Christian Eriksen

[DeanoAustin]

Surely it's a moral issue, much more than an insurance one?

It's like sending a racing driver out of the pits after a big crash knowing there's a good chance the roll cage is compromised. It's getting on for corporate manslaughter territory

I think that's where you have to trust the medical people we have. Players play with the type of pacemaker Eriksen has had fitted (think Daley Blind is one) and Eriksen himself clearly thinks he can continue his career. So if the medics say he's good to play, that certainly trumps any concerns you or I might have.

 

[Legohamster]

Give him a contact till the summer, even as an impact player for half a season he is better than we have by an absolute mile, just the issue over his fitness.

 

[Glenda's Legs]

Surely it's a moral issue, much more than an insurance one?

It's like sending a racing driver out of the pits after a big crash knowing there's a good chance the roll cage is compromised. It's getting on for corporate manslaughter territory

Assuming that the club would do all necessary medical due diligence, that Eriksen is open about the medical advise he has been given (the club would no doubt want to see it themselves), and that both parties follow the advise they receive, then it becomes a risk-based decision. Obviously if the club still had concerns and didn't want to risk Eriksen's health, then it wouldn't happen (and I don't think it will in any case).

 

[glasgowspur]

Its a bit like the pich situation for me, I'd live him back, but i don't want to tarnish his name if it all goes pears.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Surely it's a moral issue, much more than an insurance one?

It's like sending a racing driver out of the pits after a big crash knowing there's a good chance the roll cage is compromised. It's getting on for corporate manslaughter territory

You know we put players out to play knowing they have minor injuries or in some cases knowing that they haven’t recovered properly from a previous one
It’s what happens

 

[Lemonade Money]

Eriksen signing for Saudi Sportswashing Machine until the end of the season would be good for both parties?

 

[P.D.]

I wouldn't mind having him back, was annoyed when he downed tools but that was a while back now. I'm sure if the medical and contract situation allows it then it's a possibility. Would fill a gaping hole in our midfield.

 

[DeanoAustin]

I wouldn't mind having him back, was annoyed when he downed tools but that was a while back now. I'm sure if the medical and contract situation allows it then it's a possibility. Would fill a gaping hole in our midfield.

Did he down tools? Not saying you're wrong, just an honest question.

Personally, I don't think he was 100% putting it in at the end. Not sure I'd call it downing tools though. I think Mourinho said that what was happening was natural when a player knows he's leaving. It might not even be a conscious decision but if his performance level or focus drops slightly, he's shown up massively at this level. The one performance I most remember, and respect him for strangely, was away to Olympiacos. He was utter dogbrick for 75 mins. One of the worst performances I've seen in a Spurs shirt and he gave the ball away so much that the commentators were commenting on it. Think it was 23 misplaced passes or something. Yet, he continued to show for the ball and tried to get on it. I'd have hauled him off at half time personally but he actually did really well for the last 15 mins. Thought that showed a bit of character.

When I think "downing tools" I think someone who is deliberately not putting in effort to force a move. I didn't get that with Eriksen at the time although his performance levels dropped hugely and I guess there is a counter argument to what I've just written.

 

[Kandi1977]

Would love him in the team today. He was always brilliant vs Cheatski.

 

[Rorschach]

I'd love him back frankly, assuming due diligence on the medical side, but honestly, I couldn't see him getting back to the peak levels he has previously performed at. That is quite an ask.

 

[Spur of the moment]

I wouldn't mind having him back, was annoyed when he downed tools but that was a while back now. I'm sure if the medical and contract situation allows it then it's a possibility. Would fill a gaping hole in our midfield.

Did he really down tools? Or carry on conscientiously through severe depression that led to total loss of form and eventual collapse futher down the line?

Too easy to point the finger when we don't know what was really going on with him.

 

[FatBloke]

Did he down tools? Not saying you're wrong, just an honest question.

Personally, I don't think he was 100% putting it in at the end. Not sure I'd call it downing tools though. I think Mourinho said that what was happening was natural when a player knows he's leaving. It might not even be a conscious decision but if his performance level or focus drops slightly, he's shown up massively at this level. The one performance I most remember, and respect him for strangely, was away to Olympiacos. He was utter dogbrick for 75 mins. One of the worst performances I've seen in a Spurs shirt and he gave the ball away so much that the commentators were commenting on it. Think it was 23 misplaced passes or something. Yet, he continued to show for the ball and tried to get on it. I'd have hauled him off at half time personally but he actually did really well for the last 15 mins. Thought that showed a bit of character.

When I think "downing tools" I think someone who is deliberately not putting in effort to force a move. I didn't get that with Eriksen at the time although his performance levels dropped hugely and I guess there is a counter argument to what I've just written.

I agree. It just doesn't seem within Eriksen's character to just give up and IIRC he was still putting in the yards (or miles, rather). It just wasn't working for him, like his head wasn't in it.

Did he really down tools? Or carry on conscientiously through severe depression that led to total loss of form and eventual collapse futher down the line?

Too easy to point the finger when we don't know what was really going on with him.

That's an interesting take, and not one I've heard much about before. Is it just conjecture, or do you know anything about it?

Eriksen broke through as a 17yo – by the time he was 18, he was a regular for Ajax and Denmark. He played A LOT of football over the next 10 seasons, much of it as the key midfielder. That's a lot of pressure, with no let-up whatsoever, so it wouldn't surprise me if he was mentally drained. Or worse.

