Fitness

[Brian Deane]

The fitness issue at the club, which the coaching staff and supporters agree is a huge problem in our ability to see games out begs a question I've asked myself for some time now...

What is a typical day in the life of a professional footballer?

What time do they arrive at the training ground?
What constitutes fitness building? Just weights in the gym? Running 5 miles? Speed drills?

I get the game travel bit but its only England in a bus.

I know I'm making it sound easy, but fitness is THE biggest issue we face so how does the coaching staff work the players on this on training days? How many days off do the players have that could be turned into hig intensive running for example.

So, for me, lack of fitness is an awful excuse for the consistent second half ability to give away points,

toledo

I'd also like to know what the players VO2 Max is and their HRV

 

[KMC-1889]

Erm....

The EFL fixtures?

Campbell has been in and out of the team all season and still can complete 75 mins, your telling me it’s the impossible to take him out of the team and send him for some intensive training during an international break?

Why can intense training only happen in June?

 

[KMC-1889]

The fitness issue at the club, which the coaching staff and supporters agree is a huge problem in our ability to see games out begs a question I've asked myself for some time now...

What is a typical day in the life of a professional footballer?

What time do they arrive at the training ground?
What constitutes fitness building? Just weights in the gym? Running 5 miles? Speed drills?

I get the game travel bit but its only England in a bus.

I know I'm making it sound easy, but fitness is THE biggest issue we face so how does the coaching staff work the players on this on training days? How many days off do the players have that could be turned into hig intensive running for example.

So, for me, lack of fitness is an awful excuse for the consistent second half ability to give away points,

toledo

It was injuries, so they scaled back the training intensity and now players aren’t fit.

Absolute joke that we see to be only team that can’t manage our entire squad through 90 minutes. No other team suffers from such a wide spread level of unprofessional behaviour.

Again, as I’ve mentioned several times, it’s because the club is full of people wilder likes rather than the best people at their job. It’s the same in recruitment, it’s the same with the doctors, it’s the same with coaching staff, it’s the same with scouting, it’s the same with player contract management.

The only bit not under wilders overall control is the academy running under Del Geary, and that’s the only part of the club consistently over performing through changes to playing & coaching staff.

 

[Houston_Blade]

As I said in my earlier post I think it's actually just something wheeled out when things aren't going well. Duffy in 2019 and Campbell last year would regularly last an hour then off. Nobody really minded as it worked especially the Duffy example. If we had a stronger bench nobody would mind this year either imo

It’s the first thing new managers say “I’ll get them fit”. Apart from Selles, he had no idea what planet he was on.

 

[alcoblade]

The experts say otherwise

Why is pre-season so important? We speak to the experts

Players, coaches and sports scientists talk us through the pains of pre season - and why it matters...

www.skysports.com

Well you live and learn!

 

[Nick Jansky]

As I said in my earlier post I think it's actually just something wheeled out when things aren't going well. Duffy in 2019 and Campbell last year would regularly last an hour then off. Nobody really minded as it worked especially the Duffy example. If we had a stronger bench nobody would mind this year either imo

It used to be individual players, the exception rather than the rule. Now it’s half the squad.

 

[Houston_Blade]

The experts say otherwise

Why is pre-season so important? We speak to the experts

Players, coaches and sports scientists talk us through the pains of pre season - and why it matters...

www.skysports.com

Completely different levels I know but back in my early 20’s when I was playing around tier 7 (Unibond) I had a few seasons where I did a full pre season and one season got injured in the first week back and missed a few weeks.

The difference for me was huge, I’m not Chris Basham levels of natural fitness and I relied on the 4-6 weeks of conditioning massively. It definitely carries you through the season as you get minimal opportunity to train properly when you’re playing weekends and mid-weeks plus having a full time job as well.

Nicky Law Sr screaming at me in full cockney to “run ap that fackin’ hill”, seemed shit at the time but I’d love to be that fit again now.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

It used to be individual players, the exception rather than the rule. Now it’s half the squad.

Look at our points lost from winning positions stat. Stronger bench and we pick up let's say half those points I don't think it gets brought up whatsoever. It can always be better of course but I'm not too convinced it's fitness but quality issues.

 

[YES Blade]

Look at our points lost from winning positions stat. Stronger bench and we pick up let's say half those points I don't think it gets brought up whatsoever. It can always be better of course but I'm not too convinced it's fitness but quality issues.

I agree our bench is crap, but which teams in the Championship have a strong bench? I can’t imagine we’re alone in having a poor bench. Wrexham certainly didn’t have a strong bench yesterday and they’re in 7th!

