The Rotation

[CHOULO19 24,332]

i edited my post.

I was just trying to emphasize that the strongest squads always come 1st or 2nd in the league and its been too long since weve gotten near these positions.

But my problem is that you guys seem more interested in keeping the players happy than winning titles. And me i want more titles for us even at the cost of unhappy players thats where our opinions differ though.

I haven't even expressed an opinion about squad depth in this thread other than that I think it's importance is very subjective and I certainly haven't said anything yet about our current squad, so if you are including me in the bold part I have no idea how you have come to that conclusion.

My opinion is that having squad depth is crucial to any team competing for several trophies, but there has to be some balance. There are countless factors that affect any teams search for silverware. Having depth and options to rest players and replace injured ones with little change in quality helps you a lot, but having unhappy players which inevitably affects the mood in the dressing rooms hinders you. So it's all about balance for me.

[zolayes 14,489]

going to wander back in time ..Clubs didnt have squads , They had a first team and a reserve team some had third team called an A team.

The top reserve league had 22 teams the same number as the First Division.

Players werent rotated and many played in every game. Injuries were much fewer and for example in one of their title winning years I believe Liverpool

only used about 15 players. The need to rest puzzles me a little. The pitches are much better ,,,diet is better ,,,medical facilities are much better.

I sometimes wonder if it is excessive training which is leading to an increase in injuries.

International teams called up about 14 players for a game ,,and it was a rarity for anyone to drop out.

I am not saying it was better in the old days but it can be interesting to look back .

[hjperdeath 2,226]

going to wander back in time ..Clubs didnt have squads , They had a first team and a reserve team some had third team called an A team.

The top reserve league had 22 teams the same number as the First Division.

Players werent rotated and many played in every game. Injuries were much fewer and for example in one of their title winning years I believe Liverpool

only used about 15 players. The need to rest puzzles me a little. The pitches are much better ,,,diet is better ,,,medical facilities are much better.

I sometimes wonder if it is excessive training which is leading to an increase in injuries.

International teams called up about 14 players for a game ,,and it was a rarity for anyone to drop out.

I am not saying it was better in the old days but it can be interesting to look back .

that part is true. Sir Bobby Charlton did recently say that he never picked up an injury in his 21 years, and it was because he was lazy.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I haven't even expressed an opinion about squad depth in this thread other than that I think it's importance is very subjective and I certainly haven't said anything yet about our current squad, so if you are including me in the bold part I have no idea how you have come to that conclusion.

My opinion is that having squad depth is crucial to any team competing for several trophies, but there has to be some balance. There are countless factors that affect any teams search for silverware. Having depth and options to rest players and replace injured ones with little change in quality helps you a lot, but having unhappy players which inevitably affects the mood in the dressing rooms hinders you. So it's all about balance for me.

Youre right about balance though. But look at the top 6 teams this season and their players behind the main striker.

Manchester utd (young, rooney, kagawa, valencia, zaha, nani)

manchester city(navas, silva, jovetic, nasri, milner,) i didnt even mention aguero behind Dzeko(the striker up top)

Arsenal (ozil, carzola, walcot, podolski, ox, rosicky)

Liverpool (aspas, coutinho, moses, henderson, sterling, ibe)

Tottenham (chadli, erickson, lamela, townsend, sirgudson, lennon)

Now look at ours

Chelsea (hazard, mata, willian, schurrle, oscar, KDB)

All we did was try to make sure ours was the best of the lot, both starting and on the bench so that we have a clear advantage in the title race.

I honestly dont see anything wrong with this.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Youre right about balance though. But look at the top 6 teams this season and their players behind the main striker.

Manchester utd (young, rooney, kagawa, valencia, zaha, nani)

manchester city(navas, silva, jovetic, nasri, milner,) i didnt even mention aguero behind Dzeko(the striker up top)

Arsenal (ozil, carzola, walcot, podolski, ox, rosicky)

Liverpool (aspas, coutinho, moses, henderson, sterling, ibe)

Tottenham (chadli, erickson, lamela, townsend, sirgudson, lennon)

Now look at ours

Chelsea (hazard, mata, willian, schurrle, oscar, KDB)

All we did was try to make sure ours was the best of the lot, both starting and on the bench so that we have a clear advantage in the title race.

I honestly dont see anything wrong with this.

It's not about the number but rather the quality. Everyone of those teams has players that will have very little role in the season. For Arsenal Ox and Rosicky will likely have small roles, for United Young Kagawa and Zaha, for Liverpool Sterling and ibe, for Tottenham Townsend and Lennon. City are not really over-loaded as Milner often plays deeper in a 3-man midfield.

The problem for us is that all of our players are too good to be playing a very small role for any team, even Chelsea. Had we not signed Willian and kept Moses I would have said that we had excellent balanced depth.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I haven't even expressed an opinion about squad depth in this thread other than that I think it's importance is very subjective and I certainly haven't said anything yet about our current squad, so if you are including me in the bold part I have no idea how you have come to that conclusion.

My opinion is that having squad depth is crucial to any team competing for several trophies, but there has to be some balance. There are countless factors that affect any teams search for silverware. Having depth and options to rest players and replace injured ones with little change in quality helps you a lot, but having unhappy players which inevitably affects the mood in the dressing rooms hinders you. So it's all about balance for me.

Also, Its gonna be interesting to see how Pellegrini's is gonna manage his side with all the squad depth at the Etihad.

I cannot possibly comprehend how he's gonna fit all those players in the squad, especially in the forward department.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

It's not about the number but rather the quality. Everyone of those teams has players that will have very little role in the season. For Arsenal Ox and Rosicky will likely have small roles, for United Young Kagawa and Zaha, for Liverpool Sterling and ibe, for Tottenham Townsend and Lennon. City are not really over-loaded as Milner often plays deeper in a 3-man midfield.

