Considering Rafa's stated intention to play Stevie more in the centre this year, the improved options on the right and the 4-way class in the middle, I can see Stevie getting a lighter workload this season. Gone are the days when we could be called a 1-man team.
I'm not knocking Stevie and I'm not advocating rotation at the start of the season when I believe we need to play a settled team to chase a good start .... but there were games when Stevie appeared stale last season, and I can see us trying to manage his time on the field a little more.
When would you rest him? Certain cup games of course. We'd also take him off during comfortable wins last season. Are there league games when it would be reasonable to start without him?
I'm not knocking Stevie and I'm not advocating rotation at the start of the season when I believe we need to play a settled team to chase a good start .... but there were games when Stevie appeared stale last season, and I can see us trying to manage his time on the field a little more.
When would you rest him? Certain cup games of course. We'd also take him off during comfortable wins last season. Are there league games when it would be reasonable to start without him?

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