Port Vale manager explains squad rotation policy after Garrity and Cass are given “breathers”
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke said that Ben Garrity was given a “breather” after he didn’t make the squad for the 3-0 home win over Colchester United.
Clarke has been consistently stating that his entire squad will be important this season and midfielder Garrity has joined defender Lewis Cass in being left out for a game. Cass was left out of the midweek match against Mansfield Town.
We have to monitor their minutes and the injuries and make sure that is absolutely spot on…
The midfielder has been in fine form so far this season and the Port Vale manager said that the tactic wasn’t any reflection on his recent performances but simply to give him a “breather”.
Clarke told the Sentinel newspaper: “Ben Garrity wasn’t injured, he wasn’t in the squad but he has been first class this season. He is one of those – ‘Duracell’ – he gives me absolutely everything in training and in matches, and I gave him a breather.
“Lewis (Cass) got his breather (being left out of the Mansfield game) and then I thought he was outstanding. It is about belief in the whole squad.”
The Vale boss says the reasoning is to ensure all his players can deliver a peak performance adding: “I know I wind a few people up sometimes with the way I work but also we have to monitor their minutes and the injuries and make sure that is absolutely spot on.
“But why have a squad if you haven’t got maximum belief in it? I have maximum belief in the squad and that is what I will continue to do.”
It seems a wise decision by the Valiants manager especially as Cass returned to give an assured performance on Saturday. Both players are relatively inexperienced at League football so it makes sense to manage their workload accordingly.
