Blackpool - Should they be fined or docked points?

[CHAPPERS]

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.

That's a very dangerous way of looking at it.

 

[Easy 10]

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.

Come on sten, do you really buy into this "my players are knackered" lark ? They're only 11 games into the season for christs sake. If a professional footballer can't handle playing Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday at this stage of the season, then they can harldly be that fit in the first place.

The team he put out could't have been "match fit" either because they'd not been playing any games ! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Blackpool even HAVE a reserve team playing.

 

[macky]

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.

I thought that was what beinga manager is all about??

 

[sten_super]

Come on sten, do you really buy into this "my players are knackered" lark ? They're only 11 games into the season for christs sake. If a professional footballer can't handle playing Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday at this stage of the season, then they can harldly be that fit in the first place.

The team he put out could't have been "match fit" either because they'd not been playing any games ! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Blackpool even HAVE a reserve team playing.

No, I don't buy it, but it's an argument that Holloway is completely entitled to make. It's one that the likes of Redknapp and Ferguson regularly trot out as an excuse for resting players.

The current system is completely unworkable; as I say you either accept that he has 25+ players at his disposal and can pick who he likes, or you say that every team must declare before the start of the season their starting XI and play them for every game barring injuries (which is of course completely farcical).

 

[Easy 10]

That's a very dangerous way of looking at it.

It can never be proven obviously. But being as the stiffs lost very narrowly there, its not an unreasonable assumption to make that the strongest team would quite probably have got something out of the game. After all, they've gone to places like Newcastle and Liverpool and won.

 

[CHAPPERS]

It can never be proven obviously. But being as the stiffs lost very narrowly there, its not an unreasonable assumption to make that the strongest team would quite probably have got something out of the game. After all, they've gone to places like Newcastle and Liverpool and won.

How can you assume that just because one set of players lost a game that another would have got something out of it? The two games would pan out completely differently.

 

[Gus Poyet's inner FLAIR]

I'm with Holloway on this one. Let the manager pick whatever team he thinks should be playing. That's his job.
On the other hand there is an evil piece of me that thinks Mr Holloway exploding with RAGE would be a sight to behold.
I reckon you'd be able to see the carnage from space if he gets fined.

 

[Easy 10]

Just to be clear - I think any manager is perfectly entitled to rest players, whether he be the manager of Blackpool or the manager of Man U.

Where I get uncomfortable with it is when they change practically the ENTIRE TEAM for certain games, because I think that short-changes us as fans, and it warps the integrity of the competiton. Of course players need to be rested at certain times, but it should be done within reason so as not to end up effectively "writing off" some games for the sake of being fresher for another upcoming opponent.

 

[Arthur]

Yet again though, surely if it's clear that the manager has cheated and thrown a game, that should be punished, no?

Is it clear that he has cheated? They were a couple of minutes away from getting a point weren't they?

And as you are going to throw the Wolves example at me, any side losing 3-0 at Old Trafford is no disgrace.

It's not like either have put out their U11 girls side is it.

We made 7 changes (was it?) for Woking, was Poyet trying to throw the game?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Richard Kingson - 79 international caps for Ghana

Dekel Keinan - Israeli International and already played 5 EPL games this season before the Villa game.
Rob Edwards - Welsh International, former Villa trainee and played over 50 times for Blackpool.
David Carney - Australian International, former Everton trainee.
Keith Southern - Former Everton trainee, nearly 300 appearances for Blackpool.

Ludovic Sylvestre - Former Barcelona player making his 4th appearance of the season.
Chris Basham - Signed from Bolton, making his 3rd appearance for the club.
Matthew Phillips - Bought for £325,000 in September, made his 7th appearance for the club.

Marlon Harewood - no need for an introduction
Jason Euell - ditto
Brett Ormerod - Blackpool veteran, 9th appearance of the season, crucial goals last season including playoff final winner.

Subs
DJ Campbell - Scored a hatrick in the playoff semi-final
Charlie Adam - Scottish international and first team regular.

 

[crodonilson]

I don't think anyone has deliberately cheated, or thrown a game but they have made the oppositions job significantly easier by naming such weakened teams.

