Boss Paul Lambert says it doesn’t matter who he names in his starting XI or what formation he lines them up in, everybody has taken to it and has played well.

Lambert has adopted a rotation policy this season which has seen players regularly rested and the side changing week by week. He has also frequently stressed the importance of sacrificing the ‘me’ for the ‘we’.

“They seem to at the minute,” he said when asked if the players have bought into his rotation approach. “Whatever team I play or personnel I play they seem to take to it.

“It’s the only way you win titles or become successful, you have to sacrifice something, because when you do get the success it becomes the ‘me’ again.

“If they can do that then we've got a really good chance and at the minute they're playing well.”

Reflecting back on his own career, largely in an era when rotation was less common, he added: “I think there’s always that fear of not playing, I think you’ve always got to have that.

“The fear of not playing for any player is a great thing to have because you can never stop looking over your shoulder.

“If you think you’re set in stone then you become complacent and it’s dangerous. I’ve always had that in my own career, people wanting to take my place. The secret is to try and make sure you stay in it.

“The way the modern day game is, especially in this league where you can end up having a helluva lot of games in cup competitions, you need everybody to be ‘top fit’, you need everybody when they do get put in to be ready to go and don’t give them any excuses when they’ve not performed or they’re not at it.

“But at the minute, it doesn’t matter what players I play or what formation, they’ve done really well.”

Photo: TWTD

MaySixth added 15:58 - Sep 26 Be interesting to see how the mood changes when we suffer our first defeat. Overcoming adversity is vital - I think we have the squad to cope with that this season.
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ghostofescobar added 17:05 - Sep 26 He'll be a hailed as a managerial genius if we are stuffing teams come the second half of the season because we are fresher than our opponents. If not, then he'll have to defend not playing a settled team. I hope the former will be the case!
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pegasus added 17:54 - Sep 26 There's also the need to bring back players who've had very serious injuries GRADUALLY. Look back over the last couple of years. Would there have been so many serious injuries if the squad policy had been a little more savvy?
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Saxonblue74 added 19:38 - Sep 26 An indication of the strength of our squad. Seems a bit of a contradiction that he feels the need to postpone games due to international duties though.
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ITFCsince73 added 19:55 - Sep 26 Just can't see where a defeat is going to come from. We've played the best L1 has to offer, home and away. Haven't yet got out of second gear, and the biggest goal threat to this league has been out injured all games so far. Add Lancs, Bish and Morris to that, who all would be guaranteed starters if fit in any other rival team. Lambo has the strongest squad at his disposal, compared anyone, by some distance and more.

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ITFCsince73 added 20:01 - Sep 26 Saxon, We see last season with Sunderland and Pompey the 2 games week in week out takes its toll. If we can grab the odd international week for rest time, then all good? We've had 4 points from 6 since last break.
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Foreverdon_Blue added 22:10 - Sep 26 It's actually 7 points from 9!
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BLUEBEAT added 23:34 - Sep 26 “top fit”
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Freddies_Ears added 01:53 - Sep 27 It really helps that it is "only" a 44 game league season...
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bobble added 10:30 - Sep 27 i use a rotation policy between my left and right feet and it has served me well for decades..same with my hands and eyes....
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ITFCsince73 added 11:18 - Sep 27 Your actually right #forever. Rest my case then
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nathitfc89 added 13:19 - Sep 27 the only formation we play well in as a 4-4-2. we have played 1 upfront couple of times and have been awful. but if everyone is singing from the same song sheet it does help.
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