Hopefully it's not as bad as previously thought. Go Oldie..you got this!
Hopefully it's not as bad as previously thought. Go Oldie..you got this!
Your positive vibes may have worked.
Good-ish news for Ben Old: His injury isn’t a crucial ligament. Seems to be a lateral ligament, still waiting news on any meniscus damage. He’ll be out for a while but it may not be season-ending after all #FlyingKiwis https://t.co/V4QkWhs6d7
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) October 24, 2024
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💚 Get well soon, Ben !
— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) October 24, 2024
Victime d’une entorse à un genou, l’international néo-zélandais a été opéré avec succès aujourd’hui jeudi.
Touché au ligament latéral interne et au ménisque, l’ailier sera indisponible entre quatre et six mois.
L’ensemble du club lui apporte tout son… pic.twitter.com/g5oSGzvwru
4-6 months on the sidelines for Oldie after surgery overnight NZT.
All the best with the recovery Ben!
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What a bummer. Still, he showed enough promise to deserve a second chance once he's recovered. If the knee holds up post surgery, this forced stop might actually be a blessing in disguise, by giving Ben the chance to recover from the various (ankle comes to mind) other issues he's been suffering from on and off.
Given his age though, this amount of injuries starts to be a bit concerning. Still, some people get them out of the way early and then they're fine for the rest of their career.
Best of luck Oldie!
Given his age though, this amount of injuries starts to be a bit concerning. Still, some people get them out of the way early and then they're fine for the rest of their career.
Best of luck Oldie!
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
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Lovely gesture. Stuff like that helps when you are likely pretty down at the moment
Upside more time for French classes. Probably not allowed to play golf though, that won’t help the rehab
Upside more time for French classes. Probably not allowed to play golf though, that won’t help the rehab
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The way that club welcomed at the beginning and that type of message now is pure class.
Haven’t seen that level of care before with a kiwi player and new club.
Really hope he recovers well and has many more years with them in that kind of atmosphere.
Haven’t seen that level of care before with a kiwi player and new club.
Really hope he recovers well and has many more years with them in that kind of atmosphere.
Auckland will rise once more
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Niche Cache
Translation: “The New Zealand international, who suffered a sprained knee, underwent successful surgery today, Thursday. He suffered an injury to the internal lateral ligament and the meniscus, and the winger will be unavailable between four and six months. The entire club gives him its full support and wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Translation: “The New Zealand international, who suffered a sprained knee, underwent successful surgery today, Thursday. He suffered an injury to the internal lateral ligament and the meniscus, and the winger will be unavailable between four and six months. The entire club gives him its full support and wishes him a speedy recovery.”
And there we have our answer. Good news and bad news. The bad being that he’s going to miss 4-6 months in recovery having already undergone knee surgery. The good news is that there was no damage to the anterior or posterior cruciate which would have probably meant 9+ months on the sideline and a very premature end to his first season in France. This way he’s a chance to return before the end of things, which is crucial since the club are likely to remain in a relegation battle. Old has played six Ligue 1 matches to date. Five of those were starts. 378 minutes in total. He’s got a four year contract so nothing to worry about there.
Cool to see the ASSE lads wearing “Get well soon Oldie” shirts during pre-game warm-ups this week. Unfortunately they did lost 4-2 away to Angers, but the sentiment was lovely...
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Ben Old's teammate, Zuriko Davitashvili won ligue 1 Player of the Month for October. He was starting on the right wing when Ben was fit, but shifted to the left to replace him and popped off. Luckily the various right wing replacements haven't looked fantastic, so hopefully when Ben is back Davitashvili will shift back to the right, but no guarantees. Davitashvili is only 23 himself - shows how cut throat Europe can be though with competition for minutes
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.
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After 12 rounds Saint-Étienne are 13th of 18 teams. Had a 1-0 win over bottom team
Montpellier on the weekend.
From Niche Cache.
Montpellier on the weekend.
From Niche Cache.
🗣️ "Felling good, though !" 💚 pic.twitter.com/dEuWbqJpN9
— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) November 20, 2024
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Any updates on Old? Still gonna be out for 2-4 months which sucks but do we know if he can potentially return sooner?
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Baze was asked about Old on Piney's Saturday radio show. Sounds like (paraphrasing) he is expected to be back and able to play around/just before the March window, but that it could be wise to not pick him when he is just getting back to playing fitness.
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💪 Et sinon, regardez qui voilà !
— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) January 31, 2025
Reprise de la course en douceur pour Ben Old 🇳🇿, qui poursuit sa rééducation ! 💚 pic.twitter.com/gIuPL8uGoe
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St Etienne (15th) lost 4-1 at Lille. They did have a player sent off at 48 mins (1-1)
They sit 1 points above the relegation playoff spot.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/02/01/france/ligue-1/lille-olympique-sporting-club-metropole/association-sportive-de-saint-etienne-loire/4372920/
Hopefully Old not far away from playing again
They sit 1 points above the relegation playoff spot.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/02/01/france/ligue-1/lille-olympique-sporting-club-metropole/association-sportive-de-saint-etienne-loire/4372920/
Hopefully Old not far away from playing again
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🇳🇿 New Zealand smiling while watching Ben Old smiling while running. 👋 https://t.co/lW3qD1SMXK
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) February 4, 2025
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Early March return to action for St-Etienne apparently.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360588105/australia-born-striker-ben-gibson-emerges-future-option-all-whites-coach-darren-bazeley
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360588105/australia-born-striker-ben-gibson-emerges-future-option-all-whites-coach-darren-bazeley
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Started training with the ball last week, and they're hoping to include him in some capacity in 3-4 weeks.
