Strachan has also lamented the lack of rotation when he was a player, but he can see the benefit it has for the modern day player:
We didn't have the squad to rotate when I played, 'observed Strachan.
'We had 13 or 14 players and that was it.'
'The word rotate virtually didn't exist.
'The way it is now —with so many players— you need to keep trying to give them a game. It's hard to keep them on the bench or in the reserves.
'It's about keeping everyone fresh.
'It's different from when I played, when Willie (Miller) and big Alex (McLeish) played 73 and 72 games in the one season at Aberdeen.
'The year Leeds won the title, I played 114 games on the trot.
Strachan also feels that the modern-day player has much more support, both physically and mentally and feels that the amount of games he had to play during his career took a toll on him.
'I've had my hip problems since then —among other things — but I think the way the game is now with sports scientists, your body is protected more.
'We were never really protected in those days.
'We were just told "go"and you never dared complained of tiredness, that's for sure.
'I think the players here will thank me in years to come if they win things.
'Honestly, nobody has complained about missing games— they understand what's going on.
'I think back to then and I enjoyed every minute of my time playing.
'I was in a team that was winning trophies. I was also the captain and he doesn't tend to be left out.
'I was around 34 or 35 but I think when you're enjoying something as much as I did, it's fine.
'Winning definitely helps.'
It certainly does Gordon, another thing that will be helping you at this time is the fact that not only is your team winning, but it is winning playing attractive well constructed football that is more than pleasing on the eye.
To maintain a consistent level of football whilst rotating your personnel is not any easy thing to do, just ask Liverpool fans! What Gordon is doing at the moment and the performances he is getting out of his players is a testament to the set up at Celtic.
Keep up the good work!
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt