posted Oct 30, 2008

I feel that Chelsea play better when they have players injured. Because their squad is so strong when one of the first team gets injured, the replacement puts in extra effort to retain his place. And every team gets injuries, get over it.

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posted Oct 30, 2008

I agree that Chelsea consistently have had injuries over the past three seasons and there has to be investigation into the cause, is it the training techniques and/or facilities. Chelsea have done remarkably well despite these injuries but it has cost the team cohesion and fluidity. True enough, younger players have been brought through and Ivanovich, Kalou, Alex and Di Santo have performed admirably. Drogba is the big Question mark, will he ever be the same? Anelka has stepped up his game, but we need a physical and aggressive front man and perhaps this is now beyond Didier. Chelsea's front men were bullied against Pool. Perhaps Chelsea need to pursue a quality frontman now and sign him by January. I'm sure Scolari knows who is suitable and available. We have good replacements in defence and attackers need to be our prority, no need to panic, but we need at least one more squad member. Drogba and Carvalho's days seem to be closing in fast.

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posted Oct 30, 2008

all teams get injuries and when playing two games every week , as we are now , these will become even more common ,but that is why we have the squad , with cover in all positions. However , must agree that up front is our weak spot and feel likely that Scolari has someone in mind for Jan window , even though Kenyon recently stated that we would not be in the market in Jan. Watch this space !

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posted Oct 31, 2008

This is serious! Age, age, age,,,,,,,,,,

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posted Oct 31, 2008

We need Vila he is the best striker in Europe at the moment.I know for a fact that the training regime under Jose was far too intense.They used to play friendly games amongst each other at full speed.That's why we had more injuries during training sessions than any other club.
Players have to be fit but they don't need to break each others legs and kick each others teeth out.I also think that the older players do need to play regularly to keep them well oiled and ticking over.That's why they come back after a lengthy absence play a couple of games and break down again.

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posted Oct 31, 2008

Man Utd fan in peace reading what is an interesting thread on injuries.

My take on it is this.

I don't believe injuries are related to age but to the individual and their personally body composition. Look at Carragher and Terry very similar in how they throw their bodies around the pitch but who gets injured more frequently?

I look at players such as Giggs, Gerrard, Van Persie, Rooney and Owen even Torres is starting to suffer from this, and who have constantly had injuries there whole careers.

However in recent times Giggs has suffered less injuries by taking up Yoga. I think there is a lot to said for the way he has treated his body.

Ben Foster is a great goalie as is Chris Kirland however both are very injury prone and Young, which are not good attributes for a goalie. But David James has never been injured or a long period of time from what i can remember.

I remember at one stage Paul Mcgrath being the best defender in the league and with knees dodgier than Russian Billionaire (sorry couldn't help myself!) By all accounts he didn't train at all and i believe the same went for Tony Adams later on in his career. But they both used Rest & Recuperation as a 'method' of training to prolong their careers.

Refering back to Giggs it was interesting to read a recent article where he said he knew more or less what games he would be playing in each month and would gear his training towards those matches.

Maybe this is something that injury prone players should take on board.

Chelsea have been beset by injuries over recent seasons but they are not alone in that and cannot hide behind it. I'm sure if players went home after training and and did 3 hours of yoga and pilates they would suffer less injuries the older they get. However it seems that as soon as training is finished there is some 'sponors advert to shoot' or some Harvey Nichols Jacket they need to buy instead.

So although there are some good points in this thread it hasn't changed my opinion that players can ultimately prevent the amount of time they are frequenting the injury room.

Medical science had proven that the male physical condition is at its peak between the ages of 25- 33. Factors such as years of training etc will alter this but the body had stopped growing naturally by this point and has reached optimium maturity.

I fear for Carvalho, Drogba and Cole. They need IMO to look after their bodies better to prolong their careers.