 

[Spur of the moment]

I agree. It just doesn't seem within Eriksen's character to just give up and IIRC he was still putting in the yards (or miles, rather). It just wasn't working for him, like his head wasn't in it.



That's an interesting take, and not one I've heard much about before. Is it just conjecture, or do you know anything about it?

No it's pure conjecture, based partly on my own experience. I suffered depression decades ago and found myself utterly unable to perform at work but did my best to conceal it from others. When you are depressed the last thing you want is to let it be known, especially if your job is on the line. I don't doubt I came across as a complete arsehole to the rest of the world.

 

[glasgowspur]

Did he down tools? Not saying you're wrong, just an honest question.

Personally, I don't think he was 100% putting it in at the end. Not sure I'd call it downing tools though. I think Mourinho said that what was happening was natural when a player knows he's leaving. It might not even be a conscious decision but if his performance level or focus drops slightly, he's shown up massively at this level. The one performance I most remember, and respect him for strangely, was away to Olympiacos. He was utter dogbrick for 75 mins. One of the worst performances I've seen in a Spurs shirt and he gave the ball away so much that the commentators were commenting on it. Think it was 23 misplaced passes or something. Yet, he continued to show for the ball and tried to get on it. I'd have hauled him off at half time personally but he actually did really well for the last 15 mins. Thought that showed a bit of character.

When I think "downing tools" I think someone who is deliberately not putting in effort to force a move. I didn't get that with Eriksen at the time although his performance levels dropped hugely and I guess there is a counter argument to what I've just written.

I don't think he consciously downed tools.
I do think though that he had a very definite career/life path, a path that left Tottenham and he mentally checked out. He lost some motivation and his mojo because his life was deviating from his plans, he was struggling to find himself.
I also think all the changes at the club didn't help him, he always struck me as quite a introvert and a person that needs stability and routine around him.
Change is good when you are controlling the change, it's bad when you have no control over it.

 

[Gutter Boy]

You know we put players out to play knowing they have minor injuries or in some cases knowing that they haven’t recovered properly from a previous one
It’s what happens

Playing through a thigh strain is a bit different to having to be resuscitated from a heart failure. I think he's in Muamba or Mason territory where you take having a second chance of being alive as your victory.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Playing through a thigh strain is a bit different to having to be resuscitated from a heart failure. I think he's in Muamba or Mason territory where you take having a second chance of being alive as your victory.

I don’t
I think he is recognising the technology that will keep him alive if something awful was to happen

 

[monkeybarry]

Playing through a thigh strain is a bit different to having to be resuscitated from a heart failure. I think he's in Muamba or Mason territory where you take having a second chance of being alive as your victory.

It's a tricky one. But ultimately only one he can decide, not any of us.
As long as he has good people looking out for him and ensuring he has had and constantly gets good advice - medical re; actual heart and mental to ensure he isn't, erm, led by his heart, then he is able to make his own risk assessment from a fully informed place.

A 6 month contract with 12 month extension option would be smart. Constant monitoring in training and tested in different scenarios to mimmick match day pressure as much as possible.

The final consideration - what would it be like to play against him? As an opponent you wouldn't want to be the one that did something that caused an issue.

 

[Gutter Boy]

It's a tricky one. But ultimately only one he can decide, not any of us.
As long as he has good people looking out for him and ensuring he has had and constantly gets good advice - medical re; actual heart and mental to ensure he isn't, erm, led by his heart, then he is able to make his own risk assessment from a fully informed place.

A 6 month contract with 12 month extension option would be smart. Constant monitoring in training and tested in different scenarios to mimmick match day pressure as much as possible.

The final consideration - what would it be like to play against him? As an opponent you wouldn't want to be the one that did something that caused an issue.

I absolutely hate that. Just in the context of messing around playing against old guys, juveniles or mixed sex games. Its so hard trying to compete but having to hold something back compared to it being another physically robust opponent.

 

[P.D.]

Did he down tools? Not saying you're wrong, just an honest question.

Personally, I don't think he was 100% putting it in at the end. Not sure I'd call it downing tools though. I think Mourinho said that what was happening was natural when a player knows he's leaving. It might not even be a conscious decision but if his performance level or focus drops slightly, he's shown up massively at this level. The one performance I most remember, and respect him for strangely, was away to Olympiacos. He was utter dogbrick for 75 mins. One of the worst performances I've seen in a Spurs shirt and he gave the ball away so much that the commentators were commenting on it. Think it was 23 misplaced passes or something. Yet, he continued to show for the ball and tried to get on it. I'd have hauled him off at half time personally but he actually did really well for the last 15 mins. Thought that showed a bit of character.

When I think "downing tools" I think someone who is deliberately not putting in effort to force a move. I didn't get that with Eriksen at the time although his performance levels dropped hugely and I guess there is a counter argument to what I've just written.

Did he really down tools? Or carry on conscientiously through severe depression that led to total loss of form and eventual collapse futher down the line?

Too easy to point the finger when we don't know what was really going on with him.

To answer you both I think the level of effort he put into games dropped, certainly by enough to notice but maybe it was because he was leaving and sub consciously you lose a couple of percent.

 

[glasgowspur]

To answer you both I think the level of effort he put into games dropped, certainly by enough to notice but maybe it was because he was leaving and sub consciously you lose a couple of percent.

I don't think he lacked effort, he lacked engagement.
He didn't want to be here, but i also think he was a bit torn, especially when his preferred move didn't materialise.
If we had started poch last season better i think he might have stayed and got back to his best.