The news today is that Parker may need an operation that may keep him out of our early games in the new season. Didn't we know all of this already? He was injured before the Euros and never should have gone. My only worry is that Sandro might pick one up at the Olympics. Assuming he comes through unscathed, then he should be firing on all cylinders for the start of the season, which should reduce the impact of missing Parker. The only problem he might have is adjusting to a slightly unfamiliar system and possibly playing alongside a new face in midfield.
i thought Sandro should have got more of a shot last season. Harry ran Parker into the ground at every opportunity and Sandro is more than an adequate replacement. I think AVB might prefer Sandro to Parker anyway. He's more dynamic. Livermore's not bad either. I'm still more worried about up front despite this setback.
Fingers crossed Sandro doesn't pick up an injury an all that but I think Sandro will eventually become first choice DM this season anyway. Parker was immense last season and without a doubt one of, if not the best player we had, yet the latter part of the season you could tell he was tiring too easily, and at 31 nearing 32, he's not gonna be getting any fitter. Sandro is more than adequate to take over in my opinion (plus I think he can be a far better player in time). We'll have Livermore in reserve too. Not too much of a problem for me. As Spurfectionist mentioned, the striker situation is more concerning for me at the moment though. Ideally needed to have these guys for pre-season like Sig and Verts. Can't understand the hold up with Ade.
Sandro won't pick up an injury, but he will come back from the Olympics fully fit and match-ready! Bring it on!
Parker is a decent player...steady and brave when blocking and tackling...but limited. He did very well for us last season. Sandro has the potential to be a much better player and is a more than able replacement for Parker. I also think Livermore can do a very good job for us in that area of the pitch too.
The injury was well documented already, but I have to say that as long as Sandro is fit then cannot see a problem - and even if he is or as you say, may not be that integrated into a new system having been with Brazil, we still have a more than able Livermore to step in. I can remember a few examples when he really stood up to be counted last year and did a superb job. Liverpool away comes to mind although I might be wrong.
Nah I wouldn't say so. Without him, we'd have finished well below 4th in my opinion. Added some much needed steel in the centre and it was nice to see a typical English grit style player in a team that plays what I'd say "continental" football. Gave us a nice balance.
That was the 2-0 in the season before last, Relayer. One of them ended up booting him into the stands. Someone made a highlight video of him from that game: [video=youtube;oiZRgi3wtyQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiZRgi3wtyQ[/video]
I was actually thinking about Jake mate, but thanks for the vid - brilliant to see that again, Sandro was absolutely immense!!
I went to that one (first time at Anfield), got a video of my cousin whipping his top off like a lunatic when Modric slotted in the pen (not a great sight!). Sandro was immense though, Ledley was brilliant that game too.
Oh, in that case you're right! One of our less attacking displays, but we didn't have a manager at the time, I guess. Not a fan of starting with two holding players, though.
Me neither - but that game was a very different Spurs all round - displaying a real resilience. Glad to see my Alzheimer's is still under control......
Sandro was injured a lot last season and it's a shame he won't be getting the preseason with AVB as I think his technical advice could really help Sandro's game.
Well, I'm not that bothered tbh. Sandro missing pre-season with us is not a problem either, he'll be virtually match fit after the Olympics., so no probs there, and if he gets injured too Livermore did himself no harm when called upon last season. Our first games aren't that difficult giving time for Parker to recover and giving one of the others to play and who knows, claim the place. I wouldn't say he's over-rated, he's superb at what he does, but I'm afraid he slows us down if we want to break quickly and he's got the ball, it pisses me off no end that he passes sideways and we lose the initiative, I can't see it pleasing AVB either. All too often our slow build up play and subsequent problems breaking teams down were partly down to this imo.
Sandro can play in that role, Livermore can perform in that role, and we have Luongo in the wings for that role. Long story short, there's four players on the books who can play in that role, so no need to panic by any means. Unless all four get injured at the same time, anyway...