 

[Nick Jansky]

Look at our points lost from winning positions stat. Stronger bench and we pick up let's say half those points I don't think it gets brought up whatsoever. It can always be better of course but I'm not too convinced it's fitness but quality issues.

As has been pointed out, very few Championship clubs have a strong bench. But nobody else chucks points away like we do. It’s very obvious to all fans who are actually at the matches. If it isn’t down to fitness (which it is, because Wilder complains often enough about having to make physical substitutions) then it must be tactical ineptitude. But anyone with eyes can see exactly what the biggest problem is.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

As has been pointed out, very few Championship clubs have a strong bench. But nobody else chucks points away like we do. It’s very obvious to all fans who are actually at the matches. If it isn’t down to fitness (which it is, because Wilder complains often enough about having to make physical substitutions) then it must be tactical ineptitude. But anyone with eyes can see exactly what the biggest problem is.

Fitness wasn't the reason their striker was completely unmarked.

Davies on for Riedwald ( who has a legitimate reason for not having 90 in him in my opinion) is a change of type of player but due to not having a similar one we had little option.

 

[blade67]

How do you explain previous seasons under Wilder and Hecky when we were exactly the same?

All managers blame the previous regime when they come in and say that they’ll improve fitness, we’ve proven that we’re a set of unconditioned lightweights for many a year now.

In the previous 2 seasons in this league we won 91 and 92 points, so clearly we weren't dropping tonnes of points late in games So that wasn't a thing.

We generally got battered in the premier league though as most teams had much stronger squads

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

Our tactics dont help our in game energy levels. How often do players (particularly at the front of the pitch) press as a one?

This then leaves an easy out ball, meaning the next player has to run across to them... and so on and so on

 

[Nick Jansky]

Fitness wasn't the reason their striker was completely unmarked.

Fitness absolutely plays a part in that sort of thing. Players start cutting corners and taking risks, consciously or unconsciously.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

In the previous 2 seasons in this league we won 91 and 92 points, so clearly we weren't dropping tonnes of points late in games So that wasn't a thing.

We generally got battered in the premier league though as most teams had much stronger squads

And under hecky our pressing was our strong point but we lost the majority of them doing that during that summer. So this idea we are and have been for years a unfit side doesn't really add up.

 

[Houston_Blade]

And under hecky our pressing was our strong point but we lost the majority of them doing that during that summer. So this idea we are and have been for years an unfit side doesn't really add up.

Hecky came in and said how unfit the squad was when he took over from Slav.

 

[JT89]

It was injuries, so they scaled back the training intensity and now players aren’t fit.

Absolute joke that we see to be only team that can’t manage our entire squad through 90 minutes. No other team suffers from such a wide spread level of unprofessional behaviour.

Again, as I’ve mentioned several times, it’s because the club is full of people wilder likes rather than the best people at their job. It’s the same in recruitment, it’s the same with the doctors, it’s the same with coaching staff, it’s the same with scouting, it’s the same with player contract management.

The only bit not under wilders overall control is the academy running under Del Geary, and that’s the only part of the club consistently over performing through changes to playing & coaching staff.

Geary for overall DoF role?

 

[Silky Sabella]

Everyone involved with fitness, stamina and conditioning at the club needs to be sacked.

Half the team look dead on their feet after 60-70 minutes every game.

It's not like we play high tempo or high press.

We normally score a goal and then defend or box. Our fitness is laughable.

Exactly!
The way Sunderland attacked and opened up Newcastle in the second half was a combination of determination, skill and FITNESS, to keep doing it !

 

[bertieblade]

First half we usually play in their face, high press football and usually out run the opposition.
We try and retain this style of play for as long as possible when we run out of steam around the 70th minute and make physical changes, weakening the team as we continue to play the same way.
Why do we not “throttle back” and adopt a different style of play when fitness levels necessitate it?

Can we only play one way ?

 

[Blademan89]

First half we usually play in their face, high press football and usually out run the opposition.
We try and retain this style of play for as long as possible when we run out of steam around the 70th minute and make physical changes, weakening the team as we continue to play the same way.
Why do we not “throttle back” and adopt a different style of play when fitness levels necessitate it?

Can we only play one way ?

We do, we sit back and try and defend and soak up the pressure whildt hitting teams on the break (particularly away games).

We are to fragile at the back this season for that. Last season it worked, but people moan about negative dull football, albeit sat back as soon as we scored rather than running out of steam.

