The Scottish Cup 1/4 final is on 4 March 2017. We'll have the league tied up very shortly after that. Probably by our National Saints Day on 17 March. The semi final is on 23/24 April* and the final on 27 May** Do we play our best players right the way through or rest a few and bring them back for the cup games. Pros 1) well rested 2) Longer break for the CL qualifiers 3) shop window for fringe players 4) Nae injuries 5) it would irritate every ****. Cons 1) losing continuity 2)losing momentum 3) potential jinxing * Hun refs allowing ** see above
Difficult one but my view leans towards, if you want to win a game, play your best team - at least initially and if/when the scoreline is out of sight of your opponents, then take those players off whom you want to 'rest' or escape injury. That is not to say that some players may need to be rested from time to time but IMO, constantly chopping and changing a team will result in the three 'cons' you've identified. Deila didnt know his best team; chopped and changed; and nearly feked things up - although, admittedly there were other factors involved, such as eg, his complete and utter lack of tactical knowhow.
I'm all for rotation once the league is over but Ross county showed 8 at once was too much. I would also like to see next gen / under 20s players getting a chance ...
Who from the development squad should get a chance? Ralston mibbees. Makes loads of mistakes but looks a player. Miller owns a magic wand of a left foot. PJ Crossan and Acheson.... Lively. McCart a leader. They are all great at the level they played at. They convinced a few they'd go far in the petrol tank cup..... But got rrrrrrrroasted by Livingston. There's levels and these boys are a way off yet. But say Wednesday's 8 changes and/or some development lads got 6/7 games on the spin it would either make em or break em.
