Stephen Bradley says players will have to accept they can’t start every game if Shamrock Rovers are to compete on every front this season.
The Hoops were 3-0 winners over UCD in their opening league game with UCD on Friday night thanks to goals from Seán Hoare, Danny Mandroiu and Graham Burke.
Captain Ronan Finn was among the surprise omissions, having scored the equaliser in the President’s Cup against St Patrick’s Athletic a week earlier.
Eight-time league winner Sean Gannon also dropped to the bench, with Pico Lopes making an earlier than expected return to first-team action after his Africa Cup of Nations adventure.
With three titles in a row on the horizon, as well as going one better than last season’s Europa Conference League play-off, squad management will be vital.
And the Jobstown native feels there are enough serial winners in his squad who understand how important the squad effort is.
“It’s all of us in it together, about wanting to achieve the same goal of winning,” Bradley said on Friday night.
“And that doesn’t take one player, it doesn’t take eleven, it’s going to take the 22 or 23 that we have.
“We seen that last year, and if we wanna go compete on all fronts — which we do — it’s going to take everyone.
“That’s why it’s important the players understand that, the same as last year, if it’s not your turn to start tonight, it’s passing the baton for the next one to step up.
“That’s what it’s about - it’s about the group being together and supporting each other. People are disappointed, they want to play every minute, they’re top players, but our end goal is really important.”
Bradley feels the squad is stronger this year than last, despite the loss of Liam Scales to Celtic and Joey O’Brien to Damien Duff’s management team at Shelbourne.
Double player of the year has returned following a short spell with APOEL in Cyprus, while full-back Andy Lyons has come in from Bohemians, and both started on Friday.
He got a scare when Neil Farrugia, who has missed virtually two full seasons with a persistent hamstring injury, pulled up again.
Former UCD man Farrugia felt a twinge in his other hamstring and wanted to continue until half-time, but management decided not to take any chances and bring in Barry Cotter.
“We’re stronger this year squad-wise. The players understand that, they’ve been around long enough, they've challenged, they’ve won things. They understand it takes everyone.
“I’m not sure the amount of times someone came off the bench last year and scored for us to win the game.
“We know that's going to be really, really important for us, and if we want to compete on all fronts, we're going to need everyone at different points in the season.”
That will be tested over the next ten days as Rovers face Derry City, who have been tipped to challenge for the title, at the Brandywell on Friday then host Drogheda United on Monday.
Bradley will be back in the dugout at the Brandywell after serving a suspension carried out from last season which also saw Keith Long miss out on the FAI Cup final.
“It's a different game. I'm sure they'll have a packed Brandywell. I'm looking forward to it. It's a big weekend for us next week with Derry then Drogheda. The aim is six points.”
