EIGHT games into the Premier League season, and one team has already used 26 players - but who?
It’s less than a quarter of the way through the campaign but there is already a clear difference in the number of players used by different clubs.
But are you likely to do better by sticking to a smaller core or rotating and making use of a big squad?
Interestingly, Leicester, who were renowned for their consistent team selection last season, have used the same number of players as big spenders Manchester United and Chelsea this time around.
CLICK THROUGH THE GALLERY ABOVE AS WE COUNT DOWN HOW MANY PLAYERS EACH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB HAS USED.
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It was delivered with an ironic smile. The ultimate tongue-in-cheek display of terrace banter to which there was simply no response.
The setting was Stamford Bridge on a Sunday afternoon in March 2015. “Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that” taunted the Chelsea supporters at their Southampton counterparts in the middle of an enthralling 1-1 draw.
The response from the travelling hordes who had set up camp in the famous Shed End was nothing short of comical genius.
“The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, you’ll never win that” they replied, as much to provide a humorous illustration of how far the club had come from the dark days of administration and near liquidation to reclaim their place in the Premier League as to silence their mockers.
It will no doubt be belted out with gusto by more than 6,000 away fans when their Southampton heroes emerge from the tunnel at the San Siro on Thursday to partake in a glamour Europa League tie. Few would have dreamt it was possible as they celebrated former captain Dean Hammond lifting the trophy at Wembley skies following the 4-1 win over Carlisle only six years ago.
The Saints go into the game with more than a fighting chance of victory against an Inter side in crisis following the row over Mauro Icardi’s autobiography and a run of form which has left them in the bottom half of Serie A after eight rounds of games.
Carlisle to Inter Milan is a path no footballer has surely trodden before and it is doubtful any will in the future – unless the unfashionable Cumbrian club are taken over by a Middle East mogul or Russian oligarch with a love of the Lake District.
But, assuming he is called up for selection by tinkering manager Claude Puel, that is the journey club captain Jose Fonte will complete when he steps out in one of the world’s most iconic arenas to face the 18-time Italian champions and three-time European Cup winners.
While Fonte will be the only survivor from the JP Trophy triumph, which Hammond claims was the catalyst for Southampton’s amazing climb from the League One relegation zone back to the top tier, Southampton fans will never forget the cast of players and club employees who have played their parts along the way.
It will be an extra special night for owner Katherina Liebherr who, far from being the “dream wrecker” she was labelled in some quarters following her public power struggle with former chairman Nicola Cortese, has fulfilled her late father Markus’ wish of transforming Saints into a European force.
They continue to reap the rewards of an academy system the envy of clubs around the globe, with local boy Sam McQueen set to make his full debut on Thursday in the absence of injured duo Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett. McQueen came off the bench early in Sunday’s 3-1 win at home to Burnley and put in an assured performance on his Premier League bow.
While some chase the dream by wasting hundreds of millions of pounds in the transfer market, Southampton’s savvy approach of replacing big-name departures with young, hungry players with the potential for big future sell-on fees is continuing to pay off.
Having already tied down key personnel like Virgil van Dijk, midfielder Steve Davis and the constantly improving Bertrand to new long-term contracts, there is nothing to suggest trips like this one to Milan will not become common place.
Yes, Chelsea will probably never win the JP Trophy but Southampton fans may one day be able to sing about being champions of Europe, or at least the Europa League.
Alex Crook is ESPN FC’s Southampton blogger. Follow him on Twitter @alex_crook
Premier League clubs could get “substantial fines” if they do not comply with disabled access regulations by next summer.
Bill Bush, the Premier League’s executive director, told a Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee on Tuesday that several options were available, including financial penalties, if clubs failed to deliver.
An independent investigation in 2014 found that 17 of the 20 clubs failed to provide enough wheelchair access, prompting the Premier League to pledge that their members would be compliant with Accessible Stadia Guidelines (ASG) by August 2017.
“The rule book allows for a wide range of sanctions - up to about £25,000 of fines. If it goes beyond £25,000 then an independent panel will consider circumstances,” Bush said.
“We are ready to consider what an appropriate intervention would be. (The issue of docking points)…would be discussed by the panel, who would form a view.”
Bush stopped short of naming the clubs who were currently under-performing in this area but told the committee that a definitive club-by-club list would be published in January.
Premier League clubs were criticised in the meeting for not taking disabled access seriously, with Conservative MP Andrew Bingham suggesting the issue was not a priority for the clubs because most are already selling out on matchdays.
“To characterise our clubs as not being interested is unfair,” added Bush.
Bush was then asked if the Premier League should specify exactly how parachute payments should be allocated to enable clubs relegated to the Football League to update disabled facilities.
Bush stated there would be an “enormous range of resistance if the Premier League tried to hypothecate” how their money should be spent.
A Premier League statement issued later on Tuesday said: "Premier League clubs are working extremely hard to improve disabled access in their grounds.
"The commitments made in this area are wide-ranging and will set new standards for sport and other sectors. They have challenged all clubs, some of which will have significant logistical and built environment issues, involving old stands, planning issues and new stadia.
“All are working towards making their grounds meet the appropriate standards in the agreed timescale and improving the experience for their disabled fans.”
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