Assistant boss Stuart Taylor says there will have to be some element of squad rotation in the months to come given the Blues’ very heavy fixture schedule.

Town have 26 games to play before the season’s end on Saturday 8th May with February, March and April all having seven scheduled League One fixtures.

The Blues already had a big squad prior to this week’s loan addition of Luke Thomas and Josh Harrop and inevitably there are going to be senior players not just on the bench but sitting in the stands in the weeks to come.

“If everybody’s fit, then you can only pick a certain number of players but the good thing is that we’ve got a heavy schedule coming up,” Taylor said.

“So, dare I say it, there will be some sort of rotation put in there in terms of the bench or starting XI or whatever the case may be. But with the heavy fixture list then certainly the bigger the squad, the better.”

This season manager Paul Lambert has tended to stick with a more settled side having last season chopped and changed on a very regular basis. Could there be a return to that approach?

“Who knows?” Taylor reflected. “Really a lot of it comes down to who comes through games and how they’re feeling, if there are any knocks, bumps or bruises or fatigue levels.

“We look at everything, we analyse everything and we go and see how people are moving in training and then make the best decision based on all those facts.”

Would it be impossible to expect anyone to play all of the remaining matches? “I personally think to go and play, I think it’s 16 games in two months, half a season from February 2nd, it’s a very tough ask for anybody to go and churn out every single minute of every single game.

“People say they’re professionals, it’s their job, but it’s easy saying that. Going into games when you’re fresh is fine but when you’re carrying a knock or a kick from the previous game then it’s tough to get through, especially at this level. The good thing is that if we can keep everybody fit, then it’s a healthier position for the club.”

Taylor says having a rare free midweek over the last few days has been very useful.

“What it’s done is let us go and work on things like we did last week going into the build-up to the game,” he said.

“You can do a little bit more work with not having the midweek game. Normally when you go Saturday-Tuesday there’s a lot of prep and recovery, and getting the coaching points across you have to do it in different ways. But when you can do it on the grass like we’ve done this week, it’s been good.”

Photo: TWTD

WhittonBoy added 11:33 - Jan 22 To be expected with the schedule we have coming up. I expect us to handle it given the strength in depth we have. But then again, it seems as if there is a new injury / reoccurring injury every day
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Chrisd added 11:33 - Jan 22 Play your best available side and play players in their favoured positions, it's not difficult. Although our coaching staff try to make out it's the equivalent of rocket science. I appreciate this season is a little unprecedented, but when you are making 6 changes a game that's just ludicrous. I'd like to see how many changes Lincoln City make with their squad for games between now and the end of the season or any of those sides above us currently. We're fortunate that we have a big squad to select from, but that doesn't always result in us picking up points from games. Invariably, we've been disjointed in most cases when adopting this selection policy and appeared undercooked.

8

heathen66 added 11:50 - Jan 22 Just play you best 11 in their best position. If they are tired, bring the next on in, it really is not rocket science. Don't make changes week in week out as there is no continuity
8

Saxonblue74 added 11:57 - Jan 22 This is where it should be advantage ITFC. We do have depth in our squad where others don't. With a few returning from injury and 2 new faces we should cope with no drama.
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Blue_Meanie added 11:59 - Jan 22 No confidence in the current management and administration Can't even be bothered to be angry anymore, we've got this sh1t for years to come
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Ipswichbusiness added 11:59 - Jan 22 “If everybody's fit ...” Really, how often is that?
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Nobbysnuts added 12:11 - Jan 22 They are professional footballers for f#cks sake who have just had 5 months off...if they can't play 2 games a week then they should f#ck off.....
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DifferentGravy added 12:46 - Jan 22 Ultimately, like many others, I dont believe that you or the manager are good enough to get us promoted. We have heard every excuse under the sun during the last two seasons. So you do what you need to do and leave the excuses to one side. Prove us wrong by actually attacking the opposition/players in box/shots on target and trying to win the game
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Suffolkboy added 13:06 - Jan 22 Excuses / explanations wear a bit thin week on week ; and can anyone explain what more ‘coaching ‘ becomes necessary week in week out ? Is nothing actually learned from playing , were our players never trained and coached from the beginning of their professional lives ,and have they not matured at all ? When is it likely we can forecast confidently that their basic education , and fitness level, has been or will be achieved? Or are we over thinking everything and not concentrating enough on the basics and being able to focus for 90 minutes knowing each and every player has the tools and can and will produce ? COYB

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NITFC added 13:12 - Jan 22 However, this is the guy who would rather win 1-0 than 5-0
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MonkeyAlan added 13:27 - Jan 22 Lambert has a puppet too now then?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:24 - Jan 22 Sorry, but rotation has hardly been very successful generally in the past. Some changes will have to happen (injuries etc.) but please keep the SAME (best) eleven as far as possible. Continuity counts. And continuity only works if you continue.
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BobbyBell added 15:35 - Jan 22 1981 I believe it was 63 games with basically the same team barring injuries and suspensions. We could and maybe should have had more trophies.
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Skip73 added 16:54 - Jan 22 "If everybodys fit" He must be having a laugh, when was the last time everybody was fit? What a joke!
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Lathers added 17:43 - Jan 22 Another 2 additions this week and most of the ‘Cavalry' back fit, so Lambert sends out his puppet to warn us that he will be returning to last season's policy of keeping everyone happy at the expense of results... not to mention players looking like strangers. I expect us to lose 3 or 4 nil against Posh without creating a serious chance, but that will be down to new faces needing time to settle in and players only just back from injury.

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SonofSonner added 21:36 - Jan 22 Show me the team that made wholesale changes every game and maintained a position at or near the top of the table. Won't happen for lots of reasons. The squad isn't good enough for a start. Players need to get familiar with each other on the pitch. Players need to compete for a place and break into an otherwise settled first team. I could go on but my thumb is tired.

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Carberry added 22:35 - Jan 22 Is this bloke the manager now
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shakytown added 03:03 - Jan 23 Carberry. He might as well be as the other ones the worst manager in the history of the football leagues. Get out now Lambert you loser!!!!
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Linkboy13 added 10:26 - Jan 23 What this squad rotation means is that they all take turns being injured.
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