How important is pre-season?

[Bruce Wayne]

I read a week or so about Tony Hibbert on the official site and Moyes put a lot of the blame for his poor season on his lack of proper pre-season due to injury. World Cup players often have a poor start to the season (if not longer) because of the interuption.

So how important is a good pre-season?

 

[Axlswhk]

I suppose a good pre season involve signing new players early so as to let them have more time to settle down. Another thing is ZERO injuries to all squad members, it's hard to accomplish, very much depends on luck. Any pre season that sideline key players for long term will be a big blow to our squad, especially arteta. We can play without cahill, we can play without johnson, I don't thing we'll cope that well without arteta.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I was thinking mainly from a fitness point of view, although settling in is obviously important. It seems common for players that play in major tournaments during the close season to start the club campaign poorly.

AJ is having an operation this summer isn't he? How much will that hinder his pre-season?

 

[Robert Jarvis]

Look at last year and the pre-season games the young guns outstripped AJ and BT. It does help though to get up to match fitness but it is not a pointer to results in the new season.

 

[fozzy]

:blink: very

 

[Axlswhk]

Fitness is important, I've little idea how long will johnson be out.
The thing about fitness very much depend on individual. It's easier to maintain and it's certainly harder to build up. If the players have the discipline to keet themselves fit during the off season(10km run and weights training every at least once per week), they will suffer less and take lesser time to get match fit.
For thoes who return from injuries and operation without any workout for mths, yes it will be tough and it will hinder their match fitness build up at pre season.

 

[Dylan]

I think pre-season is very important. Especially in the player preparation and fitness.

Now I know a lot of 'haters' on Toffeeweb seem to think pre-season results are important, and reason to blast Moyes and the players. I disagree, it isn't the results that are important, it is getting the players out in a competitive enviroment after a summer off.

Last season Cahill got extra time off after the world cup and it did him a world of good, considering the previous season he played during the summer and we reaped those rewards with poor performances up until he was injured and basically had an enforced rest.

 

[Welton Toffee]

Also good for team morale/bonding.

AJ's already had his op hasn't he? He should definitely be back for the start of pre-season

 

[Neiler]

Not only in terms of getting competiviely fit. I beleive with a good pre season it gaurds against minor injuries were players miss a game or to.

When you hear pre season it conjures up an image of players busting a gut running for miles to get fittness levels up/stamina perhaps this was the case in the past.

I beleive now there are far more elements to a good preseason, i believe the physios work in tandom with the coaches to build players and their bodies up slowlwy to maximise stamina but also protect against the risk of reacurring injury and ongoing musle porblems strains etc following a period of rest over the summer. Slowly building the body up to a condition that it can take regular P.L. action form a fitness and physical pont of view, i beleive it is more staged than one hard slog.

I can imagine it can take a while for players to, get their heads around the dietry requirements needed for a professional in the modern game after shall we say "summer excess".

While it allows a sustained period of time to work on tactics, systems, set plays, for the season ahead. when you think about it from a schedule point of view it is probably the only time the manger/coaches have with the players without competive games to prepare for, or players missing thorugh internationals all season.

Again it is helpfull for bonding and bedding in new palyers and this is probably the reason for teaining camps aboroad these days, bonding and a wee jolly to help the players to adjust after being on the lash over the summer.

There is certainly evidence suggest that those who miss a good pre season with all the above in mind are perhaps miore vulnerable and less inclined to produce there best form than those who get a good one under their belt.

 

[monty]

The only time pre-season is a problem is when clubs find it hard going in the season. I have yet to hear any club turn down some of these lucrative pre-season events, they go in them for the gelt and competition. On a different note pre-season helps lots of small clubs entyertain the big boys, some have their biggest attendances of the year when a Prem side turns up, it is good for the game.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I was reading this morning about the lacklustre Brazil performance, especially by Ronaldinho and Kaka. Both players have opted out of the Copa America this summer in order to have a rest. That seems a big element of pre-season as well, to enable the players to have a proper rest. I know the old fashioned view is that players should have no problems playing the games they do etc. but they run around 10,000m a match now so it must be very difficult physically to do that once or twice per week all year round.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The only time pre-season is a problem is when clubs find it hard going in the season. I have yet to hear any club turn down some of these lucrative pre-season events, they go in them for the gelt and competition. On a different note pre-season helps lots of small clubs entyertain the big boys, some have their biggest attendances of the year when a Prem side turns up, it is good for the game.

Is it a coincidence that United have done better this season (and certainly started better) because they had a football orientated pre-season rather than a commercially orientated one?

 

[micknick]

I think it is beneficial to have a good pre season but not absolute. I think fitness and match sharpness is much more important in pre season rather than who we play or what the result was.

Is it any coincidence that teams who play in the intertwobob cup have a poor domestic season??

 

[Gazdalf]

I think it is beneficial to have a good pre season but not absolute. I think fitness and match sharpness is much more important in pre season rather than who we play or what the result was.

Is it any coincidence that teams who play in the intertwobob cup have a poor domestic season??

I think you have a good point, but friendlies do not test or strain the players, it merely advances their state of readiness, intertoto is competitive and pushes the players before their bodies are up to speed and they tire as the season progresses faster than normal.

 

[SuitsBlue]

johnson had his op before the chelsea game, the club decided to push the op through asap to give him the maximum time to heal and get back in time for pre season.

with regards pre season, simon davies supposedly had a magnificent time last summer by what moyes said, so different players go through different things.

VDM hasnt had a preseason ever has he? beattie piles weight on like a bear before winter when he isnt participating on the bench every week.

a big factor in moyes training camps has been team building exercises, there was the adventure stuff in the lake district, a few days on the town in new york where if the photos are anything to go by it seems like they were all out on the lager and having a laugh.

About rest and the amount of games, recently has seen cahills longest spell with almost no games, (the knee injury + the broken toe bone) so as he has played full time football for the last 4 seasons (?) the opportunity for him to recharge his batteries will hopefully mean he is fresh and reinvigourated (SP) for next season.

Hibbert was unlucky last year, some mystery phantom foreign illness that put him down for months is the first i have heard any footballer pick up, then as he got back close to being fit he got an injury that sidelined him again, it must have been soul destroying to work through a tropical illness beat it finally then end up back at square one. and he was definatley rusty when he came back, no player can be out for 4 or 5 months then slot back in like nothings been wrong.