Because the lads are f**king knackered after five or six years of constant success, going deep into the season and then starting the following one early. With very little time in between to rest up. And I'm not one who usually blames tiredness, I think a lot of the time it's a bullshit excuse because "back in the day" players were able to play 60 odd matches on mud baths eating steak dinners for their pre-match meal and having a drop of brown ale at half time. But this group of lads look f**king dead on their feet at the minute and it's not surprising when you consider our season ended on the 28th May (in defeat) followed almost instantly by a trip back home for the day-long homecoming and then almost as quickly we were back in Asia for pre-season friendlies before starting the competitive stuff on the 31st July.
And if you look at the United game's starting XI over the past five years, so many of those lads have played well in excess of 200 games. We've had a maximum of 286 since the start 17/18 season;
Salah 258 games. (aged 30)
Firmino 240 games. (aged 30)
Robertson 228 games. (aged 28)
Trent 218 games. (aged 23)
Henderson 214 games. (aged 32)
Milner 208 games. (aged 36)
Van Dijk (aged 31) has 185 games having joined halfway through the 17/18 season, so you'd imagine had he been there for the full season he'd of played over 200 games in that period as well - despite being injured for a large part of 20/21 year. And Alisson (aged 29), who joined in 18/19, has 187 games to his name so again if he'd been here since the 17/18 campaign it's safe to assume he'd of played over 200 games by now.
Elliott and Diaz have only been in and around the first team for a short period. So basically the only player (who's been around long enough) to of not played a considerable amount of games over the last five years who started against United is injury prone Gomez, who has 132 appearances in that time period - less that 50% of the possible games.
That's not including the amount of games they've played for their international sides either.
And then there's the factor of age. Most of that starting XI are already the wrong side of 30. Now I know it's not like it used to be, it's not once you hit 30 you're done but it does still mean you're in the second half of your career. People are already talking about Milner, Henderson and Firmino being finished. Some are saying Van Dijk isn't the same player since his injury because the older you get the harder it is to recover from a long-term absence like that.
Unfortunately, this group of players that have served us so well over the last five years has got too many miles on the clock and aged graciously together. Maybe it's unsurprising then that when we've brought new-blood into the team over the past year or two (Jota, Konate, Diaz, Nunez) they've looked like the shot in the arm we needed.
Of course if injuries hadn't ravaged the squad the way they have, these players wouldn't be playing as many minutes as they've had to this season. And Jürgen would of been able to rotate them a lot more like he'd want to. But unfortunately we have been hit by injuries so we're relying on already weary bodies to get us through and that isn't going to happen all the time.
Get a couple of the injured list and who knows, maybe we'll be back to where we belong.
Excellent post again Billy, can’t add anything really to it, my take on it is similar to yours, imo we should have started replacing the older players from the beginning of last season, one season may not seem that different but it does now that we are clearly short of quality in midfield,
It’s said Bellingham of BvB wouldn’t be a ideal long term signing, and Jürgen likes the boy too, so perhaps a deal similar to that what we did to land Naby, had we done so Jude would have been a option for us now, of course you could say the same for any player we had a eye on,
When everything is going well and we’re firing on all cylinders none of this aged thing comes to light, so perhaps in a weird sort of way, our slow start and woeful performances is a lightbulb moment and suddenly the aged thing becomes a hindrance rather than being a bonus,
I don’t think we’re at a stage where panic will set in but, it’s abundantly clear we need new quality fresh hearts, minds & legs especially in midfield, Naby for instance has had enough opportunities but it looks again like he’s crocked, yet again, he’s actually becoming a liability rather than a asset, it’s not going to work for him here so I’d be selling and get as much as we can for him,
Milner will give his all again for us one last season, and I hope he’s employed at our academy in some capacity, we can’t let this fella go elsewhere, his experience, knowledge and psychology is priceless, imagine the wisdom he can pass on to our Young guns ?
Henderson, again will give everything for the team, but his extensive talent is somewhat limited and we have without doubt gotten the very best from him, for me he peaked in our title winning season and has waned ever since, now we’re seeing the same Hendo we seen 10 years ago, there is no sympathy in football, he has served us with distinction but for the good of the club and perhaps himself, he needs to move on,
Alex Ox Chamberlain is another bench warmer who we need to ship out, you can count in your hand the standout performances he has given us in the time he has been here, for me he wasn’t the ideal fit even during Brendan’s tenure, and definitely a square peg in Jürgen’s,
Fabinho is a interesting debate, against the Munts on Monday I felt that if he starts we win that game, as woeful as our defence was it was completely exposed without him in there, his position like that of Thiago’s are the only two we haven’t got like for like replacements, and that has to change asap, that’s two thirds of our engine room we need the highest quality money can buy, that would be my priority going forward,
Big season for Curtis Jones, for me he has to step up this season, if he doesn’t i don’t think he ever will unfortunately, we play at a standard perhaps beyond him, in normal circumstances I think he would do well and probably eek out a few seasons here, but this is a different level, a level I think he struggles with, I’m not throwing the lad under the bus just yet, but he has to prove he IS good enough and it has to happen soon,
Thiago, how do you replace this fella ? I don’t think there is a better AM in the world never mind the EPL, he’s got the lot hasn’t he ? His passing, long or short is outstanding, his vision is just incredible, he sees things 3/4 seconds before anyone else, can slide a ball thru with perfect timing and weight with ease, how we missed his creativity against those MUtants on Monday or indeed any game he’s not there, first name on the team sheet for me,
As for youngsters Elliot & Carvahal I think we’re safe for a few seasons at least, but yes your right mate, once we get one or two back and Nunez has finished his sabbatical, we will see a different animal, like I said no need to panic, but it’s abundantly clear we are in need of some new swinging dicks, especially midfield, won’t happen this window, but I’m sure it’s been looked at as we type.
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