[drewks]

I think the Ideye statement makes sense in terms of him not playing in the matches when he isn't performing in training. Training is more important than the matches because it is where players practice and perfect their craft. If they don't perform in training then they don't deserve to start matches.

Sorry Josh - can't agree there! Matches are SURELY more important?! Why are they there - for training or for matches??
History has been full of players who scored loads and entertained hugely but were (apparently) poor trainers. They may not have even played a game in today's 'work-driven' environment, I guess, but even today there must be players who don't show it 100% in training but the manager/HC knows that they can turn it on in a match!
That's the problem IMO with AI - he just won't take ANY sort of a chance.......

[WBA-Josh]

Players are at the club to perform well in matches but they can't perform well in matches without training. My Father was a very good football player, cricketer and squash player in his day and without his training and practice, he would have never played football and cricket for his county and he wouldn't have won all his squash trophies. When I was a kid, I was always taught by Pete Wilson (He was a well respected goalkeeping coaching for Leicester City) and my Father that training is more imporant than matches because training is where you practice and perfect your skills and without training in football, there is no point in matches because a team and its players cannot learn how to play together, build up a relationship, stay fit and show their desire to play for the club. Matches is just the icing on the cake and the payoff to all the hardwork.

Look at every other career and sport. Snooker players can't just go out and play professional snooker, they have to practice for years before they can compete and then spend 8 hours a day practicing to become the best player that they can be. It's the same with tennis, cricket and every other sport. Even in normal life, you can't just walk into a hospital and perform brain surgery without any training or join the army and get sent to war without any training. Even after that initial training, you still have to practice to perfect your skills.

Put simply, matches in football may be important in terms of gaining success but without training, there can't be any success.

[drewks]

Well, I agree that you need to train and hone your skills & abilities in order to play well GENERALLY, but there will always be players of any sport who perform MUCH better when in a match/game environment because of the occasion, adrenalin rush, etc.
I'm not saying training doesn't matter at all, all I'm saying is that it shouldn't be the 'be-all & end-all' for picking the team.
IMO coaches/managers should be able to see further than that, and also be prepared to take a chance when necessary.

[WBA-Josh]

In team sports, a coach or manager isn't there to take a chance, they are there get results. They have to be able to trust his or her players. To gain this trust, players have to show the coach that they can perform not only in competitive matches but also in training.

I do agree that training isn't the be-all-and-end-all when it comes to picking a starting 11 because there are other important aspects to look at such as match day performances, player fitness levels and player match fitness levels but training performance does have a big part to play in the decisions. I should have probably worded my initial comment about Ideye better but I was in a rush.

---

It explains why he wasn't making squads I guess. Well he scored 2 in the behind doors friendly so let's hope we can see our record signing playing !
Brunt defo out for Saturday so fingers crossed Varela starts.
I'm normally very much a pint half full bloke but sorry just can't see a win. Draw at best but fear 0-2

Brunt being out will be a miss but hopefully Varela will start in his place on the left side of midfield and take his chance.

It actually wouldn't surprise me if Irvine chooses to play Berahino or Sessegnon on the left side of midfield instead of Varela.

[Tom_Wba]

Well, I agree that you need to train and hone your skills & abilities in order to play well GENERALLY, but there will always be players of any sport who perform MUCH better when in a match/game environment because of the occasion, adrenalin rush, etc.
I'm not saying training doesn't matter at all, all I'm saying is that it shouldn't be the 'be-all & end-all' for picking the  team.
IMO coaches/managers should be able to see further than that, and also be prepared to take a chance when necessary.

Hart recently said Aguero was useless in training, the same has also been said about Mark Hughes and Eden Hazard there must be many more players who play week in week out in the premier league who are poor in training but turn it on when selected to play

[DanTheSmethwickMan]

Matt Le Tissier I guess?

[JH Baggie]

That's like me to be fair.

Terribly lazy whilst at work in the work.

But when it comes to crunch time on Saturdays...I'm always on form.



Ofcourse my Saturday's consist of getting piśśed but still.

[Tom_Wba]

That's like me to be fair.

Terribly lazy whilst at work in the work.

But when it comes to crunch time on Saturdays...I'm always on form.



Ofcourse my Saturday's consist of getting piśśed but still.

Nothing wrong with that! Early start for me in Brum every home game, you need to be pissed to go and watch the Albion

[Sanjay]

Players are at the club to perform well in matches but they can't perform well in matches without training. My Father was a very good football player, cricketer and squash player in his day and without his training and practice, he would have never played football and cricket for his county and he wouldn't have won all his squash trophies. When I was a kid, I was always taught by Pete Wilson (He was a well respected goalkeeping coaching for Leicester City) and my Father that training is more imporant than matches because training is where you practice and perfect your skills and without training in football, there is no point in matches because a team and its players cannot learn how to play together, build up a relationship, stay fit and show their desire to play for the club. Matches is just the icing on the cake and the payoff to all the hardwork.

Look at every other career and sport. Snooker players can't just go out and play professional snooker, they have to practice for years before they can compete and then spend 8 hours a day practicing to become the best player that they can be. It's the same with tennis, cricket and every other sport. Even in normal life, you can't just walk into a hospital and perform brain surgery without any training or join the army and get sent to war without any training. Even after that initial training, you still have to practice to perfect your skills.

Put simply, matches in football may be important in terms of gaining success but without training, there can't be any success.

You talk such a lot of common sense, Josh. I’m sure we all know people who have a ‘natural ability’ to achieve their ambitions in life without necessarily having to put extra effort into obtaining them. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us have to spend many many hours learning, training and practicing (mental or physical) to enhance our individual skills in the hope of getting what we’ve worked so hard for, however unfair it may appear - that's life.

[drewks]

Hi there Sanjay - good to see you back posting