So, where the fuck is ...

[nickwr37]

He's not active about what's happening on social media at all so my view is leave it to SUFC to update us. They ask him what shall we provide information wise so fairs fair based on the situation. We await...

 

[Champagneblade]

Such a shame. Could have been heading for the 30-50m bracket if he'd stayed fit.

 

[Old Programme seller]

i wonder if the club are keeping quiet because of insurance payouts after so long they cut their losses and we get paid out at market price when he had his break

 

[BigBed]

Mate - he has been injured for two years. That is more than 'injured'.

Even pulling on a United shirt the pressure on him will be enormous. Two years out of a competitive, professional environment at this high level of delivery is not good.

pommpey

They bodged the first OP didnt they, then he had to have another to try and put it right, and then he damaged that whilst in the gym, and now hes just having a brew and a Cadbury flake Easter egg.

 

[robbiez666]

Why would the club say something if they have nothing positive to say and no one asks them?

 

[pommpey]

Why would the club say something if they have nothing positive to say and no one asks them?

Because we are all hoping that one day, Jack O'Connell will be back and it will reignite our upsurge and ambitions.

Two years out of the game whilst on a long contract with what may be a somewhat haphazard track record of recovery and rehabilitation spells out more to me than the mealy mouthed 'move along please, nothing to see here' approach the club has fed us for over a year now. Human physiology doesn't suggest this injury is recoverable. It is possibly one of those that no matter how many operations and rehab, it won't be fixed and he'll possibly damage it further in a pre-season. The other thing iss that although no one can dare question Jack's need, want and desire to be back in red and white, he hasn't been part of the outfield staff for two years now and his eye for football won't be quite so sharp. The expectation from us of him to be that mountain of a player will be massive and one mistake (and he can make them ... Villa 3-3 away for example) will weigh heavily on his shoulders. He will also be protecting that injury, so tackling and challenging will be done with consideration. And finally, although the squad still stinks of Wilderball, on field it isn't having the measure of success it had when he played his last game for us in the 2020-21 season.

He hasn't grown and shrunk with this lot who have had nearly a hundred games without him. He will also have to prove himself and fight for that LCB shirt and the longer this goes on, the worse it will be for him.

pommpey

 

[PaulHalfway]

I would imagine he will try pre season training, if he fails he will have to probably retire, I think next season is the last year of his contract
What a terrible shame for him and the club

 

[pommpey]

I would imagine he will try pre season training, if he fails he will have to probably retire, I think next season is the last year of his contract
What a terrible shame for him and the club

That goes without saying. We've had some epic centre backs at the club - Eddie C, Murphs, Page, Morgs, Beesley, McEve ... only kidding

But him alongside Egan and Basham have been the best I have ever seen. Basically the rock upon which Wilder's year were eventually built

pommpey

 

[Wincobank S9 Blade]

Hard to think of him coming back let alone him been the same player after so long out harsh on J Robinson been dropped at the minute when he was hitting form for Davies.

 

[JackSUFC]

I am half expecting a retirement announcement before the final home game this season so he can wave goodbye to the fans..

….then a week later announce he is suing the club.

IF it’s true that the club have been negligent with this then you couldn’t blame him.

 

[INTERUNITED]

I get the feeling that we are keeping him on the payroll so he doesn't sue us (probably come to some agreement). It's obvious now that he won't play again to any sort of level (if at all), so I'm guessing this is an agreement which suits both parties (he gets his salary for 3 years, and we don't have to pay him a large lump sum in compensation).

 

[robbiez666]

Because we are all hoping that one day, Jack O'Connell will be back and it will reignite our upsurge and ambitions.

Two years out of the game whilst on a long contract with what may be a somewhat haphazard track record of recovery and rehabilitation spells out more to me than the mealy mouthed 'move along please, nothing to see here' approach the club has fed us for over a year now. Human physiology doesn't suggest this injury is recoverable. It is possibly one of those that no matter how many operations and rehab, it won't be fixed and he'll possibly damage it further in a pre-season. The other thing iss that although no one can dare question Jack's need, want and desire to be back in red and white, he hasn't been part of the outfield staff for two years now and his eye for football won't be quite so sharp. The expectation from us of him to be that mountain of a player will be massive and one mistake (and he can make them ... Villa 3-3 away for example) will weigh heavily on his shoulders. He will also be protecting that injury, so tackling and challenging will be done with consideration. And finally, although the squad still stinks of Wilderball, on field it isn't having the measure of success it had when he played his last game for us in the 2020-21 season.

He hasn't grown and shrunk with this lot who have had nearly a hundred games without him. He will also have to prove himself and fight for that LCB shirt and the longer this goes on, the worse it will be for him.

pommpey

You do realise that it's illegal for your boss to discuss your health record? I assume no news is bad news, but It can't remember him dodging a question from the press about it. Wasn't there something a few weeks ago about not playing this season?

 

[BigBed]

I think he will be lucky to play again, been out for such a long time, not sure where his head is, but, if hes trying to hard to get back, that could have made it worse..... time will tell.

 

[Bladeloyal]

Speculation doesn't help anyone

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Nice to see that the usual suspects who know fuck all about football have the same level of knowledge about orthopaedic treatment….

 

[Bert]

I get the feeling that we are keeping him on the payroll so he doesn't sue us (probably come to some agreement). It's obvious now that he won't play again to any sort of level (if at all), so I'm guessing this is an agreement which suits both parties (he gets his salary for 3 years, and we don't have to pay him a large lump sum in compensation).