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posted Oct 31, 2008

I'd like to see Ivanovic get another run in but Phil seems to prefer Alex. It worries me that Alex and Terry together although excellent at what they do, really lack in the pace dept and this will leave us exposed against quicker forwards

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I thought that too but against Man UI when Alex came on he looked very sharp and quick straight away. He kept Ronalso quit. Also Cole and Bosingwa have pace to burn.

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posted Oct 31, 2008

"I look at players such as Giggs, Gerrard, Van Persie, Rooney and Owen even Torres is starting to suffer from this, and who have constantly had injuries there whole careers."

Gerrard hasnt had serious problems since Houllier sent him to get his wisdom teeth taken out - he was always out with back/thigh/hamstring problems - apparently all french atherletes/sprtsmen have them taken out quite early - since then hes hardly been out except for knocks or Rafas rotation

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posted Oct 31, 2008

To be honest, this topic baffles me. And it has done for last couple of years, since the influx of squad injuries began.

Perfectionists will aim to analyse the source of each indiviudal injury, and the correlation and timing between them. However, others will believe it's luck. Bad luck for Chelsea, good luck for their opponents.

I'm not sure what I think about it. It's amazing how in Mourinho's first two seasons with us, nearly everything went right. When things went well, they wen't extremely well; titles, trophies, records, performancies, consistency etc. When things went badly, they wen't terribley; Champions League exits, defeats, and the terrible injuries (Bridgey at Newcastle in the Cup springs to mind straight away.)

In this period of Mourinho's first two seasons, the squad was consistent, and nearly always fit. Robben, who may never complete a full season, was the only player I remember to continually miss chunks of playing time. Key players like Cech, Terry, Lampard, Drogba, Joe Cole all stayed fit, and all contributed majorly to our success.

But in 2006/07 and last season, what's changed? The squad has argueably been improved to be better overall than the one Mourinho lined up with in August 2004 in his first game against United at The Bridge. Since Mourinho's second season, I don't think we've had the full squad fit at the same time. Why? Bad luck? Rushing players back in after injury? Insufficient treatment? (I doubt the latter, considering the money and modern equipment available at Chelsea.)

Personally, I play football at least 4 or 5 times in a week, and have had my injury problems. Nothing major mind, except being on crutches for a week or so in May after nearly breaking my ankle. My injuries have been niggly, but these are the ones that can taken for granted, leading to players being rushed back too early. Could this be a factor at Chelsea? I'm a fan of playing no football at all during a bad or even minor injury, get back to jogging, light training, intense training, bit-part in a match, then eventually getting fit enough to start. Do we skip this steps at Chelsea? Leading to further injury. It is open for debate.

Enough of my essay, let's talk about Sunderland at The Bridge tomorrow. They don't travel too well, I notice Keane's given an interview tipping us for the title. I'm reading that as a Fergie-esque pre-match tactic, but really, everyone at Chelsea should consider it nothing more than a compliment from one of the most inexperienced managers in the game.

Kenwyne Jones is due to start for the Black Cats, is he being rushed into the starting 11 or is he ready? I could honestly not tell you. Maybe he could do with a couple more half games or a six minutes here and there, but like I say, I don't know his condition.

I'm confident with Alex coming in to partner Terry. Jones is a striker that can really pester centre backs, with his raw height and power. But JT and Alex know all about this, and I'm confident with those two at the back.

Hopefully Drogs can get 30 minutes off the bench, and 45 or 60 in Rome if all goes well between now and our trip to Roma.

I'll take any kind of win, Sunderland aren't to be taken for granted. But with our response to losing, with our mastershow at Hull, Sunderland have a realistic tall order of taking anything away from The Bridge.

Up the Chels!

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posted Oct 31, 2008

I'll take any kind of win, Sunderland aren't to be taken for granted. But with our response to losing, with our mastershow at Hull, Sunderland have a realistic tall order of taking anything away from The Bridge.

Up the Chels!

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Agreed Sunderland aren't to be taken for granted, and I'd take any kind of win as well.

I can't see Sunderland putting in a bad performance after the match against Stoke, so it will be difficult to win, we cannot afford any more slip ups.

East Stand woop

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