The problem for us is that all of our players are too good to be playing a very small role for any team, even Chelsea. Had we not signed Willian and kept Moses I would have said that we had excellent balanced depth.

Ok, i get your point now. Its true, but i just have this bad feeling that one of hazard oscar or mata will get an injury(dont kill me yet) they've played so many games for 2 years now (look at messi getting injuries here and there) and i dont want us to regret not having better quality on the bench.

But i understand where you're coming from now

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Ok, i get your point now. Its true, but i just have this bad feeling that one of hazard oscar or mata will get an injury(dont kill me yet) they've played so many games for 2 years now (look at messi getting injuries here and there) and i dont want us to regret not having better quality on the bench.

But i understand where you're coming from now

I have a feeling one of them will be leaving if not in Jan then next summer; I think that's inevitable. It wouldn't be the end of the world, tbh.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I have a feeling one of them will be leaving if not in Jan then next summer; I think that's inevitable. It wouldn't be the end of the world, tbh.

Pretty sure Hazard and Oscar aren't going anywhere. Mata is the one who feels the most unsettled in the squad right now which is pretty ironic considering how well he fitted into the side last year. Mata was make or break for us last year. It'll be very depressing to see him leave.

If some AM has to go to make room, it can be Marin or Moses, even Willian. But then again, it's too early to tell. Who'd have thougt Ozil was gonna join Arsenal?

Mata might make the Player of the Year this year as well.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Pretty sure Hazard and Oscar aren't going anywhere. Mata is the one who feels the most unsettled in the squad right now which is pretty ironic considering how well he fitted into the side last year. Mata was make or break for us last year. It'll be very depressing to see him leave.

If some AM has to go to make room, it can be Marin or Moses, even Willian. But then again, it's too early to tell. Who'd have thougt Ozil was gonna join Arsenal?

Mata might make the Player of the Year this year as well.

Yeah I think it's too early to tell, but I can definitely see someone going.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

It's not about the number but rather the quality. Everyone of those teams has players that will have very little role in the season. For Arsenal Ox and Rosicky will likely have small roles, for United Young Kagawa and Zaha, for Liverpool Sterling and ibe, for Tottenham Townsend and Lennon. City are not really over-loaded as Milner often plays deeper in a 3-man midfield.

The problem for us is that all of our players are too good to be playing a very small role for any team, even Chelsea. Had we not signed Willian and kept Moses I would have said that we had excellent balanced depth.

This is exactly it. It's OK if Bertrand and Essien have minor roles. Even Demba Ba has scored 31 goals in the last 2 seasons in the Premier League and if he's the #3 striker, won't play much which is a waste but because he's not elite or our future, we can live with it. But every single one of our attacking midfielders should be starting at least 30 games this season and 2 or 3 of them won't start close to that number.

[Irakozium257 350]

IMO we shouldn't be taking our enlarged depth for granted by starting to wishing some players to be gone, unless the accountant says that there needs to be wage-balancing or whatever, and we thankfully don't have money problems thanks to our beloved sugar daddy, LOL. Anyways, I believe/hope that José has made all the players realize that they are part of a potential legendary season in the making, and that they will get their opportunities if they prove their worth. I certainly hope that all players will get to learn to each other, and that there will be opportunities for all to play.

The A-team IMO will be: Cech

Ivanovic Luiz Terry Cole

Ramires Oscar

Willian Mata Hazard

Eto'o

And then, any of those players could get rotated any time, at any game, when we get our mojo going.

[Barbara 15,149]

According to Mourinho himself we have two players for each position, 3 strikers and one extra mid-fielder (in the '2' of his 4-2-3-1).

That's totally okay imo... I don't see it being too much at all. I mean it's a lot, but not much to a fault.

If it ever becomes a problem to any of the players, then I'm sure they'll handle it, but as of right now I think it's how big clubs are... it's been like that in Barça and RM for years now. The best players stay while the second best either stay happy in the bench with the chances they actually have to play or just leave the club. It's such a natural process that I don't see where we could have problems.

[edetarod 2,155]

people need to get over the idea that Oscar will play in the pivot

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

According to Mourinho himself we have two players for each position, 3 strikers and one extra mid-fielder (in the '2' of his 4-2-3-1).

That's totally okay imo... I don't see it being too much at all. I mean it's a lot, but not much to a fault.

If it ever becomes a problem to any of the players, then I'm sure they'll handle it, but as of right now I think it's how big clubs are... it's been like that in Barça and RM for years now. The best players stay while the second best either stay happy in the bench with the chances they actually have to play or just leave the club. It's such a natural process that I don't see where we could have problems.

Except it hasn't. 2 players for each position is way, way too much. Barcelona had 6 players start a game in the league at attacking midfield/striker. Real Madrid had 8. Bayern had 7. ManU had 7. City had 7.

Anyway, here are the avg stats for Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid, City, and ManU (top teams in top leagues with the best depth)

Average # of starts in league for teams'

#5 attacking player-15.4

#6 attacking player-11.4

#7 attacking player-8

#8 attacking player-1

The #7 attacking player on super-deep squads barely plays (starts about,once a month) but Chelsea are going to somehow work in 8 or 9 players regularly? Two or three Chelsea attackers are barely going to play. (And people need to stop with the Oscar or De Bruyne in the centre stuff unless it actually happens. Oscar has played about 60 games under 3 managers with Chelsea and about 59 of them he's been an attacking player. De Bruyne is a defensive liability and and only works as an attacking player).