each season poorly... all these long-distance pre-season jaunts are costly and not beneficial to the players' fitness.

With our poor start record, we should be having our pre-seasons in Europe and put the money saved into a transfer budget!!!

Brian Waring
2 Posted 22/03/2011 at 18:57:34

Is anybody really surprised when Saha gets injured? The lad is made of glass.

Tony Cheek
3 Posted 22/03/2011 at 19:05:36

The difference was, it actually looked like he got injured this time. Have also heard Rodwell has pulled out of the U-21 International. He also received a nasty tackle against Fulham. Would not be surprised if he is out for the Villa game as well.

It's really getting thin in midfield now... 4-5-1 against Villa then:

Howard
Hibbert, Jags, Distin, Baines,
Coleman, Hetinga, Neville, Osman, Bily,
Cahill.

Lynn Thorne
4 Posted 22/03/2011 at 19:20:26

I have already posted on the Forum on this. A guy on NSNO who is always first with CORRECT info ? knew Cahill was back for 1, but is always right. Said it was hopefully only 2 weeks.

I know this will be taken with a pinch of Salt ? but as I said, he really is always right.

Also said about Rodwell pulling out of U21 yesterday and is a possible doubt for next game.

Gerry Quinn
5 Posted 22/03/2011 at 19:15:50

Trevor - I would argue with you that Everton being based somewhere in Europe will be cheaper than Everton being based in the States.

Not only that, it is a fact that the facilities, be they training or stadium, are, in general, of a much better quality - along with the close proximity of impressive medical/physio facilities usually tagged on to those buildings.

The other argument about it being a JOLLY? All major European teams, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Man Utd, Spurs this year, come over here too. Would that mean they are all on JOLLYs too? Where Everton go wrong is that they play these matches in the states, and go back to Europe to play against dross opposition - whereas the other big clubs organise games against stronger opponents than us.

Paul Columb
6 Posted 22/03/2011 at 20:20:31

Didn't quite fit with an Achilles rupture IMO, especially taking into account his writhing reaction. Looked more like an ankle syndesmosis injury as he landed in the dorsiflexed/foot up position. These can be difficult to grade which might explain the lack of news on a timeframe to return.

Andrew Presly
7 Posted 22/03/2011 at 20:39:01

Shorty on NSNO is the guy, must be a player / coach or someone working at Finch Farm but as Lynn says, 2 weeks was the initial prognosis... but this is Everton, he's probably dead. The King is dead... long live the King (Velios?!)

Trevor Lynes
8 Posted 22/03/2011 at 21:11:20

Gerry number #5... My objections are based on the fact that we seemingly get no benefit from playing in the States or Oz as we ALWAYS start our season poorly. I really do not think we can afford to go so far and NOT appear to have any money to strengthen the team.

While DM and Round are away with the squad, they seem to put transfer activity in the hands of the SCROOGE BROS. Surely this annual poor start is not a coincidence!!!

I still believe we would be much better off sharpening the players up with games against decent European opposition without the long-haul flights etc etc.

Ernie Baywood
9 Posted 22/03/2011 at 21:39:43

Lots of teams go overseas and start just fine. The problem surely isn't the location but the management/coaching/fitness team.

We're never ready.

Then add in that Moyes doesn't know his best team on Day 1, usually needing a shedload of injuries before the team settles into some sort of a rythym.

Matt Traynor
10 Posted 23/03/2011 at 01:13:01

Trevor, you are assuming that Everton actually pay for all of this themselves, when the reality is that it is normal procedure for match fees to be agreed, accommodation and travel to be provided, as part of an overall finance package that includes sponsors etc.

I stress normal as I don't know how our commercial department organise!

Saegaran Kana
11 Posted 23/03/2011 at 01:42:32

No news is bad news? Maybe and I feel for Saha as he did try his best to stay fit. We always seem to play better when our backs are against the wall as in previous seasons. Now, i truly hope that Moyes will, finally unleash his secret weapons (Vellios / Gueye) for at least 20-30 minutes every match. The best way to intergrate is by playing them now and see how they cope. At least it will give the players a taste of what to expect and prepare themselves for next season.

Liam Reilly
12 Posted 23/03/2011 at 08:54:54

Pre-Season tours are commercially viable for a club like Everton and strive to increase the Brand. There?s nothing wrong with this approach.

It's the quality of the opposition on the return that proves to be our undoing, until traditionally a respectable side arrives at Goodison for the final fixture. By then it's too late.

Re - Saha. Sometimes it can take several days before the underlying damage can be assessed in full, no conspiracy, just common sense really.

Thor Sørensen
13 Posted 23/03/2011 at 11:00:07

Paul Columb#6, I really hope you're proven right.

Moyes commented after the game that he was just about to sub Saha when the injury occured.

Why, oh, why, Moyes!?! Why do you always take 15 bloody minutes to make a sub!?

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