Powderfinger
Full Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2015
- Messages
- 2,304
- Supports
- Arsenal
I think United might have suffered the worst injury luck of the current top six but its a lot closer than this analysis makes it seem.
As others have noted, the approach confuses injury with non-selection. If you account for times players were available but just not selected, Mainoo would be in yellow and Varane in green. Garnacho and Hojlund would also likely be green if they were automatic starters when fit for Ten Hag, which would put United at 7 green, 1 yellow, 3 red. Its still tough to lose three key players in the defensive spine (Casemiro, Martinez, Shaw) for so much of the year but not nearly as dramatic as this makes it seem.
Some other sides look a lot worse if you make slightly different choices about their best XI. Timber and Partey were expected to play tons for Arsenal and we've gotten almost zero from both. Matip was the most selected partner for Van Dijk during the first part of the season and he is done for the year. Bentancur is surely in Spurs' best XI when fit.
I also think Chelsea would look worse than United if they were included.
As others have noted, the approach confuses injury with non-selection. If you account for times players were available but just not selected, Mainoo would be in yellow and Varane in green. Garnacho and Hojlund would also likely be green if they were automatic starters when fit for Ten Hag, which would put United at 7 green, 1 yellow, 3 red. Its still tough to lose three key players in the defensive spine (Casemiro, Martinez, Shaw) for so much of the year but not nearly as dramatic as this makes it seem.
Some other sides look a lot worse if you make slightly different choices about their best XI. Timber and Partey were expected to play tons for Arsenal and we've gotten almost zero from both. Matip was the most selected partner for Van Dijk during the first part of the season and he is done for the year. Bentancur is surely in Spurs' best XI when fit.
I also think Chelsea would look worse than United if they were included.
Last edited: