JazzG players are always injured. They always have some pull, tweak or pain. They’re constantly in pain after games and practice. The physio team just needs to manage them through the season. This isn’t our Sunday morning kick abouts . These guys are playing at the limit.

    Ben Foster's podcast on this subject (can't remember who he was talking to, but it was another footballer) said as much. Basically said footballers are permanently carrying injuries; maybe on matchday 1 they might feel completely injury free but even then not always

    Lots of us are carrying aches and pains we have to manage every day. It's just part of being human. Athletes are no different.

      Coombs I wasn't carrying aches and pains when I was Sakas age. Then again it was really only my liver I was pushing hard in those days.

          Qwiss I was a competitive ski racer, I raced internationally for a decade. Did my knee when I was a teenager and was never the same, but you get on with it, take a painkiller, condition as best you can, etc. The idea you're going to participate in any sport at a high level and stay clear of pain is fanciful. You've got to play to win, I'm not convinced by this idea that you can extend your career by not playing. In reality, you're just spreading a short career over more years, and the real risk is that you miss the moments you could've made if you'd been on the pitch.

          Play. If you regret playing, you're in the wrong line of work. That's how I see it anyway.

            Lulz. He's got a fair bit of catching up to do though.

            8 days later

            Fotmob has Saka as the best player in the PL so far this season.

            daredevil
            jesus. it's because he's so good and important why people are shitting bricks every time he's hobbling around out there.

              IBL Cos we'd like him to last the whole season and not play in dead rubber or wrapped up games.

              Which is completely fair, especially when you see him hobbling around the last twenty minutes of games. But for all of our worrying about him, and his hobbling, he's usually available to start for us. I do think we maybe worry about this stuff a little too much, especially given his track record. I think we have to trust Arteta's judgement with him a little more, after all he will have far more information than we ever will.

              And it is true that for all the talk of how he's been relatively quiet this season, his "relatively quiet" is still winning us matches on the regular.

              Completely agree that he should be kept away from dead rubber type situations mind.

              • IBL replied to this.

                  Anyone think Saka fakes these limps at the end of games to make the next team we face not sure if he plays or not?

                  Sorry, I've just remembered how many soft tissue injuries we've ended up with with Arteta in charge. Ignore what I said about trusting him! 🤣