I for one am a believer in playing my best team week in week out and don't buy this tiredness excuse or a rotatio system as I feel a team plays better with a settled side, that said I'm happy with squad for this season and think MP will only bring in players that will be first team regulars ,what top quality player likes sitting on the bench,yes we need good backup for injuries but a settled happy squad is just as important than a squad full of so called names
We could all write out the team sheet, apart from the odd tweak, if all players were fit. However, even without serious injuries, players will often be not 100% and need to be benched, such as Shaw with his tummy bug. The biggest effect of MP will be on the training field and in tactics. We don't have a whole bench of game changers, sadly.
There are several schools of thought about this.....as we progress as a team and eventually with good cup runs etc we will be playing a lot of games. It therefore makes sense just as the Arsenals and United's do and that is to have a very strong back up team. There are core positions within the team that usually the same players play each week. So other than resting those players they would be the first to put on the team coach. However in the event they are injured need a rest etc you need to have a first class back up. If this player has a good spell then he becomes the regular...that is what football is about and the competition for places as a regular. So to answer the op's initial question for me it would always be play your strongest team if possible and when a chance arrives perhaps playing a lesser side.....(always assuming there is such a thing) perhaps give your brightest players a break.
What amazes me is that when a top club rests a couple of players, they take a big risk of losing in a cup. You would imagine Chelsea and Arsenal subs would be really good, but lack of match practice really tells.
The question answer's itself, because we don't have enough strength in depth to rotate the squad even if the manager wanted to. But I agree with the OP that it's better to play a settled side where possible. Players will always get injured, but I'm not convinced by the tiredness argument. When I'm not at st Mary's I'm often at the racetrack, where jockeys compete every day throughout a season. Anyone who's ever ridden a horse will tell you how tiring that is, and these guys ride in several races a day, every day.
Saints (like most PL clubs) constantly monitor the players physical condition...it's very scientific these days. Blood stats tell them a lot about players recovery time. The fitness required varies a lot between sports...football involves the need for stamina, but also sudden explosive energy. A small drop in fitness could make a big difference on the pitch.
I had a bit of a childish sulk on last night when the clock struck 11pm. Upon reflection i still feel strengthening in wide areas was important. That said we have what we have, so play your strongest team available regardless of the opposition and get points required as quick as possible. That includes playing a full strength team against City and go for the jugular.
We'll go for it against City, and hopefully Ferguson is right when he says that City will drop points! I think we can get something at Wigan. Wrong thread I know.....
Absolutely agree. Every game is worth three points. Play the best team available for every game. No good resting players for an 'important game', then finding you have players out anyway (remember Guly got injured in training and Shaw got a bug).
In defence/ center mid/ Up Front we actually have good cover, yes on the wings we could have done with a quality player to add strength but it's not like we are worryingly thin on depth.
Our best Starting 11 Is very good., But the back up is seriously lacking any real threat.. Saying that, The players we can put in the squad are quite ample of doing a good job.
Always best eleven IMO but that doesn't always mean it should be the same starting 11 each time. It depends on what tactical approach and then the best players to fit the system.
