I don't know how you can say the injury crisis was coming due to Bielsa's methods and then say in the same argument that nobody including Bielsa himself or our medical department had any idea what his methods will do to a group of players into season 4.
You are saying that it is due to Bielsa but then saying nobody can know how the effect of Bielsa's level of intense training will be due to no player having gone through it before.
It's true though, nobody had any idea what another season of MB's intense style would do to the players. Now we are seeing a massive drop off in form and injuries like we have never known and many of them are hamstring and hip injuries which are symptomatic of overload. I am no medical professional but I've spent enough time working out to know that.I agree that some players won't be able to hack the intensity of it, maybe that's why Alioski left or maybe he wanted a guaranteed spot.
Ali I suspect went for the money.Some players have thrived though and continue to get better, allowing for dips of form allong the way such as we have seen with Dallas and Harrison. Yes you can argue that players will reach a level where they can't improve but we have seen imporvement where none of us expected there to be with so many players under Bielsa and for some the improvement will continue. I would say Dallas continues to improve despite having been a regular starter now for 3 consecutive seasons (after being out most of the year prior to that so it seems a previously weak body can become tougher).
I don't think that is the case, I think Dallas levels have dropped significantly this season and that is reflected in the motm thread where he has barely featured and I don't think he has any top 3s or atleast he certainly didn't last time I looked. He has certainly given his all to the cause and at nearly 31 you would expect a drop off tbf to him.
Harrison tbh I've never hugely rated, his end product has never been that good. I think he more than most massively benefits from the system and the sheer volume of opportunities to get forward he gets. Put him in a less attacking side he would struggle to get 5 goal contributions. Not to say I don't appreciate the contributionhe has made and he has been a true professional but I think no fans benefited him more than most and last when fans have been present his goal contributions have been well down on comparativewingers.Bamford went from being out for nearly a full season to being near ever present for 2 seasons so there was no real reason to expect the injury plagued season for him. Cooper, KP and Llorente have always missed a few matches per season so no real change for them. Klich's ever present run was amazing but that takes its toll on any player no matter who the play for, especially given how many matches he has also played for Poland. So I think most clubs would expect a few injuries but we have had them all at once. If the injuries had been spread over the season then we'd likely be doing better.
Regarding Bamford I would say the total opposite. Because of the sheer amount of running he is asked to do and the sheer amount off matches he played in those seasons you mentioned and also Because he gave an interview last season fully admitting to playing injured (something I am massively against and something Bielsa has admitted doing only a few weeks ago regarding Dallas and Ayling I think it was) the club should expect him to break down. He is not a robot and it was inevitable eventually.
Cooper, KP and Llorente as you say do have a bit of an injury prone reputation. We broke Klich, and given how much we neglected midfield that is a huge part of my frustration. Klich gave interviews admitting to being absolutely exhausted, the man needed a significant rest or to be let go as he apparently requested.We have suffered bad injury problems every year under Bielsa, every year, not as bad as this year but certainly one of thenworst in the league and last season was no difference. Logic tells you a small squad, limited rotation an intense style, the most intense style, that will eventually catch up with players. Plenty of people ex player of Biesla have admitted to being exhausted by his methods. Our own players have said it, Bamford, Klich, Harrison and players who adore him like Ander Herrera. Our fans get upset if anyone suggests burnout but the increased risk of injuries must be fairly undeniable even for the most ardent supporters? I just can't see how you can argue that our squad isn't strong enough then at the same time not say the injuries are a key part to why we have struggled this season. That just doesn't stack up. I agree we don't have adequate back up for Bamford and Phillips yet you then suggest that injuries have made no difference, well clearly they have as I am sure we'd be doing better with Bamford and KP in the team.
I've never felt this season our squad was strong enough tbf to me mate. I was very adamant about that in the summer when I made the thread about needing a massive overhaul. I said the same in every pre season thread to. I never believed we had the quality or the depth fully fit or not. If we survived I thought it would be inspite of ourselves (3 worse teams). I made the point in the thread about 3-4 year cycles also when discussing pressing teams remember? I've been deeply concerned all season and pre season so I am atleast consistent I understand you saying how can I say injuries haven't made a difference but my response is that I expect that those who have been missing would have had a drop off in form same as everyone else. KP hasn't been firing on all cylinders when fit, neither had Ayling, Rodrigo, Cooper etc. It isn't like we haven't had these players fit at points and none of them have hit anything like the heights of last season. So thats why.Maybe we should have strengthened the squad further but equally there isn't an infinite amount of money that the club has. Fees of £10m are bandied about like they are nothing. It isn't realistic.
The club never intended on though, we know that from Kinnear and his 2 years transfer rubbish. Of course there isn't unlimited funds but the fact the club never really intended on strengthening irks me. If Alioski hadn't left and Valencia hadn't taken Costa on loan would we have even signed anyone?