Gbamin's return halted dead in its tracks by fresh injury

Thursday, 28 May, 2020 106comments  |  Jump to most recent

Updated After expressing his excitement to get back playing after a lengthy layoff, Jean-Philippe Gbamin has suffered another major setback with an Achilles tendon injury.

The Ivorian was targeting a return to action before the end of the disrupted 2019-20 season but suffered a second training ground injury which will require surgery.

Gbamin's Everton career was stopped in its tracks before it could even get going when he tore a quadriceps tendon last August, an injury that required two surgeries and many months of rehabilitation work.

It was anticipated that he might be able to feature for the Blues again before the end of the current campaign but that is a goal he would have missed were it not for the suspension of the Premier League in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 11 weeks of disruption to the season, plus the additional four that are expected before clubs might kick a ball again in anger, had given Gbamin extra time to step up his strengthening work and he was back at Finch Farm getting ready to rejoin his team-mates in full training.

Article continues below video content


“I am training with a view to playing this season if the Premier League returns,” Gbamin told evertonfc.com. “I feel good, fully recovered and I am ready.

“We are taking it slowly because it was a big injury. It was not easy but I think if the games start to be played in the Premier League then I think I can play.”

The midfielder explained that he was back up to full speed in terms of training with a ball but would be ready to participate in contact sessions after that had been approved by the Premier League clubs this week.

“It is great to be back at Finch Farm with my teammates. I have my feeling back that I can get playing again,” he continued. “Training has been good. I worked a lot with Adam (Newall) in the past week, with social distancing in place.

“We worked outside and did some ball work which was great for me to do after the lockdown. I am doing all the things the other players are doing with the ball and I hope to be able to join in full sessions with them soon, depending on what we are told is safe to do.

“I hope I can bring the quality I have [to the team]. If I can help the team to go up the league then that would be great. I will be doing my maximum for the team.

“I can't wait to play. It has been a long time that I haven't played football so I know it is going to be hard to start but I am ready for this and I can't wait for that day to come.”

However, Everton reported on Thursday that Gbamin had suffered a torn Achilles, apparently playing foot tennis with team-mate André Gomes at Finch Farm, and he expected to miss another 6 months — possibly longer depending on his recovery.

 

Reader Comments (106)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Mike Gaynes
1 Posted 26/05/2020 at 22:20:36
Be careful, young man. Be careful.
Danny ONeill
2 Posted 26/05/2020 at 22:26:13
When you consider we played the vast majority of this season without the intended first-choice central midfield (Gbamin & Gomes), it kind of puts some sort of perspective on it.

No excuse for Silva; someone I was never comfortable with, but like I say, a bit of perspective as it's the key area of the pitch where games are won or lost.

Tony Everan
3 Posted 26/05/2020 at 22:41:20
Every time JP Gbamin speaks, his enthusiasm shines through. It makes me feel optimistic that he is going to be a great signing for us. He was the Gana replacement and we've missed him badly if he could bring some of that to the team.

Another 4 weeks training and ball work may put him in the frame.

Sam Hoare
4 Posted 26/05/2020 at 22:43:05
One of the few people that this mess has possibly helped! If he can get some minutes ahead of next season it will serve him and us well.

How we have missed a genuinely athletic midfield who can make tackles, cover ground and distribute reasonably well. If he can replicate what he did in Germany he’ll be comfortably our most effective central midfielder. Though the competition is sadly low.

Martin Reppion
5 Posted 26/05/2020 at 23:58:58
Mixed feelings. It is great that we have a player here who, if fit, will make a huge difference to us. Getting some games in before the season ends will show the manager where he needs to spend money. It will give him confidence for the future.

BUT... I just can't get enthused about the football season in June and July. And I certainly can't be bothered with behind closed doors matches played purely to satisfy the Sky TV deal and their sponsors.

I am not a fan of the women's football. (Nothing against it. I just don't enjoy it.) But it says everything when this has gone the way of the Scottish League and all the other leagues that don't have the billion-pound deals in place. The Premier League playing on is only about money. It is doing itself no credit in continuing this farce.

Jerome Shields
7 Posted 27/05/2020 at 07:35:05
Gbamin should have benefited from lockdown, where his lone training regime would have been similar to players forced into lockdown. He had all the credentials for what was needed in the Everton midfield, though bought with an injury record.

Hopefully he has finally got his injuries sorted out and can be rehabilitated into midfield. There will be pressure to push him on, given the current midfield's performance.

