Mourinho, 'resting players' for Palace game

[Iggle Piggle]

Football seems to view resting players differently depending on the circumstances. It’s fine to play the reserves in the FA Cup if you are Arsenal but you get fined if you put the reserves out in the Checkatrade trophy, 12 clubs got fined. I’ve no issue with this example (or the Huddersfield one for that matter but kept my thoughts to myself as I preferred to see that Huddersfield dinlow being called out), surely that’s the point of having a 25 man squad? I’m sure the EPL will make the rules up as they go along with this one.

As for other sports, In rugby union, Saracens rested half the team against Wasps last week having secured a play off place in advance, Munster used to regularly rest players ahead of Heineken cup ties. NFL teams regularly rest players if they secure a Home play off advantage. Every sport does it. Why do some people get wound up about in football?

 

[Beanstalk]

Can't see Hull beating Spurs on last day anyway
I'm sure the special one would be up in arms if a team fielded a weakened side if United were relying on that team to beat a team that wanted that team to beat the other team so that team wouldn't let the other team have an easy game

Spurs did lose to both Southampton and Newcastle after losing out on the league last year. Could be a similar situation this year having already pretty much guaranteed a top two finish.

Saying that, Manure reserves should really have enough quality to beat Palace. Slim chance but could be interesting for them up the road!

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Man utd's squad is massive with very little to differentiate between the individual players so unless they play actual reserves(i.e the U 23 team) then the team they put out will be pretty decent. It's pretty funny that Man utd and Mourinho are now at the point that they have to prioritise a competition that hasn't been on their radar for decades and has been treated as an irrelevance by all the English teams that compete in it. Still, it's the only way they can make the Champions League next season so like a faded film star under an inch of make up and the softest of soft lighting they are desperately trying to convince that they are still special.

 

[Knocky's Nose]

Manchester United absolutely must win the Europa League, and even if they were playing Chelsea he'd put out a second string team. Champions League football is the make or break for the world's players looking to sign for a new club, so it's not just the financial element at play here.

Going by recent form, Palace will get their point at the "Theatre of Draws" anyway.

 

[Pavilionaire]

This happens in other sports - Saracens fielded an all-reserve side vs Wasps last weekend so they could rest their 1st XV before tomorrow's European Cup Final vs Clermont.

It's also worth noting that you've usually got a better shot of beating the big boys after they've returned from a European tie. I daresay one of the relegation candidates have had the rub of the green in that department; I'd much rather play Man Utd after they've played away on a Thursday in, say, Tblisi than on a Monday night after 8/9 days rest from the previous weekend.

 

[Bold Seagull]

It's pretty funny that Man utd and Mourinho are now at the point that they have to prioritise a competition that hasn't been on their radar for decades and has been treated as an irrelevance by all the English teams that compete in it.

The winners have only qualified to the Champions League since 2014/15. I think now that there are effectively 6 or 7 teams competing regularly for the top 4in the PL, any of those teams in the Europa League will be taking it very seriously from now on. If MU do win it, then it could be Everton and Arsenal in it next season, and I suspect they'll follow in treating it has a high priority. Anyone below in it will likely still be more concerned with their PL status.

 

[pornomagboy]

surly United should get an fa fine and be under investigation like uddersdield

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

 

[Se20]

If we need a point , no way Jose will put out a reserve team.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Don't blame him, Man Untied share price will plummet if they don't make the "Champions" League. It's money driven, not sport.

Whilst I'm uneasy about the resting thing, I think 'money driven, not sport' is a little unfair in this instance.

Either fourth place OR the Europa League gