Fixtures queue - squad rotation?

[mst77]

Sat, Oct 30 - EPL - at West Brom
Tue, Nov 2 - CL - at CSKA Moscow
Sat, Nov 6 - EPL - v. Everton
Wed, Nov 10 - Carling Cup - at Newcastle
Sat, Nov 13 - EPL - at Fulham

5 matches in 15 days starting tomorrow, with 4 of those away from the Bridge. I won't be at all surprised if some key players do not make the midweek trip to Moscow since we have pretty much wrapped up the top spot in our CL group.

[blackjack]

I think Lamps, Terry, and Duff have all earned a pass on the trip to Moscow. If we lose to CSKA, fine, it's worth it to get our top players a rest.

[yasik19]

I think Lamps, Terry, and Duff have all earned a pass on the trip to Moscow. If we lose to CSKA, fine, it's worth it to get our top players a rest.

Although you are right, they do deserve a break, I hope they all play at least 60 min, so i can get points in my fantasy league. Seriously though, I think Mourinho will take everyone b/c they want to clinch their group in the next match and not worry about it anymore for few months. But if they don't go, I think Chelsea can handle CSKA with their 2nd team, even though it's in Moscow. But, let's worry about West Brom first.

[qazwsx]

I expect a very weakened side being taken to CSKA Moscow if weve allready got top place in the group sown up, as Ambramovich is going to want to see his 2nd club qualify alongside Chelsea.

[BridgeMonkee]

Some thoughts on tinkering . . .

Seems like Jose likes a little tinkering eh? I was going to say something along the lines of – Jose likes to tinker in a sensible fashion, etc. But then looking at the Newcastle team with Ferrier in centre midfield, I dunno, seemed to work though. I think it comes down to a few things and that some players like to be rested and gain benefit from a break, players like Makalele and Carvhallo come to mind and that other players (mainly the younger ones) Terry and Lampard need to be involved a helluva lot more. The wingers/strikers – Robben, Kezman, Drogba, Joe Cole, et al – will over the season pick up more knocks and will miss more games. They are high maintenance after all. Jose is very sensible in not rushing players back into the first team. Duff and Robben were both introduced back into the side slowly and that makes a lot of sense especially at this stage of the season.

Rambling interlude...Of course as always the fans want to see more of the new boys, we want to see the next big thing and an established player have a resurgent run of form is not as exciring as a new player –i.e Eidur is playing awesome at the moment, but most fans would probably drop him for Drogba as soon as Drogba is fit. We are fans and we are already thinking about Robinhio how he'll fit in, rather than will Kezman get it together soon. It is just the way of the supporter.

More thoughts on tinkering. . .I think that our two best players who are not in the starting line-up are Cudicini and Scott Parker. Cech and Makalele are just better players. I don’t see a midfield with both Makalele and Parker as they are just too similar and I don’t see a starting XI with both Cech and Carlo in it :D It is nice to know that we CAN rest key players like Cech and Makalele and still have a great team out there. Parker is the “English” Makalele and he should be doing that job for the England team imo.

Oh well, a penny for your thoughts

[slipereypete]

great points monkee... with regards to the decision to put in ferreia in the midfield. i think it was to have a plan b without having to waste a sub. you could see that they were overlaping each other defensivley a lot like a rb and midfielder would offensivley...

[Andy Bennett]

I'd have thought he'd have played them the other way around with GJ in front but, as you say, he probably wanted to see how Ferreira did in midfield if it was needed in a game.

To be honest it looked a bit ineffective to me. Paulo's good when breaking wide when the rest of midfield are making themselves available for a pass but isn't really enough of a natural midfielder to be able to do the job on his own. Having said that NUFC were putting him under pressure with Robert and the LB coming forward a lot.

[Clan]

I get the feeling that nobody will whinge about missing games, as we've noe assured ourselves a busy month of December by making the quaters of the League Cup.
Many games to go around.

I do wonder where some of the players will get their 10 appearances from though, for the medals in may ;)

[adri]

I get the feeling that nobody will whinge about missing games, as we've noe assured ourselves a busy month of December by making the quaters of the League Cup.
Many games to go around.

I do wonder where some of the players will get their 10 appearances from though, for the medals in may ;)
90th minute subs. remember last season Wenger subbed on..who was it, Martin Keown?, like the last three games in a row.

still i worry 'bout Huth & Geremi.

[GPK]

I do wonder where some of the players will get their 10 appearances from though, for the medals in may ;)

Sorry, do you need a certain number of league matches to be considered part of the squad?

[Clan]

Sorry, do you need a certain number of league matches to be considered part of the squad?

You must have actually taken part in 10 games in order to qualify for a league winners medal.

It can be for 1 second or 1 minute or 90 mins - but you must have actually taken the field in league competition for 10 games during the season.

[Andy Bennett]

Yeah, I don't think medals are going to be the problem. Possibly with Huth although I think Geremi will be OK because he can fill in on right side defence or pretty much anywhere across midfield although he's better on the right or as a holding midfielder.

I think the problem's one of keeping the squad together as a unit - in other word keeping people happy. I suppose Huth's still young so probably won't bleat too much but that'll change over time.

[Clan]

still i worry 'bout Huth & Geremi....Cudicini?

[mst77]

...Cudicini?

Thinking the same thing. How much of a shame would it be if he missed out?