Fit, or fit to burn?

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Some of our players over recent years have seriously challenged that principle. That wife-beating Lord Frodsham for one, he looked most peturbed with the ball at his feet, hence whacking it miles down field and setting off after it.

Well, I actually meant, when your team has the ball, than you personally having it.

 

[refugee]

I miss Momo. He never got tired

 

[ILD]

Ross, if we have possession we are moving the opposition all over the pitch thus tiring them out. Personally, I would much rather be on the ball moving it in little triangles than chasing it down, running from man to man.

 

[Rosco]

I know the conventional wisdom Dave.

That study of 810 premier league games says there's no evidence to back it up.

 

[mark1975]

So you clearly assume it's a conscious decision to improve lot term fitness over the course of the season (perhaps having started in pre season), & not a shortfall in Rodgers abilities?

I think it's a bit of both. Rafa used to put alot of emphasis on resting players in the first half of the season, for the run in, while pointing out that it can sometimes take those first few months of the season to get upto speed in terms of fitness.

We definitely looked better in the latter half of last season, in terms of solidity, pressing and playing well as a team. It's also worth pointing out that our pressing game takes alot out of us, but we're lacking the players to play the possession game well in midfield. "Hopefully" Allen might remedy that a bit, if he helps us retain possession better then that in turn will make less work of it and will put less emphasis on the pressing and chasing players down, and more onus on making the opposition work.

We need to add a few more players to get on top of this possession lark, but we're heading the right way. You could see last night with players like Allen and Alberto (when he came on), we made Norwich chase it and carried on wearing them down while running down the clock. I know people want to see us attack for 90 minutes instead of 30-60, but physically it's difficult to do, what we need to make sure of is that for the periods of the game where we're less threatening, we're at least industrious in wining the ball back and we make sure we keep it simple and play the ball around. Gerrard doesn't help at times trying to constantly force the play, it gives the ball back 9 times out of 10. The times it comes off are of course worth it, but anyway. He could be more clever with his distribution at times.