Forgive the heading...was trying to be creative 🤣.....soooooo with craven..owens..baker..lawton.tyrer .Farnworth all retained and an original squad of 26 ish for 2021...who we looking at keeping for 2022 of what's left ...gotta be honest and it's only an opinion but outside Hatton..clough ..else..lyons(maybe) tilleke(as a squad member)I can't say I'd lose any sleep on the rest leaving ..might sound harsh but for the club to go from utter mediocrity to play off challengers next season the squad needs culling big time ..obviously cross n hill already gone by reports ..but let's get real...toulouse almost certainly going up so gives us leigh n fev as favourites...by all accounts Newcastle are going big next season...as are fax n Bradford...york will throw money again n batley I'd imagine will be floating up there...on top of that you've got barrow most likely coming up with a large warchest from there success off the pitch ....so pains me to say it but can't see any value in anyone outside the above pushing us where we want to be ..thoughts ???
Think the practicalities of getting rid of say 15 players and bringing in another 15 would be quite challenging and maybe not realistic, although I would agree that there does need to be a clearout.
Off the top of my head - Spedding, surely. Hulme?
Spedding already signed up for 2022. Would guess that Hulme along with Grady is going to have to be a decision based on their other work commitments given they have reportedly missed games this year due to their non RL jobs.
I'm inclined to say we need a specialised a fitness and conditioning person as much as we need players.
I’m inclined to say we need a specialised a fitness and conditioning person as much as we need players.
But when the players spend probably 4/5 hours a week at the club - surely it's as much up to them to keep in shape?
Very true James when you look at it that way,we did look way off the pace at times though,maybe due to lack of proper rotation due to the lack of numbers.
I’m inclined to say we need a specialised a fitness and conditioning person as much as we need players.
But when the players spend probably 4/5 hours a week at the club – surely it’s as much up to them to keep in shape?
It's always up to the player - but they still need programs, measurement, accountability, check-ins, nutritional advice etc. Doesn't have to all be done at the club so much of fitness programming generally is remote these days.
I sincerely hope we're not just 'assuming' players are doing fitness training to Championship standard on their own accord away from the club hoping they turn up fit.
Spedding already signed up for 2022. Would guess that Hulme along with Grady is going to have to be a decision based on their other work commitments given they have reportedly missed games this year due to their non RL jobs.
Why has nobody mentioned Sam Wilde?
Is he going to be available every Sunday considering what he does for a living?
Iirc King Kurt many moons ago suggested that the sytem he grew up with was a fitness regime issued to players before training started to give them a fitness level to start training on. Seemed to work then!
Then again with all this cash floating about we might be just wasting our time. The old adage used to be that the stadium will be a car park next year!
Part time players need a strength and conditioning coach, they need plans, bespoke work outs. Identify if players need to build muscle, improve cardio, leg drive, upper body, speed etc. Everyone is different, some people will lift weights and be strong but not fit, others will be fast but lack strength. Each player needs a plan and also for the position they play in. Diet plans, targets, check ins, stats and performance tracking. Also accountability, if people are working from home without a manager to check on them a few will still do the work, but some wouldn't push themselves. These days in the modern game, the way a lot of it is built on power and speed, it's the most important position at the club after the head coach in my opinion.
I'm not a strength and conditioning coach by the way and not after a job! Haha.
I think you have to be realistic about player's workloads. If they are working full-time 9-5, they train three times a week; they aren't going to be commit to a massive fitness programme. It should be up to them to retain their level of fitness (whether that's by hitting the gym an hour a day or whatever).
I was surprised when I asked Simon Finnigan earlier in the season about fitness and he didn't see it as an issue.
I agree James think fitness has been a real issue played lots of part time sides this year and the vast majority do look fitter, however does some of that need to come down to smarter recruitment recruiting players who can fit in training programmes easier around there jobs? For example Shane Grady he never lets anyone down however finishing nights and 2 hours later being on a coach to go and play 80 minutes against York is by far ideal I’m sure there are many other examples also that we ain’t aware of
Fitness and strength has seen a change I guess as the game has speeded up over the years. There were loads of tales from the old days when Wigan forwards would come from a shift at the pit without a shower and had one before the pulled their Wigan shirts on and went out on the field! Much will depend on the player's work too. Watch a lad changing a lorry tyre!!!! That is fitness training!
Remember Hodgkinson (sic) playing for us - a tree surgeon and as fit as a butcher's dog. That makes a specialist conditioner a necessity to personally plan each member of the squad.
What became of our relationship with John Moores Uni? They did quite a lot in that area iirc.
Players who might have shift problems like Grady, Hulme and Wilde shouldn't be discarded the squad has to be large enough to cover knocks, minor injuries and shift patterns. That is the only way to guarantee a strong team every week as long as we are PT.