Topic: International Watch

[Fromola]

Akanji, Walker and Stones vs Andy Robbo.

I'll take it.

Only one of them will actually be injured though. Every time a physio comes on with us you know it's an injury. Guardiola will have just told them to go off at the slightest thing.

[FlashingBlade]

Was gonna watch Shogun..but waiting till all games over..see who's made it...like counting planes coming back from a Bomber raid in Masters of the Air

[The WASP]

Only one of them will actually be injured though. Every time a physio comes on with us you know it's an injury. Guardiola will have just told them to go off at the slightest thing.

Perhaps but they will all be a doubt for Sunday as of now. Robbo will be a loss but you can argue with Gomez there we are stronger.

[Fromola]

Perhaps but they will all be a doubt for Sunday as of now. Robbo will be a loss but you can argue with Gomez there we are stronger.

It's more the schedule beyond Sunday. We need everyone fit because the schedule will be brutal in April and into May. Overplay players and you get more injuries and fatigue.

[rafathegaffa83]

Robertson injury is infuriating. It's a fucking friendly. Stupid management from Clarke to even put him in that position

[Crosby Nick]

So based on having his shirt over his head, he won't be fit for Wolves but he'll be OK for 3 days later? 

Hope Robbo is ok but that’s quite funny.

[Crosby Nick]

Van Dijk, Konate, Bradley and Tsimikas, our likely back four for Sunday, all playing tonight. As is Gomez, who might start if one them misses out.

It’s only Tuesday and the game is on Sunday. They’ll be ok (until they’re not).

[kesey]

the new normal.

With all due respect to an Anny Roader just say it's a load of bollocks or something.  That term is ....     is.    ...  ah sorry wrong meeting.

[Tonyh8su]

We must be either the most naive club in the world when it comes to these bullshit friendlies or the unluckiest.

Why the fuck is he playing tonight?!?!?!

[redgriffin73]

Only one of them will actually be injured though. Every time a physio comes on with us you know it's an injury. Guardiola will have just told them to go off at the slightest thing.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/13101849/kyle-walker-man-city-hopeful-defender-will-return-against-arsenal-after-picking-up-injury-with-england

[disgraced cake]

Robertson injury is infuriating. It's a fucking friendly. Stupid management from Clarke to even put him in that position

We must be either the most naive club in the world when it comes to these bullshit friendlies or the unluckiest.

Why the fuck is he playing tonight?!?!?!

It's frustrating isn't it even though we should be able to manage. I know it has no say in what happens in reality but I've been bewildered at anyone in the last week suggesting it's snide when City or Arsenal withdraw players. Fair play to them, I only wish we'd do it whenever possible.

[Fromola]

It's frustrating isn't it even though we should be able to manage. I know it has no say in what happens in reality but I've been bewildered at anyone in the last week suggesting it's snide when City or Arsenal withdraw players. Fair play to them, I only wish we'd do it whenever possible.

Stones and Walker don't go off if it's a Man City game, they'd have been warned any discomfort and go off and why not, it's a pointless friendly. We're far too soft and nice for anything like that. Robertson gets a knock and stays on and then he's off injured after making it worse. He shouldn't even be playing.

[disgraced cake]

Stones and Walker don't go off if it's a Man City game, they'd have been warned any discomfort and go off and why not, it's a pointless friendly. We're far too soft and nice for anything like that. Robertson gets a knock and stays on and then he's off injured after making it worse. He shouldn't even be playing.

I wouldn't even be that bothered if someone got a little knock in a tournament match in June, friendlies though, or any other Nations League type shite, just infuriating. There's too many opportunities for top players to get injured and the problem isn't club football, it's too many internationals. There needs to be less of them allowing the club matches to be spread out a little bit more.

[Nick110581]

Stones and Walker don't go off if it's a Man City game, they'd have been warned any discomfort and go off and why not, it's a pointless friendly. We're far too soft and nice for anything like that. Robertson gets a knock and stays on and then he's off injured after making it worse. He shouldn't even be playing.

Robertson may be fine

[zamagiure]

Diaz off after 66 minutes

[Irishred1]

Mac the last one to play tonight around 3 am.

[Jookie]

Stones and Walker don't go off if it's a Man City game, they'd have been warned any discomfort and go off and why not, it's a pointless friendly. We're far too soft and nice for anything like that. Robertson gets a knock and stays on and then he's off injured after making it worse. He shouldn't even be playing.

Maybe City players make that call and ask to be subbed at any sign of injury.

Maybe Robertson doesn’t. Maybe he feels obliged to stay on as captain.

Id guess its player led decisions rather than explicit instructions from the club. Players have a duty to do the right thing. In a friendly that mean putting club concerns over country

[Jookie]

It's frustrating isn't it even though we should be able to manage. I know it has no say in what happens in reality but I've been bewildered at anyone in the last week suggesting it's snide when City or Arsenal withdraw players. Fair play to them, I only wish we'd do it whenever possible.

