Dark Savante
26 Jan 2006, 06:48 AM
I watched the game again last night and on review you see quite a few things you definitely don't pick up on in the heat of a live match.
Rooney was absolutely knackered at the end of the game. He and Fletcher looked like they were about to die. They were definitely our hardest working players yesterday, but the amount of games they are playing at the age that they are is getting quite dangerous.
For anyone who knows about burn-out and young players in football, this is something I think we'd all agree upon. It is not healthy for players of these ages to be putting in such a work-load for such a prolonged period of time. Johno was pointing to Rooney's tiredness as early as the Christmas period, the necessity to play him continously in the midst of a crisis is definitely there, but there is adefinite decline in the lad's game of late. The pundits give him MoM regardless because his workrate is simply extraordinary - he has to be the hardest working player at the club since Keano's prime!! - but he is defintiely not looking as sharp in and around the box as he was 2months ago. It's not a loss of form, definitely not, he just looks at times like he is too tired to focus at the end of a run from deep. It can be evidenced in his close control (randomly the ball getting away from him, or him over running it K.R style) his shooting (he is not hitting the target with the frequency I associate with him) and his general short burst acceleration is not 'there' for him when he needs it right now.
A few of my friends have mentioned it of late, but yesterday was definitely the first time I thought it was in evidence for almost the whole of the 2nd half and most definitely at full time. Rooney is incredibly fit, usually at FT no matter how hard a game has been he is not out of puff and catches his breath easily that's why it stood out just how over-worled the lad is right now. My concerns before Saha was fit and Rossi had not even got on the pitch for the 1st team was that Ruud and Rooney were going to be asked to play too many games. Since then Saha has returned and is not doing too badly, Rossi is still on the periphery, but for Rooney to get rest that doesn't matter. Simply put Saha in for a few games and give Rooney a well earned breather.
Ronaldo has had a good amount of time off because of his red against the bitters and the same goes for Park with his lay off, those two should come back extremely fresh and ready. I think Rooney should see some bench time now that our major games are out of the way and he's done what we've asked of him. The manager knows perfectly well how to handle players and avoid burnout...usually, but in these extenuating circumstances (the race for 2nd, his job on the line, the midfield crisis) is Rooney going to get the rest that he needs to get that magic back in boots?
Fletcher needs a rest too imo, but I think we'll see his chance for a breather come when some of the other midfielders return. But for now, I think Rooney is in dire need of a little break - we shouldn't be relying so heavily on a 20yr old anway, right....? :eek:
Rooney was absolutely knackered at the end of the game. He and Fletcher looked like they were about to die. They were definitely our hardest working players yesterday, but the amount of games they are playing at the age that they are is getting quite dangerous.
For anyone who knows about burn-out and young players in football, this is something I think we'd all agree upon. It is not healthy for players of these ages to be putting in such a work-load for such a prolonged period of time. Johno was pointing to Rooney's tiredness as early as the Christmas period, the necessity to play him continously in the midst of a crisis is definitely there, but there is adefinite decline in the lad's game of late. The pundits give him MoM regardless because his workrate is simply extraordinary - he has to be the hardest working player at the club since Keano's prime!! - but he is defintiely not looking as sharp in and around the box as he was 2months ago. It's not a loss of form, definitely not, he just looks at times like he is too tired to focus at the end of a run from deep. It can be evidenced in his close control (randomly the ball getting away from him, or him over running it K.R style) his shooting (he is not hitting the target with the frequency I associate with him) and his general short burst acceleration is not 'there' for him when he needs it right now.
A few of my friends have mentioned it of late, but yesterday was definitely the first time I thought it was in evidence for almost the whole of the 2nd half and most definitely at full time. Rooney is incredibly fit, usually at FT no matter how hard a game has been he is not out of puff and catches his breath easily that's why it stood out just how over-worled the lad is right now. My concerns before Saha was fit and Rossi had not even got on the pitch for the 1st team was that Ruud and Rooney were going to be asked to play too many games. Since then Saha has returned and is not doing too badly, Rossi is still on the periphery, but for Rooney to get rest that doesn't matter. Simply put Saha in for a few games and give Rooney a well earned breather.
Ronaldo has had a good amount of time off because of his red against the bitters and the same goes for Park with his lay off, those two should come back extremely fresh and ready. I think Rooney should see some bench time now that our major games are out of the way and he's done what we've asked of him. The manager knows perfectly well how to handle players and avoid burnout...usually, but in these extenuating circumstances (the race for 2nd, his job on the line, the midfield crisis) is Rooney going to get the rest that he needs to get that magic back in boots?
Fletcher needs a rest too imo, but I think we'll see his chance for a breather come when some of the other midfielders return. But for now, I think Rooney is in dire need of a little break - we shouldn't be relying so heavily on a 20yr old anway, right....? :eek: