Squad Rotation

[benjaybaluja]

How do you guys rotate your squad?

I have two players for each position, one being older and more experienced and one being younger with a bright future.

I tend to have a 1st XI and a second XI and when the young player gets better then the older I swap them around thus creating two teams with a balance of experience.

However, I have tried swapping the teams every other game, every third, every fourth game but i am not sure what to do. Some players still aren't happy and I am concerned that I am not getting the best out of some key players.

But i refuse to have a squad full of unhappy, unfit players.... still dont know what to do.

Any ideas????

 

[Preston85]

Well depends on size of squad and what role you told them they would play (and if they are still happy with it). You can't keep 22 players happy if they all want to be starting. The bigger the squad the less time is available, so sometimes to many players can stunt growth since got to share time out.

I try not to make to many changes just for sake of swapping. It depends on condition, form and who i've just played and the upcomming games. Trying to get my best and inform players at full condition for the bigger games.

 

[RavenWire]

I usually give a player 4-5 games in the position, give them a chance to impress, If they look like they are improving, or are already playing well, then they stay in. When their form dips I'll swap them out for the next guy, then go through the same process. e.g. I had Dossena at left back for a big chunk of the season, then his form dropped and I stuck Arbeloa in, who then did very well, the same happened to Riera/Babel. Just pick out the worst/not in form players, and put them on the bench. Then if their replacements play worse, you have the option of putting the original player back on

 

[Preston85]

I usually give a player 4-5 games in the position, give them a chance to impress, If they look like they are improving, or are already playing well, then they stay in. When their form dips I'll swap them out for the next guy, then go through the same process. e.g. I had Dossena at left back for a big chunk of the season, then his form dropped and I stuck Arbeloa in, who then did very well, the same happened to Riera/Babel. Just pick out the worst/not in form players, and put them on the bench. Then if their replacements play worse, you have the option of putting the original player back on

Should probably also mention types of players. My starting LB is much better defensively (can also play CB) while my young backup is a true fullback/wingback with better attacking stats (crossing/dribbling/passing ect). So against weaker teams i'm more likely to play the young backup and rest the starter i'm also more likely to play attakcing hence is also better suited to the job.

If they're same type of player then yeah, more just about the form.

 

[deelang]

How do you guys rotate your squad?

I have two players for each position, one being older and more experienced and one being younger with a bright future.

I tend to have a 1st XI and a second XI and when the young player gets better then the older I swap them around thus creating two teams with a balance of experience.

However, I have tried swapping the teams every other game, every third, every fourth game but i am not sure what to do. Some players still aren't happy and I am concerned that I am not getting the best out of some key players.

But i refuse to have a squad full of unhappy, unfit players.... still dont know what to do.

Any ideas????

Sounds like the main difficulty is keeping players who are in the second XI happy.

I try and stagger the qualities of the players: for example of my CMs I will have my first choice 2, a third of almost the same quality and a fourth who is much younger and not expecting to play as much. The 3rd choice can rotate effectively with the main 2, and always be on the bench, whereas the 4th choice only starts in occasional home games, or Carling Cup matches.

Same for the 4 FCs, and for the four wingers. In defence I have a back four with three backups: one DLC, one DC and one DRC which should cover most eventualities.

Better to retrain existin players than to expand the squad. Also, did you install patch 9.3? I think one of the fixes relates to players becoming Unh for being left out even when this has been through injury. This might help.

 

[Luis Aragones Legacy]

I change their status at the beginning of the season, meaning you'll have 25 angry men for a couple of months, but after that they aren't grumpy at not playing all the games. I think it's better in the long run, and tbh I do it also out of principle I don't want any of those posh young arrogant dic---ks to think they're so important, they perform, they play, they don't perform, they don't play.

 

[RavenWire]

Should probably also mention types of players. My starting LB is much better defensively (can also play CB) while my young backup is a true fullback/wingback with better attacking stats (crossing/dribbling/passing ect). So against weaker teams i'm more likely to play the young backup and rest the starter i'm also more likely to play attakcing hence is also better suited to the job.

If they're same type of player then yeah, more just about the form.

