Injuries could be our downfall

[bathlad61]

I know it sounds obvious, every club does & will pick up problems, but for us throughout the season ( and it appears pre-season ), we seem cursed with the injury bug again.
Too many players already longish term casualties -Roofe, Ayling, Roberts, then you have the likes of Douglas, Bamford, Berardi, Dallas, all have recent history / fair amount of time laid up, anyone of these seems never far away from breaking down again. Add to that Costa, had a few problems in last 12 months ( maybe why Wolves let him go ) it just seems who & when, for another spell on the treatment table.

With another intense season a week away, how long will it be, before we hear the words " Douglas gone for scan" or " Dallas has recurrence of ankle problem ".

[norfolk white]

Hard to believe we have 3 first teamers out already, and we haven't even started yet.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

If we get injuries then it gives the younger players an opportunity. There are a whole host of players like Hossanah, Odour, Gotts, Stevens, Struijk etc who must be champing at the bit to get on the pitch.

Maizek

Hossanah Struik Kenna Davis

Jenkins/Odour

Shackleton

Stevens Bogusz Gotts

edmunson

Not a bad 11

[Hugh_G_Rection]

If we get injuries then it gives the younger players an opportunity. There are a whole host of players like Hossanah, Odour, Gotts, Stevens, Struijk etc who must be champing at the bit to get on the pitch.

Maizek

Hossanah Struik Kenna Davis

Jenkins/Odour

Shackleton

Stevens Bogusz Gotts

edmunson

Not a bad 11

We would be relegated by Christmas with that team.
There's a reason only 2-3 of those players got any game time last season. Either weren't ready or weren't good enough.
And before you say 'that was last season, they've grown/developed/improved since then': last season only finished ten weeks ago....
I'm not saying one or two can't step up in the short term but you can't rely on a host of players who have never or hardly ever played the game at a professional level to be consistent enough to get you promoted.
Shackleton and Bogs will, in my opinion, become very good players for us but inexperience will cost you at championship level.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

We would be relegated by Christmas with that team.
There's a reason only 2-3 of those players got any game time last season. Either weren't ready or weren't good enough.
And before you say 'that was last season, they've grown/developed/improved since then': last season only finished ten weeks ago....
I'm not saying one or two can't step up in the short term but you can't rely on a host of players who have never or hardly ever played the game at a professional level to be consistent enough to get you promoted.
Shackleton and Bogs will, in my opinion, become very good players for us but inexperience will cost you at championship level.

Not suggesting you would play them all at once but more a demonstration of the quality coming through all over the pitch.

i still hope we sign two more players - a CB and a goal scoring ST. Gayle, Taylor, Maupey anyone like that.

not sure we will but simply pointing out there is a depth to the squad with younger players being both one year older but having won the PDL and thus readier than before.

I would prefer us to play Klich up front than Bamford.

with the wages we have freed up Pontus, Siaz, Ekuban, Sacko etc and the money for them in transfer fees I just don’t get why we don’t take Gayle on loan. He scored a goal every 122 minutes last season which was miles ahead of everyone else in the league. Nothing is ever certain but he has to be a better bet to finish chances than Bamford. Some of his missed chances in pre season or his weakness in challenging for the ball don’t fill me with confidence that he is the man to do it this season.

[Billyni]

If we get injuries then it gives the younger players an opportunity. There are a whole host of players like Hossanah, Odour, Gotts, Stevens, Struijk etc who must be champing at the bit to get on the pitch.

Maizek

Hossanah Struik Kenna Davis

Jenkins/Odour

Shackleton

Stevens Bogusz Gotts

edmunson

Not a bad 11

Are you related to Clive. How is he by the way?

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Are you related to Clive. How is he by the way?

hehe no not related to him but would be very happy to be. Not sure how he is but wherever he is lurking I hope he is well and spreading positive vibes.

[Hugh_G_Rection]

Not suggesting you would play them all at once but more a demonstration of the quality coming through all over the pitch.

i still hope we sign two more players - a CB and a goal scoring ST. Gayle, Taylor, Maupey anyone like that.

not sure we will but simply pointing out there is a depth to the squad with younger players being both one year older but having won the PDL and thus readier than before.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree my friend.
Having the under 23's does mean more depth in terms of sheer numbers but that in itself doesn't mean anything unless they are good enough to perform at senior level. It's a massive step up from reserve to professional and I don't think, Shackleton apart, that we could be sure that any of them are ready.
They might be but it's one hell of a gamble.
I agree completely that we need a new striker and centre back but don't think we have the funds to get them, who ever it is.

[norfolk white]

Where has all the money gone, did they overspend last season in a do or die season and are now having to repay, cos they've not made a dent in the supposed £20 million they've taken on selling Clarke, jansson, saiz etc?

[Rev72]

More likely the defence will be our downfall but the injuries won't help either!