Fitness and conditioning

[Not so Slim ane]

Clear from last night our players aren't up to that level of intensity. It was the same in the premier league.

Bogle is a perfect example, at Leeds he looks fit as a fiddle and is never injured, for us he was never off the treatment table.

Half the side were blowing out of their arses after 60 minutes and we're replaced by players that looked unfit or injured.

Clearly something wrong with the set up and/or coaching that needs to be addressed

 

[Berkshire Blade]

We didn't have half the squad until after pre season. Typically slow recruitment under the previous set up.

 

[Stretch]

Matt Prestwich had the players as fit as butchers dogs in his first stint, so I don't think it's anything to do with the set up or approach necessarily, unless his methods have become so outdated in just a few years?

We essentially had about 17 senior players for the first 6 months of the season, who have been driven into the ground and a fair chunk got medium term injuries. I am not saying that excuses everything but it doesn't help.

 

[Balham]

Our training facility has been improved a bit recently but it's still far below the required standard. Dore can't come quick enough.

 

[kingy1889]

You work 3 times as hard out of possession.

After 20 mins, Leeds got their foot on the ball, made the pitch big and ran us around with their 1 and 2 touch football. It was a matter of time before the wheels came off.

Best team on the night won. Onto QPR

 

[Bladesman]

Clear from last night our players aren't up to that level of intensity. It was the same in the premier league.

Bogle is a perfect example, at Leeds he looks fit as a fiddle and is never injured, for us he was never off the treatment table.

Half the side were blowing out of their arses after 60 minutes and we're replaced by players that looked unfit or injured.

Clearly something wrong with the set up and/or coaching that needs to be addressed

Like I said yesterday we have the squad depth now and yet players still look knackered on 60 mins. Only we can have a week or so of not playing and look more knackered for it.

 

[SUFCinks]

I think it's more our approach than fitness that is killing the players.

We were the same in the Prem. We put huge amounts of energy into pressing, fantastic when done well. But when we have the ball we are careless with it and quickly give it back to the opposition. So the players have bust a gut to win possession back just to be in the same position within a very short amount of time. It doesn't allow much rest for the players. If you play a team that moves the ball quickly then you are using a HUGE amount of energy out of possession as players are constantly being moved around.

If you press hard, which we seem to try against the better teams, then you also have to look after the ball when we have it. The better the opposition the worse this becomes as they tend to have a much more dynamic approach and move the ball better which tires us even quicker. Last year this was happening time, and time again. This season it looks to be more enough the same. There are times in the game where we should transition very quickly, and other times when we should hold the ball and control the tempo to recharge and stop the opposition from building momentum. We tend to get panicked and go into a 'clear it at all costs' mode that puts relentless pressure on our defence and midfield.

It's frustrating as this season should partly be about establishing a new style that would be more productive in the top flight but seems like we are just doing the exact same things as before but against lesser teams.

 

[SUFCinks]

You work 3 times as hard out of possession.

After 20 mins, Leeds got their foot on the ball, made the pitch big and ran us around with their 1 and 2 touch football. It was a matter of time before the wheels came off.

Best team on the night won. Onto QPR

Exactly this.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

I noticed in the first half when there was a couple injury/treatment breaks in play that all the United players went over to the dugout area and were taking on drinks and advice...the Leeds players were just strolling around in there own half waiting for play to begin again,,,,that was psychology being used on us.

 

[Nedski]

The first 30 minutes we played with real intensity and we looked great, Leeds struggled to keep the ball. After that everyone was knackered. We should be able to play with that intensity for at least 45 minutes! These are supposed to be professionals! Leeds didn't stop running for 90 minutes and that made a huge difference.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

We don't sign good athletes. That's a big part of it

 

[Davalon]

I've thought this has been an issue for a few seasons now.

 

[bladesince64]

It definitely was in the last PL season

 

[Groucho Blade]

I've thought this has been an issue for a few seasons now.

It has. I’ve been banging on about it for years. We’ve needed pace, power and athleticism all over the pitch since Wilder’s second season in the Prem.
It’s the main difference between the Champ and the EPL. And we’re nowhere near resolving it yet.

 

[Nedski]

It has. I’ve been banging on about it for years. We’ve needed pace, power and athleticism all over the pitch since Wilder’s second season in the Prem.
It’s the main difference between the Champ and the EPL. And we’re nowhere near resolving it yet.

Seriki basically failed at Beerschot, Rochdale and Rotherham but makes a huge difference to us because he is a true athlete that can also play football! Which is normal for most teams.

We've struggled against pacy athletic teams for years because we rarely sign pacy athletic players.

Jarrod Bowen is only 5ft9 but I remember last season when we played West Ham and he looked twice as strong as any of our players.

 

[FriethBlade]

You work 3 times as hard out of possession.

After 20 mins, Leeds got their foot on the ball, made the pitch big and ran us around with their 1 and 2 touch football. It was a matter of time before the wheels came off.

Best team on the night won. Onto QPR

Kingy, Farke alluded to our approach in his post match interview. He was very complementary about our first 30 mins but said he knew we couldn't keep that pace up all game and that it took a lot out of us.

Although our use of subs has been a lot better this season last night Leeds replaced Aaronsen and Gruev with Rothwell and Joseph on 58 min whereas our 3 'runners' Souza, Peck and Ohare played the full game. That matters when you only have 42% possession. Especially when you have poured a lot of effort into the first half an hour

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

It's definitely a problem 100%. We had 9 days rest so players would've been fresh and had training for fitness.

 

[finlaytheblade]

It's definitely a problem 100%. We had 9 days rest so players would've been fresh and had training for fitness.

