Fitness

[Goliath]

Was an absolute joke today. This team isnt fit to play 90 minutes in the style Kompany is asking them to do so.
I probably shouldn't name names but im so annoyed after watching Lyle Foster jog around for half an hour without an ounce of effort that i think he deserves calling out. Thank god we still have Brownhill, Jay Rod and Taylor in this squad to show some fight and commitment.

That game if proof of why we should be very cautious about losing Brownhill, he might not have much ability but he puts every ounce of effort into each and every game.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Foster out wide is a joke in itself. Tresor coming on even more so

[Pickles]

We haven't looked fit enough from the first whistle against Man City. We've been second best to second balls all season. Our stamina and structure off the ball has been way below par.

[Ric_C]

Foster, and to a lesser extent Fofana were a disgrace today. If he's not fit to play don't play him

[Goliath]

Foster out wide is a joke in itself. Tresor coming on even more so

According to Kompany this is only off the ball. He believes when in possession he's still play the exact same role as the start of the season. Probably the biggest load of waffle I've heard all season and I'm a supporter of his.

[Goliath]

Foster, and to a lesser extent Fofana were a disgrace today. If he's not fit to play don't play him

Fofana also refused Fosters handshake when he was subbed which was particularly petty

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Yet we ran a lot further than Brighton

[Burnley1989]

Foster was terrible today, but he’s a good player, hope we can keep hold of him and he remains mentally strong

[Belgianclaret]

Agree. Like I said on match thread

[BurnleyFC]

Foster is awful on the right wing. Literally the worst option we’ve had on the wing all season, and that’s saying something.

God knows how Kompany can’t see it.

[BurnleyFC]

Fofana also refused Fosters handshake when he was subbed which was particularly petty

I didn’t see that, but if that’s the case he’s a petulant little child.

He’s been utterly shite for three games in a row.

[DCWat]

I hadn’t heard Kompany’s comment about Foster being on the right.

The players heat map will show that comment to be absolute nonsense.

[bfcjg]

Bellamy and Kompany need to hang their heads in shame today. If they think that front line today was acceptable, if they think their substitutions were acceptable then I'm sorry but it's time for the club to pull the plug on them.

[Tall Paul]

Fitness? Shitness more like

[Goliath]

Yet we ran a lot further than Brighton

Yes because we were pressing so high. We were chasing everything, we did the same against Wolves. Both games we looked absolutely done in by 60 minutes.

[Goliath]

Yes because we were pressing so high. We were trying to chase everything high up the pitch, we did the same against Wolves. Both games we looked absolutely done in by 60 minutes.

[MeeActon1]

Was an absolute joke today. This team isnt fit to play 90 minutes in the style Kompany is asking them to do so.
I probably shouldn't name names but im so annoyed after watching Lyle Foster jog around for half an hour without an ounce of effort that i think he deserves calling out. Thank god we still have Brownhill, Jay Rod and Taylor in this squad to show some fight and commitment.

That game if proof of why we should be very cautious about losing Brownhill, he might not have much ability but he puts every ounce of effort into each and every game.

Surprised you’re not blaming Vitinho.

[Goliath]

Surprised you’re not blaming Vitinho.

Child

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Yes because we were pressing so high. We were chasing everything, we did the same against Wolves. Both games we looked absolutely done in by 60 minutes.

If VK knew how to use subs it wouldn’t a problem

[MeeActon1]

xx

Child

[Goliath]

If VK knew how to use subs it wouldn’t a problem

He doesn't get 8 subs. A centre back going off with cramp after an hour is just daft

[beddie]

I do wonder sometimes the thinking of Kompany. Throughout the game Foster looked lost out on the right, when he had the chance to shoot he passed it, he looked way off it. Why did we not bring on Benson in his position, it’s baffling. I do think Kompany being the intelligent man he is occasionally over thinks things. Taking the loans players out of the equation and
having read some supporters thinking we'll walk the league next season we’ll be lucky to finish mid table. We looked lost at times and regrettably clueless.

[Stayingup]

This team is much worse than Dyche's team that were very unluckily relegated.

[Bin Ont Turf]

Foster, and to a lesser extent Fofana were a disgrace today. If he's not fit to play don't play him

They are both pretty shite.

We won't be anywhere near going up next season unless the forward situation is addressed.

[claretspice]

I'm not sure about this to be honest. We're talking about a side who matched Chelsea for an hour despite having a man less of the pitch, and who 72 hours later physically bested a strong Wolves team. That doesn't fit with the idea we've a team of out of condition wastrels, and I think we should ge wary of that sort of insinuation.

I think again a young team were punctured by the goal we conceded and couldn't quite regain momentum, not helped by a couple of changes which didn't work.

It may well be that the effects of a stop start season mean that Foster is not at his absolute physical peak, and we've long since established he's one if those players who at his best looks a physical beast but when he's a bit down on confidence can look a bit sluggish. I think of he's fit he'll do very well in the Championship and given what he's been through deserves the benefit of the doubt. He had a good, effective first half yesterday and tried his best to do a job second half in a position that clearly doesn't suit him.

