Luke Shaw injured again and out of England U21 Euro 2013 squad.

[John Boy Saint]

I think Michael Owen who retired at 33 should be thrown into this thread, he exploded onto the scene at 17 and played so much football before he was even 20 when most lads are still growing. He acquired a hamstring problem early on which became the bain of his career after shining so brightly.

There are obviously niggles with Luke that quite easily could be attributed to still growing, so why allow what is looking to have been a good investment by the club so far to burn out early, when if everything goes to plan with the Southampton way he could be the next Ashley Cole but still playing for Saints. Just staying on these young players still growing causing niggles, when Steven Gerrard kept getting niggles in his very early 20s I recall it coming out according to the medical stats that he was still growing and that was the root of his problems.

Wrap Luke up in cotton wool I say, as I can't be the only Saints fan who watches Gareth Bale with a tinge of what if?

[The Kraken]

Fair enough with the Rooney stats, I didn't have access to the details of sub appearances, but he still played a lot of football in his first 2 seasons. I stand by my assertion though that we have not over played Shaw, or at least that this is not a reason for his injuries/illnesses. He probably played less games by being in the first team than he would otherwise. AS I mentioned, but you didn't pick up, it may be over-training that is the issue, the fitness levels/training regime that NA and even more MP have instilled is more likely to be a negative factor for a young lad who is clearly still maturing physically.

 

I think I did pick it up; and I don't think our views are far apart. My whole point is not entirely that he's playing too many games in number, but as I said previously in this thread ".....as youngsters are still growing and developing their bodies its entirely natural that they'll be more succeptible to knocks and minor injuries, so perhaps more often than not 100% fit." I feel this applies to training as much as it does to playing 90 minutes in competitive matches. Which is why I'm neither surprised that Shaw has been in and out of the side, nor worried that its anything other than a young man getting used to the physical demands of playing men's football.

[LostBoys]

so if he's going to sit on the bench somewhere he might as well go and do it at Chelsea for 100k () a week.

 

 

:rolleyes:

 

 

I agree and I was not suggesting we either sell him or bench him only that you cannot play 38 Pl games at 17/18 (the near equivalent once he came into the side - 25 games?).

[Saintandy666]

He's 17, and been playing the vast majority of Saints's games this year in the world's most demanding league... at SEVENTEEN. It's no wonder he's picked up an injury.

[Saint Charlie]

Decent article on the OS, certainly doesn't sound like he is leaving...if anything it sounds like we have suggested he pulls out to get properly fit for next year.

[paris]

Shaw "I think we can definitely achieve Top 10 easily, we'll bring in some players in the summer and see what happens from there"