All these posts are hitting the same problem and I'm sure Wilder and his coaches are aware of this there in the wrong job if they don't see it
This season We have put a newteam together on the cheap but functioned well early doors.Too many players not had a proper pre-season due to reasons spoken about we get away with it in most games as the wins show! Playing the best teams really shows our short comings both in fitness and athletism.

 

[Nick Jansky]

There was a time when footballers could get away with having a few beers here and there. Not any more. Not if they aspire to be elite. Not all players or managers realise that, though.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

I think it's more our approach than fitness that is killing the players.

We were the same in the Prem. We put huge amounts of energy into pressing, fantastic when done well. But when we have the ball we are careless with it and quickly give it back to the opposition. So the players have bust a gut to win possession back just to be in the same position within a very short amount of time. It doesn't allow much rest for the players. If you play a team that moves the ball quickly then you are using a HUGE amount of energy out of possession as players are constantly being moved around.

If you press hard, which we seem to try against the better teams, then you also have to look after the ball when we have it. The better the opposition the worse this becomes as they tend to have a much more dynamic approach and move the ball better which tires us even quicker. Last year this was happening time, and time again. This season it looks to be more enough the same. There are times in the game where we should transition very quickly, and other times when we should hold the ball and control the tempo to recharge and stop the opposition from building momentum. We tend to get panicked and go into a 'clear it at all costs' mode that puts relentless pressure on our defence and midfield.

It's frustrating as this season should partly be about establishing a new style that would be more productive in the top flight but seems like we are just doing the exact same things as before but against lesser teams.

I've noticed this season that we are so slow at creating a pass that will relieve pressure no matter where we are in the park. Leeds would get into a tight situation and one or two passes would free up play to an open player and would move the ball quickly up the field. Our slow play has been well documented on this forum and gets punished against better teams. I.e. Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland.
My concern is what do they work on in practice sessions? It doesn't seem to be how quickly we can go from defense to attack. Top sides transition very well and create so much. We are plodding along and so predictable and thus easy to defend against.
Wilder in or out? Not sure, but this style of play is okay and may get us promoted but will get us crushed at the next level.
QPR should be a display of dominance from the first minute and show Burnley that Leeds was a one off, good luck to them,but we're going no where but up.

 

[Houston_Blade]

A list of players with injury histories or a lack of recent first team football signed by Wilder this time around:

Campbell, Shackleton, Souttar, Moore, Clarke, Diaz, Holding, Choudhury, McCallum, Cooper.

I understand that there are reasons we can’t bring in match fit and top end Championship ready players, but it’s hardly a surprise that we aren’t the fittest team given the players we sign and their past availability and match fitness or lack thereof.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Signing players with questionable injury histories does seem to be a risk we're willing to take. We may see it as some kind of 'edge', with the risk exaggerated. But it's important not to fill the squad with them

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Shackleton is basically a replacement for Osborn in a way and he's had more injury issues. He was our first signing and that took a while so was he just a body to bring in?

Also haven't Bogle, Osborn and Lowe played nearly every game for their new clubs? (Injured alot here)

 

[Rufus Smalls]

A list of players with injury histories or a lack of recent first team football signed by Wilder this time around:

Campbell, Shackleton, Souttar, Moore, Clarke, Diaz, Holding, Choudhury, McCallum, Cooper.

I understand that there are reasons we can’t bring in match fit and top end Championship ready players, but it’s hardly a surprise that we aren’t the fittest team given the players we sign and their past availability and match fitness or lack thereof.

As much as I like Tom Davies, you can add him to the list too.

 

[Houston_Blade]

As much as I like Tom Davies, you can add him to the list too.

He wasn’t signed by Wilder though. If I wanted to be cruel I’d add Brewster

 

[alcoblade]

As much as I like Tom Davies, you can add him to the list too.

If Tom Davies wasn't injury prone, he wouldn't have dropped to the championship.

I don't think anyone above is exposing things that the club aren't aware of. Literally everyone wants big, strong, athletic, pacey and skill-full players with great injury records.

The ones that tick all the boxes cost lots more money, and as you drop down the financial spectrum you end up gambling on a number of those attributes.

 

[FriethBlade]

If Tom Davies wasn't injury prone, he wouldn't have dropped to the championship.

I don't think anyone above is exposing things that the club aren't aware of. Literally everyone wants big, strong, athletic, pacey and skill-full players with great injury records.

The ones that tick all the boxes cost lots more money, and as you drop down the financial spectrum you end up gambling on a number of those attributes.

We've just spent 10m on a forward who doesnt look that athletic or strong

 

[alcoblade]

We've just spent 10m on a forward who doesnt look that athletic or strong

Because we've compromised on them for youth, potential, scoring ability. It wasn't a signing I was excited about, but still fits the mould of compromise.

Clearly these compromises mean you might therefore make outright crap signings. The jury is out on Cannon, obviously.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Yeah and Ampadu the same, played for us but now he's at Leeds, oh hold on.

 

[Terry Poole]

Kingy, Farke alluded to our approach in his post match interview. He was very complementary about our first 30 mins but said he knew we couldn't keep that pace up all game and that it took a lot out of us.

Although our use of subs has been a lot better this season last night Leeds replaced Aaronsen and Gruev with Rothwell and Joseph on 58 min whereas our 3 'runners' Souza, Peck and Ohare played the full game. That matters when you only have 42% possession. Especially when you have poured a lot of effort into the first half an hour

I would have expected Hamza to replace one of the runners on 60 minutes but he had to be used at RB