Tonight, for many, will be the last round of international friendly fixtures played before domestic football returns.
With several players from our squad, off on international duty, we can only hope that they all return without picking up any injuries.
The injury situation, at Kenilworth Road, has been critical for several weeks now and we can ill afford for the squad to be further depleted ahead of what is, probably, the most crucial part of the season, a period that starts with two trips to North London, in quick succession, to take on Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
Already, with a raft of injuries affecting the squad, it looks like a case of some players having to play unfamiliar roles, but needs must.
One can only imagine how busy the medical staff, down at The Brache, have been in recent weeks and we can only offer our thanks for the work they put in trying to patch up individuals with the aim of getting them back into action.
However, there is the inherent danger of trying to rush a player back, in order to improve the team, but risking that same player breaking down and being out for a longer period of time.
But, returning to the subject of injuries in general, is it me or do players, in this era, seem to pick up more injuries than those of a previous era.
If so, why?
Is the game more demanding these days or is it a case of those who are superfit being so finely tuned everything is running on the limit?
I’d certainly appreciate any views you may have on the subject matter, please feel free to air your views in the comment facility beneath this article.
COYH
Tottenham Hotspur v Luton Town?
Tottenham to Win!
Luton Town to Win!
A Draw!
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Luton Town – The ‘B’ XI Revisited
its a wonder that morris manages to play week in , week out, with his non stop running, and abuse from defenders in crunching tackles, but seems able to take it. i am sure that he spends his fair share on the physio table, but some players seem to fare better than others. back in the sixties, the tackling would be classed as barbaric these days, but injuries never seemed as bad as the present time. maybe the tot of whisky, and a quick fag, before the game ,is whats needed. good that mengi has rejoined u21’s, please stay fit.COYH.
Personally mh, I see it differently and I think Alan will agree with me on this.In our day players were not aware an medical science not as advanced so players with knee an other injuries like ankles would be given cortisone injections to allow them to play many games when they really needed other treatments also the club in those days owned players and could do as they liked.This sadly has led to the many many old players now suffering from various problems caused by their treatment.So while we all deplore this now .it is what it is. Nowadays players are valuable assets to a club and modern medical practice has advanced so much more that time is now taken to prevent the loss of assets and of course later problems in old age.
good point about the old cortisone injections and the effect they have later on in life.
reports coming in suggesting Ogbene has picked up an injury on duty for ROI!
It seems our players are pushing themselves TOO HARD hence overwhelming Muscle injuries, not many knocks at all. Nearly all are Hamstring !!
I hope & pray the staff can learn from this & not push players to the point of Hamstring after hamstring .
The one SILVER LINING is FINALLY after 15 or 20 years we are FINALLY GIVING ACADAMY PLAYERS A CHANCE !!
When we were in the old Division One & even after relegation in the 80’s & 90’s we had a CONVEYOR BELT OF YOUNG TALENT .
THAT ALL STOPPED !! only James Justin in the last 10 years !! The 5 or 6 years before that only Jake Howells & Keith Keane !!
But when we made it back to the Championship in the early noughties we produced 5 or 6 TOP academy players who went on top play for Wolves, West Brom & other big clubs .
SO MAYBE THE TIME HAS COME TO BLOOD ACADAMY PLAYERS AGAIN !!
The problem has been for the last 15 or more years we have been so fixated on promotion after promotion that Academy players never got a chance !!
Look at the class of 92 at Man U
Becks, Neville bros , Scholes ,Giggs & Butt !!
Fergie wasn’t afraid to blood them & the comraderie they had between them coming up together as youngsters surely was a BIG PART IN THEIR UNRIVALLED SUCCESS !!
Title after title ,cup after cup , MOSTLY WITH HOMEGROWN TALENT !!
IS NOW THE TIME TO LET OUR POTENTIAL FUTURE STARS SHINE ??
ALL OUR BEST TALENT FOR YEARES GES SNAPPED UP YOUNG !!
How many quality youth & academy players have been POACHED YOUNG !!
Norwich nicked a few , Chelsea, Bristol City etc .
Some of them went to be Stars & worth MILLIONS !!
WE HAVE A REPUTATION OF NOT BLOODING ACADEMY PLAYERS !!
SO WHY SHOULD TOP YOUNGSTERS SIGN FOR US ??
SOUTHAMTON, READING , BARNSLEY ETC HAVE A CONVEYOR BELT !!
WE NEED TO RETURN TO HOME GOWN TALENT TOO !!
Then TOP TALENT will AGAIN join our academies .
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES IT COST US TO HAVE youth then under 18 & under 21 teams ??
All the staff training them must cost a LOT .
BUT ONLY JAMES JUSTIN to show for it in 10 years ??
HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE WE WASTE ON DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS FROM OTHER CLUBS ??
ALL THE FLOPPS !!!! Muskwe, Pereira, Mendes Gomes, & ON & ON & ON ???
YET VBERY VERY RARELY BLOOD OUR OWN ACADEMY POTENTIALS !!
EVEN LIVERPOOL HAVE BEEN BLOODING THEIR YOUTH , MAN UNITED & WEST HAM DO TOO !!