The fitness of our players

[mattdefoe]

Is it just me or does anyone else feel the fitness of our players is seemingly worrying.

Our players have looked sluggish all season and have lacked sharpness ...

*chadli
*sandro
* sigurdson
*kaboul
*dembele
* paulinho

These players are some that "spring" to mind

I know they have had injuries and spells in and out of the team but does anyone else find our players are sluggish and never look sharp or take extra long to regain sharpness.

I look at rosicky 33 years of age pulling strings all day for arsenal and it makes me wonder why are players lack this "sharpness" does anyone else feel this way

 

[nidge]

All of the players you have mentioned have had injuries or have had a distinct lack of first team football so I am not surprised they have lacked match sharpness.

 

[mpickard2087]

Yes, but its been an issue since the Redknapp era in my opinion.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

I actually felt that the player's fitness was one of the bright sides of today's game. We went at them from the first minute to the last

 

[nferno]

Hudd's big mac smuggling business is still in full swing.

 

[Mouse!]

I actually felt that the player's fitness was one of the bright sides of today's game. We went at them from the first minute to the last

Yep, considering we played Thursday and they played Wednesday (though they did travel), I felt we looked fitter. Puts to bed the myth about not being able to play more than once a week.

 

[stevenurse]

My problem is Danny Fucking Rose. Literally jogging back when rosicky scored. In the first minute.

When chadli dragged his shot wide at the end of the half, this was due to Gibbs busting a gut to get back and it put him off. The sheer laziness of it is the worst thing.

Any player in that team should recognise that if you're going to be lazy, the one game you DONT do it in is the NLD. Utter wanker. Good riddance in the summer

 

[Skye Sauces]

My problem is Danny Fucking Rose. Literally jogging back when rosicky scored. In the first minute.

When chadli dragged his shot wide at the end of the half, this was due to Gibbs busting a gut to get back and it put him off. The sheer laziness of it is the worst thing.

Any player in that team should recognise that if you're going to be lazy, the one game you DONT do it in is the NLD. Utter wanker. Good riddance in the summer

I'm pleased that someone else has noticed Danny 'jog back' Rose. I first noticed it at Old Trafford this year and thought that since he'd been out with the mystery toe injury he wasn't quite match fit. Less than 2 minutes into todays game he didn't even try to get close to rosicky. He was no better at Norwich either. I guess most on here don't see these things as he's probably not even in the camera shot. If the guy isn't fit enough to go forward and get back when the breaks on then Sherwood should stick to what he's said and let defenders defend.

 

[FrankSpencer]

For the first time today, I actually got the feeling Chadli looked like he was getting used to what the EPL is about. He looked sharper, quicker and more relaxed on the ball. I can't say I have been a fan of his, but it was nice to see a change in him and let's hope he can build on it.

 

[SlunkSoma]

For the first time today, I actually got the feeling Chadli looked like he was getting used to what the EPL is about. He looked sharper, quicker and more relaxed on the ball. I can't say I have been a fan of his, but it was nice to see a change in him and let's hope he can build on it.

Just needs to be more confident and take on a few more shots.

 

[The Watcher]

For the first time today, I actually got the feeling Chadli looked like he was getting used to what the EPL is about. He looked sharper, quicker and more relaxed on the ball. I can't say I have been a fan of his, but it was nice to see a change in him and let's hope he can build on it.

I think this is the crux of the issue, he's not even played that many full PL games. Rather than write off all of last summer's signings, I think those of us who haven't already reached this conclusion should recognise that it actually takes a significant amount of time to settle into this league and adapt to it physically.
Personally, I'm of the fairly widely shared opinion that it wasn't the quality of the incoming players that has caused problems this season, merely the sheer number of them arriving at once. No continuity or familiarity there.

 

[spursfan77]

I thought that under avb we had quite a fit squad, we certainly never looked tired at the end of games. I always just put tho down to having a specific fitness coach working with the players. Something I'm not sure we have now.

 

[dontcallme]

Fitness can sometimes be mental rather than physical.

When people are happy they are full of energy, when not they can be lethargic.

The body language of our players at sometimes doesn't give off the aura of a happy group.