Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:35 pm  

I dont think it helps with fitness when historically half the starting players have been playing in internationals till the end of November.
Its no coincidence i think that Leeds and Saints who in previous years have contributed the Bulk of the England squad have been hit hardest by Injuries.
Similarly Wire who have rarely had anyone playing rep football hardly had any long term injuries this year. I think they were helped by the fact that last year they didnt make the playoffs, So plaers bodies had a long recovery period.

Hopefully the long break for most of our squad will freshen them up and allow the club to have a longer and more intense training regime.

It will certainly be interesting to see how Wigan and Hudds get on next season considering they have a significant number of players in the international setup.

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 4:49 pm  

I posted this on Redvee in regards to a few areas I feel we need to improve next year:

I don't think there's a great deal between Saints and Wigan personally. At the end of the day, Wigan turned up and put in their ultimate performance of the year whilst we put in possibly our worst. 22-10 definitely flattered us.

As for the future, we've got a very strong pack and with that pack we'll be very competitive against most sides. We will be competing for trophies based on the pack alone. You can't win trophies if you have good backs and rubbish forwards but you possibly can the other way around. So in that respect we've got it right. But we are criminally short in the backs. Add in Eastmond and Pryce and we're alot better than we were on Saturday nin terms of structure and having that ability to break up a game, but the three quarter line still lacks real speed. Compare the movement of our team to Wigan's on Saturday and you'll see a big difference in the halves and backline of both respective teams. That's why an injection of pace at Centre or on the wing would massively help. Shenton is a good player and based on this season, he'll be an improvement on Gidley, without a doubt. If Eastmond and Pryce can get ball out wide to Shenton he'll create chances for Foster (who I presume will play wing next season).

We need to improve our defensive technique a bit. I don't think we're as aggressive and hurtful as we used to be and our line speed in the Grand Final just didn't compare to Wigan's. Wigan have set the bar this season defensively and Simmons has to look at that and build a similar model. We're capable of defending like that, we did in 2006 and 2007 under Anderson so the players can do it.

The fitness and conditioning is another area that we seem to have relaxed on too. The players are still superfit, but some teams are definitely stronger in that area and our injuries are alarming. Some injuries are bad luck, but I think some can be prevented easily. Warrington have barely had an injury this year and that's because they invested in a good fitness and conditioning coach. Maybe our new facilities and new coaching regime will help us improve in this area.

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:21 pm  

Bring back Apollo!

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:41 pm  

I spoke to AP prior to one of our Home matches... I think it was Catalan possibly?

Anyway I said "When you coming back AP our conditionings gone down the drain since you left"

To which he replied "You don't need me, you'll be fine when the new guy comes in with his staff"

Not sure if he was saying Potters are rubbish or Simmons are just better?

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:42 pm  

Mr. Messy wrote:

I spoke to AP prior to one of our Home matches... I think it was Catalan possibly?

Anyway I said "When you coming back AP our conditionings gone down the drain since you left"

To which he replied "You don't need me, you'll be fine when the new guy comes in with his staff"

Not sure if he was saying Potters are rubbish or Simmons are just better?

I'm hoping with our new facilities and new coaching staff next year we'll see a dramatic improvement in this area.

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:45 pm  

Blobbynator wrote:

I'm hoping with our new facilities and new coaching staff next year we'll see a dramatic improvement in this area.

This was one of my points, what we've achieved with some of if not the worst facilities / ground in the League... ah well time shall tell

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:49 pm  

Mr. Messy wrote:

This was one of my points, what we've achieved with some of if not the worst facilities / ground in the League... ah well time shall tell

No excuse! Rocky beat the snot out of Drago with similar facilities!

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:05 pm  

Mr. Messy wrote:

I spoke to AP prior to one of our Home matches... I think it was Catalan possibly?
Anyway I said "When you coming back AP our conditionings gone down the drain since you left"
To which he replied "You don't need me, you'll be fine when the new guy comes in with his staff"
Not sure if he was saying Potters are rubbish or Simmons are just better?

Is he bringing any staff? I'm sure he said on that YouTube video that the staff were all here for him, ready-made like. I hope that's not the case in terms of the conditioner. We need a new one.

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:22 pm  

My eyes were opened to how unfit we looked, when Meli's b*tch-tits were moving faster than he was down the wing vs Hudds.

Re: Conditioning & Injuries : Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:23 pm  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

My eyes were opened to how unfit we looked, when Meli's b*tch-tits were moving faster than he was down the wing vs Hudds.