Players more injury prone now or did players back in the day 'just get on with it'?

[He's here!]

My memory may be painting a false narrative but my recollection of watching football when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s was that you could pretty much name a team's starting XI week in week out. Having squads decimated by injury just didn't seem to happen and it was usually something major (eg a broken limb) which kept a player out for any significant length of time.

Now it seems as though lengthy injury lists are the norm, with numerous players picking up what appear to be relatively innocuous knocks only to be sidelined for months on end (often with only the vaguest of updates on what's actually keeping them out for so long). Squads are a lot bigger now, which you would think would help, but it just appears to increase the injury quota.

Why is this? I find it hard to imagine the game is more physical now, with players offered a lot more protection from refs than they were back in the day. Is medical care more thorough and are club medical staff more cautious about returning a player to action? Were players of old more likely to be thrown back into action more quickly in a bid to simply shake off whatever was ailing them (possibly to their long-term detriment)?

[Pretty Boy]

I think there is just so much more emphasis on player welfare now and also increased knowledge around physiology.

A broken metatarsal today was a 'sore foot' in 1955. Even since the 80s and 90s we have moved on massively. There was an interview with Marco Van Basten recently in which he broke down when talking about his latter years in football and for years afterwards. His ankle was absolutely done as early as 86/87 but Johan Cryuff and a team doctor essentially forced him to play in European games for Ajax that season with the only concession being he could sit out some of the league fixtures. A problem that could have been resolved with rest and rehabilitation, maybe an early intervention operation was all but ignored because they had a European Cup to win. That ended up with him retiring at 28, spending the next 4 years crawling to the toilet in agony at night, suffering deep anxiety and depression believing he had bone cancer and then having to have his ankle completely fused at 32.

That just wouldn't happen now and nor should it. The old adage of 'just get on with it' or coercing players to take injections to mask pain has left so many ex players with chronic conditions that impact on their lives. Like any workplace working practices have changed and employee safety and well being is far more at the front of the employers mind. Or at least it should be.

[The dalmeny]

Get the whole ‘injury prone’ thing in the bin. And it’s no one’s business other than the player and med staff and some management what the injury is

[SlickShoes]

Probably just get much more access to information now, I don’t remember ever knowing so much about hibs players, coaches and in general people that work at the club as we do now.

[He's here!]

Get the whole ‘injury prone’ thing in the bin. And it’s no one’s business other than the player and med staff and some management what the injury is

Why is it nobody's business? Sure, if there were issues around mental or emotional wellbeing then privacy needs to be respected but I'm unclear why keeping fans in the dark re injuries sustained while playing would be an appropriate policy.

[He's here!]

Probably just get much more access to information now, I don’t remember ever knowing so much about hibs players, coaches and in general people that work at the club as we do now.

When I was growing up it just seemed to be Tom McNiven who handled anything injury-related. A quick dash on to the pitch with the magic sponge was a common sight and more often than not players seemed able to carry on with the game.

Also seem to recall one of the Hibs directors was a highly-regarded surgeon. Sir John Bruce is the name which comes to mind but he might have been from an earlier era.

[500miles]

Why is it nobody's business? Sure, if there were issues around mental or emotional wellbeing then privacy needs to be respected but I'm unclear why keeping fans in the dark re injuries sustained while playing would be an appropriate policy.

Please post your full medical history then ?

[MWHIBBIES]

Game is far more physical. Much quicker, players bigger and stronger, tackles still fly in. Players also (correctly) taken care of better.

[Smartie]

The game and the types of injuries sustained will have changed too.

Football did look pretty brutal at times in "the olden days". Crazy tackling, roughhousing and a much heavier ball to head. Chuck in fewer (or no) subs meaning that injuries had to be played through and you can quickly understand why some injuries would be picked up easier and worsened.

