For once I agree with you, Nick. The constant team changes from one match to the next are having a negative impact on performances and now that we are out of Europe they really are unnecessary.

As it happens I supported Puel's rotation policy in principle while we were still in the Europa Cup, but now think there should be less emphasis upon it since we will be getting back to a more normal run of games. My problem has been that in practice it has meant he has fielded some below par sides which have lacked balance and tactics have been mistaken eg. the ultra defensive midfield selected for the Hapoel game.

Of course there is rotation for some and not others so Foster, Romeu, Redmond and VVD have pretty much been ever present squad members. certainly in the case of the last three there have been few credible alternatives (this may seem a bit harsh on Harrison Reed who I think has the potential, but is some way behind Romeu in sheer class).

But too often we shuffle about midfielders who are each and everyone of them unlikely to score a goal, none of them are likely to get more than three goals in a season. I'm talking here about Romeu, Davis, Clasie, Ward-Prowse and Hojberg. Tadic and Redmond are clearly a little more offensive in their instincts (and we looked better in the second half against M'brough when Tadic went off, Redmond went to the left wing and Boufal went to No.10. I am not a Redmond knocker, he seems exactly the sort of young talent that we need and his willingness to work hard for the team is excellent, okay his final ball needs to be better, but I think he more than most deserves our patience. I certainly see more value in Clasie recently and his ability to move the ball forward quickly and accurately seems vital, but he won't score many...and nor will Ward-Prowse who doesn't seem to have developed much at all in the last three seasons. Boufal looks to have huge potential and is another who requires patience from fans and management while he gets back to full match fitness and becomes more accustomed to the pace and rigours of the PL - this will take him a while and won't especially be helped by going off to play for Morocco sometime after Xmas.

If we can expect a minimum of 5 or 6 goals per season from Tadic and Boufal (and Redmond) where are our other goals going to come from. Perhaps the same number from VVD who is just outstanding in almost every respect, both in leadership and skills. Clearly there will be little grounds to expect Austin to make much contribution until the tale end of the season so its down to Long and/or Rodrigues (possibly bolstered by Gallagher) with occasional outings from Sims, maybe McQueen.

But neither Long nor JRod are in anything like good form (some evidence that JRod may be recovering a little bit of confidence, though I thought he lacked speed on the turn on Sunday) and both these players statistically need a lot of chances to convert attempts on goal into actual goals. And Tadic and Redmond apart (and perhaps Boufal) we don't create many chances and seem also to have completely lost the willingness to press to oipposition (aside from Long's honourable record in this aspect of his game). Both Long and JRod are at their best playing on the shoulders of oppesition defenders and running the channels, but few of our midfielders seem to play with their heads up to see the options early.

So I think it is vital that we buy a striker in January who can replace those parts of the game we are completely deficient in since losing Pelle and now Austin ie. bullying defenders and holding up the ball and getting on the end of the often inaccurate crosses that we carelessly sling into the box when we are a bit unsure what else to do. Weren't we linked in the summer with a player by the name of Haller who had an apparently good record? If at all possible I agree with Puel, Gallagher should stay at Blackburn as long as possible this season.

Can I also mention my concern about Fraser Forster who seems increasingly nailed to his line (reflections of Kelvin here) not sure where his feet are, certainly can't get his hands down near to his feet due to his immense height and whose distribution seems to be getting increasingly ragged/erratic. I think McCarthy should be given more benefit from the rotation policy, not completely ignored; I don't think he is injured is he?

I think everyone agrees with that - although it didn't just affect the EL, it made our league form patchy too. Strange as Puel was bought in for his experience of managing European campaigns. That went well then...

Sounds great in theory but what is our best team? Most of the players are at a similar level which could be why Puel rotates so much. When you don't have too many standout players it's difficult to settle on your best eleven.

ExiledSupporter - yes he is injured and has been for a while. Taylor on the bench though doesn't exactly scream confidence in young Harry Lewis. Agree McCarthy should be given a few games to keep Fraser on his toes, but while he doesn't stray from his line, he is an excellent shot stopper and a great asset for Saints

Blaming a rotation policy for “failure” is just making excuses in my opinion, more our squad was not good enough to progress.
Yes I understand team changes can upset fluidity, but how many of these changes have been forced by injury rather than changes for change sake.

At one point we had our third choice full backs having to play week in week out (McQueen/ Martina, I would say McQueen has now overtaken Tagget) , Austin is simply not fit enough to play every game, Jrod has just completed his first 90 mins in 3 YEARS, Long who picked up a knock on the international break, Tadic has a broken nose and even when fully fit rarely completes 90mins, Cedric/Fonte barley had enough time to deload form last season and Boufal wasn’t even fit when we signed him.

Our squad is big, and for the first time in a long time we have actually got competition for places, think we need a striker and another keeper to challenge Fraser tho.

I do hope we keep the same back four as Sunday.

We can play good football and score goals without hoofing the ball up the middle to a tall big centre forward.

Not happy with Clasie yet tho he has improved from his earlier non existant days.

What has happened to Gardos?

Not sure Puel knows his first eleven, but with a 10 day break after the Bournemouth game there should be no need for rotation unless the team against Stoke is a disaster.

100% with you Nick but.... he won't of course, he can't resist meddling it seems. Hope JWP doesn't travel.

Nick, the only point I would disagree with is your comment about the loss of Mane. We do not only miss his goals but the energy, speed and creativity he gave to our attacking unit - just as he is doing for the Scousers now. Perhaps Boufal will provide some of that attacking ignition, but it was the winger/AM/striker role Mane conjured up that provided so many good things for us in the two seasons prior.

Why would we still be talking about "rotation" - we are out (if Puel needs the word in French it is hors). "Rotation" is for self-important managers - it is not for a club who now have 2 games in 14 days. "Rotation" may or may not have been necessary in Europe but it is NOT needed now.

I agree with perazi about Mane. There is an obsession with statistics that has been imported from the US and, I suppose, cricket. Yes football has certain 'measurables' (what exactly is an 'assist' anyway?) but the idea that the stats show that Mane wasn't useful for us simply ignores what I and many others saw on the pitch (just the things that Perazi points out). Long is a pale shadow since he lost Mane to make space for him. We can argue about player sales until the cows come home and perhaps we got a good price for a player who wanted to go - but the fact that he WASN'T REPLACED is the big issue.

With regards to league form, I largely disagree with all the above. Apart from the MIddlesbrough game, which ironically we won, Puel has picked what most people would consider to be our strongest team in the league games. Certainly stronger than the midweek teams used for the league cup and first 5 European games. Indeed Nick, if I didn't know the result, reading your second paragraph I would have thought that we had lost to Middlesborough by not playing Soares and Bertrand.

So it is difficult to blame rotation for the dropping of points against Palace and Hull. And Puel will continue to rotate through to 4 Feb - and I agree with him. We have 10 games (11 if we beat Norwich in the cup) between 28 December and 4 February, playing every midweek except one. If we play our strongest team through this period, and people will be screaming for this against the scousers in the semi, the players will all be knackered/injured.

From then on, games are only once a week, and it will be interesting to see what Puel does.