It’s Not A Team Game

Football is not a team game. Despite every PE teacher in the country saying that it is the 11 men on the pitch that can make a difference, it isn’t. Football is a squad game. It’s great having 11 world class players but then if 4 are injured and 3 are tired, you’re left with 3 individuals who cannot influence a game.

Without a squad, the gruelling fixture list will just swallow you up and to get to the top, rotation is key. The first need for rotation is clearly if an injury crops up. If this injury is to a key player, weaker teams often bottle it and play timid football.

The fact that when Birmingham City lost Cotterill to injury but yet have carried on with their sparkling form shows what a strong team they have. Maghoma deserves a lot of credit as he has come in and done a good job filling the flash boots of Cotts. But it is also the confidence in the team which helps to motivate players and to enable them to overlook injuries as a weakness.

The second reason that may force a change in personnel is tiredness. Robinson has been a goal machine the last couple of games, not to mention, an absolute rock at the heart of the defence. But can he do this week in week out? No matter what you think of Robbo, I think everyone will answer no to this. Therefore rotation is needed.

In this case, Spector can be brought in to partner Morrison and all is well in the Birmingham City defensive line. I don’t like constant change to a defence. I think that experience of working with the same people will enable an understanding to take place which will benefit the defensive display. But we can’t have players being dropped who are in good form such as Robbo. So I think that Rowett has handled it superbly.

It will be interesting to see how many games Robinson will start but so far Gary’s management of his players seems to have been spot on. I am concerned that he may need to rest Donaldson and that we have no back up for when this does occur, but we can save this debate for another day.

It is one thing to be winning games and climbing up to the top of the table. But it is another thing maintaining that form. We are in October. A lot can happen in the coming months that can force a change and we need to keep the momentum going in order to stay in the delightful position in which we find ourselves. Very promising. We definitely have a squad now, not just a team.