Bauer out for a “couple of months”
I’d imagine this was a surprising blow to all of us this morning. With the latest round of injuries to Bielik, Pratley and Ajose said to be just a couple of weeks of inability, after an MRI this morning Patrick Bauer tweeted that he has ruptured his fibular collateral ligament, which is located on the outer side of the knee, and will be out “for a couple of months.”
Bauer and Pearce were excellent together on Saturday, and Bowyer’s central defensive partnership, whether it’s a two or a three, has not been settled at all since the season kicked off. Naby Sarr will feature, deservedly so, but I assume Bowyer is still a week away from having Bielik back?
Other than that we are looking at Jo Cummings, Kenneth Yao or the Aussie Ryan Blumberg from the U23’s. Anfernee Dijksteel maybe able to do a job in a three, and is certainly more experienced around the 1st team.
Sorry to say Cummins Yao and Blumberg are not ready for first team duty We will have a major problem if Pearce or Saar are injured before Bielik returns. Dijksteel is not powerful enough to play as one of two central defenders but may be OK in a back three..Bowyer’s small squad philosophy is unravelling.
Okay, good. We are on the same page. Dijksteel and Sarr together in a three maybe too open though.
rierti……..pretty sure it’s his lack of a decent budget rather than his philosophy. 🙁
Certainly money is a major factor, but in preseason Bowyer was quoted as saying he was happy to work with a smaller squad than last year.
He did say that. There can be a lot of value in that I agree. But you need to be lucky with injuries.
How was it in the 70’s and 80’s we used to run with a 20-man squad?
I’d agree with Bob. Although LB has put a brave front on it, those are the cards he was dealt. Possibly he could have got a few more Joe Dodoo’s for one Josh Cullen or Krystian Bielik but has decided quality over numbers..