Hello and welcome to my Tuesday update from Holland where the players have continued their preparations for the new season at our training base in Zeist.
I was very pleased with the game we played last night because I thought the players showed a great level of fitness for this stage.
They were playing on a very difficult surface, the likes of which we would only really use in training during deepest winter. One thing I didn't know before last night was that FC Volendam play on that type of surface every week at home so they were comfortable on it and I think that showed at times.
It was a tougher game and the opposition were better than what really we should have played if we wanted to get a win under our belts in the first game. But as I said before it doesn't matter in pre season, it's the first few league games that will count.
I thought last night was a good start for us. We want to see some weaknesses in the players so we can highlight them and work on them straight away so hopefully we can see an improvement from individual players by the time the new season begins.
Obviously after last night's game there were a few stiff and aching bodies. We started training today at noon so that the lads had a chance to get breakfast and then get some rest time before the work began.
The weather has been unbelievable since we've been here and we've been training in twenty degree heat and higher. It is energy-sapping so the fluid-intake has been high. This afternoon we were planning to train between 5pm and 7pm but we analysed things and felt that with the exertions they will go through tomorrow they could do with some rest this evening.
We'll be training again in the morning and then we have another game to look forward to so we have to balance things out, especially with the high tempo work we've been doing in the high temperatures.
It was nice to see Jon-Andre Fredriksen able to join us out here on Monday night - though he has turned up with a big black eye due to catching an elbow in his last game for Sarpsborg on Sunday!
He trained with us this morning and I must confess I thought he stood out really well. I have high hopes for him and I am sure he is going to contribute well to the squad. He will start against SC Cambuur on Wednesday night.
I have to say though I have been impressed with the way Andy Monkhouse has started pre season. I thought he was outstanding last night and with Jon-Andre joining it will keep Andy's performances at such a high level.
CT.
