Rotation

[dogger]

My thoughts on rotation well if our expectations are going to be a top 6 side we will need a quality squad in depth so how do we keep all these players happy sat on the bench week in and week out without rotation we really can't expect internationals to wait their turn so no rotation says no to top 6/7 thoughts please

[Dusic]

We aren't going to be a top 6 side anytime soon but its a fair point.

 

Already recently the likes of Hojbjerg, Clasie, Long, Rodriguez etc haven't had much game time and next season we will mostly have one game a week and won't need to rotate much. That should help achieve more consistency than we managed this time but clearly players will be frustrated. We might need to loan a few out for regular game time, someone like Josh Sims for example.

 

Answer for me is in this summer's recruitment: we only need to sign players who come into the team and start in our best XI. We don't need squad players. I would be happy with 3 really good signings.

[John B]

We aren't going to be a top 6 side anytime soon but its a fair point.

 

Already recently the likes of Hojbjerg, Clasie, Long, Rodriguez etc haven't had much game time and next season we will mostly have one game a week and won't need to rotate much. That should help achieve more consistency than we managed this time but clearly players will be frustrated. We might need to loan a few out for regular game time, someone like Josh Sims for example.

 

Answer for me is in this summer's recruitment: we only need to sign players who come into the team and start in our best XI. We don't need squad players. I would be happy with 3 really good signings.

 

You make an excellent point but we will probably lose some players but if we dont I think we need a better Davis Stephens and Rodriques

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Leicester won the Prem with next to no rotation. Its possible. Even with Europa League a good manager would play a gelled side and just moderate training exertion for some players.

[S-Clarke]

Rotation is all well and good if you have results at the end of it, but we didn't. We rotated the **** out of the side so we could stay competitive, but we still played **** most of the season. Reckon we'd have got more points had he stuck with the same team more often. Another stubborn Puel way which is what's pushed him out of the door.

[Greenridge]

Rotation is all well and good if you have results at the end of it, but we didn't. We rotated the **** out of the side so we could stay competitive, but we still played **** most of the season. Reckon we'd have got more points had he stuck with the same team more often. Another stubborn Puel way which is what's pushed him out of the door.

 

It was the start of his relationship breakdown with both players and fans alike. Whether this was of his own doing or under instruction from higher authorities maybe we'll never know.

[S-Clarke]

It was the start of his relationship breakdown with both players and fans alike. Whether this was of his own doing or under instruction from higher authorities maybe we'll never know.

 

Can't see it have being anything other than his own doing, this in his experience was the best way to cope with the extra games. The club leaned on him for the experience of 'busy seasons'. Can't see that the club would get involved in those sort of things.

[Whitey Grandad]

Always found rotation to be one of the biggest myths and excuses. Yes you need a few decent subs but the majority of good sides who achieve things know their strongest side, play it often and have maybe 1 or 2 who come in regularly. Look at Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, Leicester, Saints - their best seasons in the last few years have all come when they play a similar team each week and know their strengths. Yes some players may tire but everyone being settled and knowing their roles is worth far more than fresh players with no form.

 

All too often teams expand their squads to cope with extra games and just fill it with average players. We aren't the only ones to do that. If you want to improve the side, sign new first team players, not back up. Beyond that competition should come from the academy. If a bigger squad just means changing the team every week you're not going to get far. Surely if you're worried about fatigue you take note to give players a rest WHEN they need it. You don't preempt it months in advance. Where did it get us? Average league form all season, disappointing in Europe, and no boost in form when we dropped out of Europe anyway. Players have clearly been frustrated by it, whoever plays well rarely plays the next few games.

 

Who have our best players been? VVD? Romeu? Cedric? Funny how all our best performers are those who play the most isn't it. And those struggling most are where all the changes are. No continuity up front or attacking midfield, no understanding, and no confidence. Long destroyed, Rodriguez ****ed off all season, Gabbiadini looking lost, Redmond in and out, Boufal frustrated and never finding form, Tadic a show of his former self, Sims bursting onto the scene then largely ignored.

 

Why will any of that change under Puel? Whether his line ups look good or bad, you know it'll change the next game. All I see with him is the same mess next season and it seems some fans are willing to buy any excuses. Whoever replacing Puel I just hope it's someone who wants to build a team and help build continuity in selection, confidence and form.

 

All very well reasoned and I agree with all of it.