[Archived] Stephen Reid - Out For The Season

[philipl]

Probably Warnock is going to get an extended run in the centre. Apparently Vogel is fit now but Ince does not like him.

[grizfoot]

To be honest he wasn't the same player in the few games he's played this season. Will never get back upto the standard of when he was a good box-to-box player when he played alongside Savage and helped us qualify for Europe.

Reminds me very much of what happened to David Thompson. Too many injuries and its impossible to get back to the playing standard prior to thoose injuries. As harsh as it may sound I don't think Reid's that big of a loss, we've looked better in central midfield when he's been out.

[tchocky]

What a shame for Reid. A good honest pro and one of very very few Rovers players that I've briefly met in person. Like others have said it might spell the end for him at this level. It would be a miracle if he were to ever recover his best form.

Makes our central midfield very defensive looking now, with Warnock, Grella, Axe, Tugay, Vogel and even Emo all rather defensive minded.

[Amo]

Ince on Reidy's Injury:

http://www.skysports.com/video/clips/0,237...4348260,00.html

If his knees have "blown up" I'm surprised he'll even walk again, let alone play football this season.

[roverfanuk]

If his knees have "blown up" I'm surprised he'll even walk again, let alone play football this season.

I think he meant blown up in the swelling sense, not the 'Bullard' knee cartilage popping...

I think he might have something fairly similar to what i have got right now, but steming from a different source. I broke my kneecap a while back and ever since i have been having problems with my Articular Cartilage, Anterior Cruiciate Ligament and Patella Ligament.

Some days the pain is just barely tolerable and others i will be lying in bed biting my pillow in pain, the fact he has been playing through this even with painkillers is quite astonishing and goes to a certain extent to show why he couldnt meet what form he had...

As silly as it sounds, what they will probably do in the States is what they did to me (in this country), open up his knee, and have a good look at how his knee has heeled since his previous injury, and will probably tidy it up a bit (as silly as it sounds).

It's what they did for me, and now all i have to do is wait for muscle regrowth and build my knee up to strength and it will be much improved...

If he does get back on the pitch, he deserves a huge round of applause...

To give you a idea of the extent of the operation he migh need, this is what they had to do for my knee... Very similar, but he will probably be able to afford a good plastic surgen to hide the scar!

[Bobby G]

Never receovered his form since returning from injury though alot of it was down to confidence as he hadnt lost pace or power or any of those attributes. Disappointed as he was one of my favorites and possibly first names on the list at his peak. Cant see him ever recovering to his best now, albeit didnt think he would after his performances since last season either...Wish him the best.

[yellowsubmarine]

Speedy recovery to Reidy! Hope he will bounce back stronger, as this long term injury is surely gonna affect him mentally.

[philipl]

Let's see whether he comes back.

If he got back as close as he did and put in excellent performances for Ireland whilst playing in such adverse circumstances, then there is hope he will get back to his top form once they sort out the problem.

Certainly, I would imagine the medics will have looked to see if he has become an insurance "write-off" and that clearly is not the case with the new operation now going to be performed in America.

Hopefully, he will not have to call it a day like poor old Thompson had to.

[John]

Really sad news. Feel devasted for the guy.

[Amo]

I think he meant blown up in the swelling sense, not the 'Bullard' knee cartilage popping...

Gee, ya think?

[Lathund]

Always sad when when players like Reid keep suffering these injuries. Barring that one good season (05/06?) I've never really thought he was good enough to start for Rovers, but as a backup for several positions I've wanted him to stay at the club. Seems to have a great attitude on and off the pitch, and one can never fault his effort. I wish him all the best with his recovery, but I can't help thinking that perhaps his time at Rovers has come to an end; as much as I like the guy a club like ours needs to have our players fit and available as much as possible.

[philipl]

Ince questions why Trappatoni played Reid twice in four days.

