Quote Enfield Exile="Enfield Exile"Cannot agree.
* The team are still getting used to each other so there will be some tentativeness and lack of fluidity
What has this got to do with player fitness? That is a confidence/technical skills issue
* Some players will be carrying knocks that you may not know about and thus may not be at their best
In that case the player should do the honorable thing and pull out if he's not 100%. If the player isn't fully fit and he performs poorly it could result in that player losing his place in the team. Also playing with an injury could make it a lot worse.
* I would have thought most SL starters during the opening weekend will be blowing after 10 minutes
Rugby league players are professionally trained sportsmen who have been working their bodies several hours a day now for weeks and also have three friendly games to get match fitness. If any player is blowing after 10 minutes something is either seriously wrong with his health or his preperation and training methods. Do premier league footballers blow after 10 minutes at the start of a new season?
* Spirit? You may have to give it a bit longer
As you are aware there have been several positive changes at the club in terms of new player investment, new club captain, two new coaches, conditioner and physiotherapist. Add to this the progress on the new stadium and it's been a real shot in the arm for everybody connected with the club. They say 'new blood breeds enthusiasm' and it will be interesting to see if that is reflected on the field of play in Cardiff?
* I wouldn't have thought any conditioner would have a squad at their sharpest and fittest by the first game of the season - it's a marathon, not a sprint...
I am not saying the players have to be at their optimum peak fitness in round one. I was responding to an earlier post about someone reporting that the team are supposedly fitter than ever. I then questioned that statement and explained how I would analyse fitness in a competitive match situation.
I wouldn't judge the team's potential on what happens in the first game
Who mentioned anything about potential? My post was in responce to fitness levels and how I would analyse it.
