Bad Break for Muscat

[Perm]

Bad break for Muscat
By Grantley Bernard
September 04, 2007 MELBOURNE Victory has suffered a major blow in the lead-up to the A-League grand final rematch, with news captain Kevin Muscat has a broken arm.

Typically tough and usually ignorant of pain, Muscat is in doubt for Friday night's game against arch-rival Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium, but remains defiant and wants to play for the injury-ravaged Victory.

The midfield general was again in the thick of the action during Saturday night's 0-0 draw against Perth Glory at Telstra Dome, but was sent for X-rays when he told Victory medical staff of increasing pain in his left arm.

The diagnosis of a non-displaced fracture is better than it could have been for Muscat, who suffered the break in the season-opening draw against Wellington Phoenix, and Victory, which has to cope with a rash of injuries and unavailabilities.

Victory will be without Archie Thompson and Leigh Broxham (international call-ups), and injured pair Joseph Keenan (hamstring) and Ljubo Milicevic (knee), while there are question marks over Muscat, Steve Pantelidis (corked thigh) and Michael Theoklitos (back).

Should the worst-case scenario eventuate, Victory could be down seven players and will have to throw several inexperienced players into the fray.

"I think we could be down to the minimum," Victory coach Ernie Merrick said yesterday.

"We've got good youngsters, but I don't want to have to throw them all in at once."

Victory will register newly signed defender Sebastian Ryall, the former Young Socceroos captain, this week to have him on standby, while third-string goalkeeper Mitch Langerack will also have to be registered at the last minute if Theoklitos does not get over his problem.

The injuries also bring off-season signings Evan Berger and Daniel Vaslevski into the selection frame, but Muscat is determined to play in a bid to guide the young players.

"I don't know what precautions I can use, but it's not going to stop me doing what I need to do," Muscat said.

"I played on the weekend, but we'll take precautions during the week and then I want to play on Friday. We're running out of bodies."

Victory medical staff may be looking at an arm guard for Muscat to wear during the game, which pits two of the A-League's greatest rivals in their first serious encounter since Melbourne belted Adelaide 6-0 in last year's grand final at Telstra Dome.

At least Adelaide will not have to worry about quelling the danger of Thompson, who scored five goals in the grand final, but even his Socceroos call-up for next Tuesday's friendly against Argentina has been hindered by injury.

Struggling with a knee problem since the Asian Cup, Thompson had a scan yesterday after he woke up with severe bruising down the back of his leg.

He could now be in doubt for the Argentina game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Adelaide United will lose Bruce Djite and Kristian Sarkies to Olyroos duty, but will retain in-form striker Nathan Burns. Burns is suspended for Saturday's Olympic qualifier against North Korea in Newcastle, but remains eligible for A-League action.

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i like the guy, but some of you will be cheering.

[marinermick]

my sources in melbourne tell me he will play this weekend'

one tough cookie

[brett]

If he broke it against Wellington he has already played, and it's healed another week. I'm sure we'll see him out there, maybe with a cast to elbow people with.

[radar]

His most dangerous parts are at the other end of his body - he'll be right.

He just needs to drink his milk before bed.

[Perm]

eh we'll just target his arm in tackles. studz up.

[Pete]

Yeah I was thinking oooh broken arm, no Muscat for at least a few weeks...but the injury seems a minor break/fracture if he's talking about playing.

I wouldn't let a psycho like that onto the field with an arm encased in plaster -that would be too much of a temptation for Kevvie me thinks! Heavy soft strapping only.

[brett]

I remember Shane Webcke playing in the 2000 NRL Grand Final for the Broncos with a massive cast/strapped/cardboard appendage around his broken arm. He used it like a gladiator shield to whack everyone out of the way. I imagine Muscat would have no trouble doing the same.

*Google imaged for pics but no luck*

[dibo (pron. "DIB-OH")]

wyomingtiger said:

I remember Shane Webcke playing in the 2000 NRL Grand Final for the Broncos with a massive cast/strapped/cardboard appendage around his broken arm. He used it like a gladiator shield to whack everyone out of the way. I imagine Muscat would have no trouble doing the same.

*Google imaged for pics but no luck*

law 4 starts:

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).

you couldn't wear a cast, you could only wear some form of soft guard. the referee could only allow him to take the field if he was satisfied that under no circumstance could the guard be a danger to musc**t or any other person on the field.

[curious]

John Sattler in the 1970 GF for the rabbits.

