15 Apr 2026 09:32:57
Ed001 John Barnes ruptured his Achilles tendon and was never the same again what is the prognosis nowadays is it much better.
I think it's one of the hardest tendons to heal because of blood flow there is not as great as other tendons.
{Ed001's Note - he should be ok, things are much better now with regards to that.}
15 Apr 2026 10:04:59
Good memory u have, Grino. I had forgot about Barnes injury. You're right, he lost that burst of pace he had and developed into a central midfielder after that.
15 Apr 2026 10:10:22
That was about 40 years ago, and medicine has come a long way, thankfully.
15 Apr 2026 10:13:49
Achilles is physiologically hard to get over as you wonder if the other ankle will blow out. Let's hope he makes a full recovery.
15 Apr 2026 10:55:21
In the dark days, just after Arsenal's last championship, the cure was to submerge your foot in horse placenta.
15 Apr 2026 10:58:38
Yeah, recovery chances are good these days, but obviously not guaranteed.
I'm really gutted for Hugo, similar to Leoni. High hopes for a solid recovery, but there is always the chance that, at the least, there are some disruptions to their rehab. For sure we won't be seeing the best of Hugo until most likely the 2027/28 season.
But there are plenty of other athletes who have returned to or near their level prior to injury.
R9 in 2000 returned to win the 2002 World Cup and Golden Boot.
Beckham returned to European football, was it AC Milan or PSG at that time? And wasn't he mid-30s when he ruptured?
Cazorla had a longer period out of the game but returned to international level.
Dan Carter ruptured in 2014 then returned to win the Rugby World Cup in 2015. Yeyah, the All Blacks lol.
Kevin Durant took a full 18 months to return but has returned to his elite level.
Can be done, but maybe patience is the key. And a real shame him and the club. Mainly for him tho.
15 Apr 2026 11:10:05
Probably didn't help John was a bit on the chunky side.
15 Apr 2026 11:21:13
How dare you, Florian! John Barnes was not "chunky" he was just a well proportioned man bordering on curvaceous haha.
All the best to Hugo though, gutted for the young lad to miss the World Cup.
15 Apr 2026 11:58:48
He's certainly chunky now!! Still my hero.
{Ed025's Note - great player Rome..
15 Apr 2026 12:04:40
Speedy recovery, Hugo. Gutted for the lad.