The off-season is a strange time for a professional footballer.On the one hand, you want to make the most of your short period away from the stresses and strains of game, but, on the other you always have one eye on the upcoming season.One thing's for sure though: you never want to return to pre-season training too badly out of shape; it's hard enough at it is!Back in my West Ham days I would always head home to Bermuda during the off-season to unwind with my family and friends.Of course I'd enjoy myself, but I'd always be careful not to indulge myself too much by piling on too many pounds.In those days, the first few weeks of pre-season would consist of running, running and more running. Nowadays I don't think that's quite the case with most modern day pre-season training programmes a bit more scientific.To be fair, West Ham were probably more ahead of their time than most of the English clubs back then. I don't think our pre-season was quite so physical as some of our rivals whose players could tell stories which would make your eyes water.Some players loved the endless running the coaches would order us to do. I remember guys like Billy Bonds and Clive Charles who seemed capable of running all day, whereas Bobby Moore and myself just weren't built that way.I always liked to start my regime a few weeks earlier then everyone else, though.Frank Lampard Sr and myself would go running up the hills and in the forests together - anything to give you that all-important edge.Being in a tip-top shape is a great feeling before the start of a new season; it would leave me feeling absolutely convinced nobody could beat me.Most guys know what they have to do during the off-season, although I can recall on more than one occasion a player returning to training, after just getting married, a bit heavier than he would have liked!People seem a bit surprised at the England Under-21s slow start to the European Championships. So far Stuart Pearce's side have drawn with Spain and Latvia and must now beat the Czech Republic to qualify for the semi-finals.To be honest, I'm not overly shocked by their poor performances as I don't think England's players are comfortable enough on the ball.We need to go back to the drawing board and revamp our programme. If you're not comfy on the ball then you're going to be in trouble.Playing in the Premier League is special, but it's played at such a frantic pace, whereas at the national level it's played at a slower rhythm.If you keep giving the ball away, then you're not going to get it back.When you can keep the possession of the ball for 65 percent of the game, like the Spaniards are able to, you're bound to win.Manchester United discovered that in the European Cup against Barcelona.