A QUICK question. What do Worcester City’s matches against Workington and Telford United have in common?

Before you rack your brains too much, the answer is simple.

It is the only occasion this season that City have named the same starting 11 for two games running.

It is perhaps no coincidence that Carl Heeley’s team followed up September’s 4-0 victory over Workington with a hard-earned point at Telford three days later.

For a settled side is often a consistent one. Although no guarantee of results, the more a team plays together, the more likely they are to succeed in the long run.

The trouble is City have not had the opportunity to put that theory to the test and their league position reflects it.

So far this term, the Blue and Whites have used a total of 27 players and it’s only early November.

Captain Tom Thorley, Ellis Deeney, Graham Hutchison and, until last Saturday, Danny Glover have been the only ones to start every game, while Daniel Nti, Jose Veiga and Aaron Williams have reached double figures.

Otherwise, there has been plenty of chopping and changing for several reasons.

As with last weekend against North Ferriby United, injuries have forced Heeley’s hand, particularly in defence with Shabir Khan and Richard Munday in and out of the side.

Elsewhere, changes have occurred as a result of the management trying to make Worcester a stronger team.

Heeley and assistant Matt Gardiner built a squad in the summer but, once the season was in full flow, turned to both the loan market and free agents to address perceived shortcomings.

It was an approach borne out of having limited resources with which to attract players in the first place and saw some good and, crucially, experienced personnel arrive at Aggborough.

Keeper Jose Veiga, who was out of favour at Tamworth, is the pick of the bunch, while former Walsall skipper Richard Taundry is an example of a player with a decent track record.

In the loan market, midfielder Phil Trainer was a quality acquisition but, by the very nature of the deal, was always only going to be a short-term fix.

It will be a similar situation with Niall Thompson, although the Torquay United winger is with the club for the maximum three-month loan period.

The key is for City to get the best out of the flying 20-year-old while they have him.

In the case of centre-half Exodus Geohaghon, he was only ever around before he got a better offer, as was proven with his refusal to get himself cup-tied.

Above all, it comes down to money, as shown last week with keeper Matt Sargeant being released to make way for defender Immanual Parry.

City do not have the financial clout to call the shots so have to continually juggle the budget.

You could argue, despite their league position, they have done well to get some of the players they have.

But, with such a trend only set to continue, it is unlikely to lead to many settled sides in the foreseeable future.