Liverpool FC Forum

[Lando_Griffin]

I believe the slump we are currently in is due almost entirely to exhaustion.

It has been increasingly evident to numerous members on here, particularly BigMick, and I believe Drummerphil, Ciggy and Stu the red have at least touched on it.

It pains me to see out brilliant team (we DO have a brilliant team, if not "great") suffering due to an almighty f*ck-up by FIFA and UEFA.

I sincerely believe that had the tw*ts at UEFA allowed us into the CL at the group stages, rather than the 1st-qualifying round, and had FIFA not insisted we p*ss about in Japan competing for a cup with the same amount of prestige as a rubber-washer, we would still be on our unbeaten run, and at least 3 points clear of Manure in second place.

Our players have played 43 games this season. FORTY-F*CKING THREE.
We are in the early stages of February, for crying out loud!



I honestly cannot see us finishing in second place, unless we do something really drastic like playing the kids for AT LEAST two weeks, AND give the first-teamers a fortnight off.


Some people say that the big problem with our team is the strikers.

I say that the biggest problem is that we're playing a team full of absolutely knackered men against teams that are raring to go.
Maybe I'm wrong - playing the kids for 3 or so games may result in 3 losses - but at least the likes of JC, Stevie G and Sami will be refreshed after the rest, and we'd start kicking some dirty Manc a*s again.

[babu]

Lando I am not sure I buy into this tired theory. For sure we have been affected by the amount of games this season, and the needless trip to Japan, but look at the games we lost (i couldn't watch the Charlton game, luckily), we still did well in the midfield and looked on course to wining against Birm and Man U.

We just didn't finish. Perhaps we would have if the players were fresher, but we could have won if our strikers could find the back of the net. Tired or not we still played well enough to win, thats my point.

As for playing the youngsters and giving a few first teamers a rest. I can't imagine that happening. I can't see JC, SG and the rest wanting to be rested, even if they needed it. The likes of crouch maybe, he could use some reflective time, IMO.

I am sure someone will point out the fact that they are all highly paid proffessionals and tiredness should not affect them. I agree, but combined with a few losses in row (unlucky or not) mental fatigue becomes an issue.

When we win in a convincing fashion again, I am sure there will be an extra spring in everyones step. I am hoping this will happen against Man U in the FA Cup.

[Lando_Griffin]

mental fatigue becomes an issue.

THIS was a large part of my theory, even though I didn't mention it directly.

The players are physically tired when compared to other teams.

But mentally, they are shot. It's akin to working in a factory - if you do it too much, your muscles will strengthen, you won't be physically tired, but your brain just goes on holiday for a month without you.

The senior players seem to be in desperate need of some non-football time.

[el_stinger]

I totally agree. The fatigue factor, (especially when the team is dominating proceedings) seems to kick in after we conceed a goal. Our heads drop, all that work we have done before that point is then wasted, and we just fall into a heap and lose both shape and confidence.

However, it was Rafa's gamble to take the entire first team to Japan. He said that he wanted to win it, so he took our strongest squad. It was a gamble, and if we weren't robbed at the post by an obviously corrupt official on the pitch, it could have been a whole different team we're writing about now.

[anfieldadorer]

yes we certainly suffer mental fatigue, but i'm afraid this can't be the reasoning behind the recent defeats, and there are also no wide gaps of overall matches played by the other competitiors alikes of chelsea, manutd, and arsenal. i think this could be a too easy bunker to hide and might become a dangerous excuse

[112-1077774096]

i heard a few days ago that we have already played more games this season that spurs will play all season

[anfieldadorer]

i heard a few days ago that we have already played more games this season that spurs will play all season

that's very possible, liverpool have overall played 45 matches so far, not sure about spurs but for only total EPL to be played 38 matches.

Overall matches by other teams (according to their official sites)

liverpool 45
chelsea 41
arsenal 46 (with few more friendy matches)
manure 41

[Fernando Morientes > 19 <]

Fatigue is the pre-dominant factor, but i think Rafa should use his squad to the maximum by playing Daniel Agger, Luis Garcia and Krompkamp in order to allow the others to get some rest. I'm sure there will be a much different side this week-end at Wigan, since we play Arsenal during the week.

[laza]

Fatigue was always going to be a factor at some stage and iguess when things dont go your way ala MANCs or Brummies then you feel a helluv lot more tired mentally and physically.
Rotation will always be the key though of course Rafa will be acutely aware if results dont go your way when your playing squad players you open yourself up to even more critquie
Its wasnt going to be an easy road but forward we shall go anyway

[SouthCoastShankly]

It may be part of the case, but not all. The year we won the treble and finished 2nd we played mid-week and weekends continuously for large spells and managed to keep the results rolling.

I think our results against the top sides are affecting the team mentality. I mean how would you feel if in both the Manure and Chelski games you dominated somewhat only to have the game snatched away. Its got to have a negative effect.

Our peformances against the top sides in recent seasons has been stupid, we need to start winning those games - starting at Arsenal next tuesday

[RUSHIE#9]

I think the point also has to be made that the midfield may be feeling a bit more pressure because that seems to be the only area that goals are coming from. So maybe the likes of stevie g, alonso, momo, kewell and garcia are feeling a little more pressure is falling on them to score goals to make up for the lack of them coming from the strikers, but they may also be feeling the pressure of trying to create as many easy chances for the front pairings as is possible. It may be a load of bollox but at times like these you'll grasp at any old straw   . I for one believe that the recent defensive lapses from set pieces are partly caused by the mental fatigue that the players maybe suffering from but also it may be a bit of a crisis of confidence going back to the Luton game. If you look at our performances since that game the defence has looked a bit shaky and it could be down to the fact that they let in three sloppy goals against a lower league side.

One thing is for sure, we need to get back to winning ways at the pie eaters on saturday fatigue be damned!

[Red Soul]

I'd say that our current 'slump' is almost certainly due to mental fatigue.

The first thing to go when you're mentally fatigued is your concentration - and we've seen that the majority of goals scored against us since the run of clean sheets was ended are mainly due to lapses of concentration on the parts of individual players rather than a breakdown of the team as a whole.

It could also help towards explaining the barren scoring spell suffered by our strikeforce - our forwards are making those split-second decisions, the ones that could leave them in space in the box or allow them to connect sweetly with a decent cross, just a split second slower.

[stmichael]

i agree that the number of games we have had to play so far this season has been nothing short of ridiculous.

however, you'll notice that this excuse of "tiredness" only comes out when the team is losing. you never hear about it when we're winning.

[woof woof !]

Fatigue may well have sometrhing to do with things but without dismissing the fact we played 43 (?) games ,imo the fatigue has come at least a month earlier than I would have expected .How many in here are still thinking that a mid season trip to Japan was a great idea ?
Don't want to get to carried away here ,after all generally we have been playing very well and controlling most games ,we just haven't taken our chances when they've come our way .Nothing like winning to make you forget how tired you  feel .

[Gareth G]

I don't buy the exhaustion theory just yet, our recent run of 4 game's without a win is down to bad luck and nothing else really. We are still playing half decent football and dominating most of the matches.

You will know when the player's break down through tiredness when you see them switching off and making stupid mistakes through lack of concentration - although some of our goal's conceeded recently suggest that theory.

Player's train hard nearly every single day and are conditioned for these situation's. In my opinion it will be the last 4 - 5 week's or so when we see fatigue setting in, this will be when we need to grind out result's, even though our season run in look's relatively straight forward on paper.