Three Premiership games in eight days

[Hantakun]

Looking at the upcoming fixtures, we´ve got Sunderland home and Reading away this week and the next. After that the schedule turns a lot more congested with Norwich (H), Arsenal (H) and Man City (A) in only eight days.

Up until now it seems Moyes has been rotating this rather small squad as little as possible, only changing the lineup when forced to do so by injuries and suspensions.

How do you guys expect him to deal with this upcoming tough run when going into the next two "easy" (not to say "must win") games? Will he shuffle it about, handing large amounts of pitch time, or even starts, to the likes of Oviedo and Hitzlsperger? (Not to mention the possible need to get a new backup striker up to speed if Anichebe was injured in that reserves game a couple of days ago... )

Or will he persist with the usual suspects trying to maintain the recent good form and secure the crucial six points from the Sunderland and Reading games? And possibly field a weaker, less "glued" team in the difficult Man City game?

Rotating the squad didn't work out against Leeds in the League Cup, as we all remember. But I'm sure no one here wants neither old captain Phil nor priced assets such as Baines and Jelavic to go 270+ mins in a week...

 

[Summerskin]

Nothing we can't handle, done it plenty of times before.

Honestly doubt we'll see much in the way of rotation either, Hibbert, Gueye and any one of the 3 centre halves will probably be it, barring any injuries.

 

[wandyr79]

3 games in 8 days is nothing.

If they aren't fit enough to play a whole season with the odd 3 game week then they shouldn't be playing football.

Fair enough with older players but Baines, Jelavic, Fellaini, Pienaar, Mirallas, Jags, Coleman, etc. should be able to play every game dependent on injuries and/or suspension.

 

[ToffeeBlueNose]

It might sound simple and obvious but he will play his strongest eleven dependant on injuries and suspensions. If he doesn't I want to know why!

 

[andy4efc]

I believe the players would rather play more games and less training anyway.

 

[Nlondonblue]

It might sound simple and obvious but he will play his strongest eleven defendant on injuries and suspensions. If he doesn't I want to know why!

This.

No reason why the lads can't play 3 games in 3 days. Id like to think they are massively looking forward to it what with all the breaks for Internationals recently. With no Muckey mouse cup or Europe the boys should be fit and raring to go. Especially if they can get into a winning streak over the next 3 games.

 

[quasi modo]

If we get a couple of good wins against Sunderland and Reading the momentum will hopefully carry us through the other games. The big test will be City away.

 

[Columbia6]

No, it would be crazy to rotate the squad. We're playing very well, Moyes would be crucified if he rested Mirallas, Jagielka, and we ended up drawing with Sunderland. Really we're only playing one game more than the usual weekend matches, so it shouldn't be a huge problem.

 

[Christiffa25]

No Mickey Mouse cup No Europe.

There's really no need this early in the season to worry about rotation. Maybe Distin may get rested in one game and Neville if Gibson's back.

 

[grandjoeblue]

We could win all 3, I'd settle for 7 points.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

Play your best 11 but make use of your subs.

 

[85everton]

Absolutely NO rotation nonsense. Moyes will always (I hope) play his strongest 11 to suit whatever team we are playing against.

There will be injuries and suspensions at some point, only then will there be changes.

 

[Hantakun]

Haha, I sense a broad consesus that the question I posed was pretty stupid thanks for your kind replies, guys!

 

[ToffeeBlueNose]

Haha, I sense a broad consesus that the question I posed was pretty stupid thanks for your kind replies, guys!

not at all mate, if we had a bigger squad with more strength in depth then it's more likely he would rotate. As it stands we haven't got the players to make wholesale changes without severely disrupting the way we play, like at Leeds.

 

[wandyr79]

Haha, I sense a broad consesus that the question I posed was pretty stupid thanks for your kind replies, guys!

It wasn't stupid but I think that footballers should cope with the physical strain, as said above if we had a bigger squad then you can get away with rotation to keep players on their toes mentally if nothing else.