Friendly Match Arranged For Dubai

[ian1964 10,413]

 

[JFK-1 1,671]

Obviously good for attempting to maintain match sharpness and fitness. Listening to a podcast after the win over them some journos were commenting on Rangers fitness levels. It was mentioned that one of the first things Gerrard said when he came in was that the squad weren't fit enough in his view. It was agreed that's not the case now and that they looked fitter and stronger than the yahoos.

Barisic in particular was mentioned because he took off his shirt at the end which had one commenting that he had the body of a professional boxer to which the other replied Tavernier is the same.

I think fitness and overall body strength are a big thing for Gerrard. Watched an old interview recently in which he mentioned that in one of his first starts for Liverpool at age 18 against Totenham they played him in a defensive role and he found himself up against Ginola.

He said in the interview that following this game he had doubts creeping in regarding his ability to hack it at that level. He had found Ginola way too strong him as he was simply brushed aside. Afterwards the manager who was Houllier took him aside and talked to him about it because he could see what Gerrard was thinking. Good man management.

 

Houllier effectively told him that he was a boy in a mans game but not to worry because they were going to be doing intensive work over the next 6 months to strengthen him up. Gerrard is shaping a team of athletic muscle men because he knows how crucially important that is at the very top level.