General The Injured Midfield

[Oxford1996]

Brannagan, Henry, Baptiste, Woodburn, Forde, Hanson, Thorne all injured. Throw in Gorrin being suspended for today’s game.

Can anyone think of a time where we’ve had so many injuries in the same position?

 

[gingerox]

Eastwood
Hanson ?? Thorne Forde
Baptiste Gorrin Brannagan
Henry Napa Woodburn

Not far away from a competitive unavailable XI

 

[Mellowyellow]

Hopefully it sounds as though Brannigan and Baptiste will be back next week, according to KR in his interview, as well as Gorrin. Rest Henry for a week, who knows.

We've got enough in the tank to beat MK franchise, especially with good following of 2000+.
A points a point, with a game in hand on the teams above us, the balls in our court still.
COYY

 

[Arthur]

Talking to Branagan in the lounge after the game he didn't sound overly confident about being available for MK next week, we'll see was he's comment?

 

[LondonRoader]

Talking to Branagan in the lounge after the game he didn't sound overly confident about being available for MK next week, we'll see was he's comment?

Could of picked up another injury in training.

 

[Mystery Yellow]

Im not being funny but even if Brannagan back next week he’s been out for 6/7 weeks so anyone thinking he’s coming in & making a massive impact straight away is deluded, he’s going to take time getting back in the swing of it again

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

I'm not an expert over injuries but I am slightly concerned about judgement. 3 players now(branagan, eastwood and henry) have all 'played on ' with injuries making thwm worse and out for longer. Henry especially annoyed me with our current situation.

 

[Junior_1]

KR needs to be very careful with certain players and not rushing them back to soon before they are ready physically and mentally.....

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

We have a whole raft of medical staff to help him make those decisions.

 

[BigCrompy]

I'm not an expert over injuries but I am slightly concerned about judgement. 3 players now(branagan, eastwood and henry) have all 'played on ' with injuries making thwm worse and out for longer. Henry especially annoyed me with our current situation.

History abounds with players attempting to 'run off an injury', typically a corkie or a strain of some description.

We're equally critical if players are withdrawn early when it turns out they didn't need to be.

I have every faith in our medical department to make the best decision they can in this most imprecise of sciences. It's not that we have that A*****e Mourinho thinking it's his place to overrule his doctor.

 

[beyondthefourth]

I wonder if it's worth not taking risks at MK (though the 3 points are desperately needed) and just making sure we have a fully fit side:

Archer

Cadden Dickie Moore Ruffels

Sykes Gorrin Mous Fosu

Taylor Mackie

​

Even if Brannagan and Baptiste are technically 'fit', there's no way they should be starting next week having been out for up to a month each.

It's a very defensive setup, but keep the midfield four compact and get the central pair to sit back. Then we can let Cadden, Ruffels, and perhaps even Dickie wander further up the pitch.

 

[holdsteady]

Cadden can play in midfield and put Long at right back, with Gorrin back and Sykes able to play there I reckon we should be able to get by for a week or two. Mackie Fosu and Taylor up top and that’s still a decent team.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

History abounds with players attempting to 'run off an injury', typically a corkie or a strain of some description.

We're equally critical if players are withdrawn early when it turns out they didn't need to be.

I have every faith in our medical department to make the best decision they can in this most imprecise of sciences. It's not that we have that A*****e Mourinho thinking it's his place to overrule his doctor.

Three times they have not made the correct decision though , and they were obviously not just 'a knock ' when they done them. Not easy but I would rather have shown some precautions especially with Henry.
Yes the player wants to run it off .might as well go back to Ken Fish and his magic sponge

 

[Mad Dog]

I wonder if it's worth not taking risks at MK (though the 3 points are desperately needed) and just making sure we have a fully fit side:

Archer

Cadden Dickie Moore Ruffels

Sykes Gorrin Mous Fosu

Taylor Mackie

​

Even if Brannagan and Baptiste are technically 'fit', there's no way they should be starting next week having been out for up to a month each.

It's a very defensive setup, but keep the midfield four compact and get the central pair to sit back. Then we can let Cadden, Ruffels, and perhaps even Dickie wander further up the pitch.

I reckon thats a good call, although I'd play Cadden on the right wing, and put Long at RB, which I feel would make us hard to beat, whilst still having plenty of attacking threats out wide.

 

[beyondthefourth]

I reckon thats a good call, although I'd play Cadden on the right wing, and put Long at RB, which I feel would make us hard to beat, whilst still having plenty of attacking threats out wide.

I thought that, but having two defensive midfielders would leave us pretty well covered at the back. May as well have Cadden going forward from RWB along with an extra attacking player for good measure.

 

[Canterbury exile]

Another option as I agonised on the injury situation on the long drive home
go to 3 at the back. Moore, Mous and Dickie and play Cadden and Ruffs as wing backs, 3 in midfield. Sykes ( with reservations), Fosu and Gorrin and Taylor and Mackie up front. If one of Cam or Shandon is fit in for Mackie with Fosu up front. Or Long at full back with Cadds in central midfield. Suspect he has played there before. Anybody know when Ben Woodburn is back. Seems a long time out for a metatarsal.

 

[Followtheox1]

I know it's annoying all these injuries and there is a risk we may drop a bit of momentum but I don't think people should worry too much. I think it's a good thing we can't just go and loan players. From a financial perspective but also sometimes these back to the wall scenarios make a group stronger and more united (fans and players)! At some point we will have players back. In a strange kind of way I'm actually excited to see how our depleted squad battle through this. When we have lost the next 5 games, this post will probably come back to haunt me!!

 

[Mad Dog]

I thought that, but having two defensive midfielders would leave us pretty well covered at the back. May as well have Cadden going forward from RWB along with an extra attacking player for good measure.

The trouble is, I really feel Sykes is a major weak link. He's clearly a talented player, but physically, he's nowhere near strong enough to play at this level.

I've never known us have so many key players out injured at the same time, and there's no escaping the fact we're suffering a major injury crisis, and while we wait for players to recover, we need to batten down the hatches, make ourselves hard to beat, whilst still having adequate attacking threats, and I feel having Long at RB, with Cadden on the RW, provides us with the strength we'll need with and without the ball all up and down that right side.

In the meantime, Sykes needs to get himself in the gym, and beef himself up, or he won't make the grade, and fulfil his obvious potential.

 

[BigCrompy]

Three times they have not made the correct decision though

That depends precisely on whether all the damage was initially done in one single trauma and was just impossible to run off - or whether playing on made the initial trauma worse.

Which, respectfully, nobody shall ever know.

Absolutely not picking holes in what you're saying! I value the debate.

But, believe me, we medics get plenty enough criticism...and only deserve most of it. I'll always leap to the aid of a colleague when I can!

 

[ttg17]

Whatever happens, I hope we don't rush any of these players back. With CB especially, its not worth rushing him back into the side for an away game at MK or a big cup game if that ends up ruling him out of the season.

I've also been disappointed with Sykes this year. Towards the end of last season I felt he played himself into the First XI and was really hoping he would kick on in this campaign.