Salah didn’t go away with Egypt. It’s a three way agreement. Needs country FA, club and player to agree to it.

Sometimes it’ll be national associations that stop players pulling out. A lot of the time I suspect it’s the players though. Needs tte players to want to miss internationals to get them out of friendlies.

[kop306]

based on what i have seen this season gomez deserves his place in the team
nice confidence booster for bradley scoring and trent is back soon
will be interesting to see if grav starts on sunday having had a rest for nearly 2 weeks

[classycarra]

We must be either the most naive club in the world when it comes to these bullshit friendlies or the unluckiest.

Why the fuck is he playing tonight?!?!?!

that's more a question to ask the player, not the club. club's not in a position to make any decisions for the players.

not followed this break, but on our quadruple run (some time around March) Van Gaal suggested resting Van Dijk in a pointless second, and Virg insisted on playing. Not much the club can do when a senior player is making a decision like that.

but when its seemingly enforced, Klopp seems to go to bat for the player (like when he had a go at france for playing Konate twice back to back)

[slaphead]

Stones and Walker don't go off if it's a Man City game, they'd have been warned any discomfort and go off and why not, it's a pointless friendly. We're far too soft and nice for anything like that. Robertson gets a knock and stays on and then he's off injured after making it worse. He shouldn't even be playing.

It's not as if we tell the lads to just play no matter what even if they feel something. We don't do that at club level, why would we at International level ? 
It depends on who the player is and the situation. Robertson is the Scotland captain and they're going through their worst run of form in years and getting booed. He's not going to want to come off. I havent seen the game but I was driving and on the radio it said it was a heavy challenge he tried to run off but couldn't. Fingers crossed it was just a knock and nothing too serious

[disgraced cake]

based on what i have seen this season gomez deserves his place in the team
nice confidence booster for bradley scoring and trent is back soon
will be interesting to see if grav starts on sunday having had a rest for nearly 2 weeks

I'm usually always wanting to see the strongest side play every game that's a must win but feels like the Sheffield United game we could make a few changes in. Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Gakpo etc, ones usually on the bench for the league if everyone is fit. Maybe even play Trent or Jones if they're fit. Wouldn't make five or six changes, just a couple here and there given the quality of the opposition. Beyond that it'd pretty much be full strength whenever possible until the end.

[slaphead]

There's an awful lot of giving off about players wanting to represent their countries, or perhaps it's more the amount of games.
I took a look at the amount of players from clubs away this break. Removing those we know who have pulled out. 
We have 14 (counting Endo who is back, and Elliot and Quansha in the under 21's)  Man City have 15. Arsenal have 11 away.  Man Utd have 11. Chelea have 13. Spurs have 18 (3 for under 21's) Everton have 7, and Jordan Pickford.

[amir87]

I’m fairly sure the club probably told the players that if they feel even the tiniest bit of pain to get themselves subbed off these pointless matches. You can tell the City players have done that.

If Robertson did in fact get hurt and decided to try and run it off then that’s on him I’m afraid. There’s fuck all anyone at the club can do about that.

[killer-heels]

Akanji, Walker and Stones vs Andy Robbo.

I'll take it.

Walker should be fit for City at the weekend looking at reports. Very much doubt Akanji and Stones are actually injured.

[Barneylfc∗]

I'm usually always wanting to see the strongest side play every game that's a must win but feels like the Sheffield United game we could make a few changes in. Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Gakpo etc, ones usually on the bench for the league if everyone is fit. Maybe even play Trent or Jones if they're fit. Wouldn't make five or six changes, just a couple here and there given the quality of the opposition. Beyond that it'd pretty much be full strength whenever possible until the end.

We should be looking at the Sheffield United game as an opportunity to make big strides in the gol difference.
We're 7 behind Arsenal and 4 ahead of Abu Dhabi. The cheats will close that gap against Luton alone.

We can play those players against Atalanta.

[disgraced cake]

We should be looking at the Sheffield United game as an opportunity to make big strides in the gol difference.
We're 7 behind Arsenal and 4 ahead of Abu Dhabi. The cheats will close that gap against Luton alone.

We can play those players against Atalanta.

Would prefer it in the second leg. Home leg should be the chance to get a commanding lead. We should have enough to beat them with a few changes (and probably will) but the closer it ends at Anfield the closer it'll probably be in Italy.

[killer-heels]

Would prefer it in the second leg. Home leg should be the chance to get a commanding lead. We should have enough to beat them with a few changes (and probably will) but the closer it ends at Anfield the closer it'll probably be in Italy.

Dunno, still have to consider that you are going to a Serie A side for an away game. I think a mix of first choice and squad players for both legs is likely.

[Number 7]

Mac Allister scores then off on 60.

[BoRed]

We should be looking at the Sheffield United game as an opportunity to make big strides in the gol difference.
We're 7 behind Arsenal and 4 ahead of Abu Dhabi. The cheats will close that gap against Luton alone.

