Title defence over?

[Irishnev]

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.

Gomez and Matip is career average - we have to remember that Gomez had an ACL and broken leg for us so 2 big impact injuries that took a lot of recovery time. His availability has been pretty good the last two seasons - the worry with him is we are expecting him to play more than before. Matip is always muscle injuries so his ability to be relied on is a problem - no way he plays twice a week and that is the cycle we are in now

[RichC]

One thing we have is an amazing togetherness as a squad, hopefully what’s happened to Virgil this weekend gone will spur the rest of them on to push the rest of this season in the league and Europe.

[frank the tank]

I'd nearly make fabinho my first choice defender in absense of Virgil and let the other two rotate to partner him.

I'd also push a big contract in front of Gini now too. He is too important now to have running down his contract.

[BobTheCharmer]

I'd nearly make fabinho my first choice defender in absense of Virgil and let the other two rotate to partner him.

I'd also push a big contract in front of Gini now too. He is too important now to have running down his contract.

No need to give Gini a contract. He's clearly not first choice now. OK he'll play plenty but first choice was the 3 that started at Everton. Got Jones knocking on the door.

[Exiled_red]

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.

That is somewhat skewed, because VVD played more or less every game the others could only play one at a time. So there is a chance that when one was on the pitch the other was on the bench (when they weren't injured) the number of games that they were both available for is the more accurate measure.

[danperkins]

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.

can't see it myself, if anything Gini, Wilson and Shaq may go in that window.

[frank the tank]

No need to give Gini a contract. He's clearly not first choice now. OK he'll play plenty but first choice was the 3 that started at Everton. Got Jones knocking on the door.

Need him focused on the team this season.......as opposed to thinking about his next move

[Mark79]

Gomez and Matip is career average - we have to remember that Gomez had an ACL and broken leg for us so 2 big impact injuries that took a lot of recovery time. His availability has been pretty good the last two seasons - the worry with him is we are expecting him to play more than before. Matip is always muscle injuries so his ability to be relied on is a problem - no way he plays twice a week and that is the cycle we are in now

It’s a been bit more than that with Gomez. Last season his availability was good, but he missed much of 18/19 with his second ankle surgery. In each of the previous 3 seasons there was his first ankle surgery, Achilles tendon issues and the big cruciate ligament injury.

I take your point, he’s a different case to Matip. But he’s still only really had 1 season where he’s really managed the availability and playing time we’ll need from him this season. The encouraging thing is that it was last season.

[Mark79]

That is somewhat skewed, because VVD played more or less every game the others could only play one at a time. So there is a chance that when one was on the pitch the other was on the bench (when they weren't injured) the number of games that they were both available for is the more accurate measure.

Yeah I know it’s not 100%, it’s just an indicator. But there has been significant portions over the last few seasons where only one of the 2 has been available. Matip missed most of last season. Gomez missed half of the one before that. There’s been other shorter overlaps in the previous seasons too.

[RedReet]

No need to give Gini a contract. He's clearly not first choice now. OK he'll play plenty but first choice was the 3 that started at Everton. Got Jones knocking on the door.

He's played full matches every game bar at the weekend, presumably because he was the only player in our team to play 3 times over the international break, including full games on Sunday and Wednesday.

He'll be back in the first 11 for Ajax.

[Mr Pink]

No need to give Gini a contract. He's clearly not first choice now. OK he'll play plenty but first choice was the 3 that started at Everton. Got Jones knocking on the door.

We don’t only give contracts to first choice players. Also it’s not about who’s first choice- he’s more than capable of fighting for his place, and looks like he has plenty left to offer over the next few years.

[Buzzo]

We are one dodgy offside decision in the derby from being three points clear at the top with our indifferent start.

Despite that, level at the top after 6 games.

[Montana]

We'll win it be maybe only 5 points this year as opposed to 25 which is fine by me. That's the VVD difference.

Still Champions at the end of the season unless we have some more really bad luck.

[ChesterDave]

Only one of 'the big 6' in the top 8, Chelsea and Arsenal in 9th and 10th and we've beaten them both already. Had an abomination of a result and robbed of 2 points by VAR. Still very much ours to lose despite VVD injury.

[Mark79]

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