I do think that the focus on "they were all real men back in the day" does the modern player a disservice though. They run at a fair pace and there will probably be all sorts of new and different risks with the changed days. For example, I'm assuming that the discussion has probably been brought on by Aiden McGeady's injury - will there have been any 36 year olds tanking along at that pace, twisting and turning and putting the sorts of pressure he puts on all parts of his body back in the 1950s? I doubt it.

[Bridge hibs]

I remember Paul McGrath, Villa I think amongst other clubs, he was a warrior, both knees completely shot and bandaged up to the hilt, looked like half human and half mummy, think he played at a good level with those knacked knees before eventually hanging up his bandages

[Keith_M]

My memory may be painting a false narrative but my recollection of watching football when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s was that you could pretty much name a team's starting XI week in week out. Having squads decimated by injury just didn't seem to happen and it was usually something major (eg a broken limb) which kept a player out for any significant length of time.

Now it seems as though lengthy injury lists are the norm, with numerous players picking up what appear to be relatively innocuous knocks only to be sidelined for months on end (often with only the vaguest of updates on what's actually keeping them out for so long). Squads are a lot bigger now, which you would think would help, but it just appears to increase the injury quota.

Why is this? I find it hard to imagine the game is more physical now, with players offered a lot more protection from refs than they were back in the day. Is medical care more thorough and are club medical staff more cautious about returning a player to action? Were players of old more likely to be thrown back into action more quickly in a bid to simply shake off whatever was ailing them (possibly to their long-term detriment)?



Dundee United only fielded a total of 14 players during their title winning season.

That's barely thinkable for any team for two consecutive games nowadays (especially Hibs)

[Smartie]

I remember Paul McGrath, Villa I think amongst other clubs, he was a warrior, both knees completely shot and bandaged up to the hilt, looked like half human and half mummy, think he played at a good level with those knacked knees before eventually hanging up his bandages

What a player though.

Probably the best autobiography I've ever read.

In the context of the thread, possibly worth considering the effect of ingesting an absolute shedload of booze several times a week on certain players' bodies and brains, not even all that long ago.

[Tommy75]

Please post your full medical history then ?

I don't think anyone is asking to see players full medical histories? It's not that unreasonable that fans want to know the latest on player injuries.

[nonshinyfinish]

Cortisone injections and similar being commonplace is probably a factor: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jan/30/newsstory.sport3

[Bridge hibs]

What a player though.

Probably the best autobiography I've ever read.

In the context of the thread, possibly worth considering the effect of ingesting an absolute shedload of booze several times a week on certain players' bodies and brains, not even all that long ago.
Solid player mate, loved watching him, what is his book called ?

[Smartie]

Solid player mate, loved watching him, what is his book called ?

Pretty sure it was called "Back from the brink".

It's actually a really emotional read.

Probably the football book I've recommended most, so many interesting subjects in there rolled into the one life and career.

[superfurryhibby]

There seems to be far more injuries in the modern game, no doubt linked to higher levels of physical fitness in the modern player. Cruciate injuries now seem particularly prevalent.

Another poster mentioned tackles still flying in, in terms of the current version of football. Can't agree with that. Watch old highlights of 70's games, refereed to modern standards sides both sides would be finishing matches with seven asides. It's still a physical game, but it's much tamer in terms of the sheer force of tackles and challenges.

[Pretty Boy]

Another thing to consider is the level players train at in the modern game.

I can't remember exactly who it was but it was someone of the stature of Guardiola or Klopp who said that players now train at or close to their physical limit for long periods, not necessarily in terms of absolute exertion but in regards to the intensity. Recovery, injury prevention and treatment, diet etc all have to be managed meticulously or physical breakdown isn't at all unlikely. Better for a star player to miss a couple of games to be 100% right than play through an injury and end up out for weeks or months.

The days of top level players reporting back from their summer break with a beer gut then telling the gaffer they are knackered after a few reps on murder hill at Gullane are long gone. Players are monitored so that they are actually working at max output rather than a perceived effort level that may be below or indeed above what they can safely manage.

[Bridge hibs]

Pretty sure it was called "Back from the brink".

