Thread:
*A Case in Congestion*
The current season is by far the shortest in a long while at just 246* days, but the number of games remain relatively the same.
But just how congested is this season as compared to a regular season? And how is it affecting us?
Let's dive in: π
*A Case in Congestion*
The current season is by far the shortest in a long while at just 246* days, but the number of games remain relatively the same.
But just how congested is this season as compared to a regular season? And how is it affecting us?
Let's dive in: π
This is a long read where we'll dicuss
1. Comparing this season to previous seasons
β by season's total length
β by no of rest days between games
β by gap between seasons
2. How it's affecting players
3. How #mufc are combating it
4. Final thoughts
Let's go!
1. Comparing this season to previous seasons
β by season's total length
β by no of rest days between games
β by gap between seasons
2. How it's affecting players
3. How #mufc are combating it
4. Final thoughts
Let's go!
1. Comparing this season to previous seasons:
On average United play anywhere between 50 to 65 games a season depending on how far we go into each competition.
Let's take a look at how long previous seasons were and how many we played in each.
On average United play anywhere between 50 to 65 games a season depending on how far we go into each competition.
Let's take a look at how long previous seasons were and how many we played in each.
#mufc
2017 season β 285 days | 57 Games
2018 season β 276 days | 54 Games
2019 season β 274 days | 61 Games
2020 season β 246* days | TBD
The no of days reduce each season while no of games remain the same (the diff is how far we go in cups)
*252 if we reach CL Finals π
2017 season β 285 days | 57 Games
2018 season β 276 days | 54 Games
2019 season β 274 days | 61 Games
2020 season β 246* days | TBD
The no of days reduce each season while no of games remain the same (the diff is how far we go in cups)
*252 if we reach CL Finals π
Now let's look at our current season:
We've played 13 games, of which:
6 Games β‘οΈ 3 day break
4 Games β‘οΈ 2 day break
Other 2 β‘οΈ after intl break
Usually a season starts with one game a week, this season there has not been a single game with more than a 3 day break β congested
We've played 13 games, of which:
6 Games β‘οΈ 3 day break
4 Games β‘οΈ 2 day break
Other 2 β‘οΈ after intl break
Usually a season starts with one game a week, this season there has not been a single game with more than a 3 day break β congested
Let's take a look at number of days we had per game in the previous seasons, as this gives us a broad idea of how much rest on average the team gets between games π
#mufc
No of days/game
2017 β Game every 5 days
2018 β Game every 5.1 days
2019 β Game every 4.5 days
Assuming we play 60 games this season
2020 β Game every 4.1 days
Gap between games was already dwindling but now it's becoming not only impractical but also dangerous
Why? π
No of days/game
2017 β Game every 5 days
2018 β Game every 5.1 days
2019 β Game every 4.5 days
Assuming we play 60 games this season
2020 β Game every 4.1 days
Gap between games was already dwindling but now it's becoming not only impractical but also dangerous
Why? π
It is said a player needs at least 3 full days of rest without any training or playing to recover from one full game of 90 mins
The 4 days of rest might sound good enough, but in reality it's barely a day or two of rest when you factor in travel, recovery, training & preparation
The 4 days of rest might sound good enough, but in reality it's barely a day or two of rest when you factor in travel, recovery, training & preparation
Another aspect is, if they don't get adequate rest for one game then they're starting the next game at a lower level. Combine 3 games like that and suddenly they're at 60% needing a weeks rest to recover fully instead of 3 days β cumulative
This is why injuries are on the rise
This is why injuries are on the rise
Now let's look at the gap between seasons and how that has changed β this gives us an idea of how much rest time the players got between seasons
For simplicity, I'm calculating the gap as the number of days between the last game of season and the first game of the next season
For simplicity, I'm calculating the gap as the number of days between the last game of season and the first game of the next season
#mufc gap between seasons
2016 to 2017 β 76 days
2017 to 2018 β 83 days
2018 to 2019 β 91 days
2019 to 2020 β 34 days
The gap usually stays anywhere btwn 2.5 to 3 months depending on how far you progress in the cups
This season β just over a month
2. How does this affect? π
2016 to 2017 β 76 days
2017 to 2018 β 83 days
2018 to 2019 β 91 days
2019 to 2020 β 34 days
The gap usually stays anywhere btwn 2.5 to 3 months depending on how far you progress in the cups
This season β just over a month
2. How does this affect? π
No gap btwn seasons means no time to:
β‘οΈ Rest
β‘οΈ Switch off
β‘οΈ Heal injuries
β‘οΈ Recharge physically + mentally
Players usually use this gap to heal the niggles they've accumulated over the season & rest
They also use this time to spend with family & recharge mentally β crucial
β‘οΈ Rest
β‘οΈ Switch off
β‘οΈ Heal injuries
β‘οΈ Recharge physically + mentally
Players usually use this gap to heal the niggles they've accumulated over the season & rest
They also use this time to spend with family & recharge mentally β crucial
On top of all this, this season every club has to adhere to strict protocols for obvious reasons
β‘οΈ Continuous testing
β‘οΈ Strictly sticking to your bubbles
β‘οΈ Restriction on travel
β‘οΈ Restriction on meeting friends/off days
β‘οΈ Continuous testing
β‘οΈ Strictly sticking to your bubbles
β‘οΈ Restriction on travel
β‘οΈ Restriction on meeting friends/off days
Having the freedom to go out, meet up with your friends, enjoy family functions etc on the few days you get off are crucial for players to maintain their mental health
But these restrictions aren't just physically and mentally taxing, they also affect the games too π
But these restrictions aren't just physically and mentally taxing, they also affect the games too π
Case in point:
#mufc had just 1 training session that too yday morning to prepare for the WestBrom game. Players returning from the intl break have to get covid tested before training & results take 24 hours
In other words β they had a 1hr session to prepare for a must win game
#mufc had just 1 training session that too yday morning to prepare for the WestBrom game. Players returning from the intl break have to get covid tested before training & results take 24 hours
In other words β they had a 1hr session to prepare for a must win game
So to recap:
β‘οΈ This is the shortest season in a while
β‘οΈ Number of games havent reduced
β‘οΈ Players are playing more often with shorter breaks
β‘οΈ They had no time for mental + physical rest
In other words
β‘οΈ This is NOT a normal season
This isnt an excuse β this is the reality
β‘οΈ This is the shortest season in a while
β‘οΈ Number of games havent reduced
β‘οΈ Players are playing more often with shorter breaks
β‘οΈ They had no time for mental + physical rest
In other words
β‘οΈ This is NOT a normal season
This isnt an excuse β this is the reality
How have United combated this?