Very good point. If the opposition has pacy wingers, its a given that you should be playing full backs that can shift when needed. I usually go for stronger players when playing teams with no wingers e.g. back four from left to right - Sakho, Fazio, Agger, Carragher

 

[BrianGabriel]

I know my first team, with the key positions having two first team players rotating. For example:

GK: Mandanda (Reina bench warmer)
RB: Rafinha (Opare as back-up, plays in high tempo games)
CB: Carragher (Agger as rotation)
CB: Zapata (Hobbs as back-up)
LB: Insua (Dossena as back-up)

RM: A.Young (McBride as rotation, as well as Elano)
CM: Mascherano (Zobel and Lenny as back-up)
CM: Gerrard (Mascio as rotation)
LM: Mata (Robinho as rotation, Babel too)

ST: Davies (Babel, Kuyt are rotations)
ST: Torres (Babel and Kuyt are rotations)

I have a few versetile players. Babel is happy, as he plays on right, left, up front he gets a good amount time on the pitch as well as Kuyt. My wingers are the key to my tactics, with a good work load. So a rotation is neccesary. Elano, Kuyt, Babel, Mcbridge, Robinho, Mata, they are all there if needs be. Elano is leaving at end of season anyway, he's about 32.

The central midfielders, the main two is Gerrard and Mascherano. Mascherano plays near enough every game, but Gerrard is getting on in years now and tires quicker. So I have cover for him, these are young players who will be first teamers in a couple of years.

Opare is young and likes the amount of games he gets, which is about 1 in 4. Dossena is leaving at the end of the season, he gets about the same. Carragher like Gerrard gets tired easier, so I rotate him with Agger and Hobbs. They're happy.

What I have done in my years, is let those in their prime age be the first teamers (As they are best) where as the older players who will be leaving have a shared amount of game time as the young players breaking through. Players like McBride, he gets a bit more time than Elano as he's (One better) but Elano is leaving.

I may sound like a un-friendly manager. But unless the older players hitting their 30's have great stats, I give them less time on the pitch. But use them as impact subs. So the young players who have a future come through, get some game time and if there is any injuries, well they're there to play.

It's good to have versetile players in key positions. Babel and Kuyt are brilliant for this. Babel can hold up the ball, run down the wings, run through the middle, get onto through balls. He's surprisingly brilliant in the game. Kuyt is getting on now, but he can play in key positions. So he gets good amount of game time.

Gerrard is out for rest of season now, 2 months to go. So Lenny (Great regen, amazing free kicks, scores 1 in 3 from any distance) has come in and rotated with Mascio. So I have two great young players happy.

At times I don't know how I do it myself. I have a great squad harmony, and even Reina is happy despite playing only 14 games this season.

Also, for the players leaving. Elano, and Dossena. I can give McBride more game time with Kuyt as his cover if needs be. While I have two good young left backs coming through the youth academy to replace Dossena. Both predicted to be leading stars. I can see Insua leaving in four years with them two young left backs fighting for their place in the team.

 

[Gaz1984]

I have to say that I always get that problem as I seem to buy players the other teams are after just to stop them getting them.

Thats why I am rubbish,

 

[MattGraham16]

Sounds like the main difficulty is keeping players who are in the second XI happy.

I try and stagger the qualities of the players: for example of my CMs I will have my first choice 2, a third of almost the same quality and a fourth who is much younger and not expecting to play as much. The 3rd choice can rotate effectively with the main 2, and always be on the bench, whereas the 4th choice only starts in occasional home games, or Carling Cup matches.

Same for the 4 FCs, and for the four wingers. In defence I have a back four with three backups: one DLC, one DC and one DRC which should cover most eventualities.

Better to retrain existin players than to expand the squad. Also, did you install patch 9.3? I think one of the fixes relates to players becoming Unh for being left out even when this has been through injury. This might help.

I defiantely agree with this. Especially with the back four. I rarely change my back four (unless of injury obviosuly) and I have 2 defenders who can utilise most positions.
I play 3 AM so I have 4 all of the same and best quality and then younger and lesser quality back ups.
If you want to rotate to keep overall fitness of the squad up then only do it with one or two players per game. If youve got 22 players who are good enough to be playing first XI then you should think bout selling some of them and maybe getting some younger players in for the future.

 

[Gatid]

the thing i do is when i play games i tend to try dominate as much as possible and try to end the game by half time by going like 2-0 up then bring on my fringe players to rest my star players for the next game to keep all my players fitness levels high.

what i do with my 7 subs is all of them can play in 3 different position so the 3 saubs i can put on in games can cover my whole team.

in the carling, fa cup, Champions league i play completely my second squad with no star players on bench until i get into the quarter finals thats when i start playing my full squad so i have the upper hand agasinst my opponents.