30 Sep 2018 12:48:48
Salah doesn't seem to be over his injury, just read that Ed001 thinks it's because his body isn't moving naturally because it's still trying to protect his shoulder rather than him having actual pain.
I hurt my knee a few months ago, meant I had to stand up differently as it was healing as I didn't want to put much weight on it, it's now fully healed but I still find myself not wanting to put weight on it, meaning I'm still subconsciously worried about it despite the fact I shouldn't be. Is this what Salah is going through do you think Ed001? Phycological?

{Ed001's Note - exactly mikey, that is spot on. It takes months or even years to retrain the brain to stop subconsciously worrying about it. The studies on ACL found the neural pathways had altered while injured and that involved a lengthy period of retraining to get back to normal.}


1.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 13:45:22
So shooting sideways, over and backwards is down to his shoulder?

Making easy passes seem like there the hardest in the world is down to his shoulder?

Nah he's just desperate to do well, got a lot of pressure on his back and is a little low on confidence.


2.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 14:29:15
No, but it must effect your balance I suppose. He's still only one goal behind his record at this stage last season. I think he had four goals.


3.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 14:47:31
I knocked my front tooth out at 15 and retrained myself to talk without showing my teeth because I was embarrassed for the 9 months it took to get a fake one. I still talk like it 8 years later even though I now have all my teeth, and even though it causes me to have multiple speech impediments. The brain is a strange thing.


4.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 14:49:09
He is still getting into the dangerous positions and causing issues amongst the opposition defence. If that stops then I think we should be worried. But until then he continues to be one of our most important players and starts for me.


5.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 14:56:05
Read the question and answer again. The issue is a mental one. The shoulder may have been the source, but it is probably not the main reason anymore.


6.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 15:09:28
Very interesting about the neural pathways ed, must be particularly frustrating being a sportsman who relies on such things. Hopefully he will get over this sooner rather than later. Do you think he would benefit from a sports psychologist? And do players or clubs use them to get over the mental aspect of injuries?


7.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 15:09:28
Very interesting about the neural pathways ed, must be particularly frustrating being a sportsman who relies on such things. Hopefully he will get over this sooner rather than later. Do you think he would benefit from a sports psychologist? And do players or clubs use them to get over the mental aspect of injuries?

{Ed001's Note - some use them and some players benefit others don't seem to. I think it depends on the player. If they believe it will help them and commit to it, then it helps. If they think it is nonsense, then it usually does nothing for them.}


8.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 15:14:12
Oddly enough I thought mane had one of his worse games yesterday and firmino so salah getting the grief is harsh

The front 3 looks a little disjointed with the pass and movement together to be fair.


9.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 15:48:52
I totally agree with Ed01's point and Mikey here but with the help of sports psychologists a problem like this can be fixed, the question is if the club is already taking some action for it or not!


10.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 14:41:50
The thing is that while he isn’t having the best time on the pitch, he is still getting lots of chances in the box despite his recovery from injury and that teams are trying to mark him out the game entirely. His only problem is that he is missing said chances due to a lack of confidence and pressure. He is still being a thorn in the side of teams despite all this. I also seem to remember this being the case at the start of last season and also saying back then that we just needed to give him time, and look what happened. Salah will be fine, we just need patience and for the other players to step up.


11.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 16:12:31
He’s definitely lacking confidence, he doesn’t seem to be expecting to score when he has a chance like he did before the CL final.
A dislocated shoulder ended Bryan Robson’s career despite numerous attempted comebacks.

I don’t know what the answer is but it’s a worry.


12.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 16:16:22
Class thread.


13.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 16:26:21
I’m convinced that it’ll only take one or two goals and he’ll be back on it. I’m not sure if Ed has any inside info on this, and i’m not demeaning the affect of his injury, but I do feel we’re over thinking it. He’s just a confidence player who is not full of it at the moment. One good game and a goal that is not just a simple tap in and he’ll be flying again, I reckon. His work and movement isn’t a lot different to normal, just that things aren’t coming off for him at the moment.


14.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 18:05:03
He has a very similar goal and assists record to this time last year. Not sure why folks are getting so stressed about him.


15.) 30 Sep 2018
30 Sep 2018 22:43:35
As Ed said sometimes, the psychological side of a recovery is more important than the physical side. Mo may be suffering from this BUT this may not be the only thing he is suffering from. Could be a host of other issues like lacking confidence, over-thinking things in crucial times, still not fully recovered physically and most importantly, mentally from his travails from the injury, WC and Egyptian FA.

This could either take a while to get cleared or he can shake it off in a timely manner. What we need to do now is to support him, protect him and remind him that he is OUR Mo and we would never trade him for anything and anyone EVER. That can only boost his morale and strengthen him, mentally.


16.) 01 Oct 2018
01 Oct 2018 11:32:34
The best analogy for neural pathways I’ve come across is that it’s kinda like a mouse in forest that has become familiar with a certain route. But if a route becomes blocked off it has to learn a different route to compensate - and even if the original route becomes unblocked the mouse has somewhat gotten used to going by the new route, even if it’s less efficient.

That’s why it’s best to let an injury fully heal before getting back into things so that the brain doesn’t start learning new ways of coping which messes things up even when the injury has cleared.

In Salah’s case I believe having to play for Egypt in the WC while not back at 100% has affected those neural pathways as Ed001 has suggested. But I believe he has to play through it, regain his confidence that the old pathways work fine again and he’ll be back to the Salah of old.


17.) 01 Oct 2018
01 Oct 2018 11:37:49
Interesting that. I have just come back off holiday with my mate- he dislocated his shoulder about 7/ 8 years ago now. Whenever he goes to walk pass someone/ something he instantly goes to protect his shoulder. He says it’s never been quite the same since he did it.


18.) 01 Oct 2018
01 Oct 2018 20:05:49
Same for my reconstructed left knee, Morro6590.


19.) 01 Oct 2018
01 Oct 2018 20:05:49
Same for my reconstructed left knee, Morro6590.