Its a Squad Game

Champions League football returns to our television screens this week and my own team Manchester United host French side Lille leading 1-0 from the contraversial first leg in Lens.

Its is now the crucial part of the season where titles are decided and cups are won and where a large squad is most important.

Jose Mourinho took the squad game to new levels and used Abramovich's millions wisely to purchase two top class players for each position. An injury to Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge steps in, goalkeeper Petr Cech picks up a knock and Carlo Cudicini goes between the sticks.

Perhaps a reason why Chelsea have slipped behind Manchester United this season is because key squad players have been let go following recent success. Damien Duff, Glen Johnson, Hernan Crespo and Tiago were all allowed to leave the Bridge for relatively low fees.

Going back to my team Manchester United and we see squad players such as John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher receiving stick from many sections of United fans even though both are internationals for their respective countries.

Being a semi-professional footballer myself and being a season ticker holder at the Theatre of Dreams I fully appreciate the levels of skill and technique it takes to make it to the top of the game.

What is evident is the way the players have full confidence in each others ability to deal with any kind of pass as balls are fired into each other at rocket speeds.

The way that O'Shea and Fletcher are treated by their team mates highlights that some of the fans views are not shared by United's more illustrious stars. Both are popular members within the squad and would be welcomed in any other Premiership side.

Any barracking from the terraces does not seem to have damaged their confidence, O'Shea in particular recently scoring the winner at Anfield which surely keeps him safe from the more fickle fans......just for now.

Back to this weeks match with Lille and Sir Alex Ferguson may well utilise his squad further and we may well see the likes of Fletcher and O'Shea from the start.

So instead of having a moan and a groan when you see the number 24 shirt instead of the unmistakable number 7 of United think how good you really must be to be playing in front of 76,000 fans on a regular basis.