I suggest a better idea, let's play like we do first half with high press, aggression & intensity (such as boro & cov first 20 mins, leeds last season etc) but for the full 90 amd have players on the bench that can actually do the job and keep the same pressure and intensity up, rather than absolute fodder for squad depth. Flat out for 60 and change it to continue to 90. With the amount of subs allowed these days theres no reason why we cant do this approach.

 

[KMC-1889]

Look at our points lost from winning positions stat. Stronger bench and we pick up let's say half those points I don't think it gets brought up whatsoever. It can always be better of course but I'm not too convinced it's fitness but quality issues.

It's certainly an element of it but the thing Wilder is supposed to be good at (see the 2017-2020 team) is getting players to perform at their ceiling by outrunning and outfighting the opponent. We haven't seen that on the pitch since Covid with the exception of the derbys.

Most of our squad are seasoned championship players, a lot with premier league minutes under their belt. They aren't as bad as they're playing right now.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

It's certainly an element of it but the thing Wilder is supposed to be good at (see the 2017-2020 team) is getting players to perform at their ceiling by outrunning and outfighting the opponent. We haven't seen that on the pitch since Covid with the exception of the derbys.

Most of our squad are seasoned championship players, a lot with premier league minutes under their belt. They aren't as bad as they're playing right now.

Do you have a link to running stats? See them get brought up on TV for premier league games but never championship. Be interesting to see what they say

 

[Brian Deane]

Do you have a link to running stats? See them get brought up on TV for premier league games but never championship. Be interesting to see what they say

Any player can run, it's running with purpose and doing something constructive in football terms, that's tackle, intercept, press etc then knowing what do with the ball if you are successful.
This is where the Blades fall short, it's one or the other, not both.

 

[UddersBlade]

We have not really had fitness levels at the same level as back in Warnock’s days since then really. I almost expected us to score in the last 10 mins or injury time. It was incredible really. I think Warnock had a top former rugby league fitness/conditioning coach involved for a couple of seasons….. so I guess that helped. Think he was called Dean Riddle.

Anyway - I think Wilder needs to be recruiting a new fitness coach along the same lines this summer.

 

[KMC-1889]

Do you have a link to running stats? See them get brought up on TV for premier league games but never championship. Be interesting to see what they say

I've had a look around but that data seems to be really well protected, I can't find public data for the premier league either.

Loads of studies have been done on it which suggest between 8 - 13k depending on position on the pitch. Managers reference it all the time so it must be there.

 

[Slugger]

We do, we sit back and try and defend and soak up the pressure whildt hitting teams on the break (particularly away games).

We are to fragile at the back this season for that. Last season it worked, but people moan about negative dull football, albeit sat back as soon as we scored rather than running out of steam.

I suggest a better idea, let's play like we do first half with high press, aggression & intensity (such as boro & cov first 20 mins, leeds last season etc) but for the full 90 amd have players on the bench that can actually do the job and keep the same pressure and intensity up, rather than absolute fodder for squad depth. Flat out for 60 and change it to continue to 90. With the amount of subs allowed these days theres no reason why we cant do this approach.

Trouble with this idea is that the 4 or 5 players that are blowing out of their arses at 60 mins are the ones that you are forced to sub.
So tactically if you want to change formation and widen the pitch by eg. using overlapping wing-backs you can't bring them on because you need to use up your subs to replace the centre-forward who's slowed to walking pace and the overweight midfielder who's too exhausted to track back.

 

[Blademan89]

Trouble with this idea is that the 4 or 5 players that are blowing out of their arses at 60 mins are the ones that you are forced to sub.
So tactically if you want to change formation and widen the pitch by eg. using overlapping wing-backs you can't bring them on because you need to use up your subs to replace the centre-forward who's slowed to walking pace and the overweight midfielder who's too exhausted to track back.

But thats why I mentioned that we recruit capable players to be able to bring on or rotate etc to keep that up. We have had poor squad depth/bench for a long time.

It about time we have strong squad rather than just the starting 11.

 

[Bladesman]

We thought we had issues with our medical staff

 

[SwissBlade]

We thought we had issues with our medical staff

I always found it amusing that they ask you which leg and use a big marker pen when you have knee surgery to mark up the correct knee to operate on.

Seems they need to do the same for scans as well!

 

[The Fox]

I always found it amusing that they ask you which leg and use a big marker pen when you have knee surgery to mark up the correct knee to operate on.

Seems they need to do the same for scans as well!

Doesn't an MRI scan all of you, or just the lower body and not just one leg?

They may have analysed the wrong one but cant imagine the only scanned one .