All those currently playing in midfield have their weaknesses. Delph would probably be the best to play with him and should have benefited from the lockdown break himself.

I am unconvinced by Gomes as the midfield player to build around. Davies is still developing while Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson are hit and miss.

Si Pulford
8 Posted 27/05/2020 at 08:32:45
I hope it works, I really do. But there where a few worrying signs when he did play. Of course he needs games to get up to speed. He looked woeful in the games that he did play. Against Palace at home, he lost possession more than any player I've seen in a single half.

He played a lot of his time in Germany as a centre-back and we're desperately short at centre-back. Hopefully his versatility will give us options. I don't think we'll see a player until next season personally. After this long out, and in a league that he wasn't used to, he's going to need more time.

Martin Berry
9 Posted 27/05/2020 at 08:40:12
We have a potential gem here.

The young man has the physicality strength and speed required to be well suited to the needs of the Premier League, he will just need to to get up to its speed.

Colin Glassar
10 Posted 27/05/2020 at 09:22:07
Just get this season over and get the Ancellotti rebuild started.
Jerome Shields
11 Posted 27/05/2020 at 09:25:03
Si #8,

I know where you are coming from regarding his initial performances. He is going to need time to settle in. It's rumoured that PSG are looking to sell Gueye, though I would say there would be competition for him.

Clive Rogers
12 Posted 27/05/2020 at 09:29:44
It sounds like the rebuild has been scaled back due to all the uncertainty. Two signings and a loan may be the order of the day.
Brian Harrison
13 Posted 27/05/2020 at 10:04:55
My worry is that, when players are out for so long, then it's so much harder to come back to the level they were at before the injury. It seems that the Premier League will return to finish the season behind closed doors. In Germany, the behind-closed-doors games have completely negated the advantage of being at home, given how many away teams have won since the restart.
Joe McMahon
14 Posted 27/05/2020 at 14:37:02
Brian @13, we don't win many games anyway so no really change for us. It also seems like our away record has been pitiful since football was created.
Jay Harris
15 Posted 27/05/2020 at 16:02:23
Brian,
That is also my concern especially given the type of injury it was (quadriceps) and that he has had this problem throughout his career.

I know he was getting up to speed but he didn't look particularly pacy before the injury so I don't have great expectations when he comes back. Maybe he would be more suited to providing centre-back cover.

Mike Gaynes
16 Posted 27/05/2020 at 16:50:03
Si #8: "He played a lot of his time in Germany as a centre-back..."

No sir, he did not. He made only 11 Bundesliga appearances at that position, and only one in the last two years. The man's a DM.

And I would contest that we're "desperately short" at CB. I think Mina and Holgate are quality and Keane is adequate cover until we sign someone better.

Robert Tressell
17 Posted 27/05/2020 at 17:27:51
Gbamin started as a centre half at Lens. He converted to midfield in Mainz. I think his old manager said that he'd be a top class centre half, possibly better there than as a midfielder. He might be like Vincent Kompany who had a similar shifting of positions early in his career. Possibly a bit like Mason Holgate too.
Danny ONeill
18 Posted 27/05/2020 at 19:27:13
Agree with that Mike; both Mina & Holgate are good and will get better as, in centre back terms, they are relatively young.
David Thomas
19 Posted 27/05/2020 at 19:35:20
I hope Mina is replaced this summer. In my opinion if we are to climb the table he is at best a reserve in case of injuries to the main men.

I think right back, central defence and central midfield have got to be upgraded in the summer if we are to have a chance of breaking into the top 6.

Richard Duff
20 Posted 27/05/2020 at 19:55:35
I've seen nothing in Gbamin to suggest he's the answer to any of our problems. Granted, it's been a game and a half but full of backwards and sideways passes full mistimed giveaways.

It's going to have to get much better, far quicker for him to go from golden hope ( like many, better for not playing) to anything meaningful for our midfield game. Power is what we need; speed, tackling, positioning, forward passing, intelligence, awareness, intuition but mist of all power.

Pat Kelly
21 Posted 28/05/2020 at 18:09:12
Would be good to see him get a few games to see whether he has anything to offer or is just another waste of money like so many others on the books.
Bill Gienapp
22 Posted 28/05/2020 at 20:15:24
I just saw on Twitter that Gbamin re-injured himself in training. Good Grief!
Stephen Brown
23 Posted 28/05/2020 at 20:19:29
Just read that!! Out for 7 months... 🙈
Robert Tressell
24 Posted 28/05/2020 at 20:24:14
Seriously? Injured again.
Brian Williams
25 Posted 28/05/2020 at 20:31:14
Achilles tendon. Six months minimum. FFS – talk about bad luck!
Liam Reilly
26 Posted 28/05/2020 at 20:37:12
Hes injured again! Achilles Tendon.

