Player Intensity

[DronnieBlade]

First noticed and mentioned this on Saturday. Further, even more noticeable evidence on Tuesday.

Tufty's tough regime starting to take its toll ??

Public knowledge he has the players at full tilt in training. Time for a less physically demanding regime for a while to allow players to recharge ?

Also the nucleus of the first 11 has been such that a winning team picks itself, so squad rotation has been limited. Another factor ?

I reckon the players need a few days in the sun somewhere, enjoy a few cold ones, and forget all about football for a while. Just a thought !!

UTB

 

[Worksop II]

If they want some Sun they can get under the Desso Lights ....

 

[Ricky]

With the signings we've made I think it's time to partly ditch the automatic 'play well keep the shirt' policy and start rotating. Especially in midfield with Carruthers and O'Shea. We're approaching the time of the season where squads make a big difference, we have quite a big one and need to maximise it.

 

[Coolblade]

I agree with the OP - and even though we were winning at half time on Saturday, had commented that our intensity and pressing had diminished markedly. Indeed, if anything the tables have turned 180 degrees. Before (especially when Done played up front) we regularly won possession in the opponent's half, which the analysts show results in far more likely goal attempts, whereas now it is our opponents who are pressurising us, resulting in mis-placed passes and swift breaks which our defence can't handle.

Perhaps this is down to tiredness - but I suspect it is more to do with complacency and team selection (Sparky and Sharp as a forward partnership is an unfathomable decision, and one which should never be repeated. Lavery set up both goals on Saturday!)

 

[1889]

I agree with the OP - and even though we were winning at half time on Saturday, had commented that our intensity and pressing had diminished markedly. Indeed, if anything the tables have turned 180 degrees. Before (especially when Done played up front) we regularly won possession in the opponent's half, which the analysts show results in far more likely goal attempts, whereas now it is our opponents who are pressurising us, resulting in mis-placed passes and swift breaks which our defence can't handle.

Perhaps this is down to tiredness - but I suspect it is more to do with complacency and team selection (Sparky and Sharp as a forward partnership is an unfathomable decision, and one which should never be repeated. Lavery set up both goals on Saturday!)

Totally agree, we have definitely taken our foot off the gas in the last few games and its cost us

 

[snootyfenooty]

What I and the crowd sitting around me noticed was that a few of the players (Duffy, Coutts esp) were neshing out of challenges. Whether or not this was due to the reasons in the OP I don't know but definitely apparent last two games.

 

[Wards]

Duffy has neshed out of challenges all season - it's just not his thing

 

[Ricky]

Duffy tackles a hell of a lot for a number 10.

 

[Roygbiv]

Northampton managed to keep it up all last season with a much smaller squad so I'm not worried about intensity in the physical sense. I think it's more mental. Either players have become a little too confident and are not as switched on or teams have sussed out how to play against it

 

[blade too long]

heres a picture of Duffy and Fleck in tents

 

[SwissBlade]

First noticed and mentioned this on Saturday. Further, even more noticeable evidence on Tuesday.

Tufty's tough regime starting to take its toll ??

Public knowledge he has the players at full tilt in training. Time for a less physically demanding regime for a while to allow players to recharge ?

Also the nucleus of the first 11 has been such that a winning team picks itself, so squad rotation has been limited. Another factor ?

I reckon the players need a few days in the sun somewhere, enjoy a few cold ones, and forget all about football for a while. Just a thought !!

UTB

Good question, from what i saw on Saturday and having seen the goals from Tuesday, it was silly mistakes at the back and failure to finish chances

You could attribute this perhaps to fitness and fatigue, but I think complacency against Walsall and Gillingham have knocked confidence and we've reverted to not doing what we're supposed to...

The 3 games we've just had will be a good chance to regroup, let the new players bed in, prepare fully for AFC Wimbledon on 4th Feb. Wouldn't be surprised if they take a few days over in la Manga again

 

[Boxer Blade]

Agree with Roy, I know some will tell em to man up etc but mental tiredness can have an effect, I reckon as some have said is to bring in a couple or so and let the rested players get there batteries recharged and ready to go, players want to play and when you are out of the first eleven you hope they come back fresher and with more commitment, that isn't a crisis just a fact of life.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Good question, from what i saw on Saturday and having seen the goals from Tuesday, it was silly mistakes at the back and failure to finish chances

You could attribute this perhaps to fitness and fatigue, but I think complacency against Walsall and Gillingham have knocked confidence and we've reverted to not doing what we're supposed to...

The 3 games we've just had will be a good chance to regroup, let the new players bed in, prepare fully for AFC Wimbledon on 4th Feb. Wouldn't be surprised if they take a few days over in la Manga again

Good summary that in a couple of lines. We do tend to over-complicate things at times.

la Manga can be a bit chilly this time of the year though!

 

[SwissBlade]

Good summary that in a couple of lines. We do tend to over-complicate things at times.

la Manga can be a bit chilly this time of the year though!

Aye at 11 oC right now its warmer and drier than Sheffield... and we spent the money for a team trip to Dubai on the Desso...

 

[I should coco]

Aye at 11 oC right now its warmer and drier than Sheffield... and we spent the money for a team trip to Dubai on the Desso...

The Desso went to Dubai?

Bastard!

No wonder Pommpey is so cross when we mollycoddle the bloody pitch like that?

 

[BushBlade]

The Desso went to Dubai?

Bastard!

No wonder Pommpey is so cross when we mollycoddle the bloody pitch like that?

It's cheaper than the lights we're using. Each one is using 1,000 watts, I suspect.

 

[Esablade]

...always found Nick Montgomery to be quite intense....here he is 'chilling out' over a coffee, some good stuff!

 

[I should coco]

..always found Nick Montgomery to be quite intense....here he is 'chilling out' over a coffee, some good stuff!

Good to here he still has his dulcet Yarkshur tones and doesn't make the end of each sentience into a question?

Absolute 100% top committed player for us, whatever people thought about his limited passing.

The Monty song fell away a bit when the lad from Wales got sent down though........

 

[Trafford]

Totally agree, we have definitely taken our foot off the gas in the last few games and its cost us

We are probably saying the same thing here but what I've noticed is that we've reverted to playing the ball around to no useful purpose. Earlier on in the season we moved it around quickly and with an incisive ball at the end of it but Saturday was more like an Adkins performance, too much sideways and backwards without an end product. Coutts was a particular culprit but when he did run at them he looked dangerous and created chances. Ditto Billy. I didn't go on Tuesday but the highlights show little flicks and dinks over the top from us, compared with more direct and fast passing from them. That's always going to be easier when you're counter-attacking but just because the opposition has 9 men behind the ball doesn't mean that you can't run at / into the box - it's actually more productive than trying to find a killer ball into a packed area.

 

[BigBed]

Think it's us fans that need a few days in the sun with plenty of cold ones, think we might need it if the last 3 results are owt to go by!