Resting players

4737carlin · January 4, 2015

Full team in the FA cup, might help us with confidence...etc
Weak team in the Europa now, we cant afford to risk everyone away at Young Boys because we play Leicester 3 days later, which is looking a vital win right now.

Khalekan · January 4, 2015

N.S.N.O. said:
We already have enough players out injured that we can't afford to rest anyone...

Last season big Sam would have played a weakened team in the FA cup with premier league survival the priority....he doesn't need to worry about that this year so I would expect a strong west ham team...

This game is massive for our season....we absolutely have to win it...play as strong a team as is possible, and for God sakes play players in the right positions!..

Yes.

I would be inclined to go for it in this one and "rest" players for the City game, which I think us a lost cause anyway.

Beat Hammers, then beat Baggies......IMO that is the very realistic target we must set over the next fortnight.

Toffeelover · January 4, 2015

Resting players, is this a joke. For the most part they are young, supposed to be peak fit and they can't play a few games in about 10 days.

I remember when there were no subs, if a player got injured he went on the wing but stayed on the pitch unless he had broken something. They were men then not a gang of pussies like now.

Seamus Colemole · January 4, 2015

Toffeelover said:
Resting players, is this a joke. For the most part they are young, supposed to be peak fit and they can't play a few games in about 10 days.

I remember when there were no subs, if a player got injured he went on the wing but stayed on the pitch unless he had broken something. They were men then not a gang of pussies like now.

Missing the point like most people do.

They could play 5 games a week if they had to, playing the games themselves isn't the problem.

It's playing at 100%, being at the very peak of mental and physical fitness which is needed to suceed at the highest level. If they're even the slightest bit below it tha can be the difference between winning and losing.

A manager needs to rotate his squad and rest players when he deems it neccesary in order to keep them as close to peak fitness as possible. Not because they're precious little darlings who are tired after playing twice in a week.

Toffeelover · January 4, 2015

Seamus Colemole said:
Missing the point like most people do.

They could play 5 games a week if they had to, playing the games themselves isn't the problem.

It's playing at 100%, being at the very peak of mental and physical fitness which is needed to suceed at the highest level. If they're even the slightest bit below it tha can be the difference between winning and losing.

A manager needs to rotate his squad and rest players when he deems it neccesary in order to keep them as close to peak fitness as possible. Not because they're precious little darlings who are tired after playing twice in a week.

Amazing how the players managed back before subs, or when only one was allowed is it not? and still had the same volume of games, like in those days Div 1 had 42 games in it.

Tree13 · January 4, 2015

Toffeelover said:
Amazing how the players managed back before subs, or when only one was allowed is it not? and still had the same volume of games, like in those days Div 1 had 42 games in it.

But then again those games seemed to be played at a noticeably slower pace. Swings and roundabouts pal.

I think the decision to "rest" players or not must in part be determined by the timing of the new signings, be they frees, loans or permanents, that Martinez must unveil this week if we are to have any realistic hope of climbing out of the hole we are currently in. If we are only getting one or two in, then I would throw in the towel in the FA Cup and field a team similar to the last EL group game. If we are getting three or four in, or which at least two are starting XI quality, then maybe we try for a run in the FA cup. Either way I would look at the City game as a meaningless fixture and effectively start our prem season all over again on the 19th against WBA.

If he doesn't bring in anyone, we are in bother and will in all likelihood have to get out of the EL sharpish in order to maximise our chances in the prem.

bainesontoast · January 4, 2015

ijjysmith said:
Difficult decision.

QPR losing right now. Bet they don't care. They just want to stay up.

...perhaps Martinez knows the situation we're currently in and doesn't want the FA Cup around as a hindrance.

Abraders · January 4, 2015

Toffeelover said:
Resting players, is this a joke. For the most part they are young, supposed to be peak fit and they can't play a few games in about 10 days.

I remember when there were no subs, if a player got injured he went on the wing but stayed on the pitch unless he had broken something. They were men then not a gang of pussies like now.

Think it's a bit different now though, the pure physical peak of fitness which players can achieve now is almost detrimental in a way. Takes 1 screw loose for the whole thing to blow you know, like Mirallas hammy.

MACCA75 · January 4, 2015

Pretty much all of our players have had breaks this season (apart from Barry who obviously needs one) so there is no excuse for any of them not being fresh.

toffeejack · January 4, 2015

put the best team out for the mother of god. we won't get relegated, bit of an over the top reaction to a few poor results imo, we do though look like we're not going to achieve anything of merit this season, so may as well take a gap year so to speak to concentrate on two chances at silverwear.

toffeejack · January 4, 2015

reckon we'll draw and then lose the replay in extra time, just to be an amazing kick in the balls and waste of time.

efcfanwirral · January 4, 2015

Talk of throwing cup games so we can fight to stay up? Try telling that to joe royle and the 94/95 team. The joy has really just disappeared from football for some people

Tree13 · January 4, 2015

efcfanwirral said:
Talk of throwing cup games so we can fight to stay up? Try telling that to joe royle and the 94/95 team. The joy has really just disappeared from football for some people

I can see your point, but do you think we have a big enough squad to mount two cup campaigns and to climb back up the league table all at the same time? Personally I don't, and unless we bring in new faces pronto I would prefer that if we have to let something slide it should be the FA cup rather than the Prem or the EL.

efcfanwirral · January 4, 2015

Tree13 said:
I can see your point, but do you think we have a big enough squad to mount two cup campaigns and to climb back up the league table all at the same time? Personally I don't, and unless we bring in new faces pronto I would prefer that if we have to let something slide it should be the FA cup rather than the Prem or the EL.

Could've said the same in 94. Modern football is absolutely rubbish

Tree13 · January 4, 2015

efcfanwirral said:
Could've said the same in 94. Modern football is absolutely rubbish

For clarity, do you mean the 93 / 94 season (where we came 17th in the Prem, left the FA cup in the 3rd round and the League cup in the 4th round), or the 94 / 95 season (15th, won the FA cup and got beat in the 2nd round of the League cup).

Genuinely not taking the mickey, just want to know which season you're referring to.