Or maybe he's still under contract.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Unfortunately I think his injury by Deano in training and then the clubs misinformed medical advice has fucked him
Be surprised if he plays ball again if it’s this long
Love to be wrong but can’t see it
Pity because let’s be reight with a full strength squad ,
We’d comfortable be at least in the playoffs and not half as many defense fuckups would be happening

 

[reedy63]

Bert is correct he is under contract for how long though. if he can,t play again.
Arrange a testimonial against wendy or Liverpool.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Injured.

No time scale on it.

What else can they say?

There is a time scale tho is'nt there,what happens when his contract ends ? are the club still responsible for his rehabilitation ?

 

[BladesNo9]

Like every Blade I want to see a fully fit JOC gracing the BDTBL pitch again
I too want more info and more updates, but I also think that the 'complexities' surrounding the 'cause and possible outcomes' of JOC's situation will ultimately decide the amount of info/updates that can or will be made public knowledge by anyone involved or 'in the know!', be that JOC, the Medical & Management Team or The Club/Board etc
The best we can do is be/think positive for JOC and keep our fingers crossed. UTB

 

[Berkshire Blade]

There is a time scale tho is'nt there,what happens when his contract ends ? are the club still responsible for his rehabilitation ?

Depends on the injury. There might just be a case of wait and see...

Personally I think he's more likely to retire than play again but until that point nothing to add is there?

 

[Groucho Blade]

Depends on the injury. There might just be a case of wait and see...

Personally I think he's more likely to retire than play again but until that point nothing to add is there?

No there isn’t. But that doesn’t stop everyone from adding their own ill-informed and ill-advised twopennorth

 

[Old Programme seller]

That ill informed twopeneth is because nobody in the club is keeping us abreast of what’s happening with our star player and that’s what this thread is all about.

 

[247Blade]

Because we are all hoping that one day, Jack O'Connell will be back and it will reignite our upsurge and ambitions.

Two years out of the game whilst on a long contract with what may be a somewhat haphazard track record of recovery and rehabilitation spells out more to me than the mealy mouthed 'move along please, nothing to see here' approach the club has fed us for over a year now. Human physiology doesn't suggest this injury is recoverable. It is possibly one of those that no matter how many operations and rehab, it won't be fixed and he'll possibly damage it further in a pre-season. The other thing iss that although no one can dare question Jack's need, want and desire to be back in red and white, he hasn't been part of the outfield staff for two years now and his eye for football won't be quite so sharp. The expectation from us of him to be that mountain of a player will be massive and one mistake (and he can make them ... Villa 3-3 away for example) will weigh heavily on his shoulders. He will also be protecting that injury, so tackling and challenging will be done with consideration. And finally, although the squad still stinks of Wilderball, on field it isn't having the measure of success it had when he played his last game for us in the 2020-21 season.

He hasn't grown and shrunk with this lot who have had nearly a hundred games without him. He will also have to prove himself and fight for that LCB shirt and the longer this goes on, the worse it will be for him.

pommpey

I hope I'm wrong but with joc UTD are delaying the inevitable ... its been a long long time out ... maybe sometime soon Club will come through and tell us the truth?

 

[pommpey]

You do realise that it's illegal for your boss to discuss your health record? I assume no news is bad news, but It can't remember him dodging a question from the press about it. Wasn't there something a few weeks ago about not playing this season?

Illegal?

Not asking for Medical-in-Confidence material.

However an update on O'Connells situation as a player would be good

pommpey

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

The thing that worried me the most was in the last update on him he was doing gym work but not kicking a ball yet! That’s mental, 12 months since his last operation & he’s still not kicking a ball

I think it’s another James Wallace scenario, even if he comes back he’ll struggle

 

[Harrisblade]

Illegal?

Not asking for Medical-in-Confidence material.

However an update on O'Connells situation as a player would be good

pommpey

Drop him a line c/o the club.
Then no issues about employer. giving out personal medical info.

 

[pommpey]

Drop him a line c/o the club.
Then no issues about employer. giving out personal medical info.

Sorry. What does 'not asking for M-i-C material' mean to you?

I think we are all interested in his situation as a player. Especially as his position hasn't been effectively filled since his injury.

pommpey

 

[Sean Thornton]

Nice to see that the usual suspects who know fuck all about football have the same level of knowledge about orthopaedic treatment….

I’ve heard Bettis did the op himself as part of the cost cutting measures.

 

[Panini]

This is getting ridiculous.

There was an update at the end of the summer transfer window, when the squad registrations were submitted, another update towards the end of the January window for the same reason, an official update from the club 2 weeks ago and another update through Radio Sheffield last week. They're all very similar.





Do you need Heckingbottom to be asked about it every week, and give the same answer every week, to feel you're being kept in the loop?

If those updates aren't satisfying enough and you want progress then it's probably important to realise we all want the same thing but you need to manage your own expectations.

O'Connell went under the knife 18 months and 17 days ago. He hasn't even missed a full season yet.

Yes it's unusual but it has happened to other players. I would be stunned if Phil Jones was discussed regularly in Man United updates throughout his absence. That has nothing to do with how important he is to them compared to how important JOC is too us, but everything to do with the fact that there is no new information and the poor bloke likely doesn't want his name bandied around while he's just trying to get on with a difficult and long recovery. Duncan Watmore is another example, two ACL injuries pretty much back-to-back.

"2 years and not a word from the club, what the fuck's going on" is nonsense on two counts.