TV pundits, and Rafa himself, have claimed how "unlucky" Liverpool have been with injuries this season and in past seasons. Managers often blame poor runs of form on injuries to the team. This is a valid point as teams that suffer fewer injuries tend to perform better, however I would argue an injury crisis is not usually down to luck alone.
Some reasons why some teams may have more injuries than others:
1. The manager has inherited injury prone players
2. The manager has bought injury prone players
3. The manager's sport science and sports medicine staff are not doing a good job
4. The manager does not allow the sport scientists and physiotherapists to do their jobs to the best of their ability and/or over-trains or under-trains the players with technical & tactical training
5. The manager does not rest key players when appropriate
6. Bad luck
I would argue that 1. & 6. are beyond the managers control. The other 4 factors - the manager / staff can influence (and yes many of them are linked). This is turning into a rant mainly because it is so frustrating to hear these millionaire managers bemoan how they have such bad luck. Yes bad luck (such as the recent Aaron Ramsey injury) may have a role - but rather than crying and cursing the powers that be, we (managers, coaches, sport scientists, strength & conditioning coaches, physiotherapists) all need to look carefully at what we do. Are we doing everything that we can do? Are we looking at the big picture?
No football manager or coach bashing intended here. The rest of the staff has a massive role in this. However the manager ultimately has control over the staff and makes the final decisions.
I am not trying to say that avoiding injuries is a simple process because it is not. Neither am I claiming to be an "expert" on injury prevention. What I am trying to get across is that we as a staff HAVE to take responsibility for what happens to our players. We are not powerless in this, and we must do everything that we can to keep our best players on the pitch.
Good article there mate.
ReplyDelete#2 and #6 are the main reasons for the current situaution.
Rafa has bought in too much men made of glass to the club..one good example is Aquilani.He had other choices,but he bought him..gamble,in other words.
And bad luck as well.He can do nothing about it,so I kinda feel sad for him.
Thanks buddy
ReplyDeleteIn this situation I have to agree with you as I couldn't comment on the Liverpool sport science / physiotherapy team as I have little insight into what is being done there at first team level. I do know that the academy is now in good hands with Mark Hulse there.
The Liverpool situation was just "the straw that broke the camel's back" so to speak and motivated me into writing this.
Possibly the most frustrating situation is the manager who doesn't let his players do any strengthening, prevention, or "mumbo jumbo", and yet then complains about injuries!
It is slowly getting better through time and the hard work of some folks such as Mr. Hulse (first in his role at the FA, and now at clubs).
Bash away Howard, as a Liverpool supporter it frustrates the hell out of me not to have Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres on the park at the same time. Way too many injuries if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteRafa Benitez is lucky his signed a 5 year deal and the owners seem to be tight with money, otherwise it would have been curtains for Rafa some time ago.
Could be time to investigate the medical and training staff down at Anfield. Nice thought provoking post.
Worrying times for you guys eh? I feel it is hard to point the finger at the staff when you don't know how Benitez approaches the whole fitness & sports medicine situation. There are def. some things up at the club - both performance and otherwise.
ReplyDeletePhenomenal post Howard. There's definitely a lot of truth to your points I think. Very good application to Liverpool's situation as it's perplexing from a support's point of view as to what's going on with the injury situation this season. Is Gerrard still injured or just severely lacking confidence? Torres is coming back from injury, Glen Johnson, Agger, etc. Makes you wonder what's happening at Anfield from the physio-health perspective and whether more could be done to keep guys healthy (it's an open question, not pointing fingers).
ReplyDeleteCheers Mike. Liverpool have many issues - not least the financial troubles hanging over their head. This makes keeping your best players on the field even more important. Lets see how long Rafa lasts. I think he will be gone in the summer along with either Gerrard or Torres (maybe both?)
ReplyDelete