So probably not much of a surprise that we are unlikely to see him for the World Cup Qualifiers.
But the first fixture up after the international break...
🎙️ Eirik Horneland avant #ASSEOGCN 🏥 : "Le seul joueur absent de l’entraînement aujourd’hui était Yvann Maçon, mais ce n’est que par précaution, pour alléger sa charge de travail. Dennis Appiah et Pierre Cornud ont repris l’entraînement hier, ils sont aptes. Ben Old travaille… pic.twitter.com/SMjXLimZC2
— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) February 27, 2025
So probably not much of a surprise that we are unlikely to see him for the World Cup Qualifiers.
But the first fixture up after the international break...
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Had a good chance to study French! Wonder how he’s going at that?
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St-Etienne are 2nd last, and in the drop zone. 3 pts from safety. Winless in 8 games. And when they lose it's often by a margin. GD -32.
Wonder if is a relegation clause in Old's contract?
https://us.soccerway.com/national/france/ligue-1/20242025/regular-season/r81802/
Wonder if is a relegation clause in Old's contract?
https://us.soccerway.com/national/france/ligue-1/20242025/regular-season/r81802/
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I don't think Old should leave if they get relegated. France Div 2 wouldn't be the worst place to spend a season or two, get serious minutes and help get the club promoted.
Worst case scenario, if he performs but the team doesn't; he'll get offers.
Worst case scenario, if he performs but the team doesn't; he'll get offers.
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Yep agree, looking at his contemporaries and rivals for the All Whites, Singh and Just, they are playing at second division clubs in inferior leagues.
First time and first club in Europe. They seem to have put the welcome mat out for him as well
First time and first club in Europe. They seem to have put the welcome mat out for him as well
Auckland will rise once more
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Did you know he was once a Golfing protege?
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
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If they get relegated, I wonder who will make the first 'he should come back to the Nix' call.
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If they get relegated, I wonder who will make the first 'he should come back to the Nix' call.
And bring Ben Waine with him too!
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
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If they get relegated, I wonder who will make the first 'he should come back to the Nix' call.
And bring Ben Waine with him too!
Of the two Ben's, you'd imagine Waine is currently in the drivers seat to return to the A-League first.
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Ben should stay where he is. If he thrives in Ligue 2 he will be picked up 100% by a bigger club. He made an impact that was noticed in his short start to the season. Ligue 2 will suite his game. More space and he will be playing in a much more competitive team.
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St Etienne (17th, 20 pts) with 2 relegation dogfight games against other cellar dwellers.
They managed a 1-1 draw at Le Havre (16th, 21 pts) on the weekend. Then they host Montpellier (18th/last, 15 pts) this weekend. Must win it will be.
Bottom 2 teams automatically relegated. 16th spot into a playoff
They managed a 1-1 draw at Le Havre (16th, 21 pts) on the weekend. Then they host Montpellier (18th/last, 15 pts) this weekend. Must win it will be.
Bottom 2 teams automatically relegated. 16th spot into a playoff
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It's getting heated at the bottom of Ligue 1
Match abandoned on the hour mark with St Etienne 2-0 up away from home.
Could possibly see Oldie back in the fray after the international break when they take on PSG.
Bottom of Ligue 1, losing at home to the side directly above you, so what do you do?
— Kirkby (@tranmerekev) March 16, 2025
Well, Montpellier fans set fire to their own stadium, causing the game to be abandoned.#Ligue1 pic.twitter.com/UxDoSPxtlp
Match abandoned on the hour mark with St Etienne 2-0 up away from home.
Could possibly see Oldie back in the fray after the international break when they take on PSG.
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Surely the French FA will have to give the 3 pts to ST
Lovely city Montpellier, when the football is not incendiary
Lovely city Montpellier, when the football is not incendiary
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Things you love to see! Great to see the fans give him so much support.
Back to work 😤 pic.twitter.com/obPRfaOpav
— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) March 18, 2025
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He's back!
In the 20 man matchday squad that take on PSG tomorrow morning.
8 games left in the Ligue 1 season.
👥 Les 20 Verts convoqués pour #ASSEPSG ! pic.twitter.com/vkzwvzkutd
— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) March 28, 2025
In the 20 man matchday squad that take on PSG tomorrow morning.
8 games left in the Ligue 1 season.
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One hell of a game to have to make a come back!!
Auckland will rise once more
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St Etienne (17th/2nd last) host big boys PSG (1st). Fingers crossed mins for Old
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Ben Old is back 👊 #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/hRzsJLBNN8
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 29, 2025
They may have lost 6-1, but Oldie is back. Got about 30 mins off the bench in his first game since October 2024.
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Ben Old made his return to Ligue 1 action after over four months out through injury for Saint-Étienne, coming on in the second half against PSG🇫🇷🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) March 30, 2025
📸 @ASSEofficiel pic.twitter.com/qqCF48bzq6
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