1 for our track watchers, has it looked like we are in a "hard training phase" & if so could that be a reason for us running out of legs?
Nah wouldn't say so, JR. We have only one main session per week now that the season has started and individual player workloads are managed. My criticism of our training is at times the skill level is ordinary and not it's picked up. The last main session prior to our season opener was very sloppy. It was a bit better prior to round 2 but still not a high standard (I didn't see last week's session before the Saints game). As the old saying goes you play the way you train.
I do question our fitness and conditioning since Rob Inness left but we also use up excess energy because we're wasteful. Every little fumble and missed open target under no physical pressure (and dumb ill-disciplined free kick) is so costly especially with the more open game under these new rules. It kills our momentum and you've got to work so much harder as it opens us up on defensive transition and you've got to win the ball back all over again in the back half rather than having a clean easy possession and you're off into attack to score.