How??? There's NO fucking contact yet!!!!

Danny Baily
27 Posted 28/05/2020 at 20:47:54
He stank the place out in what looks like it will be his only appearances in the best part of two years. We'll struggle to get this lad off the books.
Sam Hoare
28 Posted 28/05/2020 at 20:49:28
Wow. Football's not even back and yet we seem to be in full Everton mode. He was probably the player I was most excited about seeing at the end of this 'season'.

Terrible luck or is he or the medical team doing something wrong?

Either way, our midfield will continue to be powderpuff for these last games.

Kevin Prytherch
29 Posted 28/05/2020 at 21:01:41
It won't matter too much. We still have Gomes, Delph, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Davies, Besic (is he on loan or did we get rid of him??) and a smattering of youngsters such as Markelo, Baningime and Adeniran.

There you go – 9 replacements for him and all worth every penny we paid for them!!

Interestingly, the best midfield player last season isn't even on that list – Holgate over 2 games!!

Brent Stephens
30 Posted 28/05/2020 at 21:07:17
Terrible news for Gbamin. Feel for him.
Robert Tressell
31 Posted 28/05/2020 at 21:20:20
Danny he didn't have time to stink the place out. He's a very good footballer and this is terrible luck.

He may be finished before he had started unfortunately.

Dreary reading given the alternatives for our midfield slots.

Gavin Johnson
32 Posted 28/05/2020 at 21:28:22
Now he's out with an achilles injury. I'm beginning to write this guy off as an expensive mistake. I would hope he didn't have a substantial injury history before we bought him because this is getting ridiculous now.
Robert Tressell
33 Posted 28/05/2020 at 21:32:25
I don't think he had any injury record. I see him as exactly the sort of player we need - early 20s, high performing in a quality league but with an unfashionable club, on an upwards trajectory.

We (and he) have just been really unlucky with this one.

Paul Hewitt
34 Posted 28/05/2020 at 21:50:43
Gbamin out for 6 months. You really need to feel sorry for the lad.
Steve Shave
35 Posted 28/05/2020 at 21:54:15
noooooooooooo
Christy Ring
36 Posted 28/05/2020 at 22:02:10
Feel for him, but how do you do your Achilles tendon, just trying to get back to fitness. Sadly a bit like Danny Williamson, it's over.
Nick Armitage
37 Posted 28/05/2020 at 22:18:33
Two long-term soft tissue injuries in quick succession. Could be game over at this level.
Jay Harris
38 Posted 28/05/2020 at 22:42:10
I believe he had history with his quadriceps.

Maybe the lad was overcompensating and trying too hard.

Really feel for him because I don't think the Premier League will see him again.

Sorry to be a doom-monger but I expect a raft of injuries if the Premier League starts in a few weeks.

Jay Harris
39 Posted 28/05/2020 at 22:48:41
Just read that he apparently did it playing tennis football with Gomes.
Michael Lynch
40 Posted 28/05/2020 at 22:58:55
Unbelievable!
James Newcombe
41 Posted 28/05/2020 at 23:10:32
I thought something like this was coming. Gutted.
Tom Bowers
42 Posted 28/05/2020 at 23:18:59
Isn't this so typical with so many Everton signings in recent years. They have signed so many ''crocks'' it's unbelievable.

The lad is not to blame I know but it's almost inevitable that even when he gets fit to play again he won't last long. It just doesn't work out that way for Everton signings.

What's left of this miserable season is best forgotten and we can all hope that the next season will be far more rewarding.

I watched some Bundesliga games recently and without the crowd they are just plain boring.

Tom Dodds
43 Posted 28/05/2020 at 23:35:58
I don't belieeeeeve it!

Gbamin has just ruptured his Achilles tendon playing foot tennis or something. Out for another 6 months at least.

FOR FUCK'S SAKE.

Peter Gorman
44 Posted 28/05/2020 at 23:53:59
It doesn't specify a rupture but, in any case, it is just awful news. Seriously, how is the poor lad supposed to stay sane?
Jerome Shields
45 Posted 28/05/2020 at 23:54:38
Apparently it was a freak accident. I have never had confidence in Everton's careful rehabilitation of injured players. PSG are rumoured to be selling Gueye; if so, Everton need to look at him.

