Rotation: Latter Season Benefits

[Guest Parr_Zee]

As the debate about Rafa's rotation policy rumbles on and on ... and on ... and on ... and on, I was wondering if we will see a lengthy run of wins from the middle to the end of the season, similar to how we did last season (following a poor start).

 

Alex Ferguson came out recently and said that Liverpool would be fresh towards the end of the season, due to the rotating which is going on now, and this got me thinking that with Chelsea and Man Utd playing their first XI's for the vast majority of games, will their form and results towards the end of the season, begin to falter as they suffer from a long hard season?

 

If it does, I suppose the question will be ... have we let them get too far ahead early on, which will make it too difficult to make up the required points??

[Guest Jack Bauer]

And if we are three points off the top near the end then it'll of been pointless*

 

* = unless we win the FA or European Cup

[growler]

well, there's two schools of thought. Rotate early, and then have a strong run in. Rotate late, and build up a good enough lead early, and try to protect from the chasing pack.

 

Rafa has gone for the chasing option. I can see the logic behind it. As the gap starts to close, and our players aren't even feeling the effects, man u,chelsea will start to feel the pressure, and need to balance requirements. Scholes and Giggs aren't going to last all season. Neither are Ballack and Shevy

[Andythered]

Eh? I dont think we lost any game on purpose.

[wacko]

It's a sound theory, but Chelsea have huge strength in depth and haven't faltered yet since Mourinho arrived, while the Glams always seem to play a blinding end to the season.

 

It looks like we're starting to get some rhythm and fluidity going in what is essentially a 16-man first 11, but it might already be too late. At any rate, it will certainly bear us in good stead if we are still in all the cups come the business end of the season.

 

Injuries will be crucial. I think Rafa's policy of making sure everyone gets a game regularly, if not often, makes us better able to cope with injuries than teams relying on guys who've been sitting on the bench all season.

[Guest Parr_Zee]

Eh? I dont think we lost any game on purpose.

 

Nobody is saying we did ... but by rotating early in the season will leave us fresher at the end - obviously Rafa has tried to win every game, but he has done so with the next game and a long season in mind.

[Mike]

problem is he's probably lost too many games now.

[Rich Gobey]

There's no guarantee that we would build up any kind of lead by not rotating. Chelsea and ManU havent dropped that many points.

 

We have played all but one of our toughest away games now too - it should get a bit easier from now on.

 

Finishing fast is better every time i reckon.

[Mevster]

i think its been a horrendous combination of variables that have scuppered us:

 

1. World cup fatigue and the international fixtures. yes i know other teams have had that but combine that with....

2. the effect the international fixtures have had on blending in and acclimatising the high numbers of new squad members. this means the chance to get them used to rafas ideas in training have been severely disrupted

3. we started the season with lots of away games (bad enough) against some of the hardest teams to play (Bolton, Everton, Man U, even having Sheffield Utd on day one was like a cup final for them etc)

 

if we'd had a cushier opening to the season like say, Man U with no international fixtures to disrupt us, then the players would have had a smoother introduction to the team and the league in some cases and that would have given us the chance to get up a head of steam and confidence ahead of those tough away fixtures.

 

so whilst its likely we wont win the league this year, as rafa has said from the start the disruptions meant we wouldnt see the best of the team until November, which seems to be happening almost right on cue. Plus we 've already gotten lots of our worst fixtures out of the way. So i can see why purple nose is worried about us being fresh at the end and having an easy run in.

 

Dont forget that despite all these factors weve hit the woodwork umpteen times and really should have finished off teams like Chelsea which would have put us in a far better situation than we are in now.

 

So i really believe we will still be easily in at least the top 4 this year despite the start and if this sounds like a lack of progress i think we will see a more settled, familiarised and experienced squad next year, hopefully with good funding in place but even if not, maybe there will still be the chance to spend on one or two really class players rather than trying to frantically rebuild the squad on stretched resources, which is whats happened so far. plus theres no summer competition so they can get a good rest and pre season.

 

so its all good and rafa is the man to do it!

Edited November 1, 2006 by Mevster

[Guest Parr_Zee]

so its all good and rafa is the man to do it!

 

I agree with you mate - and I think that the points difference between us, Chelsea, Arsenal and United will be very slim this year.

 

The more I think about it, the more I think we can finish above Chelsea this season ... they just dont have the attacking strength in depth, that they had last season. They were able to rotate between Crespo and Drogba last season and still get goals, but this season, I dont think they can afford to leave Drogba out. I think that come 3/4 of the way through the season, they may well start to struggle, and I can see Mourinho coming out with all the excuses in the book - how the World Cup matches have ruined their season. Maybe, i'm just trying to be too optimistic ... after all, Chelsea do have an annoying knack of sneaking wins when they dont deserve the points.