18 Oct 2020 09:04:55
Ed001 can we assume everyone who is saying VVD our fir the season is purely guessing at this stage? It could be 6weeks or worse but until the scan comes bs me then one one can no really right? What's your thoughts on the injury how it looked?

{Ed001's Note - no, it is what the medics think he has done. It is just that you can't tell for sure until a scan is done. It did look a bad one the moment it happened, that is why it is so shocking it was not a red as it was the type of scissors challenge that was outlawed for precisely this reason. They caused a high number of ACL injuries and IFAB and FIFA wanted to put a stop to it as top players were missing world cups.}


1.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 09:48:51
It looks very typical of an injury that can cause ACL damage. But even them there is a varying amount of damage that can be done from strain to complete rupture. I suppose it’s a plus that he could walk on it initially and that they didn’t seem it too swollen to scan. But I fear the worst.


2.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 09:58:02
Thickford should get banned three games retrospectively and whoever was doing the VAR even longer.
It was an appalling challenge.


3.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 10:14:53
Believe it or not I’ve actually seen rival fans calling for Hendo to get a 3 match ban this morning for his comments after the game. Hopefully this is a non starter.


4.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 10:18:13
It's all guesswork at the moment isn't it. Media spouting nonsense as per usual talking like they know more than the club. It looked really bad but nobody knows just yet how bad it'll be, fingers crossed he can get to full fitness quicker than we all think. In the meantime I trust our other players to do the job, he's a very important player for us no doubt about it but the days of us relying on one player in this team are gone, we have a squad full of quality.


5.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 10:21:46
Ed - thoughts on plan if VVD is season out?
Fab as perma (fernandinho like) CB?
Then Hendo to move to holding?
Would also need Sepp and Billy fast tracked somehow.
We will need to decide from a series of bad options!

{Ed001's Note - what is wrong with Matip and Gomez?}


6.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 10:23:26
And Phillips there as well of course.


7.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 10:32:51
It’s not necessarily uncommon to be able to walk after damaging the acl. Also significant swelling can occur hours after the injury which I guess is why they have tried to scan very early. Fingers crossed he has been lucky and avoided the most severe injury and has a speedy recovery.

Cheers.


8.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 10:57:33
Matip and Gomez starting every PL game Ed without either one of them getting injured is not filling me with optimism mate. I’m hoping Virgil isn’t a season ender.


9.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 11:15:54
ed001 I don't won't VVD out for the season but for me at the minute Alisson is a bigger miss Adrian looks worse every time I see him its like the bad old days of having Karius or Mignolet in goal.


10.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 11:36:34
Ed1, I think Gomez and Matip are up to the job. If Gomez comes out of his dip in form he is a hell of a player. Allison will be crucial as well because with him in the sticks I am not worried. The only issue is Matip seems to pick up a muscular injuries every other month and Gomez doesn’t have the best of records with injuries but correct me if I’m wrong on him.


11.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 11:42:22
Hyper extension is one of the main causes of ACL damage. Don't expect to see Virgil back in the next 6 months. Guy i know couldn't walk up stairs for 2 years (even after surgery) doing his ACL in the exact same kind of challenge.

This is what finished Falcao at the highest level. That burst of pace over 5 yards may never come back and we know how much Virgil's pace sets him apart and allows us to play a certain way. It's truly gutting and all we can do is hope Virgil bounces back fast and unaffected like Ibrahimovic did.

Hopefully Ox puts his arm around Virgil and helps him through this physically and mentally.


12.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 11:45:10
Sorry ed, meant to deputise for them two 😃.

{Ed001's Note - we have kids for that, can always look in January if need be.}


13.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 12:13:03
Matip and Gomez would start for any other team in the league.

Van Dijk and Laporte are a cut above the rest but after that, there is nothing between about 20 centre backs. Gomez and Matip will do fine if Matip can stay fit. Fabinho is also a more than capable deputy, and Nat Phillips might be called on more than we thought he would be now.

We're good enough to cope without Virgil. It is just a leveller. It brings our defence back down to a level in line with the rest of the top 8. So our forwards need to make sure they take their chances now.


14.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 12:20:06
We will be fine defensively as long as Alisson isn’t out long term. A goalkeeper of that quality means the defence will have potential regardless of who the defenders are. The fact that we have players as good as Matip means we should be able to deal with Virgil’s injury.


15.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 12:22:40
Thought we had some 6ft 8 french kid that was doing great guns.


16.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 12:32:49
It does not matter who you want at CB right now. Matip and Gomez are who you have so people had better get used to the idea of seeing both those guys (and Adrian) play for us moving forward. As for VVD's prognosis, until the official diagnosis and prognosis is revealed to the public, you can forget whatever it is you are reading or hearing. Just my take.


17.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 12:50:34
Sorry MK, but I disagree. Had VVD been playing, Keane and Calvert lewin would not have scored. Unfortunately matip and Gomez pick up injuries regularly and they offer nothing defensive in the air. when average players like Calvert lewin are made to look like Lebron James about to dunk, then you know we have got defensive issues.


18.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 13:30:00
Biggy_Balls in addition to that, Had VVD been playing and had Pickford been sent off, DCL for sure would not have scored cos he would be busy defending his goal cos he would get near NO service in open play and Everton would have gotten smoked easily by 4/ 5 goals.

However, you have to give it to DCL and his leaping ability esp. for the goal. If you watch it from the beginning of the play, you will see that DCL was on the right wing on Robbo and that is by design, IMO. He has a height and leaping advantage over Robbo so he is stationed out there on purpose so when the cross comes in, the height mismatch is gaping.

Robbo had no chance esp. with him running towards his goal. The only thing Robbo could have done was to openly prevent him from jumping and the penalty is given and the outcome is the same. I would credit DCL on that one cos IMO, it has nothing to do with defensive issues. It is just good tactics, IMO.


19.) 18 Oct 2020
18 Oct 2020 15:19:50
I agree Biggy, that first one for sure wouldn't have gone in. VVD would not have been beaten for that header. Bad defending on that one. Not to take anything away from Keane, but that should have been defended better.