If we make it to the F.A. Cup final we play Newcastle in midweek so no rest week plus no rest week after as we'd have to play the rearranged Brighton game the day of cup final day.It is 12 games if we do the unmentionable, but 10 of those games are in the next five weeks and then, I think, we'd have a clear week before the FA cup final and then another clear week before the CL final, so rotation wouldn't be an issue at that stage. I don't think Pep takes risks because I think he has more faith in the squad than many who have posted on this thread and so I don't think we'll see too many players rested/rotated in the semis because fully rested players for matches that might not take place is would be an awful way to end, as GPC knows after the FA cup semi of 2010. But I'm also convinced he'll view the 5 weeks as a whole, make his plans and then tweak them as circumstances demand. Beyond that I'll leave it to Pep - I'm too much a bag of nerves.
Better not leaving rotation up to me then! Thanks for the info.If we make it to the F.A. Cup final we play Newcastle in midweek so no rest week plus no rest week after as we'd have to play the rearranged Brighton game the day of cup final day.
We would have a rest week before Chumps final if we made it though.
I think this is the key question. Sterling has been a major part of our success over the last 5 years, and we need him back in form and brimming with confidence. But if anything the Leeds game just confirmed his lack of form at the moment and other than 90 secs at the end of Dotmund 2nd leg he has been left out of the games he must expect to play in. I really hope he has been showing enough form in training to be trusted with a start this evening and he can take the opportunity - he needs it, and we need him because defences run scared of an inform Raheem and that creates opportunities for others.We've seen Pep is quite ruthless when it comes to picking the in-form players for the biggest games. Sterling is obviously a confidence player who looks a little shaken. How does he get his confidence back so he's up there for selection for the next 6 weeks?
True. Especially Ben and Torres. Don’t think Serg will be involved much, isn’t his leg in a brace at the moment?There currently seems to be the very solid backup crew that you feel will get every non-ultra vital game.
I'd say currently, it's Zinchenko/Cancelo (dependent on Pep), Laporte, Fernandinho, Sterling, Jesus. This could change of course, particularly with the fullbacks and Sterling, but that's what you imagine are the current rotation options.
What would massively benefit us is if the other players beyond those can make an impact and be counted upon: Steffen, Aké, Mendy, Torres, and Aguero. At least with Steffen there's no cause for concern right now, but the other 4 for their own reasons as of immediate are question marks in some way or form. If they can all do their bit it would take so much pressure off of the squad.