Sky Sports ran a very interesting stats comparison – the players GVB uses the most.

Here they are in full (appearances):

Goldson: 26
Tav: 25
Bassey: 25
Kamara: 24
McGregor: 23
Kent: 23
Aribo: 22
Arfield: 22
Morelos: 21
Sakala: 20
Lundstram: 19
Barisic: 18
Roofe: 12
Balogun: 10

As you can see, there is a major reliance on 12 men: McGregor, Tav, Bassey, Goldson, Kent, Kamara, Aribo, Arfield, Morelos, Sakala, Lundstram and Barisic.

That’s Gio’s core side.

After that it drops dramatically down to Roofe, Balogun and the rest.

What does this indicate? It is a question of trust.

GVB trusts those 12 men significantly the most, trusts them to deliver the most, and the XI will always be made up of them.

Ryan Jack, Filip Helander and Leon Balogun are of course injury issues, and have been most of the season, ditto Roofe, and likewise Ianis Hagi, but the reason for these omissions don’t matter.

What matters is the 12 core that stay fit, reliable, and remain GVB’s go-to players.

And the rest are just fringe. It’s basically that simple.