The steady but predictable fall into obscurity started the day the Hemmings robbed everyone of their shares and set the club on a downward spiral. Thanks to the Hemmings for neglecting their duty as custodians of this once proud club . This is on a road to obscurity that I fear we will never return from.
Fitness Levels
If they could try and add minutes 60-95 into them that would be a good baseline at this point in time
It’s like a bloody social club isn’t it……
What the hell was Heckingbottom, McCall and the coaches doing during the summer ??
What fitness training do they do Monday to Friday ?
Most of these players are earning between £10-20k per week… they should be busting a gut to get fit.
They have a life of Riley but to not be fit enough to play 90 minutes is deplorable. Having said that, what happened to personal responsibility and pride, even as a Sunday league player I’d have been embarrassed to be blowing so hard so early like some of our little loves are.
Incidentally, I’m not comparing the fitness levels needed to play on a Sunday to professional levels but it’s comparative. Play on Sunday, you strive to be fit as others playing on a Sunday. Play professionally, you strive to be as fit as other professionals.
You have to wonder if Hecky and McCall simply knew deep down they were on a hiding to nothing with the takeover and haphazard recruitment and just let standards slide in the summer. They definitely look unfit. We should be seeing that game out comfortably on Saturday.
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The thing is, the Wolves and Bolton games aside, we've been as good if not better than the other teams we've played so far this season which makes the results the more infuriating.
Being fit enough should be a given at this level. I don’t so much go for the mentality weak argument as I think that's mostly bollocks and you just can't plan for individual cock ups.
Really disappointing with how the season has started as I expected so much better from the players we now have.
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Glad you raised this. Trevor’s dawn raid, and the family subsequent ‘getting the best future for the club’ all rings slightly hollow since Trevor’s passing. The legacy has been appallingly managed.
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Dobbin being taken off at 60-70 mins every game was frustrating as he was often our biggest threat but meant we got another 65 mins from him the next game. It was well managed even if frustrating
Imagine he was hooked up to data analysis and was in the red zone at that point every game
Imagine he was hooked up to data analysis and was in the red zone at that point every game
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Had a listen to a Bradford podcast whilst walking the dog last night. It was interesting in terms of outward perceptions
The three contributors were of the mind that Alexander wouldn't go to PNE simply because he's a very good manager, very sensible at what he does and makes incremental improvements, and most importantly for us, PNE are a poorly ran club with crap owners who wouldn't have the sense to appoint him.
Now we probably are (but he was never first choice). I just thought how other clubs view us was interesting.
But people do make more cockups when they are physically tired. Being physically tired also translates partly into being mentality tired too. (Maybe part of it is blood-sugar levels ? ) Footballers will be no exception, even with all those "energy drinks" they're gulping down .
It's a little bit more 'acceptable' if that player has played 85+ minutes.
But 60 ? That 2nd-half falloff ? Why, just why ?
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I agree.
Not being match fit is unforgivable.
If GA is appointed before Monday, how much could he improve the players’ fitness before the Millwall game?
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Be surprised if he’s been able to improve them by the reverse fixture. It’s not an easy fix, otherwise nobody would need a preseason
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Main thing that he could do is actually try and coach the team to be able to keep possession. It's the running around after the ball for 2/3 of the game that does them in.
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Sounds like that’s not Grezza’s MO though
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We don't need to do that though if we are sensible and when and how we press the other team.
We can be a low possession/counter attacking team and not be completely shot after 60 mins. Just get back into a shape that's difficult to break down instead of trying to win the ball back higher up the pitch. Much easier to sustain.