Just got the news about Alexander Isak and it’s a real gut punch. He broke his leg, the left one, they did surgery already which is good but he’ll be out for months they think. Happened right after he scored, too, which makes the whole thing feel extra cruel. He’d just come onto the pitch against Tottenham and then, gone.
They’re saying it’s an ankle injury with a fibula fracture. Doesn’t sound good at all. For me, I just saw him go down after scoring and he needed help to get off. You could see it in his face, something was really wrong.
His time here’s been tough since he came for all that money. Only sixteen games and three goals, but he was just finding his feet, you know? That goal against Tottenham felt like maybe a new start. Now this.
What it means for the team is huge. We’re already without Salah because of the Africa Cup, and now Isak too. Gakpo’s hurt as well, but he might be back soon. Honestly, it leaves us with Ekitike up there mostly, who’s been brilliant to be fair. But you need more than one.
They’re talking about maybe buying someone new next month. A name I hear is Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. Lots of clubs want him though, so who knows. The manager said recently we don’t have endless money, which is funny considering what we spent last summer. But we did sell a lot of players too, so maybe there’s some there to use.
Just feel for Isak most of all. To work so hard to get to a club like this and then have your body let you down. The boss will talk about it tomorrow, I guess we’ll hear more then. For now, it’s just a real shame.
It’s the money part that gets complicated for everyone. The manager, Arne Slot, he said just before all this that people think the club has unlimited funds but it’s not true. Makes you think, even after a summer where they spent more than anyone ever has. They sold a lot too, so maybe there is some room, but it’s never simple is it.
Salah being away at the Africa Cup is a whole other problem layered on top. He’s over there scoring for Egypt which is great for him, but it leaves us even more stretched. Nobody really thinks he’ll leave in January, but it’s always there in the back of your mind, what happens when he does go someday.
Then you look at who’s left. Chiesa and that young lad Ngumoha, they haven’t had much of a look in from Slot, so you can’t really expect them to just carry the weight now. It’s a lot to ask. Gakpo’s injury is unfortunate too, his season’s been up and down but we could really use him.
I hear the rumors about maybe going for Semenyo. A release clause around sixty-five million, and every big club seems to be watching him. Would he even choose us right now? It’s a tough ask for anyone to come in mid-season and fix this.
Slot’s going to speak in the morning, his press conference. I don’t know what he can say that will make it better. Probably just the usual about trusting the squad and the medical team. It’s what you have to say, even when the plans are just in pieces.
Makes you feel for Isak most of all, like I said. To have a moment of pure joy and then it’s taken away so fast. Football can be cruel like that. You just hope he comes back the same player, whenever that is. For now, the season just got a whole lot harder for everyone.