Brands's gamble on an injury-prone Gbamin is in tatters.

Kase Chow
46 Posted 28/05/2020 at 23:55:21
How can this possibly happen? How unlucky are Everton?

Mersey Derby: we’ll either get twated 0-6 or lose 0-1 in the last minute

We really are that crap/unlucky

Sean Callaghan
47 Posted 28/05/2020 at 23:59:43
You can probably start penning the 'Mysteries, Misfits and Nearly Men' article for this fella, Lyndon.
Mike Gaynes
48 Posted 28/05/2020 at 00:10:25
Horrendous. I hate to say it, but the lad is likely done with Everton, and possibly with top-level football. In the space of eight months he has now suffered the two worst leg tendon injuries that an athlete can experience. Either one can be a career-ender, and he will now have to rehab both at the same time. I have never before heard of an athlete in a similar situation.

Speaking from personal experience (I've had 3), a complete Achilles rupture or lateral tear -- they wouldn't be planning immediate surgery otherwise -- is likely a 12-15 month injury, not 6 or 7. Best case scenario is a return in time for the 2021-22 season. And there is absolutely no assurance he can regain Prem level. Beckham and Koscielny were able to. Yakubu and Barnes were not. And none of them were carrying a previous serious injury like Gbamin's.

Imagine what it must be like to come to your dream league at 23, believing you're poised on the edge of a brilliant career, and less than a year later suddenly find yourself staring into the abyss. Devastating. Heartsick for him.

Sean Kelly
49 Posted 29/05/2020 at 00:22:49
FFS! This lad's chances of a top flight career are zilch. He's a cross between Gibson and Jimmy Mac. Good luck to you, lad – you will need it.
Adam McCulloch
50 Posted 29/05/2020 at 00:37:32
I don't think Gbamin was a gamble: before he came to us, he seems to have been fine. But two freak injuries seem to have absolutely knocked him for six and I feel incredibly sorry for him.

Also a massive loss for us in a position where we need strength and depth. We need Delph to get up to speed and stay fit otherwise we will struggle, because I don't think we can buy ourselves out of a mess this season.

Derek Thomas
51 Posted 29/05/2020 at 01:12:32
Brands brought him in recovering from injury, Silva rushed him in too soon due to need. I hope we kept the receipt and can find the claims forms... sad for the lad; not his, nor our finest hour.

Still he's got 3 years(?) on our no doubt substantial dime to get himself as right as he can and then try to plan the rest of his career / life.

Jim Harrison
52 Posted 29/05/2020 at 01:56:11
Well, feel for the lad

But now it really means the club need to be looking to fill his position rather than wait on him regaining fitness.

Perhaps a punt on Gana in the short term, one or two seasons? Better the devil you know?

Jerome Shields
53 Posted 29/05/2020 at 07:47:48
Adam #45

Gbamin's injury records:

19/20 Hamstring Injury Aug 22, 2019 Jan 19, 2020 150 days 26Everton FC

18/19 Pulled hamstring at the adductors Aug 27, 2018 Sep 17, 2018 21 days 21. FSV Mainz 05

17/18 Cut Feb 5, 2018 Feb 8, 2018 3 days 11. FSV Mainz 05

17/18 Thigh Muscle Strain Dec 14, 2017 Jan 1, 2018 18 days 21. FSV Mainz 05

17/18 Thigh Problems Jul 17, 2017 Sep 4, 2017 49 days 31. FSV Mainz 05

16/17 Muscular problems Apr 20, 2017 May 4, 2017 14 days 21. FSV Mainz 05

16/17 Thigh Problems Sep 19, 2016 Sep 26, 2016 7 days 21. FSV Mainz 05

16/17 Ankle Injury Aug 4, 2016 Aug 15, 2016 11 days

15/16 Knock Jul 20, 2015 Oct 26, 2015 98 days

Philip Bunting
54 Posted 29/05/2020 at 08:04:43
Jerome...does not read good at all. Another James McCarthy in the making. Makes you wonder on contracts etc. If that was my employer, would I be out on full pay for the remainder of my contract or technically on reduced sick pay.

The power the footballers agents have with control over the clubs is astonishing. Wish him a speedy recovery and do feel sorry for the lad but this could just about finish him at EFC.

Ed Smith
55 Posted 29/05/2020 at 08:25:04
We'll probably bring in someone like Lallana on a free so he won't be lonely in the treatment room.
Dave Abrahams
56 Posted 29/05/2020 at 09:34:55
Disappointing for the club and the fans but more disappointing for the player, good luck for the future lad I wish you well.

Doesn't look good for the rest of this half-baked season regarding the very weak central midfield. They have hardly any pace – and don't mention fighting ability –and that's with the crowd behind them. I fear where the few points we need are going to come from.

David Connor
57 Posted 29/05/2020 at 09:46:03
Lonely in the treatment room, Ed?

No-one is ever lonely in the Everton treatment room.

Steve Ferns
58 Posted 29/05/2020 at 10:05:31
Devastated for the player concerned. He obviously didn’t heed Gaynes’ advice at #1.

As regards the club goes, the injury always left a considerable question mark over him. As I understood it, and I’m the opposite of an expert here, he would have had a significant weakness and been likely to have had further injury at any time, which means any sign of injury and he’d have to rest. In other words, he’d keep missing the odd game or he’d suffer another big injury and be out long term.

As it happens he’s suffered a different, but still long term injury. The poor lad is done in my eyes. He’s like James McCarthy now, whereby he might well be a player, but he’s never going to get fit enough to be counted on and never going to be a key part of our plans. We need to sign a different player to replace Gueye, and if Gbamin can recover, then great. I suspect he’ll be a forgotten man like Danny Williamson.

Colin Glassar
59 Posted 29/05/2020 at 10:13:47
Sad news for the player but it's surely obvious the guy's a dud. I know I'll get a lot of incoming for this but there are certain players whose bodies just can't take the strain: Jack Wilshere for one, Andy Carroll being another.

Sometimes you just have to face reality and move to on.

Steve Ferns
60 Posted 29/05/2020 at 10:16:01
Mike, don’t know if I’d agree Beckham recovered. For me, he was already done. He walked around the pitch waiting to take free kicks or play “Hollywood” passes. But, I’m biased as I always thought he was the most overrated player of all time.
Darren Hind
61 Posted 29/05/2020 at 10:17:54
Very sad.
Dave Williams
62 Posted 29/05/2020 at 11:09:25
Terrible news for the club and the lad – is it an Achilles or has the thigh gone again? Either way, it is now looking like he will not be a player for us. Very few come back the same from a succession of bad injuries like he has had, though a few manage it – Peter Reid for one. A lot depends on his fortitude, strength of mind, and how much he wants it but it may well be that, as others have posted, his body just cannot stand up to the rigours of professional sport?

Dave A raised a good question above: will we have the character to win games without spectators as we surely need at least another win to be safe? It's an interesting one – with maybe one or two exceptions, we don't have big-game players. It could well be that playing behind closed doors suits the likes of Tom Davies and Michael Keane who take a lot of stick from the crowd. Anthony Gordon might benefit from being blooded without a critical crowd ready to criticise him if he loses possession. Gylfi Sigurdsson and Morgan Schneiderlin may be better for the same reason. Who knows... but it will be very interesting to see how different players and teams react.

My best wishes to JP and hopefully he will confound some of us and recover to be a significant player for the club.

Pat Kelly
63 Posted 29/05/2020 at 11:40:54
We know how to pick 'em
Steve Brown
64 Posted 29/05/2020 at 11:54:31
Absolutely gutted for the lad. Imagine how he must be feeling.

We can add 'never replaced Gana' to 'never replaced Lukaku' as part of our common lexicon. We have been a significantly weaker team in midfield since Idrissa left.

Christy Ring
65 Posted 29/05/2020 at 13:37:08
I would question Brands's decision to buy him, considering his injury record. He was injured when we signed him, and I have just seen that he missed 112 days with Mainz because of injury. How much of a research did Brands do??
Dave McDowell
66 Posted 29/05/2020 at 13:59:11
The reports are he ruptured his Achilles playing “foot tennis” which backs up the non-contact aspect of his recent rehabilitation.

His injury track record did make him a gamble and I wonder if the fee we paid was segmented into payments on games played, I hope so.

Unfortunately, at the time of the injury and his subsequent relapse, I stated my doubts that it might be career-ending as it has been for other poor athletes who suffered similar.

Sad for such a young man and evidence, if needed, that a break is much easier to recover from than muscular or ligament injuries.

I wish him all the best but I wonder at what point do we start discussing with the insurance company that his career at the top level is over and seek a payout.

Dave Pritchard
67 Posted 29/05/2020 at 14:22:15
We can replace Gana Gueye with Gana Gueye now he is on the PSG transfer list.