We can play those players against Atalanta.

Normally, I'd agree, but going strong v Sparta cost us at Man Utd, and we'll struggle there again if we don't rotate v Sheffield Utd. A professional 2-0 at half pace will do.

Besides, GD is not all that likely to decide the title. Arsenal won't last the distance, and with City a point behind us, it's unlikely we'll finish level.

[Schmarn]

I have 2 thoughts on the issue of international availability and injuries.

For friendly matches, no international manager should be starting the same player in both games. Absolutely no call for it given the irrelevance of the games.

Secondly, they should introduce a simple rule that if a club withdraws a player from international duty then they are suspended for the next club game. That way we’re all on the same playing field. I imagine City fans are fuming about their injuries while Arsenal pulled a bunch of players and are rested up. While I don’t feel sorry for City, tribalism just means nothing changes.

[Fromola]

I’m fairly sure the club probably told the players that if they feel even the tiniest bit of pain to get themselves subbed off these pointless matches. You can tell the City players have done that.

If Robertson did in fact get hurt and decided to try and run it off then that’s on him I’m afraid. There’s fuck all anyone at the club can do about that.

What is he playing at trying to run an injury off in a friendly? Idiot.

Meanwhile Arsenal give everyone the fortnight off and City players will go off if they feel the slightest knock.

[kavah]

Mac Allister scores then off on 60.

Nice 

[Crosby Nick]

What is he playing at trying to run an injury off in a friendly? Idiot.

Meanwhile Arsenal give everyone the fortnight off and City players will go off if they feel the slightest knock.

Rice played most of both games didn’t he? Didn’t play close attention. I know they pulled Saka out but surely some of their others have played some minutes too.

[sheepfest]

Normally, I'd agree, but going strong v Sparta cost us at Man Utd, and we'll struggle there again if we don't rotate v Sheffield Utd.

This time like us they play on Thursday and it's away at Chelsea.

[BoRed]

This time like us they play on Thursday and it's away at Chelsea.

Reminds me of the time they rested their entire team against Leicester just to (try to) fuck us up a few days later. Hopefully they still see themselves as having something to play for this time around.

In any case, I don't think their style of play relies on intensity as much as ours, they won't be as fatigued and they can still hit us on the counter like they did the last time. I still think we need to rotate and, once ahead by a couple of goals, take it easy against Sheffield Utd rather than chase GD.

[sheepfest]

Reminds me of the time they rested their entire team against Leicester just to (try to) fuck us up a few days later. Hopefully they still see themselves as having something to play for this time around.

In any case, I don't think their style of play relies on intensity as much as ours, they won't be as fatigued and they can still hit us on the counter like they did the last time. I still think we need to rotate and, once ahead by a couple of goals, take it easy against Sheffield Utd rather than chase GD.

Can't see Klopp not rotating for the rest of the season but hopefully we have more bodies to rotate with. Agree about the GD, best to forget it and just keep getting 3 points.

Hate internationals but fully recharged now and luckily so is my bank balance.

[slaphead]

What is he playing at trying to run an injury off in a friendly? Idiot.

Meanwhile Arsenal give everyone the fortnight off and City players will go off if they feel the slightest knock.

He's the captain of his country and he tried to play on because he thought he could. Hardly makes him an idiot. Bit of respect for players and how they feel about their countries wouldn't go a miss mate no ?
Where's this notion that Arsenal had no players away come from ? They had Trossard, Rice, Saliba, Havertz, Jorhinho, Odegard, Kiwior, Tierney, Raya and Zinchenko away. And a couple of others. Hardly giving everyone the fortnight off
We have goal difference to catch up on too, Szobo, Bradley, Diaz, McAllister all scoring goals for their country won't do any harm.

[Barneylfc∗]

Total minutes played by our internationals in this break. Only 1 injury with Robertson hobbling off last night after 36 minutes.


Wataru Endo [Japan] 32 Mins
Konstantinos Tsimikas [Greece] 210 Mins
Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliot [England U21] Quansah 90 Mins, Elliott 163 Mins
Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo [Netherlands] van Dijk 180 Mins, Gakpo 97 Mins
Andy Robertson [Scotland] 126 Mins
Conor Bradley [Northern Ireland] 171 Mins
Dominik Szoboszlai [Hungary] 180 Mins
Luis Diaz [Colombia] 155 Mins
Alexis Mac Allister [Argentina] 77 Mins
Caoimhin Kelleher [Republic of Ireland] 90 Mins
Joe Gomez [England] 105 Mins
Ibrahima Konate [France] 90 Mins

[Crosby Nick]

Bit unfortunate that Robbo’s obvious replacement played the most minutes. They were two qualifying games so you can understand why.But he and Gomes can probably do a game each over the next week, Bradley hopefully ok for RB and we might even see Trent again at some point.

Midfield minutes could have been a lot worse, maybe Dom won’t start against Brighton but we should have options.