MillsySCIAGwindermereROYAL You only have to look back at the 106 season, more or less an unchanged team or all 46 games. there were a few niggles but they were normally back within a few weeks.
They weren`t made of glass like this lot.
Completely wrong, as discussed recently, the iconic lineup of Hahnemann-Murty-Sonko-Ivar-Shorey-Little-Sidwell-Harper-Convey-Doyle-Kitson actually only started six games. We very rarely had an unchanged side.
Little, Sidwell, Kitson and Lita all missed significant periods of the season. We had to use Stephen Hunt as a striker and a left back at various times. We were very lucky that Sonko and Ivar were fit all season (as well as Harper and Convey). At one stage we had Murty, Shorey, Sidwell, Kitson, and Little all injured, plus Stack unavailable. Check out the famous win over Sheffield United - our bench was Federici, Osano, Baradji, Oster (on for injured Little at half time) and Obinna.
One major difference is that back then we had a core squad of 15 outfield players. Now we have a squad of 22 or 23 outfield players, 50% bigger. So having 50% more injuries makes sense even before we consider things like COVID.
So even with only 15 outfield players we were able to able to field a side that was pretty solid, noone majorly out of position and beat records.
We've been playing midfielders in defence and as full backs, midfielders up front. Despite a larger squad where we should have 50% more residual fit players going by your numbers.
To deny there's even an issue here is very surprising. Are you a professional club apologist perchance?
No, I’m just not an idiot.
In 2005, our squad had a proper pre-season for the second year running and we still had to use a winger at full back, a midfielder on the wing, and some bloke who last played for Stuttgart Kickers in the German regional leagues up front.
This season we have a squad that hasn’t had a normal pre-season for two years which has adversely affected their conditioning. We’ve had a freak number of knee ligament strains, impact injuries and broken bones which I find it hard to believe Jon Fearn could magically have prevented.
You’d know this if you’d read the article on the club site.