Team news against Bremen

[Jayesh87]

sorry didn't know southampton were playing yesterday.

amatuer

[The incredible igor]

amatuer

I never even got trials

[bazza76]

he scored a hat-trick yesturday mate

altho southampton won 12-0

any links to that game yet milky?

[PLY]

Rafa's man-management and conditioning skills really are top-notch.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-19467388/

Liverpool ease up on the fitness front
Jul 17 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL’S players returned to pre-season training a fortnight ago relieved to hear Rafa Benitez has slightly amended their punishing schedule ahead of the new campaign.

Since the Spanish manager took over, the demanding physical preparation overseen by Pako Ayesteran has been compared to the Marines.

Liverpool have been transformed into one of the fittest squads in Europe, but there have been observations the benefits are more noticeable from the middle of the season onwards, with some players struggling earlier in the campaign.

The meticulous management team have assessed every factor which could influence a flying start to the season as they look to fine tune their players ahead of the August kick-off.

And while there’s nothing Benitez and his staff can do about the arduous travelling arrangements to the Far East and Holland later this month, they will be altering their training in a bid to ensure their side doesn’t suffer in the key early months.

“We know the importance of making a good start and that depends on a number of factors,” explained Benitez.

“You always need to see how each players settles into the club, but we also have players who are very experienced and this will also help.

“We have been making a number of small changes to the training this summer. Our idea is to train a bit less, but when we do train it will be with more intensity.”

On most days the players endure double training sessions, but Benitez has included rest days into the schedule this summer.

Last week the squad even enjoyed a day off – unheard of during the first three pre-seasons of the Benitez reign.

There is no compromise on the effort demanded from the players, however.

At Melwood, there is an area referred to as ‘Pako Hill’. That’s where the assistant manager mounted some turf, creating his own hill for the players to run up and down during their stamina exercises.

[red g]

one thing is for certain, we have a manager who never rests on his laurels.

Of all the backroom staff we have to keep hold of Pako and his hill

[disco]

Hmmm, and there's me thinking we didn't beat Everton, Bolton, Blackburn, Sheffield United etc. because we couldn't hit the back end of a cow with a banjo

[Resu]

They played Svarstad, a norwegian third division side I`ve never heard of before. There might be something on Utube, or places like that.

[bazza76]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-19467388/

Liverpool ease up on the fitness front
Jul 17 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL’S players returned to pre-season training a fortnight ago relieved to hear Rafa Benitez has slightly amended their punishing schedule ahead of the new campaign.

Since the Spanish manager took over, the demanding physical preparation overseen by Pako Ayesteran has been compared to the Marines.

Liverpool have been transformed into one of the fittest squads in Europe, but there have been observations the benefits are more noticeable from the middle of the season onwards, with some players struggling earlier in the campaign.

The meticulous management team have assessed every factor which could influence a flying start to the season as they look to fine tune their players ahead of the August kick-off.

And while there’s nothing Benitez and his staff can do about the arduous travelling arrangements to the Far East and Holland later this month, they will be altering their training in a bid to ensure their side doesn’t suffer in the key early months.

“We know the importance of making a good start and that depends on a number of factors,” explained Benitez.

“You always need to see how each players settles into the club, but we also have players who are very experienced and this will also help.

“We have been making a number of small changes to the training this summer. Our idea is to train a bit less, but when we do train it will be with more intensity.”

On most days the players endure double training sessions, but Benitez has included rest days into the schedule this summer.

Last week the squad even enjoyed a day off – unheard of during the first three pre-seasons of the Benitez reign.

There is no compromise on the effort demanded from the players, however.

At Melwood, there is an area referred to as ‘Pako Hill’. That’s where the assistant manager mounted some turf, creating his own hill for the players to run up and down during their stamina exercises.

Fair enough, changes need to be made to the training schedule.
I am of the opinion that it is early season squad rotation that has caused us points in the past, early in the season, especially concerning new arrivals, more so than fitness training.