The World Cup Break

[DenverSpur]

I could find a thread about this but glad to be directed to one that already exists.

The PL has a 6 week break and most people are concerned by how the players going to the WC will be affected. I personally feel that it’s the players who are not going to the WC who will be most affected by the break.
Some, but not all, the players at the WC will get game time. In a normal season during this period teams would play 6-8 games. At the WC our players could play the following number of games:
Lloris 5-7 games
Romero 5-7 games
Dier 4-5 games ( if picked)
Davies 3-4 games
Perisic 4-6 games
Bentancur 4-6 games
Hojbjerg 4-6 games
Son 3-4 games.
Richarlison 5-7 games
Kane 4-5 games
So these players will, to varying degrees, retain their match fitness. Now the players left at home will not have any competive games for 6 weeks. I know we are not going abroad for warm weather training but does anybody have any idea what the plans are for the squad not at the WC? Have we arranged any friendly fixtures?
It’s important we do or this section of the squad will lose their match fitness and subsequently will start slowly when the season resumes. How we handle the players not at the WC will have a big impact on how we start the second half of the season.

 

[nailsy]

I think the feeling is that the games this season have been so compressed that everyone needs a break. Don't forget that the Premier League has a mini break in January which won't be there this season. But you're right, the players left behind will need to be kept fit and ready to play when we get back. I'm sure the fitness plan in pre-season would have taken this into account, but I don't know what the plan is for those left behind. I've heard of other teams having friendlies so I guess we'll do the same.

 

[chrissivad]

I'm sure Conte has said he is having to manage players fitness due to the work cup break.

Other teams are planning to head away for a training camp, but we are still training at our training ground.

I think it was Trix that said we plan to have some friendlies at the training ground as well.

 

[chrissivad]

 

[aliyid]

I’m just hoping it’s 6 weeks of Conte drilling Spence on what he expects of him ready to unleash him on the prem in 2nd half of the season

 

[Pink_Floyd]

View attachment 119177

Are they counting Ronaldo in that 14? ?

 

[EQP]

I could find a thread about this but glad to be directed to one that already exists.

The PL has a 6 week break and most people are concerned by how the players going to the WC will be affected. I personally feel that it’s the players who are not going to the WC who will be most affected by the break.
Some, but not all, the players at the WC will get game time. In a normal season during this period teams would play 6-8 games. At the WC our players could play the following number of games:
Lloris 5-7 games
Romero 5-7 games
Dier 4-5 games ( if picked)
Davies 3-4 games
Perisic 4-6 games
Bentancur 4-6 games
Hojbjerg 4-6 games
Son 3-4 games.
Richarlison 5-7 games
Kane 4-5 games
So these players will, to varying degrees, retain their match fitness. Now the players left at home will not have any competive games for 6 weeks. I know we are not going abroad for warm weather training but does anybody have any idea what the plans are for the squad not at the WC? Have we arranged any friendly fixtures?
It’s important we do or this section of the squad will lose their match fitness and subsequently will start slowly when the season resumes. How we handle the players not at the WC will have a big impact on how we start the second half of the season.

With the WC break, sharpness (more than base fitness, as the players aren't on "Holiday") is the main concern. They already had a quite taxing pre-season in South Korea to build that base aerobic capacity and as such, Conte will likely focus on

1) 2 training sessions a day - sessions would be more intense sessions but shorter in length. Emphasizing quality and sharpness in all drills and sessions.
2) Setting up closed door friendlies - potentially weekly to keep that competitive edge.
3) More individualized training programs

• For Gil, that could be more upper body work and overall resiliency
• Royal - more crossing work and dribbling work. Hopefully, a Sports Psychologist as well.
• Bissouma & Skipp - Building an understanding of how they'll each match each other's strengths when they play together
• Defenders - trying to reduce those lapses and errors

This example is directly from my time interning and working at MLS clubs and helping set up training schedules as the MLS calendar, which usually goes from February through October, has had to adjust to losing players to international tournaments ( Summer WC for example).

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

With the WC break, sharpness (more than base fitness, as the players aren't on "Holiday")

We have quite a few players who are on a two-week Holiday. It remains to be seen how hard Conte pushes them when they return to London v. a warm weather site that many other teams are utilizing.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

I’m just hoping it’s 6 weeks of Conte drilling Spence on what he expects of him ready to unleash him on the prem in 2nd half of the season

Would hope so too, but think it’s more likely that he will be loaned out. Not sure if any PL team down the bottom consistently plays wing backs so maybe Germany like Sess did?