Noble was a bit before my time.
True re. Law. Stiles was prematurely finished through injury as well. They both managed pretty good careers though, unlike the others I mentioned.
If you could pick one injury plagued player to replay their entire career completely injury free, for your team, who are you taking?
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True re. Law. Stiles was prematurely finished through injury as well. They both managed pretty good careers though, unlike the others I mentioned.
If Robson isn't injury prone, we probably win the league in 85/86 and Ferguson doesn't happen. Atkinson probably manages for another 12 years until he's retired and has a statue for his 1 league title, and a few FA cups.
Where does Sir Alex end up? Liverpool after Dalglish leaves?
We probably end up bought by Abramovic, the Sheikh, Saudis or Qataris as a sleeping giant in the 2000s/2010s?
Where does Sir Alex end up? Liverpool after Dalglish leaves?
We probably end up bought by Abramovic, the Sheikh, Saudis or Qataris as a sleeping giant in the 2000s/2010s?
Saha is a great shout.
Brazilian Ronaldo is the obvious pick but everyone's named him already.
Shaw's leg break was gut wrenching for me. I still think he's the best left back in the world when in form, but he probably would've hit that level way earlier if not for that horrible injury.
Brazilian Ronaldo is the obvious pick but everyone's named him already.
Shaw's leg break was gut wrenching for me. I still think he's the best left back in the world when in form, but he probably would've hit that level way earlier if not for that horrible injury.
Giuseppe Rossi was exceptional while playing for the reserve team. His goal against Burton could have been a moment that would make him a star, but unfortunately, it did not happen. After leaving us, he appeared to be on the path to reaching the peak that many of us had hoped for, but his progress was derailed by injuries.
More an illness than an injury, but: Mario Götze
Onboard just for the shits n giggles
Jackie Blanchflower if you want a United player
Mourinho cost him that tbf. Though admittedly if he'd established himself under LVG, then Mourinho might not have thought of him as a project he was not interested in developing.
I still don't think he ever recovered that top level speed he had prior to that injury. He was rapid before the leg break.
I mean, R9 is quite clearly the far and away best injury-prone player ever, isn't he?
A heck of a player, did he struggle with injuries?Ronaldo. Although he still managed to become goat despite all his injuries.
Also; Alen Bokšić.
Van Basten, already was the best player in the world despite injuries.
Probably Hargreaves, that was a hole in the team for years
Titus Bramble.
Just kidding, how about Hargreaves.
Just kidding, how about Hargreaves.
Easily Norman Whiteside - Ferguson wrote in his biography that he thought Big Norm just lacked a bit of pace to be world class - and he was shocked when he talked to Whiteside about it, and his reply was that he was something look school champion in sprint but injuries had ruined a bit of his pace.
So an injury-free Whiteside would probably have been world class.
Webb was another one who would be fun to see at United without that knee-injury - he was arguably the best attacking midfielder in the league when United signed him. His goal-stats for Forest were insane considering he played central midfielder in a 4-4-2 and didn't take freekicks or penalties - think it was about 50 league goals in 150 matches for Forest
So an injury-free Whiteside would probably have been world class.
Webb was another one who would be fun to see at United without that knee-injury - he was arguably the best attacking midfielder in the league when United signed him. His goal-stats for Forest were insane considering he played central midfielder in a 4-4-2 and didn't take freekicks or penalties - think it was about 50 league goals in 150 matches for Forest
Ronaldo & van Basten are the obvious top-2 for me (and for almost everyone, I'd imagine). From the United greats Robson is the obvious choice and McGrath is another one — I think he would've cemented his place alongside Rio in United's All-Time XI if not for the injuries (and drinking).
The established XI (for some it's constant injuries, for others it's one career-defining one, but it's still a huge "what if?" question on top of an already amazing career):
*I really struggled with fullbacks, any ideas? It has to be an established superstar.
The early promise XI (very United-centric):
Lentini - Pato - Fati
Wilshere - Diaby
Rodwell
Fabio - Jones - Bailly - Rafael
Adler
Suggestions are welcome!
The established XI (for some it's constant injuries, for others it's one career-defining one, but it's still a huge "what if?" question on top of an already amazing career):
Ronaldo - van Basten
Del Piero ------------------------ Robben
Robson - Schuster
Camacho* - McGrath - Sammer - Hargreaves*
Čech
Bench: Baggio, Fowler, Falcao, Torres, Owen, Thiago, Reus, Ballack, Redondo, Fabregas, Kaka, Cazorla...
Del Piero ------------------------ Robben
Robson - Schuster
Camacho* - McGrath - Sammer - Hargreaves*
Čech
Bench: Baggio, Fowler, Falcao, Torres, Owen, Thiago, Reus, Ballack, Redondo, Fabregas, Kaka, Cazorla...
*I really struggled with fullbacks, any ideas? It has to be an established superstar.
The early promise XI (very United-centric):
Lentini - Pato - Fati
Wilshere - Diaby
Rodwell
Fabio - Jones - Bailly - Rafael
Adler
The injury that did that was from a damaged cartilage and United's chosen specialist surgeon removed the whole lot when he was 15. He played the career he did have with bone touching bone and still made a world cup at 17, scored a goal in an FA Cup final at 18 amongst a load more performances at a young age. I don't know if it's true, but I've read multiple times that had the surgery been keyhole surgery instead which was not the norm then he'd have had no issues with the knee.
