This season many Aston Villa players have endured injuries so far this season. Most recently Brad Guzan pulled out from training whilst training with America. Before the international break, Villa was still without Fabian Delph who has been struggling with illness. But injuries have been a problem throughout the entire season, which is strange because Villa didn’t encounter this problem last season. Ever team will have their ‘injury prone’ players, Gary Gardner falls into this category.
But unlike previous years, there is, to a certain extent, a level of squad depth. Lambert brought in a host of new players this season, and the majority are squad players (so far). They will adapt and make more of an impact in the near future for Aston Villa, surely. But so far this season we’ve lost all these players to injuries.
GK: Guzan
DF: Okore, Baker, Clark, Bennett and Luna
MF: Delph, Westwood, Albrighton, Gardner and N’Zogbia
ST: Agbonlahor, Benteke and Weimann.
The injury list is equivalent to a first team starting 11. Obviously all these players haven’t been out at the same time but I just want to acknowledge the fact that we have endured a couple of injuries, more than we’ve seen in the past. Perhaps a little has to do with our start to the Premier League season? Players had to play 3 games within a week, that could’ve made an impact. Or there is a new, more intensive training regime?
But something that can be controlled to a greater extent is the way that the manager communicates about injuries to the fans. We haven’t heard too much about the injuries of N’Zogbia, Guzan or Bennett. The manager isn’t really giving fans the reassurances that these players are fit and available for the game. There are some fans (like-myself) who enjoy reading and hearing comments in regards to the players fitness. It could be Lamberts strategy to keep things secret, but since football is very much a fans game, I reckon we have the right to know more about injuries.
Didn’t we lose our award winning groundsman to PSG in the summer who was there for 11 years? (and at Wembley prior?)
The difference in Turf/Desso Grassmaster pitch composition at VP and BMH with the new man in charge could be causing injuries to flair up? changing boots or pitch texture for a player could cause their muscles to respond different in training and home games? (and they could break down on another pitch as the muscle has already been slightly torn/stretched etc at VP/BMH?)
Kenilworth Road was always an injury problem nightmare for other Div1 teams with the hard plastic pitch. Yes I know it is different with astroturf (burns) but you catch my drift hopefully as the ground is hard and loads different to grass for pros!!!
I love speculating!!!
I feel like I should be part of Big Sam Allardyce’s sports science backroom staff with all this Bull!!!!
🙂
Who knows though, we have probably just been unlucky and not changed the team around too much as we have released or loaned out players and not rested the first 11 so much as previously.
I’m begining to wonder if some players are doing the sick note thing, I’ve never known players have long injury like Gardner and co, let’s face it they are no good to the club I think some just pick money up and don’t think of the club in a way that the old school players did.its time that in contracts long injury can result in loss of jobs. I’ll give you strains and breaks but time factor should be looked at on tendons and backs. IMO.
And worst of all we spend years nursing them they have one good half a season and fuck of to Liverpool! I agree any injury that lasts a year or more Should result in termination of contract unless it’s a serious injury like broken leg or serious illness re petrov.
Introduce that rule, Martin Laursen would never of played so well for us. Didn’t quite think that one through again did you?
Yep but he was another one who always had a mistake in him bit like Staunton, Dunne, knight. Vlaar we don’t arfa pick em. Also his injury was serious and career threatening but his attitude was spot on. I’m talking about players that are injured and punt the system. Like a certain BT commentator allegedly had done IMO of course!!
And Lord McGrath was always pissed. Should we have terminated his contract on the grounds that it affected his performance? And yes, i know he was great….but he could have been even better…can it be argued that he was taking the piss by not being 100% physicallyy and mentally fit? its all about opinions of course, but it is a valid argument!
Difference was we paid tuppence for him and the club were already aware of his drinking as it was well documented at the time and we still took him on knowing this. So different scenario altogether. Plus he gave a 100% every game and rarely missed games and was our best player on many occasions.
I dont think we should feel grateful for anyone who gives 100%, surely, thats the very least we should expect
Today’s players are just a bunch of over-paid wimps, who don’t value the money they’re on, in the same way they did, say 30 years ago.
Debate over, for me.
I see this in kids in general these days, even in my much more normal line of work.
Bunch of pussies, the lot of them.
You can spout all the sports science shite you like, but the fact is today’s players wouldn’t last 5 mins on the Baseball ground of the 70’s.
And if you’re wondering why I mentioned Baseball, just don’t bother asking.
Baseball ground those were the days great atmosphere especially under the lights. Football was a mans game in them days and even when I played we got stuck in. Even woman play it it now which says it all. None of this health and safety bollocks we have now ffs. One snow flake on a pitch and players will throw their dummies out in our day pitches were like ice rinks and you could cut your knees on the ice but we still played. Bunch of poofs IMO
Badger, Oohah, your both right on the state of the game in today’s world, its no longer a mans game, to think when I kicked a tater it was leather, today it’s computer manufactured item. Weather never came into a debate should you play or not, we played, god knows what happened to our game, had to be money mad, stealing, crooks.
You can see that in the build of the players, have a look at the players from the 70’s 80’s and earlier, legs like tree trunks whereas to day they are more slender athletic builds.
Love to see how Arsenals invisibles would have got on against Revie’s Leeds at Eland road on a pissing down wind swept mud laden pitch in mid January.
So true my legs where tree trunks and referred to as football legs. Today they seem to be athletes first footballers 2nd
Gabby’s a prime example as much as I like the fella could you see him cutting it as a top pro back in the day?
True though remember tony Daley another super quick player who came from reserves with no brain!! I remember him being one of those players who would beat 2-3 players on the wing with his pace then mishit it out for a goal kick or put in a rubbish cross. Good to watch at times though he was one of the first new breed of speed players.
Here’s me head me arse is following.
When I played at school on the 70s it was a hard leather cased ball that got heavier as it soaked up the rain. No wonder iv no brain cells left after heading that thing lol
Jumpers for goalposts, rush goalie, two at the back, three in the middle, four up front, one’s gone home for his tea. Beans on toast? Possibly, don’t quote me on that. Marvellous.
Those were the days.
5 hour games, 27 -22 next goal wins.
Arguably the 4th season straight where we’ve had an injury plagued season, especially under Houllier.
Bloody hell that puts me back in time, I was the fastest man on the pitch , sometimes without the ball, always went for the tallest player to take him out, injuries Clevicle, wrist, fingers , and a headache heading that ball. We didn’t even get pay when off work, I’d do it again anytime.
Bill you read that piece in the B’ham Mail about Jimmy Hogan? The bloke who taught the world passing football, came to Villa and assembled what he said were among the most talented group he had ever worked, then the war got in the way.
I’ll put the link below.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/flashback-mat-kendrick-looks-back-6330652?
Ha ha where you the fasted because u ran away from heading the ball lol. We had a few in our team that would duck and pretend to miss with their head rather than get knocked out!! 🙂
Love to read it Bill, please put on for the lads.
I did put the link up ages ago Bill but it’s awaiting moderation. Just google this instead –
Mat Kendrick looks back at a true Aston Villa legend
it’ll take you to the article.
Cheer’s Bill just read it, interesting to know again Bill being in the forefront of change in them days, don’t like the way people was sacked being in hospital with appendix problems, Gardner would be on his way. 🙂
Just read on 7500Holte he’s (Gardner) injured again, Jesus he’d give Anderton and Woodgate a run for their money!
If he gets another contract I’ll be amazed.
And Owen
Lads and Lasses according to A Villa Fan Paddy Power are offering 9/1 for the Villa to turn them Baggies over on Monday. Get on it!
Load of pony BWS.
5/2, I’m seeing.
and 14/5 at Bet365.
I’d have definitely had some at 9/1 and I very rarely bet.
Agree Badger BWS is chatting Bollox.
Cinko, I’m sure it was posted with the best of intentions, but probably coupled to the first scorer or something.
Badger couldn’t believe those odds myself hence I put them up and where to find them but if wankers want to give it the cyber Johnny big bollox I wont bother again, fuck em.
cheeky c..t. have look at a Villa fan site gob shite.
Chinko put this in your pipe and smoke – http://avillafan.com/site/9892/exclusive-offer-villa-to-beat-wba-91/
Still talking bollox fella? Or you to simple to read?
Ah, I stand corrected BWS.
Apologies for doubting you mate.
Them odds are only for new customers if I recall correctly. I am actually quite optimistic for Monday and I reckon we will beat them 2-1. Back on topic, Gardener has just been very unlucky with injuries and is worth persevering with if he can stay fit for a few months and get a run of games. Also Ooohahh EVERY player has mistakes in them so to tar one of our best centre backs in recent memory with the brush as Zat Knight and Richard Dunne is very harsh IMO. Your point about if a player is out injured for a year to terminate their contract unless its a serious/career threatening injury, its not normally the injury that keeps them out for so long its the rehab and fitness etc that takes the time.
True Webb but some defenders make more mistakes than others and Laursen made a lot of costly errors. Yes he was good but error prone
Benteke,Gabby,Delph,Weimann,Luna and Clark all trained so fingers crossed.We travel well so I’m optimistic…..UTV