Injury Update

[Dhav]

Time for Crouch to be given a chance. I reckon he'll do the business for us in Torres's absence. I would be astounded if he doesn't get a run of games now given how poor the Kuyt / Voronin partnership is.

I don't think losing Torres for these winnable games is a massive blow as I think we can be quite potent with Crouch. There was a huge improvement in the second half yesterday attacking wise when Crouch came on and we had a spear-head up front.

I'm more worried about Xabi's absence to be honest.

[carlton]

On the bright side Masher will come good with some treatment and therefore should be available which keeps Momo on the bench. Lucas fills in for Xabi. Maybe Crouch gets start or two. Even with the other two stars out player for player we are better than all the teams we face in the next 2 weeks before the break. Rafa might even surprise us and blood a promising youngster-not.

[Diego]

well **** me sideways...

damn unlucky, but it goes to show that we need to buy a striker in january, no point in having only one good striker at the club, same goes with a defender...

[glynner]

Only misses Cardiff, Blackburn, Besiktas and Fulham then theres a two week break. Annoying and not what we need but not disastrous.

that's about the only silver lining from these injuries

[dom9]

Blackburn will be a hard game though, make no mistake.

[Kaip]

Time for Crouch to be given a chance. I reckon he'll do the business for us in Torres's absence. I would be astounded if he doesn't get a run of games now given how poor the Kuyt / Voronin partnership is.

Snap

[The Preacher]

i feel bad for alonso because he's only just came back from the same injury and we clearly missed his calmness in midfield during his absence.

Torres shouldnt have been played yesterday and was clearly struggling from the beginning.

It's going to be a tough couple of months for us.

[Joe Le Toff]

You all seem to be convinced that Crouch will start against Blackburn, im not convinced that he will at all.

[AFII]

You all seem to be convinced that Crouch will start against Blackburn, im not convinced that he will at all.

Well, if he don't start against them then it really is down to something else than football.

[captainfog]

That is a real blow. 3 of our best players out.

[Pablo]

I have a feeling we will lose our unbeaten record on Saturday. Im normally an optimist as well, hope I am wrong.

[Dhav]

You all seem to be convinced that Crouch will start against Blackburn, im not convinced that he will at all.

I have a slight concern about this also. As much as I love Rafa and have faith in him, if he picks Voronin and Kuyt ahead of Crouch again then he needs his head examined to be honest.

I have a feeling we will lose our unbeaten record on Saturday. Im normally an optimist as well, hope I am wrong.

I'm optimistic about this one. We have a great away record this season, and Blackburn have already dropped points at home. Could have used Torres for this one admittedly.

[Pablo]

Agreed - Crouch must start next week. He was excellent when he came on yesterday.

[dom9]

Agreed - Crouch must start next week. He was excellent when he came on yesterday.

Do you remember the sitters he missed at Blackburn last season?

[Pablo]

Not of the top of my head no but at least he is getting in the right positions to miss them, Kuyt and Voronin cant even manage a shot on goal at the moment. He created more of a goal threat in 45 minutes that Kuyt and Voronin did the entire match.

We need a new striker badly, without Torres in the side and on form we are just not a top class side.