Energy levels
Talking Point 🗣️
Last week was the first for five weeks that Nathan Jones had his full squad available and on the training ground. We know that Jones and his team run an intensive regime, but I was a little bit taken back by how lethargic they were on Saturday.
There was of course a lot of factors, not least that Swansea were good, and also that Jones had to reshuffle his pack due to in-game injuries. Any game-changer plans had to re-thought.
The back five had a myriad of players playing in it over the game’s entirety, but in their (no pun intended) defence they again kept the xG (expected goals) low. I feel though that they had a tendency to play deeper as the game went on, and Gillesphey and Ramsey were culpable to errors of misjudgment.
It has been in midfield where our intensity this season has been incredible. Coventry, rested at Hull, Docherty and Carey have each been 8’s or higher in almost every game this season, and although individually they were by no means poor, collectively on Saturday they just weren’t what we have come to expect.
Now, I understand that will happen. The kilometres these three cover is unbelievable but the question is can they do this every game. It is unlikely they can, and it’s what a squad is for.
Our game is all about energy, playing aggresively and being fitter than your opponent and I do think even at this higher level we will see the benefit of this affirmation as the season progresses through winter and spring.
The question is can we reproduce this level of intensity every game, every three-game week. There’s a lot that goes into that off the pitch, including squad morale and reliability and although there are players we have yet seen little off, I do think players not currently involved will become important as the season progresses.
Jones in his own unique style will continue to bang his high intensity drum, and I haven’t seen a Charlton team this fit forever, but the unknown, or perhaps it is the known, are injuries and Saturday we had two which will put instant pressure on the squad.
Already missing Josh Edwards, we’ll have to see who Jones plays at LWB. It might well be young Fullah, or perhaps we’ll see Bree play at right centre-back and Ramsey shuffle over to the left side and Gillesphey be pushed further up the field. Apter or Rankin-Costello can play RWB, but whatever Jones decides we are definitely weakened, especially by losing Bell.
Whatever the line up, I hope we see the energy levels boosted back up again for Tuesday.
COYR
I often read how footballers are ‘tired’ or their ‘energy level has dropped’
I have to say it really is a bit pathetic. These blokes are professional sportsmen. They play two games a week, approx 200 minutes of work. Sure they do some non-match training too.
They have full medical back-up as well as physios to work with.
If they’re ‘tired’ or ‘low on energy’ after a cushy week like that, perhaps they’re in the wrong game.
They ought to try doing seven twelve hour nightshifts straight off, as I had to do at times. (in a factory, for anyone who remembers them) Then they would know the meaning of tired and low energy.
We were second best for large parts of the game, although restricted them to relatively few chances. A big factor was the quality and energy of their midfield which was impressively skilful and combative. A draw was a good result in hindsight and great to see Kelman get his first.
Sometimes low levels of mental energy manifest in physical lethargy. I suspect the intense concentration required at a higher level, week after week, takes its toll.