68 Posted 29/05/2020 at 14:45:15
Hope he makes it but so far he's been jinxed really. We've been pretty unlucky with midfielders in recent years -– Gana apart.
Iakovos Iasonidis
69 Posted 29/05/2020 at 15:30:13
I have nothing bad to say about the lad, I hope he is mentally strong to return back at the highest level. Sometimes luck is a bitch.
Dave Southword
70 Posted 29/05/2020 at 15:49:47
I had high hopes for Jean-Phillipe. The thigh was bad enough, but Achilles on top of that...

I guess his track is set now. Get back to fitness, a couple of loans in the Championship or Belgium, then free transfer.

Phil SMITH
71 Posted 29/05/2020 at 15:52:52
Steve (60), he had a certain hype around him, yes, but on his day he could win you games on his own. Only the best players are like that.
Frank Crewe
72 Posted 29/05/2020 at 16:00:22
Talk about bad luck. He makes Gibson look like an ever present.

I don't remember him having a particularly bad injury record before he signed for Everton.

Robert Tressell
73 Posted 29/05/2020 at 16:00:37
What a mess our squad is. Before Covid-19, I thought we were light of 2 or 3 quality players to help it all come together. And I expected we had the money and clout to rectify that.

After Covid-19 and without Gbamin, the squad is light of another quality player. It'll be a tall order to pull in 3 or 4 first teamers for the new season. A very unpredictable and weird summer transfer window beckons.

Jack Convery
74 Posted 29/05/2020 at 16:06:37
Go and get Idrissa immediately – get him signed up for next season. No bedding in as he knows the score and we know what we are getting.

So sad for Gbamin. I just hope he can make a full recovery and play a full part in the future of EFC.

Stay safe everyone as a second wave is almost certainly on its way. Though I sincerely hope the scientists are wrong.

Mike Gaynes
75 Posted 29/05/2020 at 16:13:19
Steve #60, welcome back.

My post only said "regain Prem level", which Beckham certainly did, but agreed he did not 100% recover. I am not aware of any top footballer who has. Koscielny returned from his May 2018 blowout to captain Arsenal eight months later, but he looked pretty slow in last season's Europa League final.

David Connor #57, that got a grim chuckle from me.

Dave #67 and Jack #74, amen. He certainly left us on the best of terms, so let's hope there's mutual interest. Very surprised PSG listed him after one highly successful season.

Dennis Stevens
76 Posted 29/05/2020 at 16:29:18
The sad thing, from an Everton perspective, is that we never even got to find out what we're missing out on. You have to feel sorry for the lad as there may not be a playing career ahead of him at all.
Tony Everan
77 Posted 29/05/2020 at 16:59:07
Was it a freak accident? Did he warm up and stretch properly, especially due to the hard ground. I hope they have a good look at their preparations and thoroughness. It is devastating for him and for the club.

It makes the new midfield signing even more important. We need a tough quality player who will give us 30 games plus per season. Someone mentioned resigning Gana, or even loaning him with a fee for a season would be a good move.


Kenny Smith
78 Posted 29/05/2020 at 17:23:17
The only good news is the new season may coincide with him being fit.
You have to feel sorry for the lad but, at £25 million, he's only played 2 more games for the club than me!

Phil Lewis
79 Posted 29/05/2020 at 17:30:35
It's a dreadful blow for the lad. No doubt he was looking forward to showing us what he can do. Sheer bad luck, nothing more. As has been stated, he faces a mountain of rehab to climb. At least he has relative youth on his side and I wish him well. Who knows what the future holds for him.

However, for the immediate future, the club needs to prioritise strengthening in midfield. A pragmatic approach is required in all areas including goalkeeper, for Carlo to build a squad that he can call his own.

Derek Taylor
80 Posted 29/05/2020 at 18:33:15
I'd rather hoped we'd seen the last of this season and would come back in August to 2020-21. As it is, we now learn that a worthy successor for Gibson has been discovered and we are going to have to 'make do' in respect of the combative midfield slot for the weirdo completion of 2019-20!

Of course it's all bullshit and in order to keep the Sky money, the teams are going to embark on a playground version of the great game without interference from the now redundant speccies!

Personally, I've no interest in this prostitution of our game and shall not even groan when they are crowned champs – even though we will beat them on the day!

