I'd say Barnsley have the most endurance in this league from what I've seen. I really am going to say we'll be far from relegation fodder with the stamina and application of these players. If nothing else, our energy yesterday seperated the 2 sides. The 4-0 scoreline wasn't a result of skill and ability (although we have it), it was a result of us maintaining our fitness throughout 90 minutes. Our last 2 goals was evident of that. Once we realised Rotherham were out on their backside with fatigue we absolutely pelted them with counterattacks. This also made me realise that the entire team are fully confident in the defence to soak up the opposition attack enough for us to prepare the counterattack. I hope we keep this up.
It was the same last season. A young and hungry team is also a fit team. We now have a fortnight to recover from the first 5 games and don't have the EFL cup to worry about. The only player that looked knackered yesterday was Hammill, but even he still kept going.
This is a very good point. Over the years, every new manager we (or any other club, for that matter) have brought in have said "We need to make the squad fitter". It's like the last refuge of the scoundrel. But finally, we have a coaching/sports science team that have actually achieved it. It's been a feature of all three home games so far that we have gotten stronger as the games have gone on. This is a testament to our backroom operation and the way our club is set up, and also the policy of majoring on younger, hungry players. Well said.
We do look incredibly fit. Marley's a human dynamo. And I'd love someone o tell me just how many miles Scowen covered yesterday. I bet it was a lot.
The whole squad looks in pretty good nick but the fitness levels of Hourihane, Scowen, Watkins, Roberts & White are incredible
It's great to have such a standard of fitness , one that stood out for me was away at Sheff U last season...Although it ended in a draw they were knackered .
