The Pickford Richarlison Thread: aka The Injury Thread III

Seeing reports that Thiago is out 6 weeks.

 

I’m slowly coming round to the idea that we can no longer count on him, a little bit like Oxlade Chamberlain. Sigh …

 

Thiago will miss at least:
CP
MU
BHA
Newcy
Bitters
CL game
Wolves
CL game
Chelsea

... assuming it is in fact 6 weeks -- plus a bit of time to get to match fitness. then it's a 2 week break.

 

Yup Thiago and Keita are luxury players. They're great when they're fit - particularly Thiago - but they're only fit part of the time. Not regular starters. Agree we need to bring in some first class MF talent pretty quickly.

 

I've been chastised for banging the Thiago drum the last two years!
He's never played more than 30 league games in his career and has had several seasons of only playing single digit matches.
I'm happy he is part of our squad. But for our manager to rely on a player so unreliably fit is maddening.

 

Frankie De Jong may be available I may be serious!

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62476135

Thiago update.

 

This 'just several weeks' with a hamstring is going to be like Sturridge's 'just a few days with a deadleg.'

I'm so glad everybody is on my side this season wrt Thiago's fitness.

 

So Keita is back in training. We need his ability to turn with the ball and break defensive lines. His is one genuine tragedy precipitated by the Guinea FA.

 

nope - your side was "don't sign him".

I haven't seen "we should not have signed him" on any site I frequent. more of "we're so lucky to have such an exquisite talent in our squad".

 

that's better than what you saw yesterday!!!!!!!!!

 

We're not relying on him. There's him, or Naby, or Harvey for that spot. (Carvalho may end up being the main understudy....

 

It states in there that Liverpool do not consider the injury to be serious. Those things usually run 2-5 weeks. A couple of weeks off it and therapy, and then a couple of weeks of building back the strength. It shouldn't be a big deal.
In some big games, sure, I'd like the option of a Hendo, Naby, Thiago or a Fab, Naby, Thiago, but the only really big game we have upcoming where we might need to is Chelsea..... so, frankly, everyone is fretting a little too much.....

 

A hammie tear is serious business.
A hammie tear in a player whose body falls apart in a slight breeze is downright threatening.

 

I did say "don't sign him" but not because of his talent (it's undoubted).

But everybody is now seeing the folly of relying on this player. His 'freak' injury in 2020, covid last season, now this. He's a magnet for missing huge chunks of a season and our manager even slightly relying on him is a travesty as it messes with our ability to play in his preferred way.

 

That’s my problem, too; his availability is so random.

 

I'm not a medical expert, but I have on occasions popped a hamstring, though I've never torn one badly though. The difference seems to be 2-4 weeks versus a couple or a few months recuperation.
This is by all accounts being reported as the former. Regular hamstring injury that many players get..... why would it be different??

 

Yep, exactly.
It sucks because Keita never exhibited an injury bug prior to his washing up on these shores. Yet he never seems to miss an international game.
As i said back then, give me a Gini or Dendoncker who is fit and able to do a very specific job day in, day out rather than a generational talent who's only available 55% of the time.

 

That's like asking why should a deadleg keep Daniel Sturridge out for more than a training session or two?
Thiago has ALWAYS been injury prone - and when injuring such a critical muscle, it is going to remain injury prone for him.

 

when was he last time keita was unavailable? Hasn't he been fully fit since before the end of last season? (Sick doesn't count)

 

I actually met Thiago 5 years ago when he played for Bayern and was in his prime. Real nice and friendly guy. Clearly, he's past his prime and injury-prone. Even when "fit", he's been poor in more than a few matches (CL Final comes to mind). But when he's on, he's spectacular. Should we move on and sell him? I'm not quite there yet but we can not count on him for much. Colour me crazy, but I sometimes wish we went for Coutinho again in 2020 rather than Thiago.