Duncan McDine
81 Posted 29/05/2020 at 18:49:29
I’ve never played foot-tennis, but even I know, Jean-Philippe, you were not supposed to hit your foot with a tennis racket.
Tony Abrahams
82 Posted 29/05/2020 at 18:55:52
They love their head-tennis at Everton, but it’s a boring game imo, and nowhere near as productive as a proper game of five-a-side.
Ajay Gopal
83 Posted 29/05/2020 at 18:57:16
Even if he recovers physically, can he ever recover from the psychological blow? I mean, it would take HUGE personality to ever come back to competitive sport again after back-to-back long term injuries. I really feel sorry for Gbamin, no sportsman ever deserves to go through this nightmare.
Paul Birmingham
84 Posted 29/05/2020 at 20:05:29
Bloody poxy bad luck for the lad and another very nasty injury.

Far from me to judge but such a shocking injury doing football tennis raises questions about the physios and his recovery plan.

Looks like next year but let's pray he recovers but some players and over the years EFC has had on par to close second a staggering number of players who get crocked far too regularly.

I hope the lad is getting the full support that this latest set-back warrants and he makes a full recovery.

John Raftery
85 Posted 29/05/2020 at 21:15:03
For the club and Ancelotti, this injury may prove a blessing in disguise, albeit one heavily disguised. It kills any hope Gbamin might have supplied next season the dynamism so plainly lacking in our midfield and reinforces the need, already identified by the manager, for the squad to be strengthened in that area as a matter of urgency.
Bobby Mallon
86 Posted 29/05/2020 at 22:42:44
Let's just collect the insurance money, pay him off, and move on. Honestly, I can't believe we bought him with the reported injuries he's had in the past.
Ian Jones
87 Posted 30/05/2020 at 06:46:37
Just an extra thought and a different perspective on the stats and comments made about his previous poor injury record. I looked at transfermarkt which is where I assume Jerome's stats @ 53 come from.
Link

Whilst those stats do indicate he was injured on several occasions at Mainz with several mostly thigh/hamstring related injuries for a period of 112 days at Mainz, so I suppose he could be classified as injury prone, he only missed 12 games in 3 seasons.

This includes 3 games in the longest period he was out for, 49 days from Jul 17, 2017 to Sep 4, 2017, so most of the close season.

Jerome Shields
88 Posted 30/05/2020 at 07:26:16
Ian #87,

Correct link. Copy and pasted what I could.

He was injury-prone, but his Everton medical would have been thorough and, with his ability in the position he played, he was worth the risk. I was in favour of the transfer, though I admit it was into the season before I looked at his injury record. Everton have difficulty attracting players and Brands has had to take calculated risks on injury-prone players.

It has worked out on most occasions, but unfortunately there are difficulties with Gbamin. Gbamin fit would have been a good addition to the squad and one I would have liked to see playing. Good luck to him in his recovery.

Transferring in a replacement is very much up in the air because of the current pandemic.

Eddie Dunn
89 Posted 30/05/2020 at 08:37:54
Perhaps this kid has a weakness in his soft tissues. I once went to a physio who has worked at the highest level and she told me that some men put too much muscle on a relatively slight skeletal structure and were in danger of injuries related to this.

I wonder exactly how the injury was sustained. Football tennis... is that with a football or a tennis ball?

Sam Bowen
90 Posted 30/05/2020 at 08:51:30
Awful news and I feel desperately sorry for him. What a tough time he's already had and is going to endure for the next year. Really hope he manages to recover enough to have a decent career.

What it does do for us is really highlight the massive holes that need filling in midfield. We definitely need two quality additions in there now.

Fraser Auld
91 Posted 30/05/2020 at 10:53:28
Agreed, Sam.

It's terrible for the player personally, he has everyone's thoughts and sympathies, I'm sure, but it's also terrible for the team.

Midfield was the massive priority this summer even before this news. This makes it even more pressing on what, pretty much universally, is acknowledged as being a very different and uncertain transfer window for all clubs to invest and make signings.

Wouldn't be bothered if we didn't sign any other positions if it meant we sorted the midfield, it's so weak. It's not just the centre where we need 1 or 2 players, we're needing someone to play on the right, unless we want to see Theo trotting out and contributing zilch for another season.

Just have a horrible feeling it will be difficult to do what needs done. We'll end up watching the same shit for another season that we already know isn't good enough.

Ah, who'd be a Toffee? Oh yeah, all of us! 💙

Paul Jones
92 Posted 30/05/2020 at 13:32:38
Since we have had Directors of Football, Steve Walsh & Marcel Brands, we have bought some players were the "mileage" was not hidden and the fee was massive. There must be a non-football reason why we pay £20 million plus for some real duds.
Pete Gunby
93 Posted 30/05/2020 at 15:58:35
Is it April 1st. You couldn't make it up.

