Obikwu

[Dono77]

Is this guy completely useless or being frozen out by JS? I know he's barely fit and only played once but if he's fit for the bench then why the cold shoulder treatment?

Yesterday it was plain as day that we needed someone up top that could run the channels and give us an outlet yet JS summoned the lumbering Kone who yet again looked off the pace, heavy and generally out of sorts. The usual screaming snd rolling around episode left us with 10 men (again) to finish the game as he decided he couldn't carry on when today it had been confirmed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with him.

Personally I think he needs to see a psychologist not a physio as he gives the aura of a guy who has no confidence in his body or his mind.

Obikwu was signed as a back up for Burrell, we were told he has pace to burn, can be an outlet and carry the ball past the defence. This is what was required yesterday. Kolli showed once again he's not a target man, hes too lazy, too weak and too slow to play up top on his own. He pretty much cost us the first goal and he never got himself in the game enough. Their cbs had him under control.

Yet JS decided at 2 nil down that Obikwu wasn't an option so why is he on the bench? If he can't get a run out ahead of a clearly out of sorts Kone then when will he be called upon? Its a waste of a player and a wage if we are putting players on the bench when the manager already had his mind made up that he won't play someone regardless!!

Very strange.

[Shania]

From the outside looking in, it looks like JS clearly has his favourites or he is trying to show the club how thin we are up front. I dunno...

[shaggy24]

Without sounding like it’s completely slagging off board for signings

Kone played pretty much all last season and run his nuts off but seems completely shot of confidence this term and unfit

Burrell just can’t stay fit poku had hamstring injuries at posh but seems to over them, but kolli Lloyd and especially obikwu who’s not seen the pitch in a year nearly simply not good enough to warrant a squad number

The championship is physical and relentless bar international breaks add in chair and saito who can’t put a string or matches together by the time JS has to select a squad he’s probably missing 8 all too often

Be interesting how many player NW used in promotion season I know mackie missed a few but the squad was robust and physically prepared for the league demands.

[MINCER]

When looking at ALL our strikers the common denominator looks to be none of them this season can retain fitness.

I would also guess that Kamara may also soon be added to that list.

Was interesting listening to Alfie Lloyd talking recently about his own fitness levels and how the players are tested every day at training.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CTUeF9fVV0o2CqPipR7nH?si=hLbuV4ecRym6aA3sx7Sunw&utm_source=copy-link&nd=1&dlsi=1e3bb833e27f4e89

[Shania]

Without sounding like it’s completely slagging off board for signings

Kone played pretty much all last season and run his nuts off but seems completely shot of confidence this term and unfit

Burrell just can’t stay fit poku had hamstring injuries at posh but seems to over them, but kolli Lloyd and especially obikwu who’s not seen the pitch in a year nearly simply not good enough to warrant a squad number

The championship is physical and relentless bar international breaks add in chair and saito who can’t put a string or matches together by the time JS has to select a squad he’s probably missing 8 all too often

Be interesting how many player NW used in promotion season I know mackie missed a few but the squad was robust and physically prepared for the league demands.

But they did not play three times a week that season, however they where all very fit players, that`s true.

[shaggy24]

When looking at ALL our strikers the common denominator looks to be none of them this season can retain fitness.

I would also guess that Kamara may also soon be added to that list.

Was interesting listening to Alfie Lloyd talking recently about his own fitness levels and how the players are tested every day at training.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CT...3bb833e27f4e89

Interesting that players tested for fitness at training with so much technology available ultrasound,ct mri etc I’d imagine we’ve got at least 2 out of 3 of them perhaps not mri maybe not even ct I still find it odd mbengue rollled out tapped up knee he then buggers up for it not to have had some kind of ultrasound or precautionary ct?

[Sleeping Giants]

Interesting that players tested for fitness at training with so much technology available ultrasound,ct mri etc I’d imagine we’ve got at least 2 out of 3 of them perhaps not mri maybe not even ct I still find it odd mbengue rollled out tapped up knee he then buggers up for it not to have had some kind of ultrasound or precautionary ct?

It did seem an unneccesary risk to bring Mbengue on all taped up with us 4-0 up with 18 minutes of normal time remaining.

[MINCER]

Interesting that players tested for fitness at training with so much technology available ultrasound,ct mri etc I’d imagine we’ve got at least 2 out of 3 of them perhaps not mri maybe not even ct I still find it odd mbengue rollled out tapped up knee he then buggers up for it not to have had some kind of ultrasound or precautionary ct?

You make a good point but I would like to think that that strapping and being tapped up is just a mindset of extra protection.

I really enjoy listening to Tony Mowbray interviews because he speaks so honestly, recently when pressed on how Blackburn Rovers injury crisis has improved he spoke about how the club had made a large investment in providing 2 sleeper Buses for the players to travel to and from games, each Bus provides beds and extra room for 14, instead of sitting in cramped seats at tables.

He went on to explain he felt it was such an important factor that he told Blackburns owners it was a non negotiable part of accepting the job there as manager.

[shaggy24]

You make a good point but I would like to think that that strapping and being tapped up is just a mindset of extra protection.

I really enjoy listening to Tony Mowbray interviews because he speaks so honestly, recently when pressed on how Blackburn Rovers injury crisis has improved he spoke about how the club had made a large investment in providing 2 sleeper Buses for the players to travel to and from games, each Bus provides beds and extra room for 14, instead of sitting in cramped seats at tables.

He went on to explain he felt it was such an important factor that he told Blackburns owners it was a non negotiable part of accepting the job there as manager.

There so much emphasis on workloads rotation etc good point re buses fair enough west ham then derby at home little or zero travel and brums hardly long distance for us but interesting mowbray getting coaches that sleep for recovery.

Players warm up and down ice baths etc longer than a game now is it the workload that wears players out or are they pampered a bit too much I can remember watching Stan come out couple minutes couple of passes job done for warm up if he got clobbered from behind the magic sponge came out and bucket of freezing cold water. Those of us that played Sunday mornings got the bucket of water brought on by a bloke having a fag the only difference between pro and amateur football