Holloway played 6 players last night that up to the middle of November had so far played no Premier League football, thet tells you everything. Villa made hard work of beating them, they're a poor side, but their job was made much easier than had Blackpool put out their first eleven, or at least a significant element of it.

I'd dock them points, clubs are obviously not learning after Wolves were made an example of last season, I bet they will listen then.

 

[Easy 10]

How can you assume that just because one set of players lost a game that another would have got something out of it? The two games would pan out completely differently.

I didn't say they WOULD have got something out of it, but they'd have had a better chance. As I said, of course it can never be proven, for the exact reason you state, the game would have been different. But the facts remain - he played a very weakened team, and surprise surprise they got beat.

 

[champion7]

Surely if a manager has 23 players registerd with FA then who should be able to play who he wants.Who have Blackpool got this weekend,he might have been saving players if its a big game for them

 

[crodonilson]

I didn't say they WOULD have got something out of it, but they'd have had a better chance. As I said, of course it can never be proven, for the exact reason you state, the game would have been different. But the facts remain - he played a very weakened team, and surprise surprise they got beat.

It's not so much about Blackpool, or Wolves for me. It's the opposition who are getting a far easier game.

Had you asked Gerard Houllier last night would you prefer to play Blackpools first team who have already been to Anfield, St James Park and the DW Stadium and won or a scratch reserve team of which six are making their EPL debuts, what do you suppose he'd have preferred??

 

[CHAPPERS]

I didn't say they WOULD have got something out of it, but they'd have had a better chance. As I said, of course it can never be proven, for the exact reason you state, the game would have been different. But the facts remain - he played a very weakened team, and surprise surprise they got beat.

Only just though. And they didn't throw the game. Holloway put out a side he thought would get a result and they very nearly got a point, to punish him for this is f***ing RIDICULOUS.

Sides are allowed to have a squad of 25, and they should be able to use any combination of players they like. If you don't want them to be able to change 10 players then reduce squad sizes, or would that be against the wishes of the top sides who have got £10million quid signings coming out of their arses? Holloway getting fined would be just another example of the smaller clubs in the Prem being shat on and it's a disgrace.

 

[CHAPPERS]

It's not so much about Blackpool, or Wolves for me. It's the opposition who are getting a far easier game.

Had you asked Gerard Houllier last night would you prefer to play Blackpools first team who have already been to Anfield, St James Park and the DW Stadium and won or a scratch reserve team of which six are making their EPL debuts, what do you suppose he'd have preferred??

I know you're talking shit on purpose but the point remains that it wasn't a scratch reserve team. Look at the team that Barrel of Fun as posted.

 

[crodonilson]

I know you're talking shit on purpose but the point remains that it wasn't a scratch reserve team. Look at the team that Barrel of Fun as posted.

Well I imagine the Wolves team that took on Man U last season had some experience, probably far more than the Blackpool team last night. So whether you agree or disagree they have to throw the book at Blackpool otherwise it's double standards, the rules are there for a reason and if Wolves broke them last season then Blackpool certainly did last night.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Well I imagine the Wolves team that took on Man U last season had some experience, probably far more than the Blackpool team last night. So whether you agree or disagree they have to throw the book at Blackpool otherwise it's double standards, the rules are there for a reason and if Wolves broke them last season then Blackpool certainly did last night.

I don't think Wolves should never have been fined either.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Whats the point of having the 25 squad rule if you are going to get fined for using it? Mccarthy was proved right last season when Wolves won 2 key games either side to the trip to OT and they stayed up.

Should Brighton be fined for making changes on saturday?

 

[Easy 10]

Holloway put out a side he thought would get a result

I think he put out a side he *hoped* would get a result despite it being severely weakened. To say he actually "threw" the game is a bit strong I agree - but the point is, he did NOT put out a team that had the best possible chance of getting a result there.

What he's done is what McCarthy did last season at OT. He's take a step back and looked at the bigger picture - that being that points against West Ham this Saturday will probably turn out to be be far more valuable than points against Villa last night, because its West Ham, not Villa, who Blackpool will be jostling with come the end of the season.

He's doing the best overall for BFC, which is fair enough. The manner of it just leaves a bit of a sour taste I think.