Did we start pre-season too late?

[BenTheFox]

Feels like we started pre-season late compared to other clubs. I know we had the Euros, but overall we don't look fit. I personally think it's had a knock-on affect on the start of our season. 

Edited 30 September 2021 by BenTheFox

[KFS]

Yeah this is a good shout. We look unfit. Second to everything and the press is nonexistent.

[jayfox26]

Fitness does seem an issue. We have no intensity about our play and don't press from the front like we have previously. 

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

Maybe it’s deliberate - so we finish the season stronger… 

[foxfan92]

You mean this isn't preseason still?

[Lesterlad]

Ive said it before. It didn’t help the players get fit when they were only playing 45 minutes a game during pre season. There wasn’t enough games in Pre season. With the size of our squad we should of had at least another 3-4 games. 

[The whole world smiles]

I don't think we did, we looked fit and sharp compared to Man City and Vilareal. 

[Vardinio'sCat]

Who, at this point, looks fully fit?

 

Kasper looks trim.

[CosbehFox]

12 minutes ago, Lesterlad said:

Ive said it before. It didn’t help the players get fit when they were only playing 45 minutes a game during pre season. There wasn’t enough games in Pre season. With the size of our squad we should of had at least another 3-4 games. 

We played at least two more games behind closed doors

[NaijaFox]

There's been only ONE game this season that we didn't look at the races (the West Ham game).

Every other game, we have looked capable of getting something from (even the Man City game).

 

Let's NOT massively overreact.

6 games out of 38, and we are 6 points behind the team in 2d place!

[trabuch]

6 hours ago, jayfox26 said:

Fitness does seem an issue. We have no intensity about our play and don't press from the front like we have previously. 

It's our shitty facilities. We need to spend more on our training ground (and cryo chambers to prevent injuries). I'm joking of course.

[Webbo]

11 hours ago, Wasyls Pec Deck said:

Maybe it’s deliberate - so we finish the season stronger… 

You say that tongue in cheek but I wonder if there's something in that. The last 2 seasons we've faded towards the end of the season. Maybe Brendan is trying to manage the squad so we're not out of steam in the final straight. 

[BenTheFox]

10 hours ago, The whole world smiles said:

I don't think we did, we looked fit and sharp compared to Man City and Vilareal. 

Not sure I'm having that. Our players looked absolutely spent after 55 minutes in the charity shield. It's not until we brought the subs on around 75 minutes that we any spark at all in that second-half. 

[Staff]

10 hours ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

Who, at this point, looks fully fit?

 

Kasper looks trim.

It's his passing ability that's the concern 

[Matt]

Personally yes, I asked the question and made the point during pre season and again a couple of weeks ago.

 

Regardless of whether we did or didn't, we should be up to full speed by now though and if anything we look more and more unfit every week.

[themightyfin]

No way are they lacking fitness because of a shorter  pre season.

Don't forget the break between the seasons end and the start of the season was short because of covid. 

We started last season late and finished it late. If anything many players are screaming for a rest. Since the restart after covid many players have had very little rest hence more players from all clubs  seem to be picking up injuries. 

We are not he only team every team I in the sane boat and have to manage players fitness and injuries accordingly. 

I think we have been competitive in most games so far but individual errors have cost us defensively.  

We are still creating many chances and the goals and results will come. 

 

[Ric Flair]

3 minutes ago, themightyfin said:

No way are they lacking fitness because of a shorter  pre season.

Don't forget the break between the seasons end and the start of the season was short because of covid. 

We started last season late and finished it late. If anything many players are screaming for a rest. Since the restart after covid many players have had very little rest hence more players from all clubs  seem to be picking up injuries. 

We are not he only team every team I in the sane boat and have to manage players fitness and injuries accordingly. 

I think we have been competitive in most games so far but individual errors have cost us defensively.  

We are still creating many chances and the goals and results will come. 

 

We are still creating many chances??? That's clearly not true hahahaaa, look at our stats we are one of the worst across the 5 big European Leagues. We are also one of the worst for shots against. We're a car crash at the minute that is hanging in there due to our obvious quality but we need a huge shake up, it's a terrible malaise that has set in.

 

The Burnley match was an improvement going forward on the back of a better final 30 mins vs Brighton but neither of those displays was still necessarily enough for the 3 points because at the same time we've been exposed a lot up the other end. We're a mess and Ndidi now being out makes it even worse as it's yet another change in set up.

[The whole world smiles]

29 minutes ago, BenTheFox said:

Not sure I'm having that. Our players looked absolutely spent after 55 minutes in the charity shield. It's not until we brought the subs on around 75 minutes that we any spark at all in that second-half. 

We looked fitter and sharper than them no? 

[BenTheFox]

3 minutes ago, The whole world smiles said:

We looked fitter and sharper than them no? 

I really don't think we did. They were better than us from half-time until around the 75th minute mark that I previously mentioned and our players looked knackered!