Benching players...

[AAGunner3]

A couple of times now, I've benched a starter due to cards. I've got a situation where my best skilled striker is sitting on 2 cards. Unless he picks up his third or gets ejected in the next game, I'll likely sit him out the following game. The reason is the following week, I host the current #1 team and I want my target forward :rolleyes: to be available. Do you guys do this?

Once again, I see too many instances where managers just leave their normal lineups in and will change them only if injuries or suspensions occur - if not at all. I at least try to plan ahead a little bit. There are times where I feel this game is like shooting fish in a barrel, until one of us gets one of those WTF matches. I'm looking forward to promoting to Div IV one day, but then again, I may just get what I've been asking for.

Hopefully from here on out, my most experienced striker (and my player with the most goals) will be available and contend for the scoring title. Maybe my skilled striker can catch him?

[Lone Star]

Never benched a player due to card trouble, but I am the owner of the infamous starting defender benched for a full season since he dropped to disastrous form and would NOT get out of his funk. So rather then get 3-4 stars in league matches, he got .5 stars in USOC and friendly matches.

He finally saw the light, and is currently in the starting lineup again. But I keep on eye on the lazy bastard.


Panther CIty FC
II.3 - USA

[Helghallen]

With my current series, this is really not necessary. However, it is something I probably wouldn't have considered before you brought it up. It makes good strategic sense and I will definitely do that.

[kopiteinkc]

I recently benched a starting Inner Mid who despite his formidable skill in playmaking had slipped to wretched form.

A quick move to the reserves saw him get his arse back to weak and now he is back in the starting line up.

I have three starters on two yellows right now and I hadn't thought of resting them but might if it comes to a crunch at the end of the season.

[Craig P]

A couple of times now, I've benched a starter due to cards. I've got a situation where my best skilled striker is sitting on 2 cards. Unless he picks up his third or gets ejected in the next game, I'll likely sit him out the following game. The reason is the following week, I host the current #1 team and I want my target forward :rolleyes: to be available. Do you guys do this?I've never had cause to do it in the past, but I anticipate using the tactic to keep guys out of trouble before my next big league match. There are only a couple of players who will be affected and I can afford to hold all of them out. I also tend to juggle players at the level where they're interchangeable to keep the guys who are in good form in play. As a practical matter, that means at wing and forward, less so midfield.

[kuhnscoot]

I have benched guys a few times for form drops when I have another guy of equal skill on the bench, which is rare. I had to bench my best forward last season when his form went all the way to wretched. He has come to the light though, and now is the series leading scorer. Of course he now has to be benched for the league game coming up this week, due to yellow card accumulation, you're lucky Mark, you don't get to play him in the BS Cup, but Norge does get that distinction.

[AAGunner3]

Well, I don't have to bench the guy I was worried about, he's currently getting treatment from the nursing staff...
But my other starting forward is now in foul trouble also. Hope he gets through this week's game without a card. I really want both of them to be available for the big match up vs. Final Strike (who's now in third, neener neener neener).

[ZeekLTK]

I don't really worry about cards. I have a guy who picked up a yellow card in Week 1, another in Week 3, and then he has been playing all season long and still hasn't gotten a third card to be suspended for.

[AAGunner3]

Well my situation may just be different. I have a very capable B team. 95% of my B team can start. I do have preferences though as to who I want to start based on experience and ability.

My problem is, I want my best players available for the big game. I don't want to risk him getting his third card against a team I SHOULD beat and then miss the big game. Now, I take a risk losing against the team I should beat, but like I said, my backups are very capable if not equal to the task.

The player in question is also in the running for the league scoring title. It would be nice to win that and get the $$ associated with that award. I would rather win my big game with my player instead of try and run up the score against an inferior opponent.

Just keep your options open when setting up your lineups. It turned out my player in question got injured and will be only bruised by gametime. I didn't have to bench him as the HT Gods mandated his sitting out a match due to injury. :rolleyes: