Birtles: Modern players do not know what being tired is
PEOPLE can argue that modern football is faster; that it is more intense and physically demanding.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.
-
Garry Birtles
There isn't really any way of finding out now.
You could argue that the pitches were heavier in my day, that the playing conditions in the winter were less conducive to flowing football.
Either way, one thing continues to amaze me.
When, exactly, did players suddenly get to the point where they need a 'rest'?
When did managers decide that players required a break from the action, to recharge their batteries?
I am sorry, but that is utter nonsense.
Fair play, then, to Paul McKenna, the Forest skipper, who this week pledged that he was ready to pull on a red shirt in every game between now and the end of the season.
Billy Davies feels that his inspirational captain is jaded and in need of a rest.
And he has already given Paul Anderson, Robert Earnshaw and Dexter Blackstock a spell on the sidelines due to fatigue in recent weeks.
Now, I am sorry, but I just can't get my head around that.
No disrespect to Billy, because he has done an outstanding job and, given the results Forest have picked up, you can hardly question his tactical decisions.
But I just can't honestly believe that a player can require a rest.
I have a lot of respect for McKenna for his attitude.
He has played in every Championship game so far this season and he has pledged that he will play in every remaining fixture, team selection and injury permitting.
It is just a shame that all professionals do not share his commitment.
Now, I don't mean that as a dig specifically as the rest of the Forest squad.
But there does seem to have been a significant change in attitudes within the game.
In my day, McKenna's attitude was the norm. You wanted to play in every single game.
If Cloughie had told me he was giving me a rest, I'd have been bewildered.
Not that he would have done, however – under Clough, we used to squeeze in friendlies in the middle of the season that he would expect us to be as committed in as we would be in a cup final.
Yes, you got tired; you certainly felt fatigued. But you got on with it.
When you were winning matches, Cloughie would give you two or sometimes even three games off after the game, just to make sure your body recovered.
No ice baths, no fancy masseurs, no sports scientists. Just plain, old fashioned rest between games. Or, if I am honest, probably a few good nights down the pub when we would properly get stuck into a few beers.
The lifestyle we led was hardly perfect.
But that is kind of my point. Even through that unique 80s football diet of beer and bad food, I was able to function, to get through 60 or even 70 games in a season, when we were in our pomp.
John Robertson played every game of the title winning season in 1978 and he used to smoke, as well as enjoy the odd pint of beer.
Matches and a few training sessions were enough to keep us ticking over.
On top of that, I would go for runs on my own to keep my fitness levels up and, every Thursday afternoon, I would play squash for a couple of hours.
Can you imagine trying to explain that to a manager now?
You'd get quite a long rest from the side now, if they found out, that is for sure.
A lot of clubs will not even allow players to go for a round of golf in the few days preceding a game, in case it tires them out.
That is just ridiculous.
But, hopefully McKenna will repeat the efforts of Robertson, by playing in every match this season.
And, with a bit of luck, just maybe the campaign could have a similar outcome, with Forest earning a place back in the top flight.
15 Comments
View all
by Highland Red, Scotland
Monday, February 22 2010, 11:07AM
“I felt I really must comment on this article by Garry. In the early eighties I recall Brian was concerned about the fitness level of the players and asked the amateur lads at the Boat Club if they could train together, which they agreed to do. Only one forest player lasted more than 2 days, Peter Shilton. At the end of the week Brian went and apologised to the Boat club expressing dissapointment at the level of fitness and resolve. It is a pity that Gary did not remember that episode when he penned the piece. I do not think that todays footballers would be so far behind the rowers at the Boat Club.”
by gary, Attenborough
Monday, February 22 2010, 7:32AM
“I am fed up of hearing that Pro footballers are tired and need a rest.
They should play every game and then rest in between games, even if they have light training in between matches.
They might be tired carrying those heavy wallets around.
I also get fed up with radio pundits saying that some footballers deserve salarys of over £100,000 a week, Because a footballers career is short.
I suggest that they do the same as people in the real world, retrain for another career after finishing there football career.”
by delboy, milton keynes
Saturday, February 20 2010, 5:02PM
“I think BD is talking about this just so he can rotate.
My worry all along is the players on the bench arent geeting upto the right fitness levels because we dont have a res side !
Tyson should and needs to play or when he is called on he is out of form and doesnt have the fitness required.”
by Stuart, Leicester
Saturday, February 20 2010, 2:58PM
“What a fantastic example of an utterly pointless article!
Clubs have big squads these days for the simple reason that they are more likely to be able to field a team of 100% fit players. If we're coming up against teams with fresh legs whilst our players are even slightly jaded, then we're disadvantaged from the off. Yes the pitches were heavier in those days blah blah blah, but football is a much quicker game now and this is the reason for the scientists, dieticians and the rest of it. If clubs don't keep their players in top nick then they will fail. Simple.
It is clear from some of McKenna's recent performances that he is in need of a rest. He might not feel like he does, but if fit and fresh opposition players are running rings around him, then we need equally fresh legs in the side to cope with it.”
by Mitch, Brisbane
Saturday, February 20 2010, 2:02PM
“sorry my bad i meant statistician. I hate bad spelling!!!”
by Mitch, Brisbane
Saturday, February 20 2010, 2:00PM
“Well all i can say is that sport has become the realm of the statistisician they know every detail of every match and how every player performed by numbers, the trend of resting players in any sport must yield results if every manager/selector in the highest level of any sport does it, the mathmatics clearly speak for themselves.......Or you can go down the pub and believe youre superman for a few hours!!!”
by Sport scientist, The Coast
Saturday, February 20 2010, 1:32PM
“In fairness to you Garry, I can understand what it is you are trying to say, however times change and you are factually wrong.
With "prozone" and the like every footballers contribution is measured by the metre. Footballers are athletes as well as skill merchants these days, whether we like it or not. Speed merchants (like Anderson and co) are prone to hamstring injuries, particularly as fatigue sets in (especially in last 10-15 minutes of games). Someone like Ando is expected to make lung busting sprints with and without the ball in both directions. Look at Earnie last season, by looking after him better, hopefully he will be available to blast us to promotion in the run in.
This is not to belittle fitness levels of our great teams, most of them were of course almost as fit as the present day players. Archie Gemill was probably as fit as any current players. Times change Garry and Billy is more aware of this than most, equally as other posters have said, he appears to be getting it right so far.”
by Eboracum, York
Saturday, February 20 2010, 12:56PM
“Are you a Forest supporter Birtles if so can you stop trying to rock the boat.We all know that you supported Nigel for our managers job.Billy is doing a grand job .Much better than any Red supporter had hoped Why do you keep posting negative comments.He is at least managing a football team, not talking about it All these so called experts on TV who have never managed a team .Andy Gray turned down Managing Aston Villa because he knew he would come unstuck as an expert .It is very easy to be an expert in an arm chair ,even Platty is trying it. Stop rocking the boat We are second in the league .That is a fact.Onwards and upwards with the mighty Reds”
by stuart, nottm
Saturday, February 20 2010, 11:47AM
“mckennas performances of late have been bad. seems to be giving the ball away alot more. but on tuesday he was man of the match by a mile. in that last ten minutes i remember him making a good 5 tackles to win the ball back. didnt seem tired then lol”
by Graham, Bristol
Saturday, February 20 2010, 11:09AM
“Interesting stuff. I'm completely ignorant of these things, unlike a former pro footballer like Garry. But I would have thought that every club is looking for a performance advantage. So dropping McKenna to rest him would be weighed against the benefits of having him completely fresh. Doesn't every player gets tired? McKenna is older than most of the Forest squad too. Better to have him in 100% condition rather than 90%, surely? Just my opinion anyway.”