' Joe Ralls '

Cardiff City: Fitness key to survival hopes in Premier League

BBC

Monday 23rd July 2018

Joe Ralls believes fitness could be the key to survival in the Premier League for Cardiff City.

Ralls, 24, says the Bluebirds need to work harder in pre-season to prepare for the extra quality they will come up against in the Premier League.



JOE RALLS:

"We know we have to be one of the fittest sides," he told BBC Sport Wales on Cardiff's pre-season tour.

"There is going to be plenty of quality up there, so we will have to outwork a lot of teams."

He continued: "For us this pre-season is very important. For all the boys it is about getting minutes in the bank and hoping that by the time the League comes around, we are fit and ready to go."

Cardiff have played three games on their pre-season tour of Devon and Cornwall, beating Tavistock Town (6-0) and Bodmin Town (11-1) before a more competitive 1-1 draw at Torquay.

Wing Nathaniel Mendez-Laing believes the pre-season regime under manager Neil Warnock is as tough as he has experienced.

"The training is very intense. We know what the run is going to be like in the season, so we are all putting it in," he said.

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I like Joe Ralls Annis and a big fan but for me feel he may struggle in the prem, hope I am wrong but just feel he will be out of his depth, I know he wouldn’t sign for us but after watching the Torquay game Friday feel we are missing a Jack Grealish type player and a natural goal scorer.

Grealish is a good player but his work ethic would never fit into our side

Quality will be the key, which we are desperately lacking, fitness will help though.

Agree on work ethic front but what I’m saying is that type of player like a young Wes Hoolahan/Tom Cairney, if only Jason Koumas was younger. When Ralls gets it he does dither on it sometimes and feel his sharpness for the Prem will be his struggle, but like I said on my earlier post hope I am wrong.

i don't think fitness is a problem here - particularly for ralls its the technical side of the game that he needs to be working on, not flogging himself to death with fitness training pre season.

i don't think fitness is a problem here - particularly for ralls its the technical side of the game that he needs to be working on, not flogging himself to death with fitness training pre season.

Warnock as we speak may be working hard on it, but we desperately need a quality midfielder in the centre. If we don't we will struggle big time. Plus a RB and another quality CB.

No concerns with Ralls at all. More concerned about his game being affected by the poor quality beside him.

No concerns with Ralls at all. More concerned about his game being affected by the poor quality beside him.

Exactly my thoughts. There's no guarantees but I'm happier with ralls than any other cm at the club (including the illusive grujic if he comes)