β‘οΈ Smart rotation
β‘οΈ Smart handling of minutes
Ole has rotated his squad exceptionally well, this can be seen if you look at
1. Changes we make to XI from game to game
2. How our mins are spread out
π
β‘οΈ Smart rotation
β‘οΈ Smart handling of minutes
Ole has rotated his squad exceptionally well, this can be seen if you look at
1. Changes we make to XI from game to game
2. How our mins are spread out
π
#mufc's number of rotations to XI per game
2. Luton β 10
3. Brighton β 9
4. Brighton β 10
5. Tottenham β 10
6. Newcastle β 5
7. PSG β 3
8. Chelsea β 3
9. RB Leipzig β 5
10. Arsenal β 3
11. Istanbul β 5
12. Everton β 4
13. WBA β 2
2. Luton β 10
3. Brighton β 9
4. Brighton β 10
5. Tottenham β 10
6. Newcastle β 5
7. PSG β 3
8. Chelsea β 3
9. RB Leipzig β 5
10. Arsenal β 3
11. Istanbul β 5
12. Everton β 4
13. WBA β 2
The lack of a pre-season meant we were forced to use the first 5 games to bring everyone up to sharpness β hence the heavy rotations
If you remember I mentioned we've never had more than 3 day break between games β so since Spurs we've still averaged 3.75 rotations per game
If you remember I mentioned we've never had more than 3 day break between games β so since Spurs we've still averaged 3.75 rotations per game
Now let's look at how well we've spread out our mins
13 Games | 1170 mins total
General
β 26 used
β 25 have starts
Specific
β only Rashford has played all 13 (10 starts)
β no player has more than 11 starts
β most mins: Harry, 990 mins (85%)
β only 5 players more than 75% mins
13 Games | 1170 mins total
General
β 26 used
β 25 have starts
Specific
β only Rashford has played all 13 (10 starts)
β no player has more than 11 starts
β most mins: Harry, 990 mins (85%)
β only 5 players more than 75% mins
But being forced to use your first 5 games as pre-season and having to continuously rotate also means:
No consistency in selection β‘οΈ no consistency in play
Large no of rotations β‘οΈ less mins per player
Finding this balancing is Ole's biggest challenge this season
No consistency in selection β‘οΈ no consistency in play
Large no of rotations β‘οΈ less mins per player
Finding this balancing is Ole's biggest challenge this season
Now before you say it's the same for all β not entirely
All teams who play in all competitions are facing the same issue but Utd & City went furthest in Europe meaning we'd the shortest pre-season of them all
Also as @bbyphase pointed out scheduling hasn't been kind to us yetπ
All teams who play in all competitions are facing the same issue but Utd & City went furthest in Europe meaning we'd the shortest pre-season of them all
Also as @bbyphase pointed out scheduling hasn't been kind to us yetπ
None of this is to say the inconsistent results are *completely* down to the congestion β far from it
Although they've contributed to a fair extent, #mufc have suffered from errors from both Ole & the players
This is by no means an excuse β United can, should & will play better
Although they've contributed to a fair extent, #mufc have suffered from errors from both Ole & the players
This is by no means an excuse β United can, should & will play better
Final thoughts:
When Ole, Klopp & Pep are talking abt protecting players, they're pointing out the reality
This is NOT a normal season β assuming it to be would be to assume the world hasn't changed completely this past year.
Context is crucial when discussing this season.
When Ole, Klopp & Pep are talking abt protecting players, they're pointing out the reality
This is NOT a normal season β assuming it to be would be to assume the world hasn't changed completely this past year.
Context is crucial when discussing this season.
PS:
1. Ive talked only abt Utd bc this is a Utd page
2. You can look at all PL clubs who played in Europe & see similar patterns β goes to show this isnt an excuse but trying to point out things we miss
3. Just bc other teams have the same issue DOES NOT make the issue go away
1. Ive talked only abt Utd bc this is a Utd page
2. You can look at all PL clubs who played in Europe & see similar patterns β goes to show this isnt an excuse but trying to point out things we miss
3. Just bc other teams have the same issue DOES NOT make the issue go away
β’ β’ β’
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