Cometh the hour. Cometh the Holden

[Hoboh]

We've just got to see what happens... he can't be in bad overall shape given the training he's been doing, but that's not quite the same as being match fit. I just want to see him back in regular training with the 1st team, have a few development-squad games and just get playing time under his belt before re-introducing him into the 1st team proper.

Can't wait to have him back though...

Untill yesterday most of our players didnt look that!

[The Berlin Bear]

Does anyone know if he returned to training today? None of the usual photo's on the website.

[plymouth wanderer]

He was on SSN training but by the looks of it not with the rest of the team

[The Berlin Bear]

I have a bad feeling about Stu and his injury return. There has been very little news about his injury from the club. I was listening to Shaun Davies on talk sport the other week about his 'microfracture' not healing strongly enough to carry on playing. We got very little info from the club. I have a bad feeling Stu's problem is similar. I hope i am wrong and i probably, but it just niggles at me.

[DJBlu]

It's the same with most injuries. There is normally little info until/if they return to training.

[CAPSLOCK]

Anybody now doubting 'January, earliest'

Thought not

[bobo the clown]

Anybody now doubting 'January, earliest'

Thought not

I never did my friend.

[the-Bowtun-Warrior]

What's this? January? Have I missed something? Presumably Goals on Sunday?

[Relentless09]

Yes of course a fully fit Holden would be a huge advantage in getting promoted but we can get promoted without him and we could have stayed up without him last season

[bobo the clown]

What's this? January? Have I missed something? Presumably Goals on Sunday?

I fear there is a long time, if ever, for his return.

That may just me being pessimistic.

However, he's not even yet in full training .... it's November 4th & he ain't played in 16 months, having managed half a game then after 6 months out. We've heard "he's doing great" for much of that time. So if he's back & playing in the first team this year I'll eat Bruce's shirt.

[Bruce Rioja]

So if he's back & playing in the first team this year I'll eat Bruce's shirt.

It's far too rich for your taste. I just think that there's way too much expectation being heaped on the lad's shoulders. He's not the messiah etc.

[Ianmooreslovechild]

So if he's back & playing in the first team this year I'll eat Bruce's shirt.

It's far too rich for your taste. I just think that there's way too much expectation being heaped on the lad's shoulders. He's not the messiah etc.

I'm hoping Bobo is wrong. The good news is we may finally have a manager who can make the team tick with the players we have available and the temptation to rush and risk another failed return should be less.It's a sign of how poor things have been that we've all been looking at the return of one player as being some kind of salvation.
Remember Reido getting his consecutive leg breaks. He seemed to adapt his game when he came back the second time or maybe I just got that impression. Less swashbuckling 90 mph running with the ball and more intelligent break up and keep it simple. To some degree you'd expect Holden to adapt if he does manage to get back. His commitment was always massive but also helterskelter. If he comes back and tries to do the same I fear he will get nailed again and it would be even harder to get back

[officer_dibble]

He looked like he'd put weight on on tv today
Which after 18 months out is to be expected I guess. Point Im making is he needs one hell of a pre season as well ss his knee sorting. Januarys a reasonable estimate for the bench I think.

[ChrisC]

He looked like he'd put weight on on tv today
Which after 18 months out is to be expected I guess. Point Im making is he needs one hell of a pre season as well ss his knee sorting. Januarys a reasonable estimate for the bench I think.

I thought I heard him say he was keeping his fitness up and working really hard even though he was working away from the team?

[thebish]

So if he's back & playing in the first team this year I'll eat Bruce's shirt.

It's far too rich for your taste. I just think that there's way too much expectation being heaped on the lad's shoulders. He's not the messiah etc.

and it's fine - we have the new Gary Speed... and Tim Ream the aerial enforcer...

[midlands exile]

He looked like he'd put weight on on tv today
Which after 18 months out is to be expected I guess. Point Im making is he needs one hell of a pre season as well ss his knee sorting. Januarys a reasonable estimate for the bench I think.

I thought I heard him say he was keeping his fitness up and working really hard even though he was working away from the team?

Maybe he's bulked up, and it's muscle? Seeing that he was off his feet for so long, I assume he would only have been able to do upper body work during that period.

I don't have Sky though, so haven't seen the footage, and only educated-ly guessing. Is the interview available online?

[ChrisC]

He looked like he'd put weight on on tv today
Which after 18 months out is to be expected I guess. Point Im making is he needs one hell of a pre season as well ss his knee sorting. Januarys a reasonable estimate for the bench I think.

I thought I heard him say he was keeping his fitness up and working really hard even though he was working away from the team?

Maybe he's bulked up, and it's muscle? Seeing that he was off his feet for so long, I assume he would only have been able to do upper body work during that period.

I don't have Sky though, so haven't seen the footage, and only educated-ly guessing. Is the interview available online?

Not sure which part this shows.. Can't listen because my 6 month old daughter is sleeping in the same room!

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 29,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ianmooreslovechild]

So if he's back & playing in the first team this year I'll eat Bruce's shirt.

It's far too rich for your taste. I just think that there's way too much expectation being heaped on the lad's shoulders. He's not the messiah etc.

and it's fine - we have the new Gary Speed... and Tim Ream the aerial enforcer...

Cynic! Just wait till Lord Lucan bags a hatrick on tuesday

[boltonboris]

Didn't look any bigger to me! Perhaps it was the fact he was wearing a shirt under his jumper (don't get that 'look'), but he certainly looks as trim as he was when he was playing.

[officer_dibble]

I watched it down the gym sunday am so i was comparing him to my own trim figure

(could of been the teles)