Head injuries sideline Cochrane, Ayres
By Jeff Carlisle · May 1, 2008
Never mind the 4-0 score from last night’s U.S. Open Cup play-in loss to Real Salt Lake. The biggest concern has to surround the condition of San Jose defenders Jay Ayres and Ryan Cochrane, who endured what from all accounts was a sickening clash of heads early in last night’s match that forced both players to leave the game after just 15 minutes.
The prognosis is bad for Ayres and only slightly better for Cochrane. Ayres suffered a facial fracture and is out indefinitely. Cochrane suffered a concussion and a gash that required stitches to close, although I don’t know how many. He will definitely miss this weekend’s match against Dallas. His status beyond that will depend on the severity of the concussion.
So what do you do if you’re Frank Yallop? You’ll likely see Jason Hernandez drafted into the center of defense, James Riley moved to the right, and either Eric Denton or Ivan Guerrero put in at left back. If Yallop opts to put Guerrero in the back, that opens up a myriad of possibilities in midfield. Ramiro Corrales at left-mid and Joe Vide in the middle? Leave the central pairing of Corrales and Ned Grabavoy the same and put Ryan Johnson or Shea Salinas in on the left? Either way, this is not the kind of problem you want to face heading into the Buck Shaw opener.
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Thanks for the update - I hope both Cochrane and Ayers heal well and heal quickly. Best wishes to them!
As for the line-up changes, adding Denton at left-back just makes sense. It strikes me as the safe choice since it leaves the midfield intact/unchanged, and Denton is an MLS experienced player. Yallop has always believed in a strong “spine” so I don’t expect him to move Corrales out of the center of midfield either.
I’d expect this line-up to start (unless Peguero starts in place of Glinton):
———-Kamara–Glinton
Guerrero—Grabavoy–O’Brien
Denton–Hernandez–Garcia–Riley
————–THE JOE
Likely subs:
Peguero in for Glinton.
Salinas in for O’Brien.
Johnson in for either Denton (if we are behind) or Guerrero (if we are tied, ahead).
Roblar,
Interesting line-up suggestion but that’s 10 to start.
Looks like you didn’t put Corrales in but I supect you meant to have him in the middle with Grabavoy?
[…] as first reported here on Center Line Soccer, Ryan Cochrane and Jay Ayres will miss Saturday’s match due to injuries sustained in their […]
I was in the front row of that match and heard their heads collide. It was quite disturbing, and I hope a speedy recovery for both players. I’d also like to wish the team luck with the loss of these guys.
I was at the game, and that sound of their head smacking together is still stuck in my head. One of our local stations has video of it:
http://www.myfoxutah.com/
I talked to Cochrane last night…he said he’s feeling better and that he should be ready to go for next week’s game against the Crew. I talked to Jay as well, and for him it’s not as fortunate. He has to get surgery sometime in the upcoming weeks and he’ll be out for two months.