How much does age matter?

[SuperJags]

I watched the Wimbledon semi final yesterday between Rafa and Federer. Both players well into their 30s with Fererer almost 38. It makes me ask the question, are older players fitter for longer than players a few years ago. I mean tennis is a sport that requires speed, and explosive energy, yet can last 3 or 4 hours.

With Phil Jagielka’s advanced years, and Billy’s evergreen performances, are we taking advantage of these changes. Commonsense dictates that a combination of experienced but fit older players should work well when teamed with dynamic youngsters

 

[DronnieBlade]

Advanced science allows athletes to optimise performances for longer careers.

Optimising rest helps enormously with this also. Add good nutrition in to the mix, and it’s no surprise seeing athletes careers being prolonged.

That said, the annual writing off of certain players shows no signs of abating

And usually from the same folks who have many a custard pie to wipe off their ill informed dials

UTB

 

[BLADES1988]

 

[blader]

I think they probably can play for longer, yes.

However, i think in our current situation they are not a wise investment. This club has a great chance to sign some of the best young talents from the championship as a proper investment. Then, even in the case of relegation, players values increase and we can be in a better financial position going forward.

There is value in older players, but perhaps not a gamble we should be taking at this stage.

 

[PokerBlade]

Same as anything in sport, people have levels that they can naturally achieve. Some people have a physiology that allows them to achieve certain levels others can't. Some players develop later or fade earlier, some can achieve higher levels of stamina or speed.

It's all on a bell curve. Some players will be able to go longer but the older you get the fewer players you'll find at that level. You get the odd McCall or Phillips that plays till the age of 40 but by and large players drop off as they approach mid-30's.

Modern sport science helps people get fitter and stay fitter for longer but there's a reason we haven't seen a player in the Premier League at either 50 years old or 10 years old. And you can't look at the outliers in sport like Federer and generalise.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Due to advances in nutrition, medication, recovery etc athletes careers are extending. Anybody who has followed Nadal's career closely, will know at the innovative and controversial methods he has used to recover from his various knee issues. Nadal and Federer are outliers however: athletes that are so far above their contemporaries (Djokovic and Murray aside) in raw technical ability that their longevity is in large part down to the cavernous talent gap. There aren't many (any?) other 37 going on 38 year olds in the top 200 in the world, just Federer. You could make the same point re Messi and Ronaldo. This talent has allowed all these athletes to adapt their games. Ronaldo plays as a centre forward rather than a winger now. Federer comes to the net more, and finishes points earlier; Nadal plays closer to the baseline and hits the topspin backhand down the line and with pace crosscourt. Just a few examples.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

I watched the Wimbledon semi final yesterday between Rafa and Federer. Both players well into their 30s with Fererer almost 38. It makes me ask the question, are older players fitter for longer than players a few years ago. I mean tennis is a sport that requires speed, and explosive energy, yet can last 3 or 4 hours.

With Phil Jagielka’s advanced years, and Billy’s evergreen performances, are we taking advantage of these changes. Commonsense dictates that a combination of experienced but fit older players should work well when teamed with dynamic youngsters

I think through a mixture of sports science, sports medicine, better pitches, rule changes and better off field living, careers are being elongated, and in recent times we've certainly benefited, with a fair few 33 yr olds doing the business for us.

In Serie A, players seem to play well into their 30's, but the pace & contact of the league is different to england. We were having a discussion in the shoutbox last week about the last few seasons of sralex's reign at man utd, where he squeezed the last drops of performance out of his old guard and for whatever reason was either unable or unwilling to replace them, which has in my view partly contributed to their currnet situation. So with that in mind, whilst maximising the careers & perfoamnce of duffy, jags, billy, didsy, etc, it's vital that we bring younger players in and dovetail them into the side in the important positions whilst we can & not leave it to the last minute and expect them to hit the ground running. On the flip side, one of the reasons were have relied upon the older players is that the cost of acquisition of comparable younger versions is prohibitive, and getting more so.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I mean tennis is a sport that requires speed, and explosive energy, yet can last 3 or 4 hours.

You've just described one of my performances, only I don't play tennis

 

[John Snow]

More about size.
And girth.

 

[blade too long]

some footballers can last till they are 30 32 , some till they are 36 38
like saying might as well give up sex at 28 as your too old at 34
imagine having gary lineker summarising your sexual prowess at 40
legs have gone a bit, not tracking back enough, he used to get in the box regularly but not so much these days

 

[SuperJags]

The question was “how much does age matter not how much does size matter, although now I come think about it ————-

 

[Brian Deane]

some footballers can last till they are 30 32 , some till they are 36 38
like saying might as well give up sex at 28 as your too old at 34
imagine having gary lineker summarising your sexual prowess at 40
legs have gone a bit, not tracking back enough, he used to get in the box regularly but not so much these days

You missed out that he can dribble a lot better

 

[blade67]

I watched the Wimbledon semi final yesterday between Rafa and Federer. Both players well into their 30s with Fererer almost 38. It makes me ask the question, are older players fitter for longer than players a few years ago. I mean tennis is a sport that requires speed, and explosive energy, yet can last 3 or 4 hours.

With Phil Jagielka’s advanced years, and Billy’s evergreen performances, are we taking advantage of these changes. Commonsense dictates that a combination of experienced but fit older players should work well when teamed with dynamic youngsters

In the end, age does them all but youth is massively over rated on here. Players in their early 30s are a much better buy than those at 22 on the whole. Wilder knows this and has used it very well

 

[Carlton Blade]

I think through a mixture of sports science, sports medicine, better pitches, rule changes and better off field living, careers are being elongated, and in recent times we've certainly benefited, with a fair few 33 yr olds doing the business for us.

In Serie A, players seem to play well into their 30's, but the pace & contact of the league is different to england. We were having a discussion in the shoutbox last week about the last few seasons of sralex's reign at man utd, where he squeezed the last drops of performance out of his old guard and for whatever reason was either unable or unwilling to replace them, which has in my view partly contributed to their currnet situation. So with that in mind, whilst maximising the careers & perfoamnce of duffy, jags, billy, didsy, etc, it's vital that we bring younger players in and dovetail them into the side in the important positions whilst we can & not leave it to the last minute and expect them to hit the ground running. On the flip side, one of the reasons were have relied upon the older players is that the cost of acquisition of comparable younger versions is prohibitive, and getting more so.

You cant forget that as sports science has improved to allow older players to play linger, that resource is available to younger players as well. Basically everyone is stronger, fitter and faster. It's a testament to talent and mentality for anyone to play into their mid 30s at the top level

 

[Tom Bott]

Great to reach 60 and get a pensioners season ticket for the lane

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Of course older players are fitter and can play longer than they used to due to medical sciences. However a 24 year old also benefits from these better sciences too!

Look at players like Wayne Rooney or even a better pro like Gary Neville. Once age gets you there is little you can do.

 

[Nick Jansky]

More about size.
And girth.

Not great for you then

 

[John Snow]

Not great for you then

I banged the mother of dragons senseless mate.
Whats the big notch on your headboard?

 

[wavy-blade]

Doesn't matter one bit , if Messi or Ronaldo asked to come and play at the Lane you wouldn't turn them away cus there too old , as long as the player can still "do it" age is irrelevant .


OHHHHHHH DAVID MCGOLDRICK ❤

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

All the above and they have the increasing wisdom of age and experience! Paul McGrath?

 

[Professor Yaffle]

If I was given the pick of old boys I'd much rather have Crouchy than jags