Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.

Torrential rain in Worcestershire this week, however, has prevented Harriers from getting their summer preparation underway as they would have liked.  It got off to a decent start last Saturday with a 45-minute workout for all but two of the squad in the 1-0 win at Rushall.

There should have been a repeat the following day at Bewdley but the game at Ribbesford Meadow fell foul of the weather less than an hour before kick-off.  Attempts to re-stage the game in midweek were foiled by the weather and now tomorrow’s anticipated game with FC United of Manchester at Aggborough has gone the same way.

By the time that they take on Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night Harriers will have gone ten days without playing, and those of the squad that have played will have only managed 45 minutes.  There is debate now as to whether the club left it too late in starting their pre-season games; some clubs in the Conference played in the week leading up to last weekend and will now be further advanced in their preparations.  I haven’t checked the details yet, but I’m going to stick my neck out and say that although those teams have played more games, so far, and are slightly sharper they probably aren’t that more advanced than we are; Harriers were back in training ten days before the game at Rushall, I expect that the other clubs were back around the same time and so went into their opening friendlies with less fitness work behind them.

Hopefully, before the season proper kicks-off on August 11, Harriers will manage to get the two lost games fitted in or at least a game or two arranged to replace them.  This season’s opening fixture is one that will need to be taken on with a full squad at peak condition; we don’t need a repeat of last season’s debacle when St Albans were underestimated and a good start to the season is imperative in this league with so many teams capable of competing at the top for the title and play-off positions.

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