Kitson and Training

Only one Trevor Morley · by **Only one Trevor Morley** » 04 Jan 2007 14:33

Some interesting comments from Coppell in the Chronicle

The prolific striker has also overcome a succession of unrelated injuries during his Reading career.
Boss Steve Coppell explained:

"We hope having Dave back will be a big boost to everyone at the club.

"There's no doubt he's been a talisman in the past and he has consistently scored goals at all levels.

"But there's no hiding from the fact he's been fragile in a physical sense.
"He's never had a really concerted run of games without being injured and there's no way we're going to gamble with his fitness at this stage. He's ready when he's ready."

Coppell, though, believes Kitson will only improve his long-term fitness if he changes his outlook to training.

"Dave isn't a very good trainer, to be honest," argued Coppell. "He's far better when he's playing in an actual game.

"These days players realise the value of their own fitness. You have to be supremely fit to withstand the rigours of modern day football.

"But Dave has more of an older attitude towards training which he's got to change."I don't think he gets these knocks because of his height. I look at Peter Crouch and I don't see him injured too often. He's got a similar kind of frame to Dave so I don't think that's a valid argument."

Kitson, has scored an impressive 48 goals in 95 Royals appearances since his Â£150,000 switch from Cambridge United on Boxing Day 2003.

Coppell added: "He's only had one training session where he's joined in with the others and they were a mixture of fringe players and youth team lads.

"He came through that and did well but we can't get carried away.
"I've got to make sure he's fit and fully recovered before we decide anything so we'll be keeping a close eye on him.
"If he does well in training today (Thursday) and before the game then you never know, we may use him."

When Hicks went up... · by **When Hicks went up...** » 04 Jan 2007 14:37

Really interesting to read those comments. Have never been to watch us train, but always just assumed that Kits would have been up with Harps for the effort he would put in.

Once again shows how wrong you can be. Fair play to Sir Steve for laying down the challenge...

PieEater · by **PieEater** » 04 Jan 2007 15:03

I must say that I noticed the same thing during the warm up for a game, Kitson goes through the motions but doesn't push himself. Seol is a bit like that too.

SpaceCruiser · by **SpaceCruiser** » 04 Jan 2007 15:16

Warming up and training are two different things. I don't like to push myself before a game, want to conserve some energy!

Spirit of Elm Park · by **Spirit of Elm Park** » 04 Jan 2007 15:17

SpaceCruiser wrote: I don't like to push myself before a game, want to conserve some energy!

If only it worked like that.....

G'La · by **G'La** » 04 Jan 2007 15:24

SpaceCruiser wrote:Warming up and training are two different things. I don't like to push myself before a game, want to conserve some energy!

The two are certainly in your case Spacey! Warming up is a flask of hot tomato soup and training is the mode of transport you use on match days. Not sure what you mean about "pushing yourself before a game"... Id get a girlfriend mate!

anR · by **anR** » 04 Jan 2007 15:46

The Cronic wrote:"Dave isn't a very good trainer, to be honest," argued Coppell. "He's far better when he's playing in an actual game.

"But Dave has more of an older attitude towards training which he's got to change."

Very similar to Robin Friday...

Huntley & Palmer · by **Huntley & Palmer** » 04 Jan 2007 16:53

You mean he gets pissed and takes LSD?

RG30 · by **RG30** » 04 Jan 2007 17:50

Interesting story. I heard a rumour a couple of years back that for the 2004/2005 season, after the summer break all the players had passed the fitness tests laid down to them with 1 exception......Dave Kitson.

Yet his goalscoring record with us cannot be questioned but the Premier League that it is, Kitson can't go hiding.

Maguire · by **Maguire** » 04 Jan 2007 18:12

It's obvious Kits just isn't a natural athlete and that the physical side of it is a bit of a struggle for him.

That's not to excuse lack of application, but I do understand it as at the (shitty) level I play at I'm also in the same boat, where less skillful players find it so much easier with their higher levels of natural fitness. It's a real fcking chore to train as a) it hurts and b) you're shit at it.

RoyalBlue · by **RoyalBlue** » 04 Jan 2007 18:36

anR wrote:
The Cronic wrote:"Dave isn't a very good trainer, to be honest," argued Coppell. "He's far better when he's playing in an actual game.

