[Albion] Kaoru Mitoma [27/2/24 - possibly out for the rest of the season]

[Zeberdi]

I just think it's more than a coincidence that since RDZ has come in we have had more injuries. And I have likened that to Bielsas teams as they share some of the same philosophy.

Correlation is not the same as causation - see my earlier post - there are 8 teams on more injuries than us at the moment ( key players too) and 3 with also 6 out …it has been a tough season for everyone - a shorter summer break - the 2022/23 campaign was tough because of Qatar and concluded on Sunday 28 May 2023, giving players just 76 days off. Apart from COVID affecting the summer of 2020 (48 days separating two campaigns) - summer 2023 was the shortest off season in the history of the competition. New prolonged stoppage times and increasing fixture congestion has likely taken a toll on top of that too this season.

More generally Premier League clubs are more prone to winter injuries compared to European clubs with the winter schedule not leaving much recovery time for injuries.

We ourselves are playing a more attacking style of football under RDZ so maybe meeting more aggression ( and cheating!) in oppos too? We have had a more congested season ( even half a dozen extra games can make a difference) and in the past few seasons, we have increasing numbers of players going on international breaks (with the travel that entails).

I think trying to lay all this at the feet of a manager is ignoring the broader picture imo.

 

[One Love]

Correlation is not the same as causation - see my earlier post - there are 8 teams on more injuries than us at the moment

8, where have you seen that?

 

[tigertim68]

I think Mitoma injury has just about finished our season
can’t see us beating wolves ,
without our best players we are not going to beat Roma
league wise probably end up in tenth position
we have been a couple of players short since the start of the season , and with all the games we have played it is beginning to show
with all the injuries we are picking up , it was a shame could not pick up a player or two in January, that would of helped,
With A fully fit squad I could of seen an exciting end to the season ,
what I can see is most of our players being fit to play when it’s too late and we are out of both cups and 2 far down the league to qualify for European football next season

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I think Mitoma injury has just about finished our season
can’t see us beating wolves ,
without our best players we are not going to beat Roma
league wise probably end up in tenth position
we have been a couple of players short since the start of the season , and with all the games we have played it is beginning to show
with all the injuries we are picking up , it was a shame could not pick up a player or two in January, that would of helped,
With A fully fit squad I could of seen an exciting end to the season ,
what I can see is most of our players being fit to play when it’s too late and we are out of both cups and 2 far down the league to qualify for European football next season

Losing Mitoma, on top of the bad news about Hinsh and just the steady drip drip of more injuries made a tough ask, twice as tough.

We've been running at about 1 in 3 of our players injured for the middle third of the season and we can expect that's likely to continue for the last third as well.

To me, the reasons for that aren't what's important, but I think we need to factor it in with our planning. I just think we need to run a larger squad. Maybe players who qualify for the u23s but can jump in, in an emergency, look to keep a couple of them around instead of loaning all out.

There are risks and costs to running a squad too large, as there are to running one too small. I just think that in the modern age where there are so many injuries, the risks to running a squad too small are greater

 

[rebel51]

I think Mitoma injury has just about finished our season
can’t see us beating wolves ,
without our best players we are not going to beat Roma
league wise probably end up in tenth position
we have been a couple of players short since the start of the season , and with all the games we have played it is beginning to show
with all the injuries we are picking up , it was a shame could not pick up a player or two in January, that would of helped,
With A fully fit squad I could of seen an exciting end to the season ,
what I can see is most of our players being fit to play when it’s too late and we are out of both cups and 2 far down the league to qualify for European football next season

That's exactly how I see it.Romas especially going to be one step too far for us. No chance of finishing in euro spots this season, but still a massive achievement to get where we have considering our injury woes. Enjoy the ride though.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Correlation is not the same as causation - see my earlier post - there are 8 teams on more injuries than us at the moment ( key players too) and 3 with also 6 out …it has been a tough season for everyone - a shorter summer break - the 2022/23 campaign was tough because of Qatar and concluded on Sunday 28 May 2023, giving players just 76 days off. Apart from COVID affecting the summer of 2020 (48 days separating two campaigns) - summer 2023 was the shortest off season in the history of the competition. New prolonged stoppage times and increasing fixture congestion has likely taken a toll on top of that too this season.

More generally Premier League clubs are more prone to winter injuries compared to European clubs with the winter schedule not leaving much recovery time for injuries.

We ourselves are playing a more attacking style of football under RDZ so maybe meeting more aggression ( and cheating!) in oppos too? We have had a more congested season ( even half a dozen extra games can make a difference) and in the past few seasons, we have increasing numbers of players going on international breaks (with the travel that entails).

I think trying to lay all this at the feet of a manager is ignoring the broader picture imo.

Slightly politer version of my reply

 

[AZ Gull]

Personally (and I'll humbling accept that RDZ just MIGHT know a little more than me about this stuff...) I don't see that the need to fully induct the lad in our patterns of play, and introduce him slowly as a starter, necessarily precludes the possibility of having him on the bench now as a potential wild card if we're chasing a game.

I'd also suggest that the benefits in terms of having him get to know his team-mates better and feeling part of it all, rather counter-balance some fears of asking too much of him too soon.

