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

[Sid and the Sharknados]

What we REALLY needed was backups to the backup backups. And a crystal ball obvs.

Bloom OUT
Barber OUT
Jewel OU...

Oh

Well I suppose now Mitoma's crocked he can do Jewell's job to keep himself busy.

 

[Reddleman]

One of many factors I suspect.

All clubs are seeing higher number of injuries
Factors seem to include:

• Extended season 22/23
• Prem league directive on stoppage time, leading to longer matches in 23/24
• Increased stoppages for VAR

Our specific issues are:

• Young squad
• Additional Europa League matches
• Intensive training form De Zerbi ( has been hinted at, but don't know if true)

Not to be pedantic but it’s only four extra games as we entered League cup one round later and got knocked out one round earlier. Difficult to think four games could have such a huge impact .

 

[trueblue]

Very annoying. Still plenty of wide options but any team would miss Mitoma. A chance for someone else to seize the moment.

 

[Triggaaar]

Well that's crap

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

1. As a positive person I hope this presents Valentin Barco with his opportunity and he'll take it with both hands.

2. I also hope the injury will reduce the chances of Karou leaving over the summer.

3. At least we have Enciso and Fati back.

RDZ has said again that Barco is not ready. In 50 years of supporting the club I can't recall being as disappointed at news of an Albion injury.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Totally agree, I love this club I rarely qustion bloom and rdz but this one lays completely at bloom

Blimey.

 

[rebel51]

It's only a bloody game.cheer up guys and girls.

 

[One Love]

What an excellent decision to leave him on the pitch after the horror Holgate tackle that now looks.

The alarm bells were ringing when he looked in so much discomfort when he went to sit on the bench when he was taken off.

They were saying on MOTD they didn't know how he played on.

 

[Deadly Danson]

1. As a positive person I hope this presents Valentin Barco with his opportunity and he'll take it with both hands.

2. I also hope the injury will reduce the chances of Karou leaving over the summer.

3. At least we have Enciso and Fati back.

Absolutely. It's gutting but time for some of the youngsters to see if they have what it takes - Baker-Boaitey and O'Mahoney for example. Enciso can pick up some of the slack. Also time for RDZ to prove (again) his worth with his coaching. I'd much rather promote some youngsters than overpay in the January market.

 

[Hastings gull]

RDZ has said again that Barco is not ready. In 50 years of supporting the club I can't recall being as disappointed at news of an Albion injury.

Yes, fully agree -made so much worse after all the other injury woes, and the hope that once those injured in the autumn finally returned, then our problems would lessen -instead it is growing again. Sickening.

 

[el punal]

Not to mention the new fella, Ibrahim Osman who we tried to get in the January window but his agent was a bit of a dick.

​

I think you’ll find his agent, or the other agent, or the agent that some thought was his agent but wasn’t are maybe responsible for the shenanigans. Up until virtually deadline day he was West Ham bound. The Hammers baulked at the asking price £15m? twiddled their thumbs and we stepped in and offered £17m(?) with trimmings for him to officially join on 1st July as the transfer deadline had passed. Deal accepted. West Ham were left with egg on their faces as they prevaricated over loose change, and rumour has it, were dealing with the ‘wrong agent’ so couldn’t finalise the deal.

So that, very roughly, is how we got our man. I’m sure others can offer a more detailed account on the matter. Suffice to say West Ham fans are utterly pissed off with their board for the lack of ambition and negotiation shambles that ensued.

 

[Deadly Danson]

What an excellent decision to leave him on the pitch after the horror Holgate tackle that now looks.

The alarm bells were ringing when he looked in so much discomfort when he went to sit on the bench when he was taken off.

They were saying on MOTD they didn't know how he played on.

Captain Hindsight. A) we don't know if the tackle caused his back injury and B) you don't take a player off who isn't injured at the time, just in case. Had he been showing any signs of being injured he would have been withdrawn.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Not to be pedantic but it’s only four extra games as we entered League cup one round later and got knocked out one round earlier. Difficult to think four games could have such a huge impact .

As I said there are many factors, but a 15% increase in games is not insignificant.
Almost every club has seen more injuries this season.

Our squad is very young and quite small, when you take out the teenagers.

 

[jackalbion]

RDZ has said again that Barco is not ready. In 50 years of supporting the club I can't recall being as disappointed at news of an Albion injury.

It’s disappointing, but at the same time this is possibly the most exciting week in our 123 year history, so there are some things to be happy about.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Yep. I see it as a pretty simple issue to navigate. Our players are good.

Ok. How would you set our wide players up for the remainder of the season?

And returning to your original point:

A "God. I can't believe the club were so unprepared. Mitoma is out now and we are short!"
B "well, actually we have all of these players who can play there"
A "Yeah, but they aren't as good as Mitoma!"
B "So your issue is that we didn't have a queue of wingers in the squad, as good as arguably one of the best wingers in the entire PL who could be sold for a mini fortune?"
A" Exactly"

You think the squad was fully prepared for this, despite our only natural winger options being Mitoma and Adingra? Not about having a queue of wingers. About having one more. If so, then fair enough.

With Mitoma injured we are much more likely to see Andingra on his more favoured left hand side. He started there on Saturday against Everton, with Facundo on the right and only moved over to the right when Fati came on in the second half. Assuming Fati still isn't fit to start you've got to think that will be RDZ's favoured set up at the moment.

Hmm I’m not so sure. Facundo is wasted out wide unfortunately. I think it’s more likely to be Adingra RW, Enciso/Fati rotation LW, though again I think both of those are similar to Facundo in that they are more effective centrally, they aren’t byline wingers.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

All those bed wetting and blaming Bloom, PB and RDZ are just panicking…. The injury is to Mitoma’s back not his leg caught by that infamous tackle. Stuff happens… we have to accept it and carry on. As RDZ. Said , “ turn problems into opportunities “

 

[Reddleman]

Blimey.

You do know it’s possible to love Tony Bloom and be massively appreciative of everything he’s done for the club but sometimes point out the club has potentially made an error.

They aren’t mutually exclusive. At times it all feels a bit cult like on here.

 

[Justice]

Enciso is diamond on the left ran the show against Wolves when he played instead of Mitoma, Adingra stays on the right with Lamptey behind him.
We need to get Pedro back asap now.

 

[Birdie Boy]

I blame RDZ, its those bloody slippers he makes them wear on his laminate flooring when they're round for dinner! Whoops, another one over!

 

[Insel affe]

I blame RDZ, its those bloody slippers he makes them wear on his laminate flooring when they're round for dinner! Whoops, another one over!

feck off, RDZ would not have laminate in his house, he is not cheap.