Blackpool - Should they be fined or docked points?

[Marshy]

Hes the Manager he can pick who he likes. Whats the point of a squad otherwise.

Fining Wolves last season was bollox

 

[keaton]

I agree with the principal that a manager should be able to pick whatever team he wants from his 25 man squad.

But do you think its setting a dangerous precedent to allow managers to effectively write-off certain games in order to prepare for what they perceive to be a more important "winnable" game later that week ? If thats left unchecked, it does give the bigger clubs an easier ride against the smaller teams, and affects the integrity of the competition.

Are we going to get to the stage whereby the Blackpools and Wolves of this world basically have two teams - their "best" one they keep fresh to play against who they look on as their relegation rivals, and their scratch one they play against the big boys because the manager writes off their chances of winning the game ?

Looks like we're getting there.

West Ham stayed up two years ago because Man U fielded a weakened team in the last match of the season.

You can't say big teams can rest players and smaller teams can't

 

[Blue and White Tiger]

What if Blackpool had won the game?

 

[Marc]

Wolves got done for it, but Man Utd the season before last did'nt when they changed 10 players before a Euorpean match (cant remember exactly but it happened). If Blackpool had won would this be an issue? NO...FACT.

Personally the club register players to play so it SHOULD be up to the manager which of those players play in which game......FA need to clarify this whole situation once and for all.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Hes the Manager he can pick who he likes. Whats the point of a squad otherwise.

Fining Wolves last season was bollox

Absolutely. Each team has a first team squad and the manager can pick who he likes, I cannot see what the problem is.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Massive double standards anyway. Chelsea and Man Utd are able to drop their first team, to rest them, and pretty much fill them with an 'A' team as opposed to a reserve team.

When the smaller clubs wish to rest their first team they are punished?

 

[Easy 10]

West Ham stayed up two years ago because Man U fielded a weakened team in the last match of the season.

You can't say big teams can rest players and smaller teams can't

Where did I say that ?
We just happen to be talking about Blackpool last night, but of course big clubs should be bound by exactly the same principal. Making wholesale changes and fielding a team full of reserves can have ramifications at the other end of the table as well.

 

[Mellotron]

Why do people keep repeating the same things.

ONCE AGAIN, when a big team rests players, they are still being competitive, they are still TRYING to win the game. If they have a good enough squad to still be competitive, why shouldn't they do it? You could say they've earned the right.

When Mick McCarthy did it, he was cheating and throwing the game. As Easy said, that sets a very dangerous precendent.

 

[Mellotron]

I fail to see how nearly getting a draw and only losing 3-2 in the dying minutes is "throwing" the game

I was referring to Mick McCarthy and the Wolves Man Utd game. While it was clear in McCarthy's case, I'm not sure whether Holloway was intentionally cheating to gain an advantage,

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Why should a financial disparity allow a top team to rest key players and not a bottom team? There is more at stake at the bottom.

Fielding a weaker team isn't necessarily throwing the game. It is giving you a lesser chance of winning. They still went into the game wanting and playing to win.

 

[dwayne]

Its a squad game I suppose. But much like Gus did when he threw the game at Northampton, I just wish they'd state in advance if they're going to play the ressies. Then at least fans can make an informed decision on whether its worthwhile spending their hard-earned to travel and and watch a scratch team almost certainly get turned over.

Funny you say that....

there seems to be no shortage of mugs willing to travel to Woking to watch our reseves. Madness.

 

[Boris Yeltsin]

I agree with the principal that a manager should be able to pick whatever team he wants from his 25 man squad.

But do you think its setting a dangerous precedent to allow managers to effectively write-off certain games in order to prepare for what they perceive to be a more important "winnable" game later that week ? If thats left unchecked, it does give the bigger clubs an easier ride against the smaller teams, and affects the integrity of the competition.

Are we going to get to the stage whereby the Blackpools and Wolves of this world basically have two teams - their "best" one they keep fresh to play against who they look on as their relegation rivals, and their scratch one they play against the big boys because the manager writes off their chances of winning the game ?

Looks like we're getting there.

Nail. Head.