Well, he's travelled at least (don't know if he is in the matchday squad).

 

[portslade seagull]

Hopefully it puts to bed the chances of Mitoma being auctioned off at the end of the season as potential suitors will want to see a full recovery b4 taking the plunge

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

That's exactly how I see it.Romas especially going to be one step too far for us. No chance of finishing in euro spots this season, but still a massive achievement to get where we have considering our injury woes. Enjoy the ride though.

Good idea to adopt that as a perspective. Expect nothing, and any digressions will be a delight

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Which branch of the medical profession did you graduate in?

I'm going: proctology.

 

[boik]

Blimey. Hope Roberto and the boys aren't writing the season off as easily as you guys!!

 

[Zeberdi]

8, where have you seen that?

Correct at time of original posting - Updated today

EPL Injury Table - Premier Injuries

The latest player injuries, suspensions and absences in the English Premier League, from the most comprehensive source of football injury statistics.

www.premierinjuries.com

 

[tigertim68]

Blimey. Hope Roberto and the boys aren't writing the season off as easily as you guys!!

Just being realistic

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Correct at time of original posting - Updated today

EPL Injury Table - Premier Injuries

The latest player injuries, suspensions and absences in the English Premier League, from the most comprehensive source of football injury statistics.

www.premierinjuries.com

That CANNOT be right. I keep hearing about poor poor old Newcastle.

 

[Zeberdi]

I think Mitoma injury has just about finished our season
can’t see us beating wolves ,

Mitoma isn’t the only winger in the team - yes it’s a significant key loss but we have managed without him before - he’s missed 11 games due to injury already this season and was out for the international duty.

Let’s see how RDZ shapes up the team without him heh?

I’m not underestimating Mitoma’s usefulness or talent but he gets very targeted now by defenders shutting him down in nearly every match by double marking him because his dribbling and manoeuvrability makes it very hard for one FB to cope with him.

He has been off the pace compared to where he was last season for several reasons. Last season he was bolstered by having Pervis behind him and Caceido playing down the left midfield channel - his effectiveness has suffered this season without that. (Pervis was out for 2 months ( Igor just not built to make overlapping runs) and obviously we don’t have Moises). Pervis having a long injury absence has meant there’s been very limited time that they have actually played together this campaign. He hasn’t scored since September which is a much lower rate for him than 22/23.

So - Yes, it is a great loss and will impact us but to say that we can kiss the season goodbye because he is out, I think is over-emphasising the impact Mitoma has had this season compared to last but not through any fault of his own.

 

[Cotton Socks]

I think Mitoma injury has just about finished our season
can’t see us beating wolves ,
without our best players we are not going to beat Roma
league wise probably end up in tenth position
we have been a couple of players short since the start of the season , and with all the games we have played it is beginning to show
with all the injuries we are picking up , it was a shame could not pick up a player or two in January, that would of helped,
With A fully fit squad I could of seen an exciting end to the season ,
what I can see is most of our players being fit to play when it’s too late and we are out of both cups and 2 far down the league to qualify for European football next season

I can't quite put my finger on why, but something tells me you're a 'glass half empty' person.

I see myself as an optimistic person mainly and IMO this season has been amazing! The fact that we're in the last 16 of the Europa League, blows my tiny mind. Finishing top 10 in the PL is still amazing we've only been here 6 years and we've steadily made exceptional progress. My step dad will no longer bet me £20 that we get relegated (I'm not very happy about that as he was adding in other bets as well and I was getting at least £40 at the end of the season).
Two FA cup semi's. When I took my kids in 2019 I assumed it would be a 'one off, one in a lifetime opportunity', so could justify spending a fortune to go. Turns out I forked out a fortune last year for another one.
I had to spend another fortune around Xmas to buy tickets to a bloody final 16 of the Europa League match as well. 6 years, 2 FA cup semi finials and a Europa League cup run, I'm ecstatic about that.
Top your glass up and enjoy the ride.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

No Mitoma/March, no party.

RDZball is so heavily reliant on proper wide players who can beat a man and/or cut inside effectively. Adingra has talent but is just not at either of their levels. The rest of the forward players are not wide players who can do this; they play in the pockets or up front.

Unfortunately, I think we are going to seriously struggle to create clear cut chances for the remainder of the season. We are being forced to go through tiny spaces in the middle because we don’t have the wide outlets.

Still think it’s the biggest recruitment problem this season. Not sure anyone’s arguing we don’t have enough attacking players, but we are simply imbalanced with the ones we do have, especially when you factor in RDZs style.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Huge loss. Biggest loss in the squad for me, even more so than Dunk and Gross. He elevates us single handedly, we’re just not the same team without him.

 

[A1X]

Losing Mitoma and Pedro together will cripple us, one or the other we can get away with, but we lose so much cutting edge and sharpness without both we look like a B team

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Huge loss. Biggest loss in the squad for me, even more so than Dunk and Gross. He elevates us single handedly, we’re just not the same team without him.
[/QUOTE

Agree with this.

Our hopes of Dublin, Wembley or 7th place died the moment his injury was announced