Murray's training regime

Is it responsible for our players being nearly on the floor by the final whistle for two games running? How will this sort of carry on affect us going forward with such a thin squad?

 

Whatever the methods Orsen we're now two points better off than anyone expected to be going into the last couple of games and have avoided being cut adrift. I'd take the points and accept the fatigue at the minute.

 

Is it possible the training regime wasn't intense enough during prseason and therefore the players are having to play catch up ?

 

I suppose only time will tell. But they looked quite fit against Fulham. Saturday and last night they looked more like some of the horses I've backed lately!

 

The sheer effort the players are having to put in for 90 minutes plus would take its toll on even the fittest football players, we were chasing shadows for alot of the match add into that quite a few misplaced passes from us which cause us to react rather than relax and let the ball do the work. Ontop of that we then have to be able to counter attack at pace!

 

I would have been very worried if they didnt look fir for the first game of the season. Personally i have no idea if its preseason that wasnt good enough or if Murray is pushing them too hard. What i do know is that i am currently a little more optimistic than i was after the previous few games.

 

I don't think so, the way we played under Stendel took massive amounts of energy. Every coach/manager who ever takes over at any club always suggests the players weren't fit enough.
We are having to work so hard to stay in games this is inevitably taking its toll towards the end of games. 68% possession for WBA tells you how hard we have to work.

 

Players themselves thought they weren’t fit enough.

I doubt double sessions will continue now, think it was more about getting the necessary work done on 5-3-2 formation over international break.

 

And yet we only used two subs last night, and only one of them mid-stream (Williams didn't come on until 88 mins). For me, that says we don't have strength in depth, and its compounding the problem. Tired legs need to be changed, but our bench always looks weak to me.

I doubt Murray will have messed about with the fitness side of training all that much. My guess is that he's focused on the system and defensive side of things. He's toned down the press a bit, which should actually be helping our tired legs. God knows what the scoreline would have been last night if we'd played the full-on pressing game.

 

We were under the cosh for essentially 45 minutes none stop. The back 5 have every right to be knackered imo. When you get know respite for that length of time, the tank will surely be empty.

 

It makes you worry for them on Saturday, 3 games in a week.

 

that's an interesting view re the players opinion if true.
I'd thought that against Leeds and a couple of other games where we ran out of steam.

 

Its getting them used to a new system. Plus we have played 2 very good footballing teams and not had much of the ball so its no wonder they are knackered. Paper thin squad is not helping either tho. Its a shame we couldn't hold out last night but we weren't battered and held our own against top of the league so it only bodes well for the future.

 

We are scared to play with possession of the football now. Whenever we get put under pressure at the back it just gets launched and usually results in turnover of possession. It was always going to be a tough ask to run as much as we did the first half throughout the game. Part of me thinks Murray waited too long to make subs. Bahre could have come on and is fairly decent in possession. Would have been a massive confidence boost for us had we held on.

 

It’s a worry that we’ve got to play at this intensity to keep in the games. Hopefully against lower teams it may not be as bad. Hudds will be a good show of this on Saturday.

As wing-backs. Who replaces Brown and Cavare when injured? Are we saying both Williams?

 

Surely after a 2 week international break they shouldn't be tired? Barnsley historically tend to fare better against top teams so Saturday will be interesting. Battle of the new managers

 

They’re professional athletes

there should be no issue with them playing 3 games in a week

Bielsa trains his teams very hard, I think they do 3 sessions a day! He rarely changes his teams. They score lots of late goals..

 

Professional athletes will be capable of running forever rough and tumble of a contact sport would take a lot of that energy out of them