27 Dec 2025 18:08:48
Genuine question, how are our players so tired by the 75th minute when we play such low intensity, low pressing football. Ekitike isint able to finish a game due to cramp almost every game?
27 Dec 2025 18:19:35
Downey, this has been discussed for weeks now, per Ed01's info. Our guys are not being trained well enuff to be fit enuff to outwork, outwork the other team hence, finish games stronger and mentally tougher.
Last season, we were fitter than most teams hence, able to finish games stronger to either secure results or score last min. goals to earn a point or take the game outright. We pressed all over the pitch, as well yet we walked the league while being the second best defence in the PL, as a result.
It is as clear as day. now for all to see. We are nowhere near fit pr as fit anymore. This is why we don't press and allow the oppo. to come on to us and we don't even defend well enuff cos we are so fragile mentally now (cos we ain't fit), we seem to be on a knife's edge. I mean, if Bradley doesn't get that tackle right, it is either a goal or a pen and we are screwed. Just my take one the matter.
27 Dec 2025 18:22:42
Very good question, it can only be down to what happens in training. Its unacceptable, these guys are proffesional athletes in the prime of their lives.
27 Dec 2025 18:24:29
Chiesa looked wrecked after 55 minutes.
27 Dec 2025 19:26:29
Looking at today for me its confidence more than fitness. That game goes 3-0 instead of 2-1 and for me them players are still closing and pressing like they were in the 1st half till the end of the game.
27 Dec 2025 19:48:23
Perhaps that’s why Chiesa doesn’t get picked when we have a full squad @Ritchie.
27 Dec 2025 21:00:32
I get training may not be up to scratch but surely any professional footballer let alone premier league players shouldn’t be getting cramp nearly every game when it’s almost January? Ekitike can barely walk after a game! Something must be systematically wrong for this to be happening because I don’t see it with any other team.
27 Dec 2025 21:23:43
Our front 3, bar jones looked absolutely finished on 70 minutes. We make subs at 84 and 92 ?♂️.
28 Dec 2025 00:19:27
Slot said Etikite and Wirtz have been bulking up which might explain some of the early tiredness.
28 Dec 2025 01:30:46
On a more positive note I though Wirtz has been getting stronger and fitter with each passing game. I'm quite sure that, like Salah, he does his own training and conditioning outside of the official team trainings.
Our general fitness is an issue though. Players shouldn't be going down with cramp at all especially when we play at such a pedestrian pace. It is clear that we aren't training hard enough as a team.
28 Dec 2025 10:24:39
Dow-ney, I get what you're saying BUT you can't cheat nature, man. I don't know if you ever banged ball or played any kind of sport (regardless of level), if you are not fit, you can't finish a game or a race. The cramps coming from Ekitike aren't manufactured out of thin air.
He like the rest of the team aren't fit cos the training and conditioning of the team is off. If Ekitike was here last season, he wouldn't be having as much cramp cos he like the rest of the team were, would be as fit to finish games strongly, like the team did. It's that simple, IMO.