Ben Turner: Going that extra mile!
Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:50 am
Defender Ben Turner is adamant the Bluebirds are ready to go the extra mile to make their first season in the Barclays Premier League a memorable one.
The top-flight rookies begin cranking up their pre-season preparations today with a week’s hard labour in Switzerland as the Premier countdown to their kick-off at West Ham reaches the one month to go mark.
Manager Malky Mackay and his first-team squad flew into Geneva yesterday and switched to their base in Lausanne, less than an hour away, for an intense training camp.
The Bluebirds boss is putting his players through their paces to ensure they’re in tip-top condition for life among the Premier big guns and has a schedule including double sessions every day at the Juan Antonio Samaranch Stadium.
And it’s a gruelling week central defender Turner is happy to go through as the Bluebirds come to terms with their first season among the elite of the English game in more than half a century.
“It’s back to the hard work and we’ve been back on the training ground since the end of last week,” said Turner. “Today we start some real fitness work and the staff will be cranking things up. There is plenty of hard work ahead of all of us.
“The physios have checked us in terms of flexibility, muscle strength and much, much more.”
“There is plenty of work ahead for all of us.”
Fellow defender Kevin McNaughton is another relishing the hard labour of the Swiss camp having witnessed the club’s transformation into a Premier League outfit after coming to Cardiff seven years ago.
McNaughton said: “It’s been remarkable, particularly over the last two or three years.
“The stadium, training ground and so much more. We were training in the car park at Treforest when I first came to Cardiff – I can remember doing weights out there.
“Facilities weren’t that great. It’s great to see how the club is coming on.
“Now the hard work begins because I intend to get myself involved in the team. That’s my goal.
“I have played a lot of big games against Premier League teams and I know what’s expected. I understand how hard I have to work to get myself into the team.”
McNaughton has signed a new contract for next season and is intent on ensuring he makes a huge bid for a Premier League starting place, saying: “It was a tough decision because there were other offers from Championship clubs and I want to be playing first team football.
“But I did not want to look back at the end of my career and wonder whether I should have given Premier League football with Cardiff a go.
“I’ve worked really hard through the close season and I'm already in good shape.
“The fixtures are out and it’s great there are no pile-ups. We often have a week between games.
“Championship football does take its toll on the body because there are so many matches.
“It was the right decision to stay and today we start a week of hard work in Switzerland.
“It’s going to be tough, but this week lays the foundation for our fitness over the season.”
The top-flight rookies begin cranking up their pre-season preparations today with a week’s hard labour in Switzerland as the Premier countdown to their kick-off at West Ham reaches the one month to go mark.
Manager Malky Mackay and his first-team squad flew into Geneva yesterday and switched to their base in Lausanne, less than an hour away, for an intense training camp.
The Bluebirds boss is putting his players through their paces to ensure they’re in tip-top condition for life among the Premier big guns and has a schedule including double sessions every day at the Juan Antonio Samaranch Stadium.
And it’s a gruelling week central defender Turner is happy to go through as the Bluebirds come to terms with their first season among the elite of the English game in more than half a century.
“It’s back to the hard work and we’ve been back on the training ground since the end of last week,” said Turner. “Today we start some real fitness work and the staff will be cranking things up. There is plenty of hard work ahead of all of us.
“The physios have checked us in terms of flexibility, muscle strength and much, much more.”
“There is plenty of work ahead for all of us.”
Fellow defender Kevin McNaughton is another relishing the hard labour of the Swiss camp having witnessed the club’s transformation into a Premier League outfit after coming to Cardiff seven years ago.
McNaughton said: “It’s been remarkable, particularly over the last two or three years.
“The stadium, training ground and so much more. We were training in the car park at Treforest when I first came to Cardiff – I can remember doing weights out there.
“Facilities weren’t that great. It’s great to see how the club is coming on.
“Now the hard work begins because I intend to get myself involved in the team. That’s my goal.
“I have played a lot of big games against Premier League teams and I know what’s expected. I understand how hard I have to work to get myself into the team.”
McNaughton has signed a new contract for next season and is intent on ensuring he makes a huge bid for a Premier League starting place, saying: “It was a tough decision because there were other offers from Championship clubs and I want to be playing first team football.
“But I did not want to look back at the end of my career and wonder whether I should have given Premier League football with Cardiff a go.
“I’ve worked really hard through the close season and I'm already in good shape.
“The fixtures are out and it’s great there are no pile-ups. We often have a week between games.
“Championship football does take its toll on the body because there are so many matches.
“It was the right decision to stay and today we start a week of hard work in Switzerland.
“It’s going to be tough, but this week lays the foundation for our fitness over the season.”
Re: Ben Turner: Going that extra mile!
Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:55 am
Another non story from the South Wales Echo my dear Gavin?
Re: Ben Turner: Going that extra mile!
Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:36 am
angelis49 wrote:Another non story from the South Wales Echo my dear Gavin?
Its obviously a story as its got ben turners quotes in it
Re: Ben Turner: Going that extra mile!
Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:56 am
My dear Bluebird1977 .........my definition of a "non story" is that it's a story of no particular interest,i'm not doubting it's authenticity
Re: Ben Turner: Going that extra mile!
Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:58 pm
Hopefully Ben Turner beefs himself up and gets on the weights, looks a big stature but so easily fought off the ball by such weak players
Re: Ben Turner: Going that extra mile!
Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:56 pm
Turner will suit the Premier League easily more than the Championship, can see him adapt more to it.
Re: Ben Turner: Going that extra mile!
Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:20 am
DandoCCFC wrote:Turner will suit the Premier League easily more than the Championship, can see him adapt more to it.
hope he does well in the prem.big blues fan is ben
Re: Ben Turner: Going that extra mile!
Tue Jul 16, 2013 2:28 pm
jtc wrote:DandoCCFC wrote:Turner will suit the Premier League easily more than the Championship, can see him adapt more to it.
hope he does well in the prem.big blues fan is ben
He is.
