Team I'd play

Two too many changes today. Foster should've played and so should mellis in place of obrien. Etuhu out of position... Flicker needs to stick to what he was doing well and not talk to his mate at Rochdale. They did well today I see, losing 3-0....

 

Sorry Mike, I don't think they are up to that particular role. Delap no longer has the legs for it and Kennedy has no delivery. Horses for courses.

Evidence is there for me regarding player tiredness/freshness, having seen 9/10 last games.

 

They had the legs for it when we were winning week in week out. The changes have come since Golbourne got injured and Flicker changes the entire defensive unit as a result.

Why didn't we need fresh legs when we were winning games?

 

It doesn't work like that Mike. I used to ask the question how tennis players could play 3 or 4 long, gruelling matches in a week but a footballer can't manage two in a team sport? It's all about recovery time and there is very little in a football season unlike a pro tennis tour.

A player like Chris Dagnall can easily cover 10 miles during a match, an average player less. I wasn't the only one who asked how long could they maintain this intensity? There was bound to be a fall out. Cardiff was it, today was just getting marginally beat by a side who were playing in the premier league last year.

 

They should be able to play twice a week. Fair enough if they get a knock, they may have to miss a game. But from an exertion point of view they should be able to do 2 x 10 miles a week. IMO there is no argument. All this fatigue crap is an excuse when things aren't going well. Other professional sportsmen **** all over football for the physical input.