Looked out cold before he was given smelling salts in the match last night. Sky didn't show footage of what happened. To anyone who was at the match, did he just collapse or did he clash with a player?

Maybe he was trying out "Paolo Ferreira diet"

Btw, nice to see him back to his near-best in the last few games!

I was just about to post the same topic. On Sky, it went to Joe being subbed, then went back to Essien laying on the deck. The commentator said he just got dizzy, so don't think he got injured in anyway. Got up and carried on after a drink and that.

i saw ricci walking away from essien on the deck pointing at his chest/heart area. didnt look good. not seen anything anywhere about it.

it seemed strange when he went down

play had stopped and everton were making a change

he just went down, maybe he just past out or something

according to avram we'll have to ask the dr

They said on the radio that he collapsed through exhaustion. If that was true then why the hell did we let him stay on the pitch?

because the radio is wrong, if there is one person in our team who isnt going to collapse from exhaustion it is michael essien

Highly possible it was along the lines of exhaustion as he has played a lot of football in a short space of time ever since the Boro game at the end of March (something like 6 games in 18 days) and he has been putting in a hell of a shift, especially against Wigan and then Everton.

That would figure Loz, bit of fatigue, at least he gets a break against Liverpool. Going to miss him on that one for sure.

That would figure Loz, bit of fatigue, at least he gets a break against Liverpool. Going to miss him on that one for sure.

Especially as we're unsure of Ballack's fitness and don't know when Frank will next be available.

A midfield of Mikel - Maka - Sidwell anyone?

That would figure Loz, bit of fatigue, at least he gets a break against Liverpool. Going to miss him on that one for sure.

Especially as we're unsure of Ballack's fitness and don't know when Frank will next be available.

A midfield of Mikel - Maka - Sidwell anyone?

Mikel - SWP - Maka

I think that Ballack, Lamps & Drogba will all be in the squad, with Drogs possibly starting on the bench.

Midfield trio of Lamps, Ballack & Maka

or

Lamps, Obi & Maka

Seeing as how he was allowed to carry on for the remainder of the game, the only thing that would cause a dizzy spell like that would be lack of nutrients in his system. Maybe had had the squirts before the game. Some isotonic fluids and smelling salts did the trick.

I had a look at our results with/without Essien in the team since his return from the ANC. Since he got back, our results with him playing in midfield have been a LOT worse than when he didn't play:

With Essien playing in midfield since his return, we have won 3, drawn 4, and lost 3.

With Essien not playing, or playing at right back we have won 7, drawn 0, lost 0.

Those results where he played in midfield:

win 1-0 Everton

draw 1-1 Wigan

win 2-0 Man City

loss 2-1 Fenerbache

win 1-0 Boro

draw 4-4 Spurs

Loss 1-0 Barnsley

loss 2-1 Spurs

draw 0-0 Olympiakos

draw 0-0 Liverpool

Those games where he didn't play were (* he played at right back):

win 2-0 Fenerbache *

win 2-1 Arsenal *

win 1-0 Sunderland

Win 6-1 Derby

win 3-0 Olympiakos

Win 4-0 Westham

Win 3-1 Huddersfield

At least he seems to be improving again. Our record with him in midfield since his return was much worse three weeks ago. The games we managed to win with him playing in M/F have all come in the last three weeks.