Approximately ten minutes into the game Sattler collapsed after being punched by Manly forward John Bucknall. He suffered a double fracture to his jaw but pleaded to team mate Mike Cleary, "Hold me up so they don't know I'm hurt". He was helped up and continued to play in the game. At half time Souths were leading 12-6 when his fellow team mates learnt about his injury.

During the interval he refused treatment and insisted he continue playing. He also told the side, "the next bloke who tries to cut me out of the play is in trouble," to prevent his team mates trying to protect him from further injury.

I saw that game & he was one tough bastard.

[dru]

dibo said:

wyomingtiger said:

I remember Shane Webcke playing in the 2000 NRL Grand Final for the Broncos with a massive cast/strapped/cardboard appendage around his broken arm. He used it like a gladiator shield to whack everyone out of the way. I imagine Muscat would have no trouble doing the same.

*Google imaged for pics but no luck*

law 4 starts:

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).

you couldn't wear a cast, you could only wear some form of soft guard. the referee could only allow him to take the field if he was satisfied that under no circumstance could the guard be a danger to musc**t or any other person on the field.

So why do they allow Muscat and Tiatto wear football boots? or feet for that matter. ;D

[dibo (pron. "DIB-OH")]

dru said:

dibo said:

law 4 starts:

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).

you couldn't wear a cast, you could only wear some form of soft guard. the referee could only allow him to take the field if he was satisfied that under no circumstance could the guard be a danger to musc**t or any other person on the field.

So why do they allow Muscat and Tiatto wear football boots? or feet for that matter. ;D

you're allowed boots, stockings (meaning socks), shorts and a jersey. anything beyond that has to pass the above requirement for safety.

[Pete]

curious said:

John Sattler in the 1970 GF for the rabbits.

Approximately ten minutes into the game Sattler collapsed after being punched by Manly forward John Bucknall. He suffered a double fracture to his jaw but pleaded to team mate Mike Cleary, "Hold me up so they don't know I'm hurt". He was helped up and continued to play in the game. At half time Souths were leading 12-6 when his fellow team mates learnt about his injury.

During the interval he refused treatment and insisted he continue playing. He also told the side, "the next bloke who tries to cut me out of the play is in trouble," to prevent his team mates trying to protect him from further injury.

I saw that game & he was one tough bastard.

From what I heard, you should have seen what happened to Bucknall the next time the two teams met - I've been told that Bucknall copped a hiding.

I had a mate who played football with hockey shinpads that had bamboo supports running vertically down the length of the shinpad. Honestly, if you went to hack him you'd nearly break your foot.

He only got pulled up once by a ref about what he had as shinpads, and because that ref didn't let him play with them, he sat out the game. He had previously had a blood clot in the leg and shouldn't have been playing at all, but he found those shinpads offered him good protection.

[Andy]

Why exactly is this a "bad" break?

[omni]

dibo said:

wyomingtiger said:

I remember Shane Webcke playing in the 2000 NRL Grand Final for the Broncos with a massive cast/strapped/cardboard appendage around his broken arm. He used it like a gladiator shield to whack everyone out of the way. I imagine Muscat would have no trouble doing the same.

*Google imaged for pics but no luck*

law 4 starts:

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).

you couldn't wear a cast, you could only wear some form of soft guard. the referee could only allow him to take the field if he was satisfied that under no circumstance could the guard be a danger to musc**t or any other person on the field.

Yea can't say I'd let someone come on with that.

pretty hardcore of Muscat to play on!

[Pete]

omni said:

Yea can't say I'd let someone come on with that.

pretty hardcore of Muscat to play on![/quote]

I'd guess IF he does take the field, he'll be needled before the game - won't be able to feel below his elbow I'd reckon. Just don't ask him to do a throw in, if that happens.

[greenpoleffc]

Needled??

This isnt the NRL you know (and anyway, they dont jack up, they take tabs)

[marinermick]

greenpoleffc said:

Needled??

This isnt the NRL you know (and anyway, they dont jack up, they take tabs)

plenty of a-league players have needles before the game to get them through

have no doubt that popovic would have had one because of his bad back

was also told that matt mckay was having a needle in his knee after the game thursday

[Pete]

I saw only a bit of footage of Muscat playing for Melbourne with his arm in a heavy cast - have no idea if it was soft or made from fibreglass or plaster.

But he used it when he raised his elbow onto an oncoming player. Maybe it was a reflex defensive action on his part, maybe not.

Why should the Mariners tolerate this sort of accommodation to an opposing player who has proven that he will use the cast as a weapon on the field?

Someone should be showing the footage of the last Melbourne game - and Muscat's playing - to the FFA and see if he can't be made to sit out the match. A reflex action by Muscat (by holding his cast arm up) could easily knock out someone!