2025/26 Jarrad Branthwaite

[MikeH72]

Senesi and stones would go a long way to securing us at the back...

Senesi,stones. Branthwaite, obrien and tarkowski offers us an ideal blend of robustness, pace and solidity at the back

Ah yes, nothing screams security like John Stones in big 2026.

 

[MikeH72]

no muscle injury is bad luck. it happens for a reason, whether thats fatigue, overloading, weak muscle, tight muscle, a muscle that is overcompensating for a another muscle thats not working as well etc

the only injuries that are bad luck/chance are the likes of betos on sunday that come from collisions. even then one could argue that’s the risk of challenging for a ball

but yeah, hamstrings don’t just pop for no reason. i learnt this the hard way.

craig bellamy had hamstring injuries all through his early career but managed to curb them under the guidance of Steve Fudge who was the S&C coach at City under Mark Hughes

he set up a training plan that involved bellamy training predominantly as a footballer who sprints, rather than as a footballer who runs 10k a game, if that makes sense

gone was the heavy cardio work and volume, instead he trained to sprint and recover. i think his minutes were managed too, he was no longer a 90 minute player. but he got a good few more years and at times produced the best football of his career

Fudge went on to coach the likes of James Dasaolu and Adam Gemili, who had injury problems of their own, to run sub 10 second 100m times when he switched to coaching in track and field

Branthwaite will need someone just as smart looking after him now

Right I’m not being funny but that can’t be a real person. Get him to my football club right now.

 

[ToffeeScot]

is this McNeil you are talking about.

As Branthwaite is the fastest CB we have

I'm saying the league is a slower pace, not Branthwaite.

 

[davids]

Think we need to wait for scan results. Might not be torn.

 

[Vaughan]

Think we need to wait for scan results. Might not be torn.

hes definitely torn his hamstring, it’s just to what severity

grade 1 tear is a pull in old money

a stretcher suggests its pretty bad, you can walk if its a grade 1

 

[Lanolin]

no muscle injury is bad luck. it happens for a reason, whether thats fatigue, overloading, weak muscle, tight muscle, a muscle that is overcompensating for a another muscle thats not working as well etc

the only injuries that are bad luck/chance are the likes of betos on sunday that come from collisions. even then one could argue that’s the risk of challenging for a ball

but yeah, hamstrings don’t just pop for no reason. i learnt this the hard way.

craig bellamy had hamstring injuries all through his early career but managed to curb them under the guidance of Steve Fudge who was the S&C coach at City under Mark Hughes

he set up a training plan that involved bellamy training predominantly as a footballer who sprints, rather than as a footballer who runs 10k a game, if that makes sense

gone was the heavy cardio work and volume, instead he trained to sprint and recover. i think his minutes were managed too, he was no longer a 90 minute player. but he got a good few more years and at times produced the best football of his career

Fudge went on to coach the likes of James Dasaolu and Adam Gemili, who had injury problems of their own, to run sub 10 second 100m times when he switched to coaching in track and field

Branthwaite will need someone just as smart looking after him now

Even then it's a lot easier to do that as a striker (certainly at that time anyway) than a centre half. You can't really be a centre half who doesn't play 90 minutes and you can't pick and choose when to run in that position.

 

[Vaughan]

Even then it's a lot easier to do that as a striker (certainly at that time anyway) than a centre half. You can't really be a centre half who doesn't play 90 minutes and you can't pick and choose when to run in that position.

yep, good point

but ye im not saying branthwaite shouldnt play 90 mins anymore, what i meant was he clearly needs very particular care and attention, which I’m sure he is getting already, but they really need to figure it out

he is susceptible to a muscle injury, but that doesnt mean it always will happen. the medical and conditioning staff just need to get this sorted

 

[PrekisCrossBarlow!]

Think we need to wait for scan results. Might not be torn.

To my untrained eye, based on where he was grabbing and the level of pain, it looked like he ripped the hammy clean off the pelvis at the top (a full rupture).
Hope I'm wrong as that would be 4-6 months.

 

[Nymzee]

We won't see him again this season regardless of how bad the tear is.

 

[COYBL25]

We won't see him again this season regardless of how bad the tear is.

Thought the exact same thing myself.

Get him fixed up properly and fit for the start of next season.

As much as Keane isn`t anywhere hear his level, he`s been an able deputy this season. He doesn`t moan or sulk when dropped and him having had his best season for us since he signed, has helped no end.

 

[Drico]

Think we need to wait for scan results. Might not be torn.

It's Everton's medical team. His leg will need amputation and he'll be "back in 4-6 weeks."

 

[Miked1e]

2 months out it seems…. Get him rested for pre season!

 

[Nymzee]

Make the surgery decision. He's not going WC anyway.

 

[f.t.r.s]

Ah yes, nothing screams security like John Stones in big 2026.

View attachment 350831

Im not asking for him to play 50 games a season...

Im talking about a high quality addition to the squad..

One that the younger lads can learn from and one that can be relied on to play in big games and slot in when needed.

 

[f.t.r.s]

WHAT

To be fair I wasn't thinking of stones and branthwaite when I said that, more the rest of them