Holloway will quit if he's fined
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/9178229.stm

 

[sten_super]

They shouldn't be punished for me (and I think this may be hypocritical as I think I backed Wolves being punished last year!). If Premiership clubs are asked to list 25 players in a squad (plus an unlimited number of U21 players) then they should be allowed to pick from them as they wish. If anything, limit the number of U21 players (i.e. those not on the main list) that can play.

For the record, Blackpool had one player in their starting lineup last night that were not on their main squad list; Matt Phillips. Villa had three; Ciaran Clark, Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Why do people keep repeating the same things.

ONCE AGAIN, when a big team rests players, they are still being competitive, they are still TRYING to win the game. If they have a good enough squad to still be competitive, why shouldn't they do it? You could say they've earned the right.

When Mick McCarthy did it, he was cheating and throwing the game. As Easy said, that sets a very dangerous precendent.

Do you think that Mick McCarthy told his players to lose that game against United? He may have fielded a team with less chance of winning the game but then so do the clubs at the top of the table when they don't field their first XI.

 

[Razi]

Quote from Ian Holloway on BBC News...

The Premier League is understood to be investigating Holloway's decision, but the Blackpool manager added: "We deserved at least a point and how dare anybody tell me the players I've been working with, I can't treat them with respect and give them a chance. I'm manager of Blackpool and I manage the players how I want. If some bright spark from the Premier League wants to tell me who I can pick then come and have a cup of coffee and you'll probably get it chucked in your lap."

"Let them try and fine me, it's an absolute disgrace. I'll show the Premier League. We were a credit to football, and let the Premier League try to tell me otherwise. We've got four games in 12 days and the lads I've played every week are struggling to keep up the level," he stated.

With regulars like Charlie Adam, Stephen Crainey and Matt Gilks left out, Holloway gave six players their first Premier League start in a line-up which had 12 top-flight starts between them. "I picked a team that I spent a lot of money on," Holloway added. "The right-back (Chris Basham) cost me £1m. The Israeli centre-half (Dekel Keinan) is an international. Jason Euell was my captain last year. Ludovic Sylvestre, I paid £600,000 for him. We've got more points (14) than any of you people ever thought we would get. If you talk about the game, we earned at least a point. How dare anyone tell me the players I've been working with, I can't give them a chance. Tonight they have enhanced their reputation."

Hard to argue with that, surely?

 

[Marc]

But do you think its setting a dangerous precedent to allow managers to effectively write-off certain games in order to prepare for what they perceive to be a more important "winnable" game later that week ? If thats left unchecked, it does give the bigger clubs an easier ride against the smaller teams, and affects the integrity of the competition.

I think the only way to get around this would mean the FA have to ask clubs to name a 1st Squad of 16 players (roughly), should the manager wish to play someone outside that squad list then they have to ask the FA for permission to play them. Its an aggrevated task but as they do with 25-man squads then why should the manager not field whomever he wants? The FA need to sort this out and sort it out now as its gonna happen again.

 

[veade]

what i don't understand is its only Villa... they have played better teams this season and not fielded a weakened team so why would they think oh lets put a weakened team in because Villa are to good for us.......

 

[Easy 10]

Villa arn't all that.
For all the plaudits his reserves are getting for almost getting a draw there, in the they still lost. Going by that, if Holloway had picked a stronger side then they'd probably have got at least a point out of that game.

 

[sten_super]

Going by that, if Holloway had picked a stronger side then they'd probably have got at least a point out of that game.

Come on Easy, you are better than that kind of lazy generalisation.

Holloway argued that his players were knackered and needed a rest; the team he did put out were much more able to harrass Villa all over the park because they were match fit.

The authorities either have to accept that it is a squad game, and permit managers to chose anyone from their squad to play, or they demand that every team puts out the full XI every game barring injuries.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Because the rules state you have to be "competitive". How you judge that I don't know. But if Man United rest a few players for a game against Wolves, they are still definitely being competitive because they will probably still get a result, whereas McCarthy cheated by pretty much admitting he threw the game against Man Utd last year to get him an unfair advantage in the next game. Totally different situation.

So it's ok for the wealthier teams to rest a whole bunch of normal 1st teamers because "they will probably still get a result"? God help us all.