£ 200m to supplement the club

[Ian Royal]

We have had a legendary season , but one thing really gets my goat. If we have been tryng to avoid Europe all season then why didnt we put out stronger sides in the F A cup when we were safe from relegation ?! My only gripe of the season

we haven't been trying to avoid anything. we've tried to win every game whilst giving fringe players a chance to impress and conserving the fitness of our "first" 11

But what im saying is why would we need to conserve the first 11 when we are already safe ? Conserve them for what ?

For winning as many games as we can. I think if you look back at Coppell's track record, he tends to take it one game at a time and ignore the table as much as possible.

We weren't safe for the majority of cup games we've played. Cup games are an excellent opportunity to keep fringe players fit, in form and motivated. It also keeps them ready to step into the side should the need arise due to injury or suspension, without disrupting the cohesion of the team fighting our premiership campaign.

Whilst we take each game as it comes Coppell is far to intelligent to not be aware of the drain on players fitness and energy levels over the course of an extremely gruelling season playing at a much higher level than they are used to. Therefore towards the end of the season more changes are need to keep players fresh and there is the possibility to experiment for next season. That doesn't mean we are going out trying to avoid winning games.

If you think Coppell has gone into any game saying "alright lads, we've got quite a few points, we need to lose this one or we might get into Europe" then you are a moron of the highest order.

[Platypuss]

We have had a legendary season , but one thing really gets my goat. If we have been tryng to avoid Europe all season then why didnt we put out stronger sides in the F A cup when we were safe from relegation ?! My only gripe of the season

we haven't been trying to avoid anything. we've tried to win every game whilst giving fringe players a chance to impress and conserving the fitness of our "first" 11

But what im saying is why would we need to conserve the first 11 when we are already safe ? Conserve them for what ?

For winning as many games as we can.

Well, apart from the Cup ones that is.

[Ian Royal]

you mean the cups that we went out to Liverpool and Man Utd?

Games we would have won maybe 3 in 10 times playing our strongest possible side?

[Platypuss]

So you are saying that our lineups in those games were the ones most likely to give us a win?

[Harold]

Just watched the post match press conference by SSC on Reading World. He states - tongue in cheek I'm sure - that with regard to Europe, Mr Mad has £200m to supplement the squad.

Well, it's worked for CheLOLsea!

obssesion for Chelsea by Coppelled Streets.

[Ian Royal]

So you are saying that our lineups in those games were the ones most likely to give us a win?

No, but I don't see how fielding a different side to our strongest is trying to avoid winning, particularly in respect to the season as a whole and the strength of our squad as a whole. You could just field your strongest possible 11 every week, but I suspect that tactic leaves you really rather weakened at the season, or if you have suspensions/injuries at any time.

By varying the line up a little you could easily argue you are making the squad stronger for the course of the whole season and therefore trying harder to win more games.