The long time off from match fitness and then a lot of work too fast likely caused the hamstring "strain".. Common cause of that.
Q: You are a professional athlete. It is your livelihood. You have a short career span. Why would you ever be "out of shape", since, for probably 2-3 hrs. a day (off-season), you can stay in great shape, and have rest of day free...a 2-3 hrs. commitment may not match shape, but close enough that you don't have (I haven't been working out) hammy problems.. If there is something else going on, fair enough...but being not close to game shape (especially when you know of possibilities like this could occur) doesn't make sense to me...pro soccer players, especially, I would think would increasing stretching, etc. activities during career (on/off season) I have great admiration for Karl Malone's offseason workouts, but the dude should be the rule, not the exception...if nothing else, if such a regime allows one to play one/two more years, isn't that worth major $$ to one's family (although I guess this argument doesn't apply as well to MLS players)
Yes pros keep in shape during the off season but it is also true that you need to lower the level of work once in a while and "recoup". McBride was in that mode and I would assume not working at the level he would be in a few weeks when camp was to start. You'll often hear of club managers complaining that the national team schedules after the season are too busy and do not allow sufficient time for their players to get post season rest and "healing".
Well according to people I work with who have been professional athletes, there genuinely is a difference between being "in shape" and being "in game shape". Jogging and doing weight training even as insanely as 3 hours a day doesen't get you there, only playing does; Karl Malone has a lengthy pre-season, I can guarantee he's not in the same shape on the first day of training camp as he is on the first day of the season.
Healthy or not, I don't imagine he'll be starting. Other players are back from injury, but if Everton is behind, I could see him being subbed in.
Sorry if I'm a bit concerned about the off-season conditioning aspect, given stories of Landon's video games/golf routine, Clint's Doritos fetish, etc.. Malone, etc. may not be in as good a shape as first game of season, but i bet he doesn't get hammy problems from not being in shape either. Also, i thought McBride got a 10-14 day run-out before his first match? That, + being in shape, I'd think would be enough to avoid this stuff... I hope McHead recovers, and plays tomorrow...onto the game
jri, McBride is so fragile that if he did train more intensely in the off-season, he'd probably just be injured twice as much... But I'm with you when I hear about Mathis and his Doritos fetish. Donovan is young enough to get out of it, but Mathis?
McBride could be on crutches and put in a goal or two over that alleged Premiership side Everton are playing. Note to Reyna: get out now!
Same starting striking partnership as last weekend, with McBride partnering Radzinski. Campbell is fit enough to make the subs' bench, however. Take that for what it's worth. Cheers, William
Kick off. Free kick Everton. Steve Watson wins corner. Naismith whips it in to Stubbs who is unmarked from 6 yards and heads it over -- should have scored.
McBride's first touch is a touch-on that Everton player can't get to. Radzinski lets the ball run out thinking he might get a corner but it's a goal kick.
Kevin Phillips does well to maintain possession -- Stubbs clears to Li Tie who passes forward. Craddock to Unsworth who is fouled. McBride controls with the chest -- passes off. Pistone crosses and goes out for a corner. Stubbs AGAIN unmarked from 6 yards - heads inches wide -- even easier than the last one.
Sunderland wall after free kick won by Everton. Stubbs fires it into the wall. Unsworth wins corner. Good pressure by Everton.
Ball played into the penalty area to Radzinski -- cleared. Kilbane loses the ball to Everton- Radzinski gets a run into the box -- Everton has to clear for another corner.
Sorensen easily claims corner. 0-0. Homeside dominating at this point. Li Tie - sends the ball left to Unsworth. Sunderland goal kick after Radzinski does well in the box to turn -- half a chance goes begging.
Good long range effort by Thornton of Sunderland just goes wide. Wright may have had it covered anyway. McBride chases a little in defense - but ball is passed back to the keeper.