Already?

[WTF11]

So we get to the point of friendlies and other pre-season activity and already we get this;

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/l...ooper-24473374

Is it just Leeds or are we seeing a breed of footballer emerging that simply isn't "fit for purpose"?

(And just to be clear, the specific players are not the point of the post, more the nature of what is happening to them)

[Ozwhites]

Yeah I'm not sure if it is a fitness issue these days, or moreso a problem with them not being as physically robust as those in yesteryears. I can handle injuries from tackle and challenge knocks...but the number of strains and tears seems to be a lot more regular nowadays. 🤐

[Billyni]

Maybe get him fit again and loan him to qpr.

[cherrypie7]

Maybe get him fit again and loan him to qpr.

Or just loan him to QPR.

[Pacaman]

So we get to the point of friendlies and other pre-season activity and already we get this;

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/l...ooper-24473374

Is it just Leeds or are we seeing a breed of footballer emerging that simply isn't "fit for purpose"?

(And just to be clear, the specific players are not the point of the post, more the nature of what is happening to them)

Another positive vibe to our day 😩

[WTF11]

Another positive vibe to our day ��

I asked, is this a Leeds issue, or one that is beginning to afflict football generally. Not about the individual player, simply a query as to what we should expect from those responsible for ensuring we (and other clubs if its seen as generic issue), have (literally) a "fit for purpose" squad.

You can see it as a "negative vibe" to reverse your post (as I'm sure it wasn't meant as it's written), I'm just asking a question.

[ozleeds]

I asked, is this a Leeds issue, or one that is beginning to afflict football generally. Not about the individual player, simply a query as to what we should expect from those responsible for ensuring we (and other clubs if its seen as generic issue), have (literally) a "fit for purpose" squad.

You can see it as a "negative vibe" to reverse your post (as I'm sure it wasn't meant as it's written), I'm just asking a question.

Sport, in general, is the same with injuries as money dictates everything making games played faster plus in football so many games players hardly have time to breathe. Here in our Ozzy rules, there are so many injuries that some teams struggle to put a good team out. As you say a lot of tissue injuries and also so many players doing knees.
Players were stronger and had fewer demands than there are now. Playing in mud snow and heavy rain players were built like tanks.
Here now if it rains they cover one ground up and you will find most new stadiums will be built for all weather.
Basically nowadays players are fitter faster but softer.

[whitestomper45]

With the recent seasons being seemingly merged due to covid, the recent arrival of the nations league or whatever its called and ever expanding international tournaments....this season having to accommodate a world cup in timbuktoo .. the faster pace and more pressing, its no wonder players are breaking down.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

It’s a problem with a lot of professional or elite level sport. Players are now so fit and strong that the underlying body structure - ligaments, cartilage, certain bones can’t cope with the forces they are being subjected to.

High intensity training is being studied a lot - QMW in London does a lot with Olympic Athletes to try to understand it. Especially, rest periods. Some rugby clubs are exploring less contact and shorter but better quality training.

Some have questioned whether modern boots which are designed to be light and for speed offer as much protection too.

With the speed of the game it is harder to play carrying an injury too and the laws are so much in favour of attackers than you can’t just clog players like tester year.

The pitches are better too which adds to the speed.

If you listen to some of the collisions in games they are definitely harder than in years from a while back:

There is also a very bizarre counter intuitive concept that the super fit are more prone to colds and bugs and that if there muscle are highly honed they can be more prone to weird muscle injuries.

Very interesting study by the university of bath about the role of dynamic stretching and warm ups to reduce injuries in rugby - results are shocking - used to coach kids rugby and we adopted the exercises in warm ups and were one of the first clubs to do so.

[whitestomper45]

Factor in underage development, particularly in rugby, where like fatted chickens, muscle growth is abnormally quick. They have been seeing large muscle like those in the back, ripping, unheard of years ago.