Consistency Is Key

Football is like science. You have to keep experimenting until a perfect formula is reached. However, that formula may fizzle out when the reactants stop bonding, to carry on the science analogy.

I think that Rowett may be in danger of this. We had a good few games against the likes of Burnley and Derby and so the stability of the team remained fixed. The advantages to this is certainly the fact that familiarity remains and the fluidity of the team should never come under scrutiny.

However, due to this, the first choice team may not be able to play week in week out. This may be due to injuries, suspensions or even the fact that some may need a rest. The likes of Gray will not be able to start every game for instance.

Squad rotation makes a massive difference to how well the team does. The decisions made by the gaffer before every game not only influences the team that day, but also in the future. If he plays the same team week in week out, then the fatigue levels may cause many players to lose match fitness.

If this happens, then a number of changes will have to be made and accommodating fringe players may not give the desired results. What I think needs to happen, is that players get rotated. So Toral may drop to the bench for Davis and vice versa the week after. Just to vary the burden amongst the players but not in the way that it disrupts the flow.

I also only believe this to be the case with midfielders. A back four which keeps changing is never good. They need a very high level of understanding with each other and this comes through playing week in week out together. I am not an advocate at tinkering at the back.

But, the midfield also need a partnership in order to create attacks so it’s important that the change isn’t all the time. But it also has to be enough to make the bench players happy.

These substitutes will also need game time not just for contentment, but also for playing ability. If they are sat on the bench for 8 weeks and then expected to play a full 90 minute game. Then that is clearly not going to work; rustiness and match pace may not be in their locker anymore.

Having said this, I think that Rowett is doing this quite well. He has a tendency to keep things how they are which isn’t a bad thing. I would just like to see the likes of Thomas, Arthur, Shinnie and Davis being rotated on a bit more frequently.