Maybe we should go get Andy Carroll.

Sam Hoare
94 Posted 30/05/2020 at 17:19:31
We really need one of Gomes, Delph or Davies to step up over end of ‘season' and show us a better level and consistency. Otherwise, I think we need 2 new central-midfield players to occupy our centre in a 4-4-2, which is not ideal.
Mike Gaynes
95 Posted 30/05/2020 at 17:45:35
Sam, I'd say those three players have already shown us what they are. Young Tom will certainly refine his game as he matures, but he's never going to be a game-changing talent, and the other two have about 250 top-level appearances apiece, and have no surprise 'step-ups' to show us.

Central midfield should be our absolute top priority.

Sam Hoare
96 Posted 30/05/2020 at 18:08:29
Mike, I tend to agree.

I think Gomes or Delph at their best are both pretty decent players but we’ve just not seen that at Everton bar a handful of games for Gomes last season.

I think 2 central players are needed though that will surely rely upon finding a home for Schneiderlin and maybe a loan for Davies. Otherwise we’d be paying the wages of 7 senior central midfielders (8 if you include Sigurdsson) for 2 spots which would seem unlikely.

Dennis Stevens
97 Posted 30/05/2020 at 18:17:40
Hear! Hear! Mike. Although, the naive dreamer in me still hopes not quite so young as he was Beni can be given the chance in these last few matches to show what he can do. I think he's got a couple of years left on his contract & if we're not using him then there's not much point in him being at the club anymore, imo.
Peter Fearon
98 Posted 30/05/2020 at 19:05:34
This is a tragedy for him and a setback for the club but it's time to stop kidding ourselves and recognizing that this is an injury-prone player whose promising short career is coming to an untimely end. Call the insurance man, take care of the player by all means, but cut our losses and move on.
Jay Harris
99 Posted 30/05/2020 at 19:28:48
Totally agree, MG.

I have said for years we lack goals and bite from our midfield. It is the engine room of any top team and we need better quality than we've currently got.

Robert Tressell
100 Posted 30/05/2020 at 20:02:28
Our midfield is a total mess. None of the individuals are as bad as we make out. However, what we lack is someone very quick and athletic to bring the best out of the others.

A trio of Gomes, Gueye and Sigurdsson worked okay. Gomes passed, Gueye ran and Sigurdsson scored. I had high hopes for Gbamin as the Gueye replacement. One quality addition may be enough to get everything to gel again. Delph and Schneiderlin can play backup and maybe Davies spends a season in the Bundesliga.

Mike Iddon
101 Posted 30/05/2020 at 20:10:47
My first thought on hearing about the injury was "poor guy, must be devastated". Then I read he's injury-prone; missed 12 games in 3 years before we signed him, not bad.

To those that say he's finished let's move on, can they give me the lottery numbers and remember Peter Reid? You never know.

The guy is our player, we look after him and try to get him back on the pitch. In the meantime, we need another central midfielder – which we kind of knew anyway.

Steve Shave
102 Posted 30/05/2020 at 21:01:08
Peter @98,

It's a bit early to be completely writing his career off!

He's had some terrible luck and we need to get behind him.

Jerome Shields
103 Posted 30/05/2020 at 21:50:10
I agree with the sentiments expressed regarding midfield. It was hoped that Gbamin would have offered a change for the better, but now that has gone. The midfield players we have are not good enough.
Mick Roberts
104 Posted 01/06/2020 at 14:45:09
Only needs to walk on grass and he is injured.

Mega injury-prone... another Jack Rodwell. Not good.
Sam Hoare
105 Posted 01/06/2020 at 16:59:19
He was never that injury prone till he came to Everton. Terrible luck for him and for us.

I wonder how much recompense you get from the insurers in situations like this?

Centre-midfield was already the priority recruitment position for me. Now it is comfortably the priority. And two may well be needed. Which may mean going for cheaper options.

Mike Gaynes
106 Posted 02/06/2020 at 18:14:05
Steve #102, I think we are all behind him and wish him nothing but the best.

However, the stark reality is that both of these injuries are potential career-enders, and having both of them at the same time does profoundly impact his chances of ever being a top-level player again.

Nothing would make me happier than to have him prove me wrong.

Peter Jansson
107 Posted 05/06/2020 at 17:52:48
I doubt Gbamin will ever play for us..

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads