Botman back on the grass - Interview from the horse mouth

[Ragatino]

Sven Botman speaking to the official club site ? 20 November 2024:

?It?s easy to say I could?ve had (surgery) earlier but if you?re in the moment, you know your body well.

?When I first had the injury, I actually played a few games afterwards and felt fine in those.

?At the other end, you have to make a choice of feeling fine or having rehab for eight months or so. It was quite hard to make that decision in that moment.

?I had some problems before but, for me personally, it wasn?t enough to have surgery. I was struggling with my knee and after the Man City game, I knew it was over for me. I think, for one reason, it might have been good that it happened so I?m now over that and it?s done.

?It?s definitely the longest time I?ve been out.

?I don?t think there?s any other injuries where you?re out for as long as that. It?s been a physical challenge but also a mental one. The first few weeks were fine after I went back home (to Amsterdam) for rehab and training. I then went to a training centre in Portugal for a few weeks and you then close yourself down from being around the team.

?From the moment I returned to Newcastle, it became really hard in terms of seeing the guys going outside for training and always having to work on your own, running by yourself on a different pitch to your teammates. You always have one eye on them, which was difficult.

?After a few weeks of rehab, you?d feel really positive about everything and then be really negative for a few weeks, struggling mentally. It was quite a tough ride but, at the end, it does make you stronger.

?I?m doing very well and I?m getting close now.

?Friday (before the Forest match) was my first day back training with the team and the first steps back to normal life which was a good feeling. It was quite relaxed, with the session being two days before a game but if you?re out for so long, it?s already a big thing just to be around the squad.

?I feel like everything is new but it was really nice to be around the squad, with everybody being very supportive. After the first training session, my first thought afterwards was wanting to do more but it was a good first step.

?When I was back on the training pitch, it was nice because the players were so happy that I was back with them. You can feel left out when you?re injured for so long so it?s good that people still care about you.

?The support from everyone around me has been key because, in rehab, you?re by yourself.

?Other people can drag you through certain situations but, at the end, it?s how you deal with it personally.

?I just had to motivate myself. You can say that other people can help you but, at the end of the day, it?s down to you. Doing what I love to do most is playing football and you can only do that when you?re fully fit. It?s easy to say you need to work hard but that is what it comes down to.

?At the moment, I feel I?m stronger mentally because I hadn?t experienced that dark side of football until now. You can only be more grateful and positive after such a period like this.

?It?s what I?ve been thinking about the last seven months and it would mean a lot.

?Playing football is something I love to do and when you?re injured for such a long time, you feel like you?re standing still when other people are moving forward.

?I cannot wait for that moment when I?m back on the pitch and playing in our stadium with the team. I remember when I came back from rehab for my knee in November, which was around three months, so it should be even more amazing than that this time around.

?Whether it was playing in the Champions League, scoring my first goal or reaching a cup final, I just can?t wait to help the team again and have that feeling again.

?Those moments are what you play football for. You?re happy for the team but, when you?re on the sideline, it?s never going to feel the same unless you are part of the squad.

?There?s so much to play for. You win the trophies in the last part of the season, the most important part, so I?ll be getting back to training with the group first and then I?m looking forward to my first game before building on from there to get the form back. I?m feeling really good so I?ve got no doubts about anything.?


https://themag.co.uk/2024/11/sven-bo...castle-united/

[Ragatino]

There's a man that fully committed to the cause and is completely focused the hunt for Silverware and Champions League Qualification.

[Jammy89]

Can't wait to see him back, he'll add some real quality steel to our back line.

If we get him back and hit form, plus a signing in Jan. . . could really motor on in 2nd half of season.

[Ragatino]

Can't wait to see him back, he'll add some real quality steel to our back line.

If we get him back and hit form, plus a signing in Jan. . . could really motor on in 2nd half of season.

Having him slot back in at Cb will give us that aerial dominance over the top from open play. His positions, reading of the game and physical presences saw us boast the 2nd best defence over the season we finished 4th.

With the additions since he's been on, Gordon cooking, Barnes banging them in, Tonali etc etc.

Bring Botman back in will see us have a great run in for the 2nd half of the season.

Yep we need to bring some fresh blood in, in January.

[Zippity]

Botman is key to the way we play-like Bruno and Isak, we're very lucky to have him and success this season (does progress from last season count as success?...dunno) is essential to keeping him.

[Ragatino]

Botman is key to the way we play-like Bruno and Isak, we're very lucky to have him and success this season (does progress from last season count as success?...dunno) is essential to keeping him.

He's not going anywhere. The comments above sounds like a lad who's highly motivated and confident he can and will win things and Play Champions League football on Tyneside!

with regard the 'Club needs to progress to keep top players' commentary from the Muppet Stream Media & the local rag mouth breathers. The fact is that if the club don't make the top 4 this season, the sole reason is that the players haven't performed on the pitch to win the required amount of points to achieve that goal.

If we get knocked out of the cups barring catastrophic injuries and perhaps the awful managerial decisions (something Eddie Howe is improving all the time) the blame will be squarely the on the players.

Nothing about this group of players strikes me as people who shirk their responsibility. They know to a man that it is in their hands how we do this season. Eddie, Mad dog and the rest of the team give them the platform. The injured players are starting to come back, soon we should have a full compliment of first team and squad players.

Only thing stopping them is them!

[ex_pat_magpie]

Can't wait to see him back, he'll add some real quality steel to our back line.

If we get him back and hit form, plus a signing in Jan. . . could really motor on in 2nd half of season.

Main thing is that when we have a Botman fully fit and an automatic starter it also strengthens the bench with his back ups straining at their leads for a place.

[Ragatino]

Main thing is that when we have a Botman fully fit and an automatic starter it also strengthens the bench with his back ups straining at their leads for a place.

Absolutely Patman!

We need one more Right sided CB and our back line is stacked!

Eddie Howe has all the tools needed to mix and match to compete across the season in 4 competitions. Getting ready for our regular participation in the Champions League.

RB - Tino. Tripz. Krafthacuta. Ashby (L)
RCB - Schar. Lascelles. Krafthacuta
LCB - Botman. Burn. Kelly. Alex Murphy
LB - Hall. Targett. Kelly. Burn. Jamal Lewis (L)

Sort the GKs out, bring in James Trafford and punt Dubz. We're sorted.