[waggy]

surely the rep of ireland will have to pay us compensation

[DingleBaiter]

Not sure we can rely on the insurance on this one. Past history, plus it's often hard to isolate the cause, plus the fact it should be a recoverable. However, may be able to get some element of his wages offset due to insurance, rather than counter-claim.

Then again, we probably got mis-sold our PPI

In the scheme of things, sad as it as - cold hard logic suggests we won't really miss out and the net result in the long term will probably be the same, that his future lies elsewhere (wages permitting).

[The Harwood Yankee]

In light of Reid's injury, and that of Dunn, our central midfield now must surely be one of the weakest in the division. A 38-year old Tugay, Mokoena, the unfavoured (by Ince) Vogel, and Andrews & Grella - the last 2 with less than 6 Premiership starts between them. And that's it!! Warnock or Emerton out of position or Villanueva or Fowler playing deeper than they were really intended are our other options. All possible to get us through to the end of the year, but a central midfielder really has to be the absolute priority come January. We've been talking about this on here for the last couple of seasons. I know our ideal of a 26-yr old Tugay is unlikely, but a club with our aspirations needs some creativity in the middle and at present we have none.

[thenodrog]

In light of Reid's injury, and that of Dunn, our central midfield now must surely be one of the weakest in the division. A 38-year old Tugay, Mokoena, the unfavoured (by Ince) Vogel, and Andrews & Grella - the last 2 with less than 6 Premiership starts between them. And that's it!! Warnock or Emerton out of position or Villanueva or Fowler playing deeper than they were really intended are our other options. All possible to get us through to the end of the year, but a central midfielder really has to be the absolute priority come January. We've been talking about this on here for the last couple of seasons. I know our ideal of a 26-yr old Tugay is unlikely, but a club with our aspirations needs some creativity in the middle and at present we have none.

A point that applies equally to Spurs. Look on the bright side HY, at least they wont be raiding us for another midfielder.

[joey_big_nose]

To be honest Reid has looked really poor recently, bar the openeing game against Everton. I like him, and he is a good guy who deserves to make a full recovery, but we need to push on. Even barring his injury i would imagine that his head could have been on the chopping block once we signed a right winger.

We now need Grella to step up. He is going to be our lynchpin whoever he plays alongside (probabaly Warnock with Tugay coming on later in games). We actually have quite a lot of cover with Andrews, Mokoena and Vogel all kicking about on top of Toog's. Dunn is scheduled to return in December (although I will believe it when I see it!).

If Grella can show technical quality, vision and physicality, whilst Warnock continues to grow in his central role, and Tugay can continue to add a spark I think we will be okay. Andrews is a good sub in my opinion, whilst Vogel has a bit of class about him (even if he is a bit small).

Probably our biggest issue is if Emerton gets injured. We only really have Derbyshire who can play out there and he is not too great at it. I wonder if Judge could make the step up? Or SImpson right wing and Ooijer right back? Looking a bit desperate...

In light of Reid's injury, and that of Dunn, our central midfield now must surely be one of the weakest in the division. A 38-year old Tugay, Mokoena, the unfavoured (by Ince) Vogel, and Andrews & Grella - the last 2 with less than 6 Premiership starts between them. And that's it!! Warnock or Emerton out of position or Villanueva or Fowler playing deeper than they were really intended are our other options. All possible to get us through to the end of the year, but a central midfielder really has to be the absolute priority come January. We've been talking about this on here for the last couple of seasons. I know our ideal of a 26-yr old Tugay is unlikely, but a club with our aspirations needs some creativity in the middle and at present we have none.

Theoretically Grella is that player. We paid 4m for him and he is supposed to be a destroyer and a bit of a creator. Not exactly Tugay but a tidy player who can let Dunn (when he is fit) get forward and be the spark.

If it works Grella-Dunn could be an impressive combination. But injury records and Grella's need to adapt could put a real strain on this.

[philipl]

Encouraging news on Reid's recovery