YugoB

Unfortunately for Thiago he's had major knee injuries early in his career, I believe MCL back to back years or something of the sort, since then he's body has been breaking down. It's not about being soft of or not, you can't control genes

Well at this point it's just funny

Just depends on the perspective. Morientes was over the hill when he signed for us, my expectations were minimal

Plenty of us suspected his injury issues would still be an issue and could only get worse with age. I still wanted to see him play for us.

Romario was great, but a peak healthy Ronaldo [Brazilian] is levels above him.

It wasn't just compilations, he was genuinely playing well in Germany for two years, I was excited when we signed him because he was that good in that moment of time. But as soon as he joined us, he became brittle.

Keita, Kewell, come to mind. Thiago hasn't been a player that's fit for much of the season for years, so for me personally I'm not surprised, he's had issues for years. I think the manager and the club bought him because for the price we got, it was a good deal and given his quality, coming of a treble winning Bayern season, why not take the risk? Unfortunately he's had some bad luck, mostly in that first year after the derby when he was on the end of a terrible tackle which ruled him out for the first half of the season. However I think he played a part in turning that season around for us to finish in the top 4, once he got fit and played regularly. I think he made a decent enough contribution in 21/22 as well, he played about 39 games overall that year [his average in the last 5/6 years has been 40 give or take]. Obviously the biggest disappointment was last year and this year.

Jota has that Suarez in him in terms of when he goes down after a challenge.

Thankfully Endo is back, and hopefully Thiago gets up to speed.

We were too sloppy on both sides of the ptich. We also didn't stretch them enough, mostly because we didnt have enough pace in the team to catch them out on the break when we won the ball transition. We got lucky to get the equalizer the time we did, but unlucky in the way the 2nd goal came about after we started the 2nd half well. Imo, had we avoided that, we perhaps see it out with a point. But as I said, too many mistakes from too many players for us not to be punished by a good side.

The lack of pace to start teh game with was a problem. because either Darwin or Mo, on the pitch and the situation is entirely different, just remember how we scored at Anfield against them. The fact that we didn't have that outlet and couldn't stretch them properly, made it even more difficult for us to get out and beat their press

The Arsenal game at Anfield feels worse because we were robbed of a clear penalty and Trent hit the bar.

Yes, in the league since we've had injuries and players missing. Started in two out of our last 4 league games [Burnley,Bournemouth], did well in both games. Didn't start against Chelsea or Arsenal. Those games aside, he also started against Arsenal in the FA Cup, against West Ham and Fulham both times in the league cup. When everyone is fit, he wouldn't be in my first XI, but that's why I said if Dom is missing, he'd be a shoe in more so than Gravenberch. Endo obviously is back too, Thiago hasn't played in 10 months and looked rusty yesterday.

Everyone plays better when Nunez starts, he gives us so much space and defenders don't know what to do with him, which opens up lanes for others.

I mean he literally started in the reverse fixture against this lot, and has started in several games over the last month or so

If it was Burnley of old, sure I'd agree, but they haven't played that way since potato head has been in charge. Eliott can handle his own in a scrappy game, he did so at Turf Moor when we played them there and they couldn't lay a glove on us.

I agree. It was essentially a cup final for them. Too many of our players were below their best yesterday and we missed too many players to compensate for that type of performance.

Having him back means we can push Macca up should we need to depending on the game. Especially with Dom now again injured.

t*** them, one way ror another. Eliott should be back in midfield, with Jones and Macca, assuming that Dom won't be ready enough, with Thiago/Endo and Gravenberch on the bench. Hopefully Darwin is fully fit, Quansah coming in for Konate or Gomez, should be ok enough. I imagine Robbo starts.

overall, we just weren't good enough, one on ones, physical duels, and aggression to the extent we needed to win a match like this. We gifted them two goals, the 2nd which ultimately changed the course of the game, because at that point we were playing much better and getting a grip on the game. We started the 2nd half really well, and looked like we were going to score the 2nd. However, anytime your two best players at the back make a mistake at the same time, it's not going to lead to a win, against the top sides in most cases. Even before the 2nd goal gift, we were sloppy on the ball, with a mistake in us looming. Arsenal needed to win that game badly and it showed from start to finish, but we could have gotten away with a point. Unfortunately we missed some players who have undoubtedly made a difference. Dom for instance, his energy,work-rate and creativity was severely missed in midfield. Gravenberch is a talented young player, but he's too inconsistent to make a difference in top games, he lingers too much on the ball after successfully taking on a player or two. We missed Nunez and his ability to create space and genuine danger in the final third whenever he's near the ball. And obviously we missed Mo, hell even Bradley was missed given his recent form, whilst Trent is still somewhat rusty from injury, and defensively was below par. It is what it is, it's still remarkable that this is our first genuine defeat of the season bar the Spurs fiasco. We have to minimize drawing matches more, a loss every blue moon isnt as bad as some of the draws we've had. Hopefully we get our players back fit sooner than later, and we have a ''kinder'' run of fixtures, which we should be taking advantage off, taking into the period when we play City, a game which we will have to win. Up the Reds.

Would be a shame if Dom is out, not sure what we do in midfield, Macca and Jones aside, Id be fine with Harvey playing but his lack of size is a massive issue against them during set pieces. Forgot about Gravenberch, but he's been up and down with his performances as of late. If Thiago is fit enough to be in the side, perhaps he gets the nod?

Next seasons CL format is good enough reason alone to quit and not want to be involved with it

At least you're consistent. However nobody said that they're gods or that we should view them as such, injuries are part of every sport, and it's not a choice.

Opinions and all that, but the way you're going on about it as if those players didn't put in effort to get fit or picked and chose when to play. You think any footballer, especially extremely talented ones, want to spend time on the treatment table? Most athletes, never mind footballers, find the rehab process as the biggest struggle in professional sports. Never understood viewpoints like yours, respectfully, but getting paid whilst injured is not a new phenomenon in football or any sport while we're at it. Money isn't everything in life, I mean Jurgen for instance would have stuck around for years if it was money alone. When you're an athlete, being competitive and wanting to perform what you've been doing since you were a boy, is just as important, at all levels.

Darwin pictured in training with the rest of the lads