It's actually a really emotional read.

Probably the football book I've recommended most, so many interesting subjects in there rolled into the one life and career.Thanks mate will look it up, will be my holiday reading 👍

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Davie Farrell talks about this very topic during his chat on Longbangers podcast - a great listen btw!

[tamig]

There seems to be far more injuries in the modern game, no doubt linked to higher levels of physical fitness in the modern player. Cruciate injuries now seem particularly prevalent.

Another poster mentioned tackles still flying in, in terms of the current version of football. Can't agree with that. Watch old highlights of 70's games, refereed to modern standards sides both sides would be finishing matches with seven asides. It's still a physical game, but it's much tamer in terms of the sheer force of tackles and challenges.

Spot on. You're barely allowed to put in anything like a "physical" challenge in the current game without at least ending up in the book.

The common long-term injuries I recall from back in the day were cartilage injuries or broken legs. Broken legs were usually a season ending thing back then but players can return after a few months out now and you'd be more likely to miss a handful of games with a cartilage issue now thanks to the advances in keyhole surgery and suchlike.

There are also many ex-pros who can barely walk now - the legacy of cortisone injections and playing through the pain barrier when they'd be nowhere near the squad nowadays.

[superfurryhibby]

Spot on. You're barely allowed to put in anything like a "physical" challenge in the current game without at least ending up in the book.

The common long-term injuries I recall from back in the day were cartilage injuries or broken legs. Broken legs were usually a season ending thing back then but players can return after a few months out now and you'd be more likely to miss a handful of games with a cartilage issue now thanks to the advances in keyhole surgery and suchlike.

There are also many ex-pros who can barely walk now - the legacy of cortisone injections and playing through the pain barrier when they'd be nowhere near the squad nowadays.

Yep, it's no wonder careers tended to be shorter back in the day. Players who were still in the game in their early 30's were considered veterans.

[Gloucester Hibs]

Yep, it's no wonder careers tended to be shorter back in the day. Players who were still in the game in their early 30's were considered veterans.

True but you also had guys like Sir Stanley Mathews playing top level fitba into his 50’s 😯

[ScottB]

Sure I remember reading about Batistuta begging for amputation and not being able to get out of bed to reach the toilet in time after he retired, such was the state he was in, after years of playing injured / using injections etc.

I would imagine players are as injured now as before, with a mix of the game being much more intense now versus much better equipment and surfaces etc than back then, but the difference is players not being forced / expected to play on when injured.

There’s also an employment aspect, back when players were cheap and easy to get rid of, clubs could just bin them. Now if you’re on the hook for big wages for 4 years, you don’t want to crock the guy, or ruin sell on value.

[Waxy]

Football has never been so fast and hard than its is now.
Probably this is due to players having to train extremely hard just to get in any starting eleven.
This is why clubs are needing bigger squads and doing a bit rotation.
Injuries are almost guarenteed at every club now.
Imo

[cameronw-hfc]

There seems to be far more injuries in the modern game, no doubt linked to higher levels of physical fitness in the modern player. Cruciate injuries now seem particularly prevalent.

Another poster mentioned tackles still flying in, in terms of the current version of football. Can't agree with that. Watch old highlights of 70's games, refereed to modern standards sides both sides would be finishing matches with seven asides. It's still a physical game, but it's much tamer in terms of the sheer force of tackles and challenges.


In terms of ACL, id say the better pitches weirdly play a part. Better pitches and better balls means its a higher tempo on the ball, more twists and turns in the average player than in the 70/80s where you could see the talent, but most games the ball would be bobbling about the place after a 5yard pass, meaning there weren't as many players taking touches and twisting and turning as much, nowadays, similar to basketball, the flat surface means players extend more whilst doing things, feeling more confident in doing so due to the better conditions and overextending more. Acl injuries usually happen pretty innocuously, you'll try twist or spin and your knee pops. I've done it 3 times, twice just by turning on the pitch.