x

None Of This Rotation Malarkey At Arsenal ! Play The Best Side !

I said this last week in the run up to the defeat at Sparta Prague, our failure to do that means that our problems are now compounded.

I said a week ago that although I agreed with Claude Puel's policy of rotating the squad in midweek as few players could play week in week out, that sometimes you have to have a period where you can't rotate and you have to put out your best side.

Now Saints travel to Arsenal in the league Cup and 5,000 Saints supporters want to go up there knowing that if we lose, we do so having given it our best shot.

That means playing the best side available to us, of course their may be the odd change or two, but the reality is that we should not be afraid of Arsenal, they struggled to beat us in the League a couple of months ago and they struggled to beat Bournemouth on Sunday.

The likelihood is that they themselves will field a weakened team, but that does not mean that we should do the same, this is a game we should win, we are long overdue a semi final appearance and we have blown two good chances in the last couple of seasons.

If we put out our best side then we have a great opportunity, the League Cup might not be high on Arsenal's priorities but it should be high on ours.

For Claude Puel it is a pivotal moment in his relationship with the Saints support, many were outraged at the way we capitulated to what was after all a poor Sparta side last week, if we had put out a good side and won, then that would have eased the pressure in that we could then have rested key players against Happoel.

Now that is out the window and the pressure is on us in a eight day period that will define our season.

Beat Arsenal and we are in the semi finals of the League Cup and with a great shout of Wembley and another Europa League campaign, beat Be'er Sheva and we are in the last 32 of the Europa League and have a lot to look forward to in the New Year.

Lose to them both and suddenly the season will go flat and not only that but those players already being mentioned as a target for big clubs, will feel more inclined to want to go.

Players of course want to earn big money, but they also want to win trophies, the squad itself will want to win this game and after last week it will know it cannot afford to be complacent.

Claude Puel found out a few things about his squad in Prague and one of those things was that defensively it cant be changed too much, it is not just about not conceding goals but the way in which we rely on the full backs to get forward, I would say that Soares and Bertrand are two of the best attacking full backs in the Premier League, without them we are a lesser side and that was the key in Prague.

McQueen is a talent but he is still inexperienced and we should have played Bertrand, on the right Martina is not good enough, in defence he is positionally poor and going forward he cannot cross a ball with enough accuracy.

In Prague if we had had Cedric Soares in we would have got at least a point, add Bertrand and we would have won. Both have spent time injured this season so there is no need to rest them, they are not as jaded as those that have played week in week out.

So enough of rotating the squad, it needs the best men for the task out on the pitch and not sat at home or in the stands.

As I say a key moment for Claude Puel, after a hard start he has won the fans over slowly but surely, he took a step back in Prague, now he needs to take several forward by puttting out his best side at Arsenal.

No Saints supporter will berate him if we go out there and give it our best shot, but if we field a side wth 7 changes again then many will be very disappointed should we lose.

What to read next:

Uchegbulam Signs for Latics
In a bizarre transfer move, Dale winger Jesurun Uchegbulam has left Rochdale to join one of our biggest rivals.
Cameron Gone
Jim McNulty confirmed in his latest video interview that the last of the out of contract players has now left the club.
Aidan Barlow Becomes Fifth Summer Signing
After an initial busy period, it's been quiet on the transfer front recently but today, out of nowhere, Dale made their fifth summer signing.
Jimmy Keohane Goes Home
News has come out of the club that Swiss Army Jimmy has rejected his contract offer from Dale and left the club.
Rodney Signs New Deal
Somewhat surprisingly you could say, Devante Rodney has signed a new 2-year contract at Dale!
Nevett Linked With Posh Move
Dale centre half George Nevett is now being linked with a big move to Peterborough United.
Three Scholars Offered New Deals
The club have now released their retained list for the Academy Scholars with three players offered new deals.
Brad Kelly Signs New Contract
Dale goalkeeper Brad Kelly has signed a new one-year deal to stay at Spotland.
Hendo Signs For Another Year
Dale striker Ian Henderson has signed a new one year contract to stay at Spotland, [insert goat emoji here]
Dale Sign Tanzanian International
Rochdale have added another winger to their ranks in the form of a Tanzanian International.