Prosinecki
Boksic? Struggle is a mild word.
Would loved to have seen what Ronaldo and Gazza would have accomplished without serious injury.
Bit before my time mate.I was a toddler when he was playing. My dad rated him very highly - as he did all of the Babes.
I'd say Louis Saha
For goalkeepers, in my time it was Chris Kirkland. Dear Lord the man had bones made of glass.
These days, they would have used cadaver tissue but I'm not sure if that was a thing back in the 1980s.
Neymar.
It's a shame that a player so talented had his legacy harmed by frequent injuries. Except for aerial game, he had everything you could ask from an attacking player. Probably not many will agree with me, but I think that, apart from Messi, he's the most talented footballer of the last 30 years.
It's a shame that a player so talented had his legacy harmed by frequent injuries. Except for aerial game, he had everything you could ask from an attacking player. Probably not many will agree with me, but I think that, apart from Messi, he's the most talented footballer of the last 30 years.
Some great shouts already, Ronaldo the obvious over, Van Basten, Giggs and Robson also.
For ones not mentioned yet, Wes Brown and Woodgate. Immense talents the pair of them, just as good as the likes of Rio and Terry. Massively unlucky with injury though, if they could have stayed fit they'd have both been rated up with Moore, Adams and Rio as England's greatest ever centre backs, in my opinion.
For ones not mentioned yet, Wes Brown and Woodgate. Immense talents the pair of them, just as good as the likes of Rio and Terry. Massively unlucky with injury though, if they could have stayed fit they'd have both been rated up with Moore, Adams and Rio as England's greatest ever centre backs, in my opinion.
Before mine as well, if he was anything like his brother he would have been a hellva player
100% Gazza
Doesn't sound much different to klopp at Liverpool
For YOUR club people,
I cannot stress this enough!
Good discussion though
I cannot stress this enough!
Good discussion though
Ronaldo Nazario obviously.
Bryan Robson. It's that simple.
I don't think he'd be my pick, but Alan Shearer had two(?) ACL injuries. His goal record is still amazing, but...
Yes, but if your club counts on a player as good as Haaland and the right winger is the worst position in the squad you might be tempted to pick the non injured versions of Robben or Bale.
Not my Club, sorry OP, but Gareth Bale.
For Utd, Robson, Lee Sharpe & Hargreaves
For Utd, Robson, Lee Sharpe & Hargreaves
Adrian Doherty anyone? https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/nov/15/adrian-doherty-manchester-united-class-of-92
The book Forever Young by Oliver Kay is worth a read.
"Adrian Doherty was not a typical footballer. For one thing, he was blessed with extraordinary talent. Those who played alongside and watched him in the Manchester United youth team in the early 1990s insist he was as good as Ryan Giggs - possibly even better. Giggs, who played on the opposite wing, says he is inclined to agree.
On his 17th birthday, Doherty was offered a five-year contract - unprecedented for a United youngster at that time - and told by Alex Ferguson that he was destined for stardom. But what followed over the next decade is a tale so mysterious, so shocking, so unusual, so amusing but ultimately so tragic, that you are left wondering how on earth it has been untold for so long.
The stories of Doherty's contemporaries, that group of Manchester United youngsters who became known as the "Class of '92", are well known. Giggs ended up as the most decorated player in United's history; David Beckham became the most recognisable footballer on the planet; Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and others are household names. The story you don't know is about the player who, having had the world at his feet, died the day before his 27th birthday following an accident in a canal in Holland."
Sad story and sounded like a potentially huge talent.
The book Forever Young by Oliver Kay is worth a read.
"Adrian Doherty was not a typical footballer. For one thing, he was blessed with extraordinary talent. Those who played alongside and watched him in the Manchester United youth team in the early 1990s insist he was as good as Ryan Giggs - possibly even better. Giggs, who played on the opposite wing, says he is inclined to agree.
On his 17th birthday, Doherty was offered a five-year contract - unprecedented for a United youngster at that time - and told by Alex Ferguson that he was destined for stardom. But what followed over the next decade is a tale so mysterious, so shocking, so unusual, so amusing but ultimately so tragic, that you are left wondering how on earth it has been untold for so long.
The stories of Doherty's contemporaries, that group of Manchester United youngsters who became known as the "Class of '92", are well known. Giggs ended up as the most decorated player in United's history; David Beckham became the most recognisable footballer on the planet; Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and others are household names. The story you don't know is about the player who, having had the world at his feet, died the day before his 27th birthday following an accident in a canal in Holland."
Sad story and sounded like a potentially huge talent.
Most people won't even entertain this idea, especially the Ronaldinho comparisons, but I wholeheartedly agree with you on this.
Neymar had both the magic and the stats to back it up.
Yeah wouldn't be fair allowing Rodrigo Possesbon in this thread
I interpreted it is an injury prone player who could come and play for your team, not one who necessarily did already.
Seems like I'm not the only one.
Saha is a really good shout. I don’t think many people remember how good he was and the potential he had before his injuries got bad