The bare fact is though, Keita cannot reach and maintain any match fitness. I wonder if he is unsuited to the UK climate.
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The same thought occurred to me yesterday. It had me going through transfermarkt to see if he commonly got injured early in the first or second half because he wasn’t doing enough to warm up! Doubtful but almost all his injuries are muscular related so I did wonder if the cold is making them tighten up.
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When I was posting I thought this is gonna get the treatment! But evidently not thx. I thought same as you but I didnt go that far, just tried to compare UK with German cold, and I recall from Polish friends and Germans I have known, they claim the UK though warmer, feels colder because of the damp and they dont like it. There could be something in this. I might be inventing this part, but doesnt he go out gloved up too?
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So is Matip retired from international football? @Kopstar.
I don’t think anyone is saying Naby should retire just that he should be more responsible as a professional athlete.
I did my ankle on astro turf when I was younger. Played on, it ballooned up when I took my boot off. Got home, went to bed with my leg up and a pack of frozen peas on it. Voila was playing the very next game a week later. Did my ankle again in that very next game, same one. Did it matter? No, I was young, single and lived at home.
But a few years later, married with a family, a responsible job etc, I thought twice about things.
That what is being asked of a top class athlete.
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Out of interest then, why do players announce their international retirement if it actually means nothing in terms of the regulations?
Is it just a gentleman’s agreement type thing? Is it a public declaration to make associations look silly if they try to call them up? And why is it never challenged?
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I think it’s the hamstring, it’s one of those that at times ‘just won’t go away’. Footballers are prone to hamstring problems as well as groin strains just due to the type of repetative movements they do.
It could be that he doesn’t do his ‘stretching’ exercises correctly or is ‘lazy’ about it (might need to concentrate on that stuff more). It could also be due to dehydration (though that is monitored so staff would know (the problem would be when off on international duty he might (and they might) overlook this)). Would be interesting to see if his problems arise after international duty (as it seems evident our staff are very vigilante).
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in other words, they just dont fancy it…
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i dont think they use frozen peas mate…
my guess is out of respect.
respect for thier association, but mainly so thier own decision can be respected and tey are not asked constantly, the coach is not asked constantly why such and such is not playing and their rivals for the position do not have that monkey on their back.
anecdotally, i assume its only the countries best players that announce their retirement.
i imagine bernard Diomede didnt hold a special press conference to reveal his decision on his future commitments to the then french national team…not saying he was a particularily bad player…
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Wait, we are assuming that when Naby was away on international duty, he was injured or he himself was too afraid to tell them that he don’t feel fit? What if it just happened that he was certified fit and he felt ok to play? Does not mean that he was injured in the game after international duty means the whole blame is on their FA or that the player doesn’t care about his club career. There are simply players who cannot get a break in injuries no matter what they try so unless there were evidence that Naby was forced to play or played knowingly that he is not fully fit, I think this is prettt unfair speculation
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What!!! Since when?
…1972
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My point was that your stance is motivated by the fact that you are a liverpool fan and you would sacrifice your country’s squad in favour of lfc.
This is not necessarily the same for the likes of naby or the other african players. He probably values his participation for his country more.
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I don’t think I’ve been that frustrated with a player’s injuries since the times of Kewell. We have a jewel of a player there, he shows it every time he can string a few matches together. But then he injures himself yet again, and we wait for three-four weeks until he’s fit… rinse and repeat, and every new injury makes it probably worse… 
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the guy got injured playing for us though, no?
I swear I saw it with my own eyes.
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I’m unsuited to the UK climate and I was born here a long, long time ago!
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You mean the club paying him his wages? Yes lets just let him be injured for 90% of his time here. What a bizzare statement. He should respect the fact we pay him a massive amount of money, and also that we could start to become massively fucked off he is never available to actually do his job.
If he continues to allow his country to play him when not fully fit he is as culpable as them.
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Is there any suggestion that Naby was not fully fit for the last matches with Guinea?
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His Paymasters…
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It needs to be emphasised that fully fit has at least two connotations; the first being fit and clear to play and the second what comes after a few games, in being match fit. So whilst he was technically fit to start for Guinea, he has played 3 and 1/2 games and pulled up again. Keita never gets to match fitness.
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