Daryl Dike update in this report from @LewisCox_star WBA manager Carlos Corberan said of Dike: "I was watching him fatigued - just fatigue for me in some point of the game... I was watching him struggle to keep the ball or to compete or even to press.."https://t.co/snpfzYlj79— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) March 15, 2023
I can buy that... he looked a bit tired even in the 1st half. But to bring on Adam Reach as his replacement? Yikes.
It's disappointing to give away a lead. I thought the sub was since West Brom had an important tilt w/ Millwall next. But they have a 2 week break for whatever reason. So might as well have emptied the gun. Corberan's an overrated manager. They're going to have to overcome him. So you're saying it was a reach.
The reason fans were upset and confused the heck out of me was why not just replace Dike with Assante now that the latter is healthy again? The sub made absolutely no sense considering WBA needed those 3 points badly and since he setup basically as a 343 and then switched to a 442 later in the match just have Dike/Assante together for the final 25. Now Brom has to essentially win out to have any chance at the playoffs.
Just speculation. He seemed to shake it off when it happened but with head injuries you never know. That said, I'd be surprised if it makes an official report.
what was weird about this; is that Dike went into the tunnel after he was subbed off (he apparently came back out after the game to salute fans). but going into the tunnel is not something done if a player is subbed out for “fatigue.” Not saying he wasn’t subbed out for fatigue, but it was a weird situation
Players going directly to the tunnel means there's some medical issue/precaution or that the player is seriously brassed off at being substituted. If there wasn't any sign of the latter, I'd be inclined to suspect he was being checked up on
79' Albion pressure. Cross from right and Dike strikes it hard and it hits a Millwall body, shouts of handball, might have been going wide, not too sure. Chance though. #wba— Lewis Cox (@LewisCox_star) April 1, 2023 And Dike also got a yellow in the 69th.
Dike starts again, finally. Stoke City (15th) hosting West Brom (11th - evidence of a shocking failure to ride the Dike wave a few weeks ago).
Injury: 45+11’ | We're forced into a change as Dike is stretchered off with an injury. KG replaces him.Wishing you all the best, Daryl.🔴⚪️ 1-0 💚💛 | #WBA— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) April 15, 2023
Apparently, there was a serious head injury earlier, for a Stoke City player, which caused a lengthy delay.
Apparently concern for a major knee injury. The big guy just can't keep up his career momentum. Hopefully him being a physical freak who has muscles on muscles helps protect him in this case, and makes this only a moderate instead of catastrophic problem.
https://www.westbromnews.co.uk/2023...ter-shares-daryl-dike-could-be-out-long-term/ Still unclear from this early report if it's a calf injury or the dreaded Achilles. McInally was straight to the point on what would be a massive collective disappointment, for player and club, at a crucial time in the season. “It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Well, the boys are injured. Daryl Dike, ball up to him, takes it on the chest, he tries to take it really quickly away from the defender and immediately pulls up so it’s either his calf or his Achilles. “Hopefully, it’s his calf because if it’s Achilles, he can forget the rest of the season, never mind the start of next season.” {Per Duke, it could be a knee injury. Who knows? The manager (Corberan) is just speculating ...}
A fan or two on Twitter guessed knee. A reporter projected knee or ankle (more likely ankle in his mind). You'd think the manager would know more. But from his description, he's basing it just off Dike pulling up lame. That could be a variety of things. One would expect better communication. We'll eventually find out.