INJURIES ARE AFFECTING OUR CLUBS PERFORMANCES – HOW ARE THEY AFFECTING OTHER CLUBS IN THE PL AND IS IT WORSE THIS SEASON COMPARED TO PREVIOUS SEASONS?
by ken1945
I have read on many occasions; how unlucky we are with injuries, and came across this breakdown of the injuries that have seen players miss games.
The website is Premierinjuries.com and dated 19-11-23 and does include suspension or disciplinary issues.
So, let’s have a look at what it shows:
Manchester United = 14
Newcastle United = 14
Crystal Palace = 13
Sheffield United = 13
Nottingham Forest = 13
Chelsea = 12
Brentford = 11
Brighton = 10
Aston Villa = 10
Fulham = 10
Arsenal = 9
Burnley = 9
Liverpool = 9
Spuds = 9
Luton = 8
Bournemouth = 7
Everton = 7
Manchester City = 7
Wolves = 6
West Ham = 5
The average works out at 9.8 across the PL.
So, it seems that we are below average, but I couldn’t find anything on “long term injuries” such as Timber.
Interesting also, is the fact that these figures are the worst, to date, since the PL began.
Your thoughts on this and whether we should be using our injuries to justify poor performances?
ken1945
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Just noticed an error :
Should read “” does NOT include suspensions or disciplinary issues – sorry!!
Ah Ken you did not make a mistake mate. I of course investigated your figures and the 9 for Arsenal included Vera’s red card. Which means he can’t play next week but he’s not injured…
Apologies if you disagree..
“Poor performance ” Are you for real !
Would you say that our performance against Forest and Fulham were not poor then?
Ken You know my views on stats used over a tiny time frame only, with no further cotext , so I need not repeat them ALL here.
In order to get any TRUE benefit from stats, we need to use longer term periods and compare, as far as possible , like with like and not with other clubs, playing different opponents.
There is virtually NO TRUE VALUE IN YOUR STATS AS YOU PRESENT THEM THEREFORE .
However, you are on the right track even so. What is clear and I speak of the overall increase in injuries , is that so many games and esp when squeezed together , ie three games in eight days with a CL away leg in between , massively tires our and all players.
Some blithely say ” OH YES, BUT BACK IN THE OLD DAYS , PLAYERS PLAYED ON HEAVIER, POORER PITCHES WITH MORE GAMES AND CARRIED ON REGARDLESS”!
But that is a misleading theory, as back then the ALL IMPORTANT PACE during games was far slower.
Keepers could pick up the ball from back passes and there were many slower spells in all games then now.
More interest and massively more dosh has increased passion and player worry and burn out. It is more mentally demanding as well as physically now. More extra comps for top clubs wil increase player injury likelihoods and burn out too.
As for ARSENAL injuries only, we seem to be about average overall, taken over the longer and more accurate, more relevant, period.
Any fool can give meaningless short term stats and claim , falsely, that they show such and such. But they do NOT. Unless used wisely, with keen brain power attached to their interpretation.
Jon, these were produced in order to show how injuries have risen in the same frame time as previous seasons – so what’s your point?
Well as I said Ken, THAT is what I am also saying. And I SAID WHY THAT IS SO.
My only beef was against your idea that bald, shorn of context, short term stats, show anything definite at all.
I say FIRMLY that they cannot possibly do so.
I saw much sense, as I SO OFTEN DO, IN SUE Ps wise and apt post. THAT post shows context!
Jon.
Ken was pointing out the ACTUAL facts as of this week. These are facts not speculation. Every other team has as much if not more injuries than us. A FACT. we cannot use injuries as an excuse for losing one of our 12 games so far….
Pat, do I see a backhanded compliment in there?!🤔
When we have not played to our potential, some fans have said it’s due to ALL our injuries – I’ve just given the facts and figures and suggested that we shouldn’t think we are the club most affected…. as we patently are not.
YES Pat, I am well aware Ken was pointing out the stats as of this week.
That was the precise point I answered, when I STATED THAT IS FAR TOO SHORT A PERIOD, AND WITH NO PROPER AND DEEPER CONTEXT THAN SHORT TERM BALD STATS.
I cannot think why you feel the need to explain to me what was very clear and which I ALREADY KNEW AND UNDERSTOOD??
Perhaps you would care to answer that question?
If anyone can remember earlier in the campaign, Ten Hag claims that Arsenal have been lucky, comparing to Man United and their injury woes.
To make matters worst he went on” you see Arsenal and they almost have a full squad available all times.
Think his claim was plain wrong, the problem is Arsenal squad is razor thin if you ask me.
Last season we went to the London Stadium and West Ham was able to field a team with six regular players missing and they were able to give us a run for our money, not much has changed since, in terms of our squad depth.
After our first eleven Arsenal is down to sheer bones, it’s for this reason Arsenal injuries would appear worst on the surface in comparison to other outfit.
I agree that our squad is thin, but there are about 14/15 players who are really worth their salt, not just 11.
Worth their salt, think I like that.
Very interesting Ken1945 but is there a way of finding out if the injuries are for key players in each team? I’m not trying to make light of it but losing some of our most important players to injury has been damaging. We are unlikely to consider the loss of fringe players as crucial. That said, all teams have injury woes but as has been mentioned, some squads are stronger overall
That was the frustrating part SueP, I couldn’t break it down to individuals.
Perhaps someone with a better knowledge of breaking down the PL injuries list could?!
Personally I think that the fact that the Premier league injury average this year has been exacerbated by the world cup, resulting in such a congested match timetable. Not the sole reason, but a factor. That being said the Women’s team has been hit much more by injuries, with a lot of them being severe and long term, within the past year, and there was no world cup to blame….
I saw those stats in a piece on the BBC Sport site (quoting the source ken1945 used) and the focus was on the way injuries have gone up a lot this season across all teams compared to before.
They were trying to work out why. Nobody really knew. World cup was one theory because the players didnt get a proper rest.
G.Jesus is playing for Brasil today.Bad news.
He’s still alive & well.
Do you know for how many minutes(approx) he played, by any chance?
I think the boys are more injured this season was because of the extreme pre-season training they had in the beginning. Just look at how much Trossard, Odegaard, Gabriel, Saka, Zinchenko and Kiwior lost weight. I think these issues are temporary and it will serve positively in the long run.
Well, one thing is for sure. The first half of last season we had the benefit of very few injuries, and picked our starting 11 in every PL game from 13-14 players. This season has started much differently in that respect, but we have done very well to live up to being one of very few, who can challenge City.
Interesting article, but unfortunately there’s no context. E.g. Exactly who is missing for each club in regards to the starting XI and squad players? Missing a few squad players with a fully fit starting XI makes no difference.
I am however a strong believer that key injuries do make a huge difference, and that is the main reason as to why we missed out on the top 4 two seasons ago, and the title last season.