"But Dave has more of an older attitude towards training which he's got to change."
Very similar to Robin Friday...

No, I don't recall Robin Friday being injury prone!

Coppell's argument appears to be that Kitson leaves himself more open to injury because he doesn't work hard on the physical fitness side in training.

When Hicks went up... wrote:Really interesting to read those comments. Have never been to watch us train, but always just assumed that Kits would have been up with Harps for the effort he would put in.

Maybe that's why they made Harper Kitson's training partner in the hope that his application and dedication would rub off on him!

higher · by **higher** » 04 Jan 2007 19:13

very similar to Robin Friday

He needs to paint the entire interior of his digs matt black before he can even start to be mentioned in the same sentence!

rotherwick_royal · by **rotherwick_royal** » 05 Jan 2007 13:16

From interview with Kitson today on OS....

"I've never done so much strength work. I saw Jon Fearn the other day because I had a lump on my thigh and he said 'yeah, that's muscle!' I walked out very proud!"

Forbury Lion · by **Forbury Lion** » 05 Jan 2007 13:21

PieEater wrote:I must say that I noticed the same thing during the warm up for a game, Kitson goes through the motions but doesn't push himself. Seol is a bit like that too.

To be fair, Seol is a bit like that in the game as well.

MartinRdg · by **MartinRdg** » 05 Jan 2007 15:50

rotherwick_royal wrote:From interview with Kitson today on OS....

"I've never done so much strength work. I saw Jon Fearn the other day because I had a lump on my thigh and he said 'yeah, that's muscle!' I walked out very proud!"

LOL

LoyalRoyal22 · by **LoyalRoyal22** » 05 Jan 2007 17:42

The news of Kitsons return is fantastic.

1960 · by **1960** » 07 Jan 2007 11:57

I think it's a bit rich coming from Coppell who retired at 27 (28?) because of dodgy knees. Where was his fitness to avoid "niggling" injuries?

I don't equate a double-footed lunge in the back of the knees from a 13-stone centre back with the word "niggling". I aslo can't call appendicitis "niggling" as it is excrutiatingly painful and, if not treated immediately, can lead to peritonitis and even death.

Still, hard training would have solved that problem of course.

zac naloen · by **zac naloen** » 07 Jan 2007 12:06

1960 wrote:I think it's a bit rich coming from Coppell who retired at 27 (28?) because of dodgy knees. Where was his fitness to avoid "niggling" injuries?

I don't equate a double-footed lunge in the back of the knees from a 13-stone centre back with the word "niggling". I aslo can't call appendicitis "niggling" as it is excrutiatingly painful and, if not treated immediately, can lead to peritonitis and even death.

Still, hard training would have solved that problem of course.

He's had niggling injuries throughout his career. Coppell had a one serious injury that kept him out for most of a season that he never recovered from completely because his joint got oxf*rd sideways.

These days he could probably have had his knee operated on, but that option wasn't available.

The two aren't comparable.

Slider · by **Slider** » 07 Jan 2007 12:07

1960 wrote:I think it's a bit rich coming from Coppell who retired at 27 (28?) because of dodgy knees. Where was his fitness to avoid "niggling" injuries?

I don't equate a double-footed lunge in the back of the knees from a 13-stone centre back with the word "niggling". I aslo can't call appendicitis "niggling" as it is excrutiatingly painful and, if not treated immediately, can lead to peritonitis and even death.

Still, hard training would have solved that problem of course.

200 odd consecutive games at United does suggest too many 'niggles' does it?

And I believe the career was ended by a tackle on England duty.

Platypuss · by **Platypuss** » 07 Jan 2007 18:44

1960 wrote:I think it's a bit rich coming from Coppell who retired at 27 (28?) because of dodgy knees. Where was his fitness to avoid "niggling" injuries?

I don't equate a double-footed lunge in the back of the knees from a 13-stone centre back with the word "niggling". I aslo can't call appendicitis "niggling" as it is excrutiatingly painful and, if not treated immediately, can lead to peritonitis and even death.

Still, hard training would have solved that problem of course.

What about the hamstring injury he also had inbetween the knee and appendix?