"It's a Squad game", is it?

In the modern game, it's become clichéd for pundits and managers to tell everyone that it is now a squad game. Due to the number of matches across a season - which can include league games, two domestic cup competitions and in some cases European games - it has become vital for managers to assemble not only a starting eleven with care and attention but to also have a group of players to supplement them. The intensity with which the game is played nowadays dictates that rest is essential throughout the campaign to maintain a level of play during the course of the season. However it seems that our current manager is an exception to this rule; instead he focuses on a core group of players and this number will prove to be a vital commodity this season.

At the moment, we currently have 22 senior players with the view to reducing that number to 20 before the end of the transfer window. This group will be complemented by four or five youth players of genuine potential. Some might think that with the prospect of another heavy duty season ahead that this will leave us a bit thin on the ground. But you only have to look back to the 07/08 season for evidence which suggests we can more than cope with the workload.

As we slugged our way to Manchester for the UEFA Cup Final we played an incredible 68 matches! This was an ungodly amount of games and circumstances eventually conspired against us, as the fixtures began to take place in close proximity towards the business end of the season which predictably took its toll. The players looked lethargic and in the end just couldn't generate enough energy to achieve the goals set out at the start of the season. But they came bloody close.

Despite playing 68 matches, only 18 players started more than ten matches in the SPL. During our UEFA Cup run, only 9 players made five or more starts. This is a relatively low number considering the remarkable amount of games. Even more startling when you take into account we had 31 senior professionals that season as well as 6 youth players who trained with the 1st team.

Smith doesn't have a reputation for squad rotation or resting senior players. Weir, Ferguson and Cuellar were amongst the highest appearance makers that season, only missing out on one or two games at the most. He isn't a big fan of blooding youth players either, whether it be as a late substitute in a game already won or an easy cup tie.

So the focus will be on the starting 11 and I feel this is where we are very strong. We have players of real quality on the ball. If you can keep possession then you won't need to exert too much energy running around chasing the ball, as our team tended to do in the 07/08 season. A more intelligent passing game will serve us best both in terms of style and conserving energy. Mourinho famously invented the "resting with the ball" idea, where you keep possession for possession sake when appropriate during a game. With classy footballers like Mendes, Davis, Bougherra, Whittaker, Papac, Thomson, Miller, Edu, Aaron and Fleck I think this will not be a problem.

I think this core group can deliver this season - they are champions after all - and they can only get better as the season progresses. Matches in the 07/08 became an inconvenience but this season I think it will become an opportunity for the group to grow and grow.