Was the fitness of the team a factor of yesterdays performance?

Re: You're one of us now

"We're crawly bumlicks, we'll do what we want"

 

More Harewood laiks, the better he'll be. Narthen.

 

Like

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I don't believe that a big squad makes a good team and that the ability to rest players helps much. Best two Barnsley teams were Hunter's in 81-82 and Wilson's in 96-97. Tiny squads and the team more or less picked itself each week. They all played together week in, week out and got to know one another's game. Success bred confidence bred success. We wouldn't have been a better team if we were resting Hendrie and Redfearn or Banks and Aylott.

 

ar know that. Northern.

 

Those 2 seasons we were relatively succesful throughout, there was no real need to change anything - and in 96/97 especially were very fortunate not to suffer majer injuries - Steve Davis excepted. I'm saying this season when things haven't been going to plan or players form has dipped/suffered injuries, we've nowt to replace them with.

 

Northern's narthens - a 4 part series of FACTS.

 

Like it and it shows tha dunt know a lot like rest of us.

 

It's their brains that need warming up if you ask me.

If players are flagging after 70 minutes you really have have to question the intensity of the warm-up. I've never seen the point in going through training ground routines pre-match. I don't know much about it at all, but would assume the warm up means exactly that, loosening up the muscles and ensuring the body is sharp set for kick off.

I get to the ground relatively early and have seen intense shooting practice going and Marlon can't half finish when there is no defence or goalie to hinder him. But they use the portable goals set up west side of the Ponty. Continuing the Arsenal theme above, Thierry Henry used to say he instinctively knew where the goal was at Highbury without always having to look up and could get his bearings in relation to his position on the pitch and the stands - even the direction of the sun was a factor. He knew what he could attempt with either foot from any position. He also said this was the reason he struggled at the new stadium. I kind of relate to this with all the arty rubbish I do, you do get a certain instinct for things through repetition and familiarity. How much shooting practice do we actually do at the Oakwell goals, both ends? I'd wager that the players only look at the North goal posts once every week or two. Over to you Hemsworth....

 

I think one of the reasons we were successful in those two seasons is because we had such a small tight-knit squad. It helped us rather than hindered us. All the players knew they'd be part of the match day squad. They fought for one another and became a proper team. When Parker was injured in 81-82 we didn't go looking for another player, we promoted Colin Walker from the reserves and he bagged a hat full. When Davies was injured in 96-97 Adie Moses got his chance and played superbly. We worked with what we've got.

I don't think having lots of options is necessarily a good thing. If we can afford to let two players out on loan then if anything we've got too many players.

 

The same applied to the 1981/82, when our only main injury was Derrick Parker.

 

Steve Davis suffered a full blooded physical assault that finished his career and went completely unpunished, in fact the little **** bagged a hat trick that afternoon. It wasn't a wear and tear injury, but it did give Moses his chance who had a great season.

I also remember the same 15-20 Liverpool players winning everything for years with only one sub! Football has changed a lot since then though, those fellas used to play through injuries, dose up with pain killers etc, things that would keep you out for a few weeks nowadays. The regret it to a point, until they see the trophy cabinet and medals.

 

Good point Jay. I remember the old Liverpool, Forest and Villa sides winning leagues and only using around 14 or 15 players. I stand to be corrected but I'm sure one season Liverpool or Forest won the league using only 13 players. They were very lucky with injuries but the principle is sound.

 

True about Davis, how it went unpunished during the game - and afterwards is beyond me.

 

Yeah, that's probably true.

However, those players that turned out Saturday / Tuesday / Saturday / Tuesday now look knackered - when they could have had been rested. Our game plan requires that everyone puts a full shift in.

 

A fair point, but we don't have players of that ability any more. We are reliant upon work rate - and eventually that will take a heavy toll. Didn't Keith say that Davies' injury was caused by fatigue?

Just an alternative view.

 

It's nowt to do with fitness. The majority of the players just aren't up to it.

If professional footballers can't play on a Tuesday then play again four days later then there really is summat wrong.

 

But thankfully

We didn't suffer that many injuries in both seasons. Had we also lost (for example) McCarthy, Banks & Aylott, or DeZeeuw, Redfearn & Hendrie with injuries for three to four months, then having small squads could have had an adverse effect on the season. Had we had the likes of McNulty, Mido, Digby, Steele, Cranie, Silva & O'Brien fit and available for selection perhaps we'd be higher than 19th.
I accept it's mere conjecture, but in my opinion, having a small squad of players is only beneficial if you're fortunate enough to avoid too many injuries.

 

did mention on player a bit of illness was going round the oakwell camp prior to the forest game

 

Re: But thankfully

I'm sure we would be.

However, McNulty was something of a gamble when we signed him - he has had injuries throughout his career so far. I think a limited budget can sometimes for a club to take such a "risk". Same applies to Silva & Mido (both unfit at the time of signing).

I also hate to say it (again), but O'Brien is also turning into something of a crock. Was he fit when we re-signed him in the summer?