I'd be a lot more sympathetic to the view that it's all about match fitness if the 180 minute shitpile I endured at the weekend didn't bear such a remarkable similarity to the 3,000+ minute shitpile we all endured last season.

It's possible by the time the first ball is kicked in anger in a couple weeks the squad will have been transformed into a potent & powerful, steely counterattacking menace. Not really my base case.