Hugo Ekitike

[Ravo19]

It just looks like he's finally being dragged down to Slot level with the rest of them. Even Szoboslai's form has dropped off in the last month. Grav's drop off has been slower compared to Mac's but he's been equally as bad recently.

They got an absolute chasing last night, you could see after 60mins their legs had gone. But Slot waited until the 75th minute before making any changes. Kerkez was ready to drop when he came off.

I do wonder, with Dioigo's passing how much of a pre-season they've had. Or is it that they're just not being worked hard enough in training. The thing is this energy drop off started during the League Cup final / CLR16 last season and it hasn't looked liked returning since.

It is a genuine malaise.

I wonder if one or two will want out if Slot is kept on next season... I'm sure Wirtz, Frimpong, Isak and Ekitike weren't signing up for whatever this season is!

dont know how true but i read a report that slot doesnt push them to hard in training because of 2 games a week.
new manager not only has to fix a broken squad but bring fitness up.

[Insidious]

dont know how true but i read a report that slot doesnt push them to hard in training because of 2 games a week.
new manager not only has to fix a broken squad but bring fitness up.

Interesting to read that, as I remember an interview with Curtis Jones in pre-season before Slot's first where he described the training as being intense - you'd wonder how much has changed and on account of which backroom staff and/or Slot himself.

[Daffydd]

dont know how true but i read a report that slot doesnt push them to hard in training because of 2 games a week.
new manager not only has to fix a broken squad but bring fitness up.

Imagine being Chiesa, not being pushed too hard in training in case of two 5 minute appearances a week.

[teesred]

dont know how true but i read a report that slot doesnt push them to hard in training because of 2 games a week.
new manager not only has to fix a broken squad but bring fitness up.

Agree. The fitness and athleticism is a bog issue and has caused no end of problems.
Not sure how Slot thought that was going to fly in the most physical league in the world. It's madness.

[ianlfc]

If you buy Bobby Firmino on wish .

[miller0863]

Hmmm Florian Wirtz cost the same as Bobby, Mo and Mané combined

[Steveo]

Hugo likely out for 9 months.


L'Équipe described the mood around both the player and the French national team as "devastated," especially given his impressive form—scoring 17 goals across all competitions since his €95 million move to Anfield last summer.

[jozza800]

An achillies injury is likely to affect him more than an ACL. I think 9 months is optimistic. If he's well and truely knackered his Achillies we're unlikely to see again until the start of the 27/28 season.

As much as Slot has made a mess of this season, he's not had much luck with injuries. Isak, Bradley, Endo, Leoni and now Ekitike with really serious long-term injuries. You can't really legislate for that.

I saw a stat this morning that Ekitike, Wirtz and Isak have had a grand total of 88 minutes on the pitch together this season.

[Steveo]

Yep one of the worst injuries you can get..

BTW - I saw another stat that says that's out 17th loss of the season

[pob]

Jesus, a ruptured achiles is even worse than an ACL. He's finished, he'll never be the same player again.

[justme]

Well done POB.

Yes, football players can recover from an Achilles injury, with up to 82%–96% of professional players returning to their previous level, often taking 7–12 months for full recovery.

He;ll be fine. of that i'm certain. Medical advancement is way better than it was even 10 years ago.

[pob]

It's not like he's a seasoned pro and just needs to sit it out, recover and then carry on as per. He's still raw and developing as a player, and is going to lose the best part of a year of that development.

[Steveo]

I agree with the last post, though I wouldn’t say he’s finished.

It’s important to remember the context though - just four months after returning to Barcelona….fresh off scoring twice against them in that infamous 8-2 Bayern humiliation and treble win….Coutinho was actually starting to find his best form again back at Barca. Then he suffered that devastating lateral meniscus rupture, and he was never the same. That injury was the real turning point. He was never close to the same player again.

Let’s hope this isn’t the same for Hugo.

[pob]

Fair enough, saying he's finished was harsh and over the top. But I think it's highly unlikely he'll come back the same player. It's literally the worst injury you can get.

[Steveo]

It’s a fair comment and sadly there are multiple examples that prove your point,