[Devongone]

Some medical experts even question the existence of such a syndrome. Some football fans question the wisdom of clubs signing players of advancing years. Let us take the current age-related injury crisis at Chesterfield as an example.

Players unable to be considered for Christmas / New Year games:-
John Fleck age 33
Ash Palmer age 32
Mike Jones age 37
Paddy Madden age 34
Will Grigg age 33 (injury not fire or yule log related)
Chey Dunkley age 32
Michael Jacobs age 33
Ryan Colclough age 30 (injury occured whilst still 29)

Players over 30 fit to play:-
Ollie Banks age 32
Tom Naylor age 33
Jamie Grimes age 33
Tyrone Williams 30

At one time experienced players either accumulated bookings to time their suspension for a holiday period or conveniently got themselves sent off. This phenomenon really NEVER EXISTED of course, nevertheless the suspicion remained amongst supporters that they had more chance of seeing Santa and his reindeer tapdancing than certain players in football kit over the holiday period ......

Much as I am delighted that eleven year old Gunner Elliott made his first team debut I can't escape the thought that having such a large cohort of over 30s in our squad has cost us even our outside shot at the play-offs. Have we ever had such an experienced, or perhaps aged, AND small-in-stature squad before? And how and why have we so many injuries ......?

OR am I just a very old cynic? (Apologies if I accidentally missed any geriatric players)

Which young players other than Tanton weren't fit to be considered .....?

[Dancingwilldoit]

We said at the start of the season that a number of the players we signed were older and suspect to injury and so it came to pass. They won't come back firing on all cylinders for some time yet. Let's hope the 11 fit first teamers we are left with (assume Berry and Aroujo are injured) can stay fit.

[Dancingwilldoit]

Akinola recalled from Dagenham.

---

Banks banned for 3 games for an off the ball incident at Fleetwood.
One in one out ffs.

[theo_luddite]

At one time experienced players either accumulated bookings to time their suspension for a holiday period or conveniently got themselves sent off. This phenomenon really NEVER EXISTED of course, nevertheless the suspicion remained amongst supporters that they had more chance of seeing Santa and his reindeer tapdancing than certain players in football kit over the holiday period ......

Danny Ward at Huddersfield has yet to play a full winter set of games in both of his visits to the club. Doesn't accumulate yellow/red cards though, he does it the "honest" way and gets himself (cough) injured.

[Dancingwilldoit]

I don't think Jack Lester ever played a game for us over the Christmas New Year period. Probably just coincidence eh?

[Devongone]

Jack used to get himself suspended .....

I was going to use him as an example but I thought it was unfair as several other old pros around the country seemed keen to put their feet up over the holiday.

Kids who behave really badly at school get suspended or excluded ....... is it a reward or a punishment?

[spireitematt]

Makes you wonder if they should trial not playing football over Xmas and New Year to give the players time off with there family like they do in the rest of Europe. Would mean less suspensions but also give players a chance to relax and recover.