17-08-2015, 19:40
I still don't think we were any less fit in the past couple of years than now, it's just that the players apply themselves differently to make better use of it. Under McCoist most of our players would charge about for the full 90 minutes, but it was directionless effort (usually chasing a long ball or running back after giving the ball away playing it long). We also conceded far more possession so were chasing the ball a lot more on a par with the other side. Now we're starving the opposition of the ball, and when they've spent most of the first 60-70 minutes chasing it it's natural that they flag far more later on.
We do seem to be keeping relatively injury free though, and I can see how integrating fitness work into our skills work would help in that respect. It makes sense that training as you intend to play will help the players more than running up and down hills, and I'm glad we have a modern manager in place who recognises this.
We do seem to be keeping relatively injury free though, and I can see how integrating fitness work into our skills work would help in that respect. It makes sense that training as you intend to play will help the players more than running up and down hills, and I'm glad we have a modern manager in place who recognises this.