Injuries update

[steve@dcfd]

From GM in Free press article

On the trio's absence, the Northern Irishman said: "Harry and Zain will probably miss the next couple of weeks of pre-season then we'll build them up again probably ready for the start (of the season). Closey, we'll have to see about the first game of the season for him.

Let’s hope we get them fit and it doesn’t role on like last season

[Chris Black come back]

Close and Westbrooke do seem to struggle with maintaining fitness for prolonged periods don’t they? Thank f**k for Bailey.

[Alan Southstand]

Even more convinced we need another quality midfielder before we kick off.

On the plus side, Flint & Straughan-Brown apparently showed well at Stamford.

[donnyguy]

Anderson went off with about 5 minutes remaining complaining of a stiff back.

[Alan Southstand]

GM has said it was precautionary and they were taking no risks in pre-season.

Already, we have 3 midfielders that are going to have their work cut out trying to catch up with the others, for fitness. If GM is sticking with a 4-2-3-1 formation, then the question is who will partner Bailey? At the moment, it looks like being Broadbent.

[Surrey Rover]

It appears Ben Close will not have had the benefit of a pre-season build up that would have allowed him to hit the ground running when the season kicks off on the 10th August. He last played a competitive match in January. We may need another one in.

[Petche]

Baffling why these two were offered new terms!

[McCammon egg n chips]

Baffling why these two were offered new terms!

I could understand offering one of them. But both?! It makes little sense to me.

[scawsby steve]

From most of the reports last night, it sounds like young Flint could be contending for a defensive midfield spot in the first team this season.

[drfchound]

As good as I hear that Flint is, it should be remembered that we played Stamford last night, not another L2 club.

[dknward2]

Grant reckons he is good enough for lg2 level so that's what everyone is working with

[drfchound]

Grant reckons he is good enough for lg2 level so that's what everyone is working with

Yes, I saw that and I hope it is right.

[Alan Southstand]

 We are supposedly going for automatic promotion this season. The lad may well be good enough for L2, but I doubt he’s going to fill Craig’s boots this season. We have to have a completely different mindset this coming season - making do is not the way. Yes, there’s Clifton, Westbrooke and Close still to join the group, but we have to put our foot on the peddle and be in a position to keep it on.

I’m sure Grant will have something up his sleeve, before we get too far into the season, regardless of what he’s said, recently.

Here’s hoping, anyway!

[Ryaldinhio]

Traditionally GM fills his loan allowances so I would be surprised if there wasn't another 2 or 3 come in on loan.

Close seemedly injury prone and supposedly had cash offers last Jan, we should have taken them.

Westbrooke we extended for 2yr, shouldve done 1 as a cheap option after selling close. Reasonable player but slows game down. Works when it works.

Miller - I hope he comes back strong.

Clifton - no history of injury so expect that is just a knock/tweak

[ncRover]

How exactly does Westbrooke “slow the game down”?
Don’t agree with that at all. He’s far busier and more proactive than the last player that did (Bostock).
Seems fashionable to criticise him at the moment, he was great last season.

[Ryaldinhio]

How exactly does Westbrooke “slow the game down”?
Don’t agree with that at all. He’s far busier and more proactive than the last player that did (Bostock).
Seems fashionable to criticise him at the moment, he was great last season.

He doesn't play quick and direct. That's how he slows the game down. It's a style of play not a criticism, it can be useful at times. It wasn't useful when he came on at home second leg.

[ncRover]

How exactly does Westbrooke “slow the game down”?
Don’t agree with that at all. He’s far busier and more proactive than the last player that did (Bostock).
Seems fashionable to criticise him at the moment, he was great last season.

He doesn't play quick and direct. That's how he slows the game down. It's a style of play not a criticism, it can be useful at times. It wasn't useful when he came on at home second leg.

August last season before he came in to the team we couldn’t string two passes together.

The same happened again after he got injured in December. And this was with Bailey and Close in midfield. This lasted until early Feb when the injury crisis cleared up and the new signings got settled.

There were more quick, direct options for midfielders when Adelakun came in to the team, Molyneux picked up form and Biggins actually started to resemble a professional footballer.

I suggest you keep an eye on Zain next time he plays. He’s very good.

[DearneValleyRover]

The problem NC isn’t if he’s a good player it’s that he only plays half a season, same with Close

[Alan Southstand]

Good point, DVR. Let’s hope their injuries don’t coincide!

 

[ncRover]

I appreciate that DVR but Ry wasn’t questioning that.

We have lots of options in central midfield if you also include Flint and Gibson who can play there.

I was against Close signing but I guess him and Westbrooke are essentially filling one slot in the squad. You’d expect at least one of them to be fit at any given time. Both have very good technical ability at this level.

[adamtherover]

is it more than co-incidence that our form noticebly improved when they were both out of the team?

[Northants Nomad]

is it more than co-incidence that our form noticebly improved when they were both out of the team?

Another example of 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' that usually isn't the case!
Some may prefer "correlation is not causation"

[ncRover]

is it more than co-incidence that our form noticebly improved when they were both out of the team?

This to put it politely is a very reductionist take.

Did you forget the injury crisis and all round ill-prepared nature of the club last season?

I’ve literally just posted an example of the team with and without Westbrooke from August to January.

And we didn’t have either him or Close for the start of last season and we had a shocking start.

[Padge_DRFC]

Close is a good player but if we are going to play 4231. He is not the answer as the 2. He is better used further forward