Andy Carroll was so typical of our problems
West Ham fans have often wondered down the years whether the squad has been under some ancient curse by this time of the season – but not this one.
I have no way of checking names and times but the number of injuries we have suffered over recent campaigns has been nothing less than shocking.
Winston reid, Andy Carroll, Manu and Jack Wilshere have of course been obvious examples but there have been many others on a more intermittent and shorter term basis which has clearly affected results.
Suddenly, however, we seem virtually free of a problem which at times has put us at the top of the undesirable ‘most players injured.’
The improvement has to be put down to the medical department to some extent and here CandH’s regular match day ratings reporter Niall McDonald gives a possible take on why things are CURRENTLY so much better.
He wrote on the CandH FB page : ” Certainly we seem to have moved on most of the perennially injured, which helps a lot.
But generally the fitness, stamina and resistance to injury seems much improved. Moyes’ regime must have something to do with it.
I wondered if the enforced break of lockdown helped players rest and recover from niggles, and built better/different levels of fitness. And then the sharp turn round of games under restart may have meant more focus on recovery and preparation.
Certainly been a real bonus so far.”