The boss dropped a big hint today that we will rotate the squad tomorrow night, and that is certainly good news when you consider the schedule that we’re facing and the teams we have coming up.
The squad is big enough that rotation doesn’t hurt us.
In theory, he could replace every player from the starting eleven at the weekend.
Every single one of them, and we’d still fancy our chances of getting a win.
He won’t, of course, because that would be an over-the-top reaction … but I think half a dozen players could sit this one out without the impact on the performance putting us in any danger.
So who is most likely not to start?
Well, if Giakoumakis is fit I can see Kyogo not making the first eleven. I can O’Riley dropping to the bench too, along with Taylor and Juranovic and one of the centre backs.
I can see Abada and Jota both making way for Maeda and Forrest.
That would still leave us with a very strong starting eleven.
It would still make us major favourites to go through to the next round of the cup.
Not only have we already gone up there and won this season already, but the confidence of every player in this team should be sky-high and after the weekend Ross County will have difficult choices to make about how they approach the game.
Remember, nobody can sit behind the ball in cup football. Playing all eleven men in a defensive system only guarantees that your team goes out. This is not the league where you can play for a point, and so they cannot just shut up shop.
So whichever team we play, we’re going to get chances.
We’re going to get in behind them and cause them problems.
And to that end I’ll be confident that whatever team the manager plays is good enough to get us results.
Six changes would let us rest some key players, whilst not making a significant difference to our ability to win. That’s what the big squad is for and this will certainly not be the last time this season that we see that many changes in a line-up.
If the first 5 games are anything to go by, Ange likes to keep the back line fully intact for the duration of the game and use all 5 substitutes on the 6 midfield and attacking players. With that in mind, I’d like to see both Taylor & Juranovic get a rest as well as CCV. Ideally Welsh will get another start as well. As for the forwards and midfield, I’m not sure it really matters who starts and who comes off the bench as it’s likely that there will be 11 different players getting significant minutes (25-30+) for the final 6 places in the team. Although I would also like to see Cal get some rest as well – we can’t play him the full 90 every game and not expect an injury at some point, and this is as good of a time as any for him to get a rest. Maybe put Mooy in the 6 slot to start and bring on Cal in the 2nd half if the game isn’t decided by halftime.
Because it is a Cup game we can be a bit more relaxed with the line up. That doesn’t mean we are treating it lightly, but it is not quite as important as our bog standard league games. With the Glasgow derby coming up, giving players a rest in advance of it is the sensible thing to do. We do still have enough in our locker to win this one with our back-up players and it gives them all the chance to impress their manager and give him food for thought for the games ahead.
I’d rest Taylor & McGregor definitely, both have looked a little jaded of late, and it gives Bernabei and perhaps Mooy an opportunity.
If Starfelts going to be partnering CCV at the back permanently then it might make sense to play him, perhaps alongside Jenz or Welsh, get him up to speed as his passing is still not up to scratch, same with Abada who is hit n miss with his ball work; the one positive with Abada is his hits usually end well with a goal or assist.
I’d probably be inclined to give the majority of the first team regulars a night off and tbh wouldn’t be too disappointed to exit the cup all things considered like the hectic fixture schedule the club faces, but at the same time it gives the second string some competitive action and a chance to impress, so why not leave it to them.
Think he will make some changes but I’m sure Ange will be aware how awkward it can be up there. Disagree that County won’t sit in because its knock out cup tie. I think that’s exactly what they will do and hope to get lucky on the break or even try to take the game to penalties. However I fully expect us to be in the next round.
Every game’s as important as the other if you want to win all the competitions you enter. We made a number of changes to the first 11 on Sunday and look what happened. I don’t think we have a first team and to me we shouldn’t think so oldy worldy about that. We have a first team squad and all have a part to play at differing times. C’mon a Hoops