Seasons  »  2015-16  »  Everton News

Michael Ball: Everton's fitness levels concern me

08/03/2016  5 Comments  [Jump to last]
In his latest Echo column, the ex-Everton defender says questions must be asked of the players' staying power.

In the back of my mind this season has been concerns over Everton's fitness.

Injuries happen to every team and though we've suffered the loss of some key players this term, we can't really point to that.

But what about the staying powers of the players who are fit enough to play?

» Read the full article at Liverpool Echo

Reader Comments (5)

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Rob Hooton
1 Posted 08/03/2016 at 18:23:31
I think most of us have been saying this for the last 2 seasons, we're nowhere near as fit as the likes of Leicester or Spurs, hence the difference in work rate and points.
Danny Broderick
2 Posted 08/03/2016 at 18:30:13
I'm not so sure it is down to fitness. I think it's game management. More a plain refusal to see a game out, in many cases by being too open or not shutting up shop.
Eddie Dunn
3 Posted 09/03/2016 at 18:35:32
The thing is Danny that you have to be fit to be able to shut-up shop, and if you want to play attacking football, you have to have the legs to do that too.
We have tailed-off alarmingly in so many games that our fitness must be in question.
Jim Bennings
4 Posted 10/03/2016 at 08:13:50
It begs the question really why, for a team like ourselves that never really presses opponents high up the pitch, why we always look so shattered after 60 minutes.

You'd understand it if we had Klopp in charge who demands his men run their tits off for the entire match with high tempo pressing, but we trot about most of the time when we don't have possession of the football.

It's concerning but we exactly why we are like this.

As Everton fan's who have watched our team under both Martinez and Moyes, we knew technically we weren't as good on the ball under David Moyes but we were extremely well drilled and physical fitness was never an issue.

Whilst Martinez has the technical side more pleasing going forward there's no getting away from the fact that organization and physical fitness has deteriorated over the last two seasons, it became obvious in the summer of 2014 when he had his first proper full pre-season.

I don't see a fit resolute mentally prepared Everton team anymore, possibly why they are not tough enough to play to the demands and expectations at Goodison Park.

Jack Cross
5 Posted 10/03/2016 at 23:32:56
Jim, I know exactly what you. They look very sluggish. They have gone from being super fit to a raggered outfit.

I remember when Distin, first came to the club (and he was no slouch before) he said under Moyes, regime he had to take a nap every afternoon after training. Even his fitness suffered under RM. He became slower.

Do you think it could be a stress issue? I mean there if definately unrest among some of the older players. And stress can make you very tired.

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