Title defence over?

[The_weatherman]

[ame]https://twitter.com/BenWebbLFC/status/1318138402882179073[/ame]

[The_weatherman]

He will be though at some point for sure.

[Exiled_red]

Matip gone for a scan on foot injury this morning ...................

Oh for ****s sake

Gomez and Fabinho it is then...

[rodo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/JamesPearceLFC/status/1318141899111366657[/ame]

[BigChief]

Oh for ****s sake

Gomez and Fabinho it is then...

Yes. Even though Matip is not injured. But it is only Monday.

[rodo]

Nothing major does jimbo know joel????

[Mark79]

Nothing major does jimbo know joel????

Joyce and Bascombe have said the same thing. The info is coming from the club.

[rodo]

Joyce and Bascombe have said the same thing. The info is coming from the club.

I was more pointing out that nothing major with matip usually means a few weeks out

[Mark79]

I was more pointing out that nothing major with matip usually means a few weeks out

Ahhh

[BobTheCharmer]

100% keep matip for the league. No point risking him for champions league.

[Irishnev]

Am still bullish about our chances but in terms of squad impact this is the worst possible outcome. I just listened to a pod where the injury was discussed by physios and sports scientists and they said it looked as ‘standard’ as you get from an ACL injury. He should recover fine.

VVD clocks up the most minutes per season of any player in World Football - circa 5000 whereas Gomez and Matip average about 2200 each.......already we have a gap so Fab will need to step in.

I genuinely wonder if we go for an experienced stop gap CB in Jan, buy top quality, make do or play Billy K/ Rhys Williams......

[danperkins]

Am still bullish about our chances but in terms of squad impact this is the worst possible outcome. I just listened to a pod where the injury was discussed by physios and sports scientists and they said it looked as ‘standard’ as you get from an ACL injury. He should recover fine.

VVD clocks up the most minutes per season of any player in World Football - circa 5000 whereas Gomez and Matip average about 2200 each.......already we have a gap so Fab will need to step in.

I genuinely wonder if we go for an experienced stop gap CB in Jan, buy top quality, make do or play Billy K/ Rhys Williams......

imo it has forced our hand. Honestly I think we should go for a main stay and not just a stop gap. Matip will not stay fit, Gomez is injury prone and makes too many mistakes. Maybe now is the time to look for a permanent partner for VVD. Having to sacrifice Fabinho from our CM is a bit ridiculous to be honest.

[Phoenix07]

imo it has forced our hand. Honestly I think we should go for a main stay and not just a stop gap. Matip will not stay fit, Gomez is injury prone and makes too many mistakes. Maybe now is the time to look for a permanent partner for VVD. Having to sacrifice Fabinho from our CM is a bit ridiculous to be honest.

You have Upamecano who has a release clause next summer of £36million. Us and Man Utd have been linked with that. I can't see us spending big in January, especially with no fans back yet, and potentially a deal like that in the summer. Unless there's a decent name we could get on loan? I can't think of any. The only freebie we could get is Garay (ex Valencia), but he's returning from a cruciate injury himself.

[marcus50bucks]

You have Upamecano who has a release clause next summer of £36million. Us and Man Utd have been linked with that. I can't see us spending big in January, especially with no fans back yet, and potentially a deal like that in the summer. Unless there's a decent name we could get on loan? I can't think of any. The only freebie we could get is Garay (ex Valencia), but he's returning from a cruciate injury himself.

I would actually go for Ibrahima Konate. I know he missed most of last season but he's a physically imposing defender and he is excellent in the air. The only thing Upamecano has on him is his long passing imo. Konate can also play deep or in a high line.

By the way I knew Gomez was poor in the air but 56% success is really bad. I don't think he won one duel against Calvert-Lewin. It really is a part of his game he needs to improve (he's 6 ft 2) as well as well as his reading of the game which will hopefully come as he gains more experience.

[Mark79]

Am still bullish about our chances but in terms of squad impact this is the worst possible outcome. I just listened to a pod where the injury was discussed by physios and sports scientists and they said it looked as ‘standard’ as you get from an ACL injury. He should recover fine.

VVD clocks up the most minutes per season of any player in World Football - circa 5000 whereas Gomez and Matip average about 2200 each.......already we have a gap so Fab will need to step in.

I genuinely wonder if we go for an experienced stop gap CB in Jan, buy top quality, make do or play Billy K/ Rhys Williams......

So Gomez and Matip each average 24 games a season, in all competitions.

We have 33 PL games remaining and 6 in the CL, minimum. 78 combined CB starts.

78 minus 48 would still leave 30 games for Fabinho to cover at CB, and obviously he can only cover 1 of them at a time!

That’s also ignoring that Gomez has already played 6 times and Matip 2.

I hope the youngsters are up to it, otherwise we desperately need someone else in January. Or for Matip and Gomez to suddenly be fit and available over 50% more between them.

I just can’t see us doing major business in January with the return of fans not being anywhere in sight.