Simple question that's been bugging me. Unless I've missed something about Fraizer's first half of the season with Sunderland, why has he been nowwhere near match fit? He played a few times in the Prem for them and has come off the bench quite regularly from what I know. I wouldn't have thought O'Neill would have put him on the pitch or even bench for that matter unless he could put in a shift. So why did he come to us so far off a starting place, and even now after three weeks he looked tired at half time yesterday? When he did come off he looked shagged. Mind you, if he can do what he did yesterday half fit, God knows what he'll be capable of shortly. Is the Championship quicker and more physical than the Prem?
I dont think hes had much game time at Sunderland. Definately more physical in the Championship unless you play Stoke or West Ham. I think you get more time on the ball in the PL.
Still don't understand why Fraizer looked so far off the pace when he came on for that last 30 mins at Leeds. He was all in and could hardly stand. Against Huddersfield a week later he got 20 minutes at the end and looked slow. Was it down to the poor pitch if we're looking for a reason? I'm not in any way criticising him, he looks to me all over the very thing we've been lacking up front and I'm 100% positive he'll get a lot better still. I'm just surprised by how far behind the rest of the City squad he appears to be in fitness levels.
Perhaps it says something about the attitude at Cardiff and Sunderland. It could be our standards are higher! Whatever the view, 3 goals in just over a game of playing time is good enough for me.
Says at about our squad's fitness though Sparkey. If Campbell is being asked to play a high tempo game and he can't perform to the standards of the others........ Fair play to him for fitting in and being one of the squad. Shows the right attitude. He wouldn't be here if MM didn't think he'd work for the team. With Noone coming back after a month off and other players being rotated it shows good management by MM and highlights what we haven't had over the past few seasons, depth. Of the chasing pack, Watford seem to have the squad to go the distance. Can Palace, Hull and Leicester see it out? Still a lot of football to play.
I don't think it's possible to train to be match fit, there are so many variables that come into play during a match that you simply cant replicate in training, such as stress, positional awareness, mental awareness etc which will all impose a drain on the physical side of things, one thing I'm sure of is if he keeps up this scoring pace he'll be the bargain of the season, two thirds the price of Veronica
Spark! I think training methods at City have stepped up since Jonesey's time with us. Malky's background staff seem to be producing pique fitness athletes. Bellars in particular looks like a ****ing greyhound whenever I watch him. I would say the fitness level at this club is superior to many clubs in the Prem. Yesterday was a perfect example of how the boys work for one another. I think Campbell is quite a bit off the pace at the moment through lack of games but will emulate Craig, with whom he seemed to be forming a good understanding with yesterday.
I think the all round fitness of the team is nothing short of remarkable, and they all seem to be at that same level which gives us an advantage in games that other teams do not enjoy. No doubt Campbell is short of match fitness, but he can only improve on where he is at the moment and that's great news for us. So for me it's a case of team as a whole, being that much fitter, rather than Campbell being that far behind championship fitness.
As you say Sweet, the overall fitness that Malky and his team have instilled into the squad is little short of remarkable. He tried it last year but was undone at the death - there is only so much steam in a limited number of players, and they ran out of it the last dozen games. Given all that, Fraizer seems way off it to me - much more than something a few training sessions and run outs will put right. I think I heard him saying when he came back from Dubai that he was way behind the other lads and would need half a dozen games to get anywhere near them. That being the case, with 3 class striker type goals to his credit already in his present unfit state, Lord knows what he'll do for us to the end of the season.
Given his "unfit" state do you reckon he'll start tomorrow night or be an impact sub? Will two games in four days be to much for him and it may be better to save him for our trip to Wolverhampton? Remember his injuries proneness, is it forth taking the risk? God forbid Sparky, HH could lead the line tomorrow...
Actually Sheepy, I do think Malky will put Helga out there to start against Brighton - and I really hope he proves me wrong.....
Another home game and a good playing surface. Start with him again. We can use him as a sub the game after when we are away. He seems to be up for it. Would like to see Mason get some game time as well though.
I would start with Mason. Heidi and Fraizer on the bench. Hopefully Fraizer could come on for the last twenty minutes or we could bring on Heidi if we need that plan B.
I think he should start again on the basis he can do his hour or so and then have another 5 day break before the Wolves game. Another positive thing on Saturday was that, at last, we have realised we can't keep pumping the ball up in the air and expect our short arsed forwards to win the thing. I don't think I have ever seen us pass out from the back so often. It wasn't until Heidar arrived that we started to loft it more. Also encouraging was that when we had no option but to launch it Campbell won more than his fair share in the air. Okay their defence was crap but he showed he can compete in the air when needed.
This so true. It's also been so obvious to most of us watching, that I can't believe Malky has condoned it let alone instructed it. The difference it makes to our game with Marshall throwing it out to his back four and Whitts to distribute, instead of lumping seems to have finally got through. Once the ball was on the floor, they had no answer, and I don't for a minute that principle would only apply to Bristol City even though they were such a poor Championship side. I've lost count of the number of times I've sat there and cringed as the big boot came out, and the likes of Bellamy, Mason and Smithy had no hope fo competing with some very determined back four bruisers. Putting it through on the floor or a targeted chip over the top, and the pace we have in the side would turn the buggers inside out. Add Fraizer in there, and other than those chips over the top, the only time the ball should be in the air is at corners and set pieces when Huds/Big Ben/Little Ben and Connolly go up for them. (of course if Helga plays, the opposite is true - keep it off the floor and in the air.......)
Our second goal came from a Gunnar throw! It's like having three set pieces instead of just the usual corner or free kick. It's another string to our bow
