Feature on the news this morning about how football physios aren't up to scratch. Kind of ties in with various discussions on here over the years.

From the BBC

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Answers

Was reading this in the Metro newspaper this morning....I'd always kinda assumed that things would've moved on from the old days just because of the massive investment in clubs these day.....obviously not!

Well I wouldn't now be suprised if our run of injuries had something to do with it.....

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I cannot possibly believe that NUFC haven't looked into this. With our injury record it would slap of mis-management on a grander scale than most other issues.

I suggest a change of staff to bring about a change in fortune if all else fails, there is simpply too much to lose.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

New song

Sack the physios, sack the physios, sack the physios.....

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

PHYSIOS - OUT!
PHYSIOS - OUT!
PHYSIOS PHYSIOS PHYSIOS - OUT OUT OUT!

Hmmm - very dodgy this - the backs of our necks will be covered in the spit of the person behind.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Have you not got a hood Jonno?

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Holy cow! I wouldn't have believed things to be so unprofessional in one of the world's top leagues. :-(

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

That's an interesting link. but from my experience as an exercise physiologist it doesn't surprise me at all. I've seen the training schedules of professional sports teams in NZ and Australia, and they tend to be very scientific, always up with the latest developments. In fact, most teams employ a sscientist who interprets the latest developments, or searchs for answers themselves. They also regularly check other sports codes looking to steal ideas. And since a £40k salary would be considered exceptional for an academic in the UK, it wouldn't take too much to attract a good applicant.

I was amazed when watched training under the TDO era. The warm-ups were exactly the same as I used to do in NZ in the 1980s when my coach was an ex-pro from Southend and Rotherham. Perhaps it was due to the fitness trainers who were left over from previous regimes. In comparison, when I watched training as a guest at Chelsea in the Vialli era, the warm-up and warm-down were similar to the modern day techniques. Vialli brought in his fitness trainer from Juventus I think.

The actual article hasn't actually been published yet. It will be in the February edition of the journal, so if anyone is interested I'll get a copy of it and post a brief summary. There will also be an article in the same issue on the rates of injury in the premier league. I'll be interested to see if there is any comparison made between clubs or different professional leagues.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I'd be interested in it, Kiwi. Not having been so closely involved in the training side of things, I still notice the differences even from what I've seen in MLS. Can't say I honestly know about the rest of the league, but I do know the network of physios and doctors working for the New England Revolution are fully qualified, sport medicine specialists. Was in direct contact with them when one of Mexico's players suffered an aggravation of her knee injury during Gold Cup.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

£150,000 a year to pay for a fitness coach and two top class physio's surely must be a viable option considering the cumulative sums of money on our treatment table this season alone!!!

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I wonder whether our crap training facilities are to blame for the injuries.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I'm sure they could be the source of the problem. Didn't Rob Lee say as much in his book? Something along the lines of the training ground is like a Sunday pub side pitch.

BTW, From the Guardian. The average number of injuries at each club per season was 39

I wonder how many we have had.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Nico Dabizas is planning to return from injury by the end of February, a month ahead of schedule. His damning condemnation of the clubs medical staff was highlighted by his return to Greece to get hs knee sorted out. He isn't back in the country yet but will return soon.

Our lads will probably have him pencilled in for a practice match against Wimbledon a week after he touches down thus finishing him off for the season. Can't see him getting his place back anyway.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001