INJURY UPDATE ?

According to an article about a week ago, Sarcevic is out for a few weeks. Walker is expected back in training early next week after taking a knock at Walsall - another impact injury, but nothing serious thankfully.
There normally are updates but they’re hidden in quotes from interviews

 

Walker had his shorts and training/warm up kit on in the stand today for the match so either it was a late fitness test that he failed or he had been doing some work out just before coming and sitting with his family and friends for the game

 

Hello Darius good to see you back.

 

There was a full article on Sarcevic, he could be out for a couple of months https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/24577937.bradford-city-midfielder-antoni-sarcevic-suffers-injury-blow/

Walker got a knock against Walsall and his knee has bruised up, Alexander said yesterday he hopes Walker will be back training Tuesday or Wedneday.

Byrne and Baldwin could be back in the next few weeks, Kelly went for a scan on Wednesday and they didn't have the results as of the pre match conference https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/24593753.bantams-boss-not-precious-free-agent-market/

 

It’s worth keeping up with the news even when away?

 

Been a good season out in 'beefa mate?

 

Kelly goes under the knife for his ankle injury, likely to be out until Christmas

 

Jeez. Somebody better wrap Shepherd and Diabate in industrial strength protective wrapping. If anything happens to them, we’re shafted.

 

Ha yes. Well as Richards played in the first half on Saturday, he looked more like a winger than the LCB which is allegedly his natural position.

 

Had an awful feeling that Diabate will be recalled in Jan, but having a look at the Exeter forum they don't seem too convinced he'll ever play under Caldwell. He uses ball playing CBs and the loanees they have are far better at that task than Diabate was from the sounds of their fans. He's out of contract too in the summer.

 

That should, I hope, work in our favour...

 

From reading their views on seeing him over the last few years, really good L2 defender, not so much L1. He'll beat practically any forward to a header, challenge most tackles, clear anything that's there to be cleared, fair to say we've seen pretty much all those traits so far too.

But to be in L1 these days, you need to be good on the ball and that's where he's faltered it seems. He looks to have a little pace on him too, maybe if he played as the central man between two ball players, he'd get away with it? But whilst we are down here, he ticks every box we need him to.

 

Offcomedun. They need to reinvest the premier league windfall on two centre half’s we don’t own. Now…. Groundwork and buy in January. lol go on sparky I dare usssseee

 

Me and my mate were saying this when watching Diabete on saturday, it's hard to believe that a team like exeter have 3 or 4 better centre halves than him. It does show you the gap there is between the leagues now.

 

Nah, they'll be reet;
Didn't have to go to Austria for the training session to build up their fitness

 

Might not be "better" but they have guys that suit their needs. Even in L1 now, you play to keep the ball, pretty much everyone does. But, there are teams like Stevenage who play direct and have guys like Piergianni as pillars of their side, who has always been a more no-nonsense style of defender to lead a backline. He wouldn't be touched by over 90% of that league, but he finds himself in a team that showcases his strengths and he's been having the best spell of his career.

With Diabate, he is more the no-nonsense kind than a ball player, and maybe he could have a career in L1 playing as the middle man, contest with anything aerially, be a physical block, let the wide CBs have the ball. He's only 22 and it could come later on to be fair.

 

Yes i suppose we've benefitted by getting a good player that just doesn't suit their style.
Lots of experience for a 22 year old, puts into perspective the likes of Crichlow who most of us rated. I'd love to get him permanently.
For me he has everything, perhaps not as comfortable on the ball as Baldwin or Shepherd seem to be. Diabate in the middle and those two either side of him is our strongest back 3 IMO