International Break Bollix

[teesred]

12 weeks out for Robbo.
Fuck International football.

[Kev0909]

Hmm few more knocks then we're in trouble!

Tskimas can't play every game and lets face it gomez won't stay fit

So who's playing on the left, Endo? hello Milner? Or.. a young guy we've not heard of ?

One injury and we're already not far off playing a young kid.... #bigsquad

[sydenham red]

Hmm few more knocks then we're in trouble!

Tskimas can't play every game and lets face it gomez won't stay fit

So who's playing on the left, Endo? hello Milner? Or.. a young guy we've not heard of ?

One injury and we're already not far off playing a young kid.... #bigsquad

For a while a while back i thought Kostas was gonna push on and take the starting spot off robbo but he stalled and possibly has regressed a bit. Robbo is near done imo, like the previous mids he's at the end of the period where he can run all game and play well and we have no better replacement in place. This needs addressed in Jan

[jozza800]

Hmm few more knocks then we're in trouble!

Tskimas can't play every game and lets face it gomez won't stay fit

So who's playing on the left, Endo? hello Milner? Or.. a young guy we've not heard of ?

One injury and we're already not far off playing a young kid.... #bigsquad

This is the same as the CB injury situation a few years ago. People will be complaining that if Tsimikas gets an injury why we haven't got prime Le Tournoi Roberto Carlos sitting twiddling his thumbs, waiting for a chance as 3rd choice left back!

Ffs.

What happens if they all get injured? Who's fault is it then...

[jozza800]

For a while a while back i thought Kostas was gonna push on and take the starting spot off robbo but he stalled and possibly has regressed a bit. Robbo is near done imo, like the previous mids he's at the end of the period where he can run all game and play well and we have no better replacement in place. This needs addressed in Jan

Hardly. He's popped his shoulder in a freak injury. It's not not like he's burned out his hamstrings from too much running.

[sydenham red]

Hardly. He's popped his shoulder in a freak injury. It's not not like he's burned out his hamstrings from too much running.

He's on the same path as Henderson, fabinho and Milner m8. Approaching 30 and 6 hard seasons under Jurgen already

[CCTV]

He's on the same path as Henderson, fabinho and Milner m8. Approaching 30 and 6 hard seasons under Jurgen already

The problem last year was Keita, Ox & Melo

Put Sobozla, MacA & GracenB in for them 3 last year and we're grand.

Milners 37 now. Robbos only 29. Robbos looked more Milner than most.

[Insidious]

Very unfortunate news with Robertson, but this is what squads are for.

- Tsimikas is our first option
- Luke Bradley could be an option for us
- Playing three centre-backs if four or five of Van Dijk, Konate, Matip, Gomez and Quansah are fit is an option given Trent tucks in for the possession phase, which makes a back three "work"
- Mixing and matching the above 3 options so that neither Tsimikas nor Bradley "burns out" and to minimise risk of injury to centre-backs
- Emergency option of giving Endo a go

We can't shit the bed about "what if Tsimikas gets injured?" as almost all clubs will have a starting left-back, a back-up and a youth prospect.

Besides, isn't it something like 7 matches (all comps) before an international break anyway? Not an extortionate amount of time, plus a player not being available for internationals doesn't "matter" as such to us, so by the time that international break is over we will be several steps closer to having Robbo back.

Plus who knows - Tsimikas or Bradley (or Endo?) may take the opportunity by the scruff and give us more confidence with strength in depth. We lament injuries, but they also lead to young lads bring afforded opportunities - we probably don't get to see the promise of Bajcetic or Quansah in the way that we have without the collective shaky injury records in those relevant parts of the pitch.

Wish Robbo well but very reluctant to panic. We have options. Not to mention that the upcoming run of fixtures prior to the Man City match (after the international break) are relatively kind - so it gives whoever comes in a chance to grow in confidence.

[teesred]

It'll probably be the longest spell Tsimi will have had, itll do him good and he's a more than able deputy. It's easy to whinge about it but at the end of the day not many teams have back up players as good as Tsimikas and Gomez.

[Kev0909]

This is the same as the CB injury situation a few years ago. People will be complaining that if Tsimikas gets an injury why we haven't got prime Le Tournoi Roberto Carlos sitting twiddling his thumbs, waiting for a chance as 3rd choice left back!

Ffs.

What happens if they all get injured? Who's fault is it then...

we don't have much decent depth at the back, that's the facts MATE and the last of the injury crooks included!!!!!!

which is why we won't be in the title running squad is too small unless we get knocked out of every competition early

you'll see

and if we do pick up some extra injury's due to the amount of games I doubt we'll make top 4 either