Fofana did OK in the first half with a couple of neat turns but his second half performance was pretty ordinary. I just don't think he's Premier league ready yet and whilst I don't think he's lazy either, he doesn't always press with the intensity required. These things do take time though and in part that's because he's still learning the triggers.

[burnmark]

Stop talking sense Claretspice.

[Rileybobs]

There's definitely hints of laziness across the team at times. I'm really surprised that some people can't see it. For example, yesterday Brighton beat us with a long ball over the top that almost ended up in the back of the net, the assistant went on to raise his flag regardless. But Foster was stood about 2 yards away from the defender who played the ball over the top and made absolutely no effort to put any pressure on him - whichever way you look at this it's lazy. On a number of occasions in the second half whilst struggling to get any meaningful possession, the ball was in our right back position with the only possible out-ball being a pass down the right channel - where was Foster? The answer is in a completely ineffective position on the left.

This obviously isn't just Foster - I've observed Odobert's work off the ball which is absolutely shameful at times, although seems to have improved somewhat over recent games. This isn't young or naive defending, it's just laziness. Fofana is another who is often caught on his heels. He spends most of the game doing this exaggerated slow jog where his feet barely leave the ground or laughing when he misses simple chances. Awful body language which isn't a good look for a team at the bottom of the league. Yesterday, desperate for 3 points, he is substituted and walks off the pitch as slowly as possible.

These kind of things reek of the lack of discipline which has been discussed on here recently.

[ksrclaret]

That Fofana jog reminds me of the kids in PE class who really couldn't be arsed to join in.

Can anyone imagine Sean Dyche putting up with some of the antics we've seen from our players this season?

[Goliath]

I'm not sure about this to be honest. We're talking about a side who matched Chelsea for an hour despite having a man less of the pitch, and who 72 hours later physically bested a strong Wolves team. That doesn't fit with the idea we've a team of out of condition wastrels, and I think we should ge wary of that sort of insinuation.

I think again a young team were punctured by the goal we conceded and couldn't quite regain momentum, not helped by a couple of changes which didn't work.

It may well be that the effects of a stop start season mean that Foster is not at his absolute physical peak, and we've long since established he's one if those players who at his best looks a physical beast but when he's a bit down on confidence can look a bit sluggish. I think of he's fit he'll do very well in the Championship and given what he's been through deserves the benefit of the doubt. He had a good, effective first half yesterday and tried his best to do a job second half in a position that clearly doesn't suit him.

Fofana did OK in the first half with a couple of neat turns but his second half performance was pretty ordinary. I just don't think he's Premier league ready yet and whilst I don't think he's lazy either, he doesn't always press with the intensity required. These things do take time though and in part that's because he's still learning the triggers.

We were absolutely dead on our feet against Wolves. 10 more minutes of that game and we lose.
I also think the amount of shirt pull offences we are now being found guilty of is a consequence of this. We have players desperately trying to fly in and stick to this man to man system but they are slow getting there and ended up getting beaten and having to drag the opposition player down.
It just leads to co start bookings which hinders us massively. There was a few times yesterday Cullen had to let players run past him without a tackle because he didn't want a second yellow.

[CoolClaret]

I hadn’t heard Kompany’s comment about Foster being on the right.

The players heat map will show that comment to be absolute nonsense.

Yep

Oh and our resident, self proclaimed m̶a̶n̶ c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶ football expert KRBFC claimed he was also playing through the middle, in yet another disparaging comment made to another poster.

[NewClaret]

Yep

Oh and our resident, self proclaimed m̶a̶n̶ c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶ football expert KRBFC claimed he was also playing through the middle, in yet another disparaging comment made to another poster.

That’s an interesting heat map.

I’ll agree that even as a fan of VK I cannot understand his comments about his position in possession and I think when he says things like that it almost insults the fans who can see it’s not true.

Do you have any heatmaps from earlier in the season when he was playing centrally to compare?

[Darnhill Claret]

Goliath, in your opening post you said that Foster did nothing for 30 minutes (kind maybe) but then compared him negatively with three pre VK players, who each played less than 60 minutes, admittedly through no fault of their own, with a massive back-handed compliment to Brownhill, but I get your point.

[Darnhill Claret]

Smiley face accidentally missed off.

[CoolClaret]

That’s an interesting heat map.

I’ll agree that even as a fan of VK I cannot understand his comments about his position in possession and I think when he says things like that it almost insults the fans who can see it’s not true.

Do you have any heatmaps from earlier in the season when he was playing centrally to compare?

Hi NC -

I use www.sofascore.com for the players' heatmaps (they have a mobile app as well), if you want to check them for yourself..

But here is three of his games - Villa, Luton and Fulham (all away)

Shows him being used more all over the park leading the line, coming deeper to battle for/win the ball and lay it off similar to Jay/Barnes last season, as well as drifting wide (both sides of the pitch) probably to contest an out ball and find himself in space to receive a pass.

