Right now the injuries make me worry for the Sheff Utd game. As of now, that's the biggest game this month. We must win that!
That was Forster's best game for us by far. He was a wall until the goal which he really could do nothing about. Arsenal certainly cannot complain about not getting protection from the ref. Four of our players were kicked all the way to the bench and we get the yellows. Pathetic really but big teams and at home it is what is expected. Hope some of the injuries clear by Monday or that one got a whole lot tougher.
Alot of huff yet did not test thier no3 keeper. All we need now is for Vic ti pick up a yellow against Fellaini and we could be facing Burnley minus our midfield 3 and Toby.
Two of the subs were forced due to injuries to Cork and Tadic. The 3rd was late in the game to take off Long. Long had taken a knock in the first half and had run his socks off . Then Alderweireld got forced off due to injury.... His mistake was not bringing Reed on. Should have done it to replace Cork in the first half. Then subbing on Mayuka late in the game for Long was a mistake. He should again have used Reed and pushed Davis to the right side. Bringing on Targett and pushing Bertrand to the left of midfield would have been another option. With Mane moving to the right.
Well, that was a depressingly predictable end to what had been a resolute defensive display. Marriner did us no favours and was generally awful. Was horrible to be in the ground when Alexis scored. Not helped by the mother of all morons behind me, confusing Wanyama and Bertrand, Mayuka and Yoshida, slating his own players and trying to micromanage the team by screaming into my ear. At one stage he was going on about Wilshere, and he wasn't even playing! Now on a train back to Brighton. Got in at 2am and up at 6am to head back. Forster clear MOTM.
Apart from the injuries, I was encouraged by this game (as said before). We lost late after going down to 10 men and deserved a point for our defensive display...thanks to Forster (v. encouraging display from him). Koeman has said Morgan won't be ready for Monday's game (and I certainly don't want him risked). We will probably have to discount Toby as well. Cork is said to have aggravated a previous ankle injury, so we don't know about him. We could be down to the bones (which regrettably were always very close to the skin for us), therefore I plan to write off the next game and any result will be a bonus (we certainly deserve a spot of luck). Another point...Koeman doesn't rate Gardos as he has twice played Yoshida ahead of him. I presume he sees Yosh as more reliable and experienced. A shame really as I was hoping Gardos could step up and be ready if Toby leaves...apparently not.
I hope there is no meltdown, but with this string of injuries we could pick very few points up over the xmas period and be looking at mid table below the likes of swansea and west ham.
We have to pick up points from winnable games (and win the Cup game). Remember they don't deduct points when you lose...the teams below us have to win their games during the same period...that's not for certain.
Had a quick look through papers this morning...I expected to see references to wheels coming off etc, but no, they saw what we saw...a better performance hindered by injuries.
See, easy it isn't it. .. bring someone else on, move forward three spaces, mind the snake and hope you land at the bottom of a ladder. Come on fella! He made a like for like (ok Mayuka isn't as good) substitution for Long and then 2 minutes later Toby pulled his Hamstring. Hardly mistakes. It is so easy being a manager from the stands (or sofa).
I've just watched it on fast forward this morning, pausing every now and then at the key moments. Almost every time I stopped it, Michael Owen was questioning the referee. There was also a lot of mention of how our injuries are not helping.
OK he seemed to be quite good in the U21'S considering how he is just recovering from a serious injury it isn't easy to judge him yet.
Some quotes from Toby on his injury... "It's really s***. Everybody knows when it happens to your hamstring you can't run any more. With pain in my heart I had to go off. That was really s*** &, unfortunately, we let a goal in. I'll have a scan. I hope it's not too serious, but for sure a hamstring is always bad, so we'll see. I'm hoping to recover very soon, very fast. I will do everything to be back very quickly on the field."
