Bristol City release internal data that demonstrates fitness improvement on last season Robins confident that the playing squad is making huge physical gains and is set to compete right to the end of matches Bristol City are striving to be fitter than ever and to gain that extra strength that will guard against knocks this season, after an injury hit 2020/21. Graphs from the Robins High Performance shown publicly in a club video this week illustrate how the squad has improved from pre-season to now, and is also developing extra strength in their hamstrings. And the club's medical team say that the players are stronger than last year, which will help as they look to compete across the gruelling Championship fixture programme. The West Country outfit suffered horrendously from injuries over the last 12 months and manager Nigel Pearson has stated that he wants a fitter and more robust set of players to compete in the English second tier this campaign. "The ones that you'll see on here [from the walls at the HPC, see image below], these are generic graphs that we've looked at where were we in pre-season and where are we now," said head of medical performance Dave Rennie on several data visualisations released by the club this week. "And every single one of the graphs, whether it's to do with hamstring-related strength, which is something we said we had to improve upon from last year to protect us and reduce our relative risk of hamstrings, we've seen huge changes in the squad's profile for their relative strength. "We know that the stronger a tissue is, the harder it is to break down," explained Rennie. please log in to view this image Graphs shown by the club this week showing the improvement in the players' fitness across this season Some Bristol City fans had jokingly referred to the High Performance Centre as the Hamstring [injury] Probability Centre at one point, given last season's travails. But this year is much different and the Robins have found good form in the league, with no team taking more league points on the road than Pearson's. No doubt the improved fitness is a big reason for the improvement in results, with players visibly pressing for longer in matches. City supporters are appreciating a team that gives maximum effort to the final seconds of matches, something the manager has been only too keen to develop. "We're really pleased. The lads have done really well," Rennie told the official club channels on the physical effort put in by Bristol City to date. "We started off back in pre-season at the start of July trying to establish a number of things that Nigel really wanted: in terms of his creation of an identity for his team. "He wanted a high-energy, high pressing team that would allow us to compete in any game for 96 minutes. And to a large extent we've achieved that," he added, saying that this division and the one above is all about 'strength and power' with the aim to build 'explosive athletes'. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...s/bristol-city-releases-internal-data-6023576
Nice to see quality progress has been made in the medical, fitness and coaching staff, it has been sadly lacking for quite a while, Nige has stated that he wants a fitter and more robust set of players to compete and it's happening, behind the scenes and on the field. Our journey continues sure and steadfast up to now, at last the times really are a- changing.
Not had this quality in place before at Ashton Gate-Long Long overdue. Times and ways are changing for the better.
I constantly feel like I'm putting Nigel down - that's not intended at all. I'm very pleased with the way things are shaping up, but really I think a little caution is needed. It's NOT the best quality we've seen at Ashton Gate - we beat Man U and gave Man C a tough game recently and got to the Playoff final a few years before. Things ARE definitely on the up, I agree, but it's too early to start hailing NP as the new messiah. As I pointed out in a response to one of RPs posts, he has been boosted by the recovery from injury of key players like Weimann, DaSilva, O'Dowda, Williams and Martin - ALL are in NPs first team, ALL were in DHs squad and 3 were in LJs - only they were unavailable due to injury. Who knows what Deano might have been able to do with all 5 of those fully fit? We also have broken an unwanted record - number of games without a home win. If that happened under one of the previous incumbents then it would have been plastered all over these boards. However it's dressed up, being unable to win at home is **** and it needs to change. Nigel has a lot of work to do. Again, I'm quietly pleased with progress, but I won't start worshipping Nigel quite yet. There's a lot of the season left and plenty of time for us to go on a run of bad results.
Doom and gloom-reality we sit 2 points of the play-off spots not having won at home-when those results change the sky is the limit.
I'm not sure I agree in any way that the team has achieved high-energy, high pressing as yet, this is what I believe we lack, especially at home.. And I do think a few on here......mentioning no names!! are getting a bit carried away so early in the season.....Yes it's certainly improved since the tail end of last season that's for sure, but we are still a bit hot and cold, game on game IMO.... v Millwall a prime example, which was pretty dreadful. The good news is that we are looking more of a unit compared to last season, although final third for me is still work in progress, regarding creativity and finishing.. Getting some home wins focusing on the mentioned high-energy, high pressing needs to be priority.... Now, something I've been saying for a good 2/3 seasons and I still believe it's the case......I think we are 2 to 3 players short of quality or replacement quality of having a really decent squad.. Cover at the back, Creative midfield (unless HNM or Semenyo can be allowed and becomes the answer) and an alternative striker..
Fair enough - but they are getting games and play a part. As I said, I’m not trying to put NP down but I’m putting things into perspective. Things are moving in the right direction and I’m pleased with the way we are going. However as you pointed out yourself RP we have had some luck along the way so far. Long may it continue, but I’m not creaming my pants over NP yet.
I think we're better than 2 seasons ago because Massengo is coming of age, Pring, Williams, Martin, the Leicester guys and so far so good with fitness. Agree with 2 or 3 more we'll be more than decent.
Unless an upturn in our home form corresponds with a dip in our away form? The nirvana of course is both, and if that happens then top 2 beckons, but I doubt that will happen. I'm not sure the sky's the limit, but I'll take the top of the AG stadium for now.
Nothing is guaranteed, the difference now is we have an experienced manager, not an up and coming one.
