fitness level of fringe players

[NMPalace]

Whilst it was good to see Clyne and Eddie getting starts on Sunday and playing well i am concerned about general fitness levels for those not playing regularly.

Just on half time Eddie went through on the right and was too easily outmuscled by the CB. As the halftime whistle went moments later Eddie was clearly puffing quite hard and look exhausted. Second half he was less effective and was subbed after 1 hour. He mentioned post match that he was knackered.

Clyne looked fit and got forward really well but mentioned afterwards he was exhausted after 70 minutes, when he got subbed.

OG has mentioned that before Burnley they trained for 30 minutes only (on the Tuesday) and after Burnley they got 2 days off. Whilst this is sensible for those playing regularly, the fringe players surely need more.

We need players such as Clyne, Eddie, Canvot, Esse, Sosa and Uche to step up but in their defence they have barely played so might need time to adjust to the pace and intensity of games.
Surely fitness is the one thing we can make sure they have.

Do they have their own fitness programmes? OG mentioned Clyne has been kept fit with 7 or 8 aside games , but based on his comments and those of Eddie (albeit he has been injured for a bit) maybe they need more.

 

[doombear]

There is no substitute for match minutes. A player can train as much as he likes but still not be match fit hence OG's praise for Clyne who was able to last 70 minutes and play a full role in the team whilst he was on the pitch.

We have played 24 games so far this season (more than any other PL team) and a number of players have played all of them without getting injured. Players seem to get injured when they're in and out of sides (Eddie is an example and OG has said how he and his team are carefully managing Eddie's minutes). In the PL, players need regular minutes hence (IMO) Pep's and OG's desire to work with a smallish squad.

Both the fringe and regular bench players need game minutes and if they're good enough should (and I think will) get starts as the season progresses but they're unlikely to play the full 90 even then.

 

[MrRobbo]

Whilst it was good to see Clyne and Eddie getting starts on Sunday and playing well i am concerned about general fitness levels for those not playing regularly.

Just on half time Eddie went through on the right and was too easily outmuscled by the CB. As the halftime whistle went moments later Eddie was clearly puffing quite hard and look exhausted. Second half he was less effective and was subbed after 1 hour. He mentioned post match that he was knackered.

Clyne looked fit and got forward really well but mentioned afterwards he was exhausted after 70 minutes, when he got subbed.

OG has mentioned that before Burnley they trained for 30 minutes only (on the Tuesday) and after Burnley they got 2 days off. Whilst this is sensible for those playing regularly, the fringe players surely need more.

We need players such as Clyne, Eddie, Canvot, Esse, Sosa and Uche to step up but in their defence they have barely played so might need time to adjust to the pace and intensity of games.
Surely fitness is the one thing we can make sure they have.

Do they have their own fitness programmes? OG mentioned Clyne has been kept fit with 7 or 8 aside games , but based on his comments and those of Eddie (albeit he has been injured for a bit) maybe they need more.

We are a professional club, in the worlds biggest sports, in the richest league, with access to data, physios, sports scientists.

I think its fair to assume they have a plan for this.

 

[ASCPFC]

Our fitness has improved dramatically under Ollie. I felt we were lagging behind before. We certainly score more late goals in my opinion. I haven't looked it up.

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

I think that the old reserve fixtures a missed, a better standard than the U23s and also keeps the players on the fringe, i don't think you get a real picture of a player until you see him under match conditions, easy to tell who can perform.

 

[NMPalace]

We are a professional club, in the worlds biggest sports, in the richest league, with access to data, physios, sports scientists.

I think its fair to assume they have a plan for this.

You would hope so, wouldn't you, but on the evidence of Sunday i have questioned it. Why was Eddie so knackered by half time?

You can play over age players in the U23s (e.g. Holding last year) - why not give him a game or two at this level to get sharpness and fitness back. We rarely do this.

Same with Uche - i think he played one 45 minute game for the U23s.

OG has stated he is often only having training sessions for 30 minutes between games, never a mention of more for fringe players.

 

[MrRobbo]

You would hope so, wouldn't you, but on the evidence of Sunday i have questioned it. Why was Eddie so knackered by half time?

You can play over age players in the U23s (e.g. Holding last year) - why not give him a game or two at this level to get sharpness and fitness back. We rarely do this.

Same with Uche - i think he played one 45 minute game for the U23s.

OG has stated he is often only having training sessions for 30 minutes between games, never a mention of more for fringe players.

I suspect its because he missed preseason, had a knock back in November, and this is the first league game he's started all season.

Expecting him to last 90 was always a bit of a stretch.