Winter Training Camp | [FT] Rangers 2 - 2 Copenhagen

[Bill 13,717]

19 minutes ago, Bluedell said:

Players nowadays are faster, stronger and generally fitter than they were in the days of Gullane. The advancements in the science of it all are significant.

 

You only have to watch games from back then to realise how players have changed and how much more intense the game is now.

 

Perhaps there's an argument about the relative fitness given the time but in absolute terms there's no question that players now are far fitter.

But perhaps less durable.

[stewarty 2,060]

7 minutes ago, compo said:

I think a.l this science is nonsense players now are running to the medical team with the least little twinge look at Roofe if he was in the workplace I’d have him up before the company doctor nothing but a malingering waste of a wage packet 

There have always been players that seem to be unable to get out of bed without tweaking a hammy. eg. Darren "Sicknote" Anderton from the 90s.

 

But in any case, look at the number of playing careers that can continue post knee op.  We probably would have had wee Durranty back in the first team in 6 months if he had the Simpson tackle happened tomorrow.

[stewarty 2,060]

7 minutes ago, Bill said:

But perhaps less durable.

The speed and intensity of the game now creates its own challenges.  @Bluedell's point stands however.

[Scott7 6,159]

2 hours ago, Bluedell said:

Players nowadays are faster, stronger and generally fitter than they were

And they still go down like flies.

[Bill 13,717]

2 hours ago, Bluedell said:

Players nowadays are faster, stronger and generally fitter than they were in the days of Gullane

Is there any way of backing up that claim?

Edited January 11 by Bill

[compo 7,204]

Bad weather is long term forecast let's hope we don't have any more games called off the last thing we need is a fixture backlog 

[Bluedell 5,679]

32 minutes ago, Bill said:

Is there any way of backup my up that claim?

Just watching games from the 70s and comparing them with current day games. 

[Devil's advocaat 1,617]

29 minutes ago, Bill said:

Is there any way of backing up that claim?

By using your eyes.

 

Look at the conditioning of your average top level footballer now. You don't get tone like that unless you work bloody hard and manage your diet correctly. You rarely see a footballer now without a 6 pack, back in the 60s you rarely seen one with one.

 

All professional sports, and the once amateur sports like athletics, have moved on significantly in terms of fitness. Player never even used to do any other training apart from ball work and running, whereas we now know that strength conditioning is key along with cardio work.

[Bill 13,717]

4 minutes ago, Bluedell said:

Just watching games from the 70s and comparing them with current day games. 

So a purely subjective opinion then and no more objectively valid than @compo's opinion to the contrary?

[Devil's advocaat 1,617]

I watched a wee piece on social media yesterday with Robbie Fowler - what a finisher he was - and he was openly admitting that players in his day weren't as fit as now, and that's only around 20 years ago.