[Milltown1882]

Remember at the end of last season when VK had them back in for pre season about 2 weeks after the season finished and it was seen as revolutionary.

This is what you get.

[Nonayforever]

Looking at the above heat maps for Lyle and earlier ones on sofascore, they are exactly what fans have seen and are in complete contradiction to what VK has been saying.

[ksrclaret]

Remember at the end of last season when VK had them back in for pre season about 2 weeks after the season finished and it was seen as revolutionary.

This is what you get.

Even at the time, I saw lots of people calling that out for exactly what it was. A publicity stunt to court attention from the media.

[CoolClaret]

Even at the time, I saw lots of people calling that out for exactly what it was. A publicity stunt to court attention from the media.

I'm not one to pretend to be 'ITK' but I've heard that went down like a lead balloon. Hardly worked either has it?

[ksrclaret]

I'm not one to pretend to be 'ITK' but I've heard that went down like a lead balloon. Hardly worked either has it?

Especially not given most of the players he called back have either been shipped out somewhere else now or have hardly featured.

What a braindead decision.

[agreenwood]

I’m not sure I can see a team lacking fitness being in so many close games at this point of the season. You’d expect us to be struggling to stay in games at the back end of the season, but we’ve actually been in more games of late and even nearly beat Chelsea with 10 men.

The problem is in the personnel, not their fitness levels. As crap as we’ve been, if we added to our lack of quality, discipline and nouse (other criticisms) with lousy fitness, we’d have been lucky to match Derby’s points total in my view.

[agreenwood]

Especially not given most of the players he called back have either been shipped out somewhere else now or have hardly featured.

What a braindead decision.

If they aren’t here or aren’t playing, what impact has it had on this team’s fitness?

[ksrclaret]

If they aren’t here or aren’t playing, what impact has it had on this team’s fitness?

No impact, which I think is the point.

[Rileybobs]

I’m not sure I can see a team lacking fitness being in so many close games at this point of the season. You’d expect us to be struggling to stay in games at the back end of the season, but we’ve actually been in more games of late and even nearly beat Chelsea with 10 men.

The problem is in the personnel, not their fitness levels. As crap as we’ve been, if we added to our lack of quality, discipline and nouse (other criticisms) with lousy fitness, we’d have been lucky to match Derby’s points total in my view.

I’m not sure if it’s fitness but we seem to run out of steam as games draw to an end. Not helped by the fact that our substitutes often don’t add any sort of spark.

[agreenwood]

No impact, which I think is the point.

No. I think Milltown’s original point appears to be that VK brought them back too early. Otherwise I don’t see the relevance to a fitness thread.

To be honest I don’t remember much critism of it at the time. Easy in hindsight to add it to the growing list of things VK has done wrong.

[agreenwood]

I’m not sure if it’s fitness but we seem to run out of steam as games draw to an end. Not helped by the fact that our substitutes often don’t add any sort of spark.

Confidence and nouse, probably. Fitness, no.

[claretspice]

⅕

I’m not sure I can see a team lacking fitness being in so many close games at this point of the season. You’d expect us to be struggling to stay in games at the back end of the season, but we’ve actually been in more games of late and even nearly beat Chelsea with 10 men.

The problem is in the personnel, not their fitness levels. As crap as we’ve been, if we added to our lack of quality, discipline and nouse (other criticisms) with lousy fitness, we’d have been lucky to match Derby’s points total in my view.

Entirely agree with this.

[ksrclaret]

No. I think Milltown’s original point appears to be that VK brought them back too early. Otherwise I don’t see the relevance to a fitness thread.

To be honest I don’t remember much critism of it at the time. Easy in hindsight to add it to the growing list of things VK has done wrong.

Well my mistake then. I thought it was relevant because the players who have barely played were the ones brought back.

It is easy to list it as something VK has done wrong though because it’s easy to see why it was wrong.

[agreenwood]

Well my mistake then. I thought it was relevant because the players who have barely played were the ones brought back.

It is easy to list it as something VK has done wrong though because it’s easy to see why it was wrong.

Why was it wrong?

[Rileybobs]

Confidence and nouse, probably. Fitness, no.

Maybe, maybe not. Some of our players do noticeably look tired towards the end of games. Without wishing to draw comparison to Dyche’s sides I felt we used to be the opposite and would often not even make a single substitute. Perhaps we play a higher intensity game, also we have younger players who may be less good at managing their efforts during a game, but Foster usually looks knackered and Odobert and Koleosho have both been blowing quite early in games this season.

We also seem to pick up an extraordinarily high number of injuries compared to teams in the recent past.

[ksrclaret]

Why was it wrong?

I think it was wrong because the players who ‘benefitted’ from the extra fitness and team building efforts, which I presume was the point, have barely featured and lots have left. VK must have known by then of his plans to turn the squad over as much as he did.

The team hasn’t looked any fitter or any closer as a result of having being brought back earlier.

Only my opinion, of course.