The injury to Diame is the latest in a long list of cruel injuries blows. Carroll is out for his second extended stretch. Collison has been out all season. Diarra hasn't kicked a ball in anger yet and I forgot he was at the club! Benayoun has barely played. Demel spends as much time on the treatment table as on the pitch. The squad isn't big as it is, and we are being cruelly stretched by one injury after another.
It always promised to be a difficult December. Now it threatens to be torture!
This is one area Allardyce's stats fetish can come in handy...although he needs to use them properly. There was a reason he rested Diame against Chelsea, and it was because his stats were obviously showing him Diame is close to breaking down so needs a rest. Unfortunately against Liverpool, the stats were proved correct. Hamstrings are usually indicative of fatigue.
ReplyDeleteDunlopilo says..
ReplyDeleteTrue, Momo was showing signs of exhaustion the past month or so... The vicious challege by Sterling (vicious little guy he is, although quite talented) in the first half probably hit his muscles and increased the likelihood of the injury Momo sustained in the second half. In a way, I could see it coming.
Is it only going to be 3 weeks for him to recover ? Hard to tell, everyone knows his own body than anyone else, but it really looked like a long term one. And I've been injured like that too (docs told me I was lucky to avoid surgery).
kevin in manchester writes ...
ReplyDeletestrikes me that given the choice Reid would be a better makeshift midfielder than Tomkins - he is faster and possesses more attacking instinct.. just saying.
I think Diame did receive a dead leg in the same game. I'm not sure if that is the same thing you are referring to Dunlopilo, but maybe that affected the blood flow to his muscle resulting in a lack of oxygen supply, fatigue and then failure....who knows. Of course the ground is 'heavy' come this time of year, which takes it out of the running muscles.
ReplyDeleteKevin, I think if Diarra is still not ready, then we should look to change the style of play slightly to suit our personnel, in my opinion. But I agree we cannot persist with Tomkins in midfield as he is clearly not up to the job. I would bring in Benayoun when fit, or O'Neil and have Noble holding.
If we're going to play any of our defenders in midfield then surely it has to be O'Brien? He is a natural midfielder, let's not forget. Unfortunately our situation at left and right full back means he has been required there. But Linda is back now. Reid is too vital in defence.
As for Diame... possible blessing in disguise as it will keep the vultures away in the January window. I hope we can tempt him with an improved contract which takes out the clause or at least replaces it with one which better reflects his potential value.
momo is shit,hence why A decent team didnt pluck him from wigan in the summer.end of
ReplyDeleteOh dear
ReplyDeleteWest Ham have a couple of injuries...