First Lockdown significance in Wilder leaving ....

[cmbillm]

Prior to March 2020 and the first lockdown, the Blades earned an average of 1.6 points per game. After resuming in June, the team earned 1.1 points per game. I recall watching Newcastle and then other teams looking a whole lot fitter and sharper than us once the season resumed.

Did we fail to keep our squad fitness and condition up to the standard of other teams during that first lockdown break?

Proud as I was of the Blades that season, we looked for the second part of the season more tired and out of condition than other teams. With a very short preseason, was this a factor in the drop in confidence and form this season? Was our lockdown training and fitness regime just not up to scratch in comparison to other PL teams?

 

[Rodley]

Prior to March 2020 and the first lockdown, the Blades earned an average of 1.6 points per game. After resuming in June, the team earned 1.1 points per hgame. I recall watching Newcastle and then other teams looking a whole lot fitter and sharper than us once the season resumed.

Did we fail to keep our squad fitness and condition up to the standard of other teams during that first lockdown break?

Proud as I was of the Blades that season, we looked for the second part of the season more tired and out of condition than other teams. With a very short preseason, was this a factor in the drop in confidence and form this season? Was our lockdown training and fitness regime just not up to scratch in comparison to other PL teams?

It was reported some of the players had to hire private fitness coaches (McBurnie for example). I don’t know whether this related to the training ground issue (not they leaky roof again?) or lack of resource, but the summer was bungled. Usually the players were bang at it fitness wise under CW, but the intensity fell off a cliff. Who knows.

 

[robbiez666]

I think CW and AK admitted they'd messed up. I think our players were on a much more intense fitness regime than other teams and looked shattered where other players looked fresh.

 

[BlairBlade]

Prior to March 2020 and the first lockdown, the Blades earned an average of 1.6 points per game. After resuming in June, the team earned 1.1 points per game. I recall watching Newcastle and then other teams looking a whole lot fitter and sharper than us once the season resumed.

Did we fail to keep our squad fitness and condition up to the standard of other teams during that first lockdown break?

Proud as I was of the Blades that season, we looked for the second part of the season more tired and out of condition than other teams. With a very short preseason, was this a factor in the drop in confidence and form this season? Was our lockdown training and fitness regime just not up to scratch in comparison to other PL teams?

That could well be the case but it is far from the only reason.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I think CW and AK admitted they'd messed up. I think our players were on a much more intense fitness regime than other teams and looked shattered where other players looked fresh.

I'm not sure I'd have done any different in their position, no side had ever tried to respond to a pandemic and you'd be paranoid at being behind the fitness levels of every other side in the best league in the World.

 

[robbiez666]

I'm not sure I'd have done any different in their position, no side had ever tried to respond to a pandemic and you'd be paranoid at being behind the fitness levels of every other side in the best league in the World.

Not saying there is necessarily any blame here, depending on how that decision was reached. It was a unique situation.

 

[S64 Blade]

Good point. I recall just before our game back against Villa and all the messaging was that we were bang at it. We were all excited and optimistic, but that soon faded as things didn’t look right.

I genuinely believe that if Covid hadn’t hit, we’d have got a European place and at least to the semis of the FA cup.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Not saying there is necessarily any blame here, depending on how that decision was reached. It was a unique situation.

Just read my reply back, and also hadn't meant to sound accusationary