Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
Mark commented last night that the transition to morning training hasn’t worked.
He comments that the club was more successful with part time evening training. We finished 16th in NLP doing part time evening training.
He then says it’s not worked due to personnel.
I would agree that with the squad profile the extra training doesn’t work as it adds load onto a squad that is elderly in footballing terms. This reduces performance levels and increases injuries.
Next season Mark would be better off going back to evening training and ditching the morning full time model.
The squad profile confirms this.
According to my records we have only 6 outfield players 29 or younger who haven’t suffered serious injuries in recent seasons: Gallagher, Williams, Camp, Pybus, Carter and Muitt.
We then have 2 who have suffered serious injuries but are 29 or younger in Briggs and Rutherford. These two are at risk of further injuries due to their injury records.
That leaves us with 12 players who are 30+ which is the majority of the squad.
Until we have a squad of 12-15 core players who are 29 or younger we are best placed to do evening training and ditch this morning “full time” model.
It comes at an increase cost to train “full time” and it’s harming results on the pitch.
Just a gut feeling, but I think a part of the switch to mornings was that it would help attract ambitious younger players who like to see themselves as pro footballers.
Must be a PITA fitting it around their careers for those at the club who are still surveyors, engineers, plumbers and accountants.
The training facility at Reigate seems to be successfully received to be fair.
Were Maidenhead ever full time? They lasted 9 or 10 years at step 1 level, I think as a part time club.
Also, didn't Jon Bines say on the Location Football video that he wanted to go to 4 mornings a week? Is that likely to still be on the agenda as a step 2 club?
Massive decisions at the moment over squad composition and what the club looks like for the next 12 months.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
