The physical condition of the members of the National Senior Men’s Team has been monitored in detail over the past four weeks by use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) programme overseen by Stephen Bradley, a football scientist named by Dennis Lawrence to his backroom staff. Bradley also works with StatSports, one of the world’s leading player tracking and analysis provider in elite sports.
The GPS is a software designed to analyze players’ physical condition in detail. The vest worn by the players during the training has a tiny GPS Pod inside it which sends all the data of the player’s physical output to the computer, operated by Bradley. GPS software clarifies everything, from the player’s pulse rate, his distance covered, his high speed running and dynamic stress load. Lawrence and his staff will be able to know how the players are adapting to the training demands through the use of the GPS tracking system.
Bradley gave an update on Thursday about the response from the players as the clock winds down before Friday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Panama.
“The process has been going well so far. It is the first time it has been used out here in Trinidad and Tobago. We are trying to build a database on what the players are used to in training and games. We are trying to expose them to the right amounts of training at the right times and monitor their training loads,” Bradley told TTFA Media.
“Obviously when players come to the national training camp they are going to be exposed to different fitness levels. It depends on what league they are playing at and how well they look after themselves. We bring them in and start them off in low intensity training and see how their bodies are adapting to that, looking at heart rate response. By having the stats there we can see how well they are responding and we can build them up to the application and we can build them up to the same fitness level which the goal is obviously be the World Cup qualifiers.
“You cannot compare your centre back to the left back because they (left backs) are going be covering more high speed running whereas your centre back covers a different aspect and area of the field,” Bradley explained.
For the overseas-based players coming in, Bradley contacts the clubs to get similar data on the players.
“We have a relationship with a number of clubs and of course are building relationships and sharing data. We also provide the information to the clubs on what they players are doing when they are here in camp.”
“When they come into camp we know exactly what fitness level they are at with information on their playing time which is ideal.
“At the moment it’s all going well. Starting off from day one to where we are now there’s been massive improvement in fitness, cardiovascular levels and distance covered. The players have been adapting well under coach Lawrence,” Bradley stated.
Lawrence will announce his squad for the two qualifiers against Panama and Mexico on Saturday. Tickets are available at all Lotto locations priced at $350 (covered) and $200 (uncovered).
Mexico names Squad for qualifiers
Mexico national team coach Juan Carlos Osorio has named an almost unchanged squad for the March World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago. Osorio’s 25-man roster features only a few changes from the squad that earned a 2-1 win over the United States back in November, with the only notable absences through injury.
El Tri, second in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, host leaders Costa Rica at the Estadio Azteca on March 24 before traveling to Port of Spain four days later to take on Trinidad and Tobago.
Among the injured absences are Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, Jesus “Tecatito” Corona, and Giovani dos Santos. In their place, Osorio has added youngsters Jesus Gallardo and Luis Reyes, as well as Club Leon pair Luis Montes and Elias Hernandez.
Giovani dos Santos, Jesus “Tecatito” Corona, Hirving Lozano, Javier Aquino. Marco Fabian is also injured while Paul Aguilar’s torn ACL continues to keep him from playing.
Mexico Squad
Goalkeepers
Guillermo Ochoa (Granada), Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca).
Defenders
Carlos Salcedo (Fiorentina), Nestor Araujo (Santos Laguna), Diego Reyes (RCD Espanyol), Hector Moreno (PSV), Miguel Layun (FC Porto), Rafael Marquez (Atlas), Oswaldo Alanis (Chivas), Luis Reyes (Atlas).
Midfielders
Jesus Molina (Monterrey), Hector Herrera (FC Porto), Jesus Dueñas (Tigres), Andres Guardado (PSV), Jonathan dos Santos (Villarreal), Jurgen Damm (Tigres), Orbelin Pineda (Chivas), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas UNAM), Luis Montes (Leon), Elias Hernandez (Leon).
Forwards
Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad), Oribe Peralta (Club America).
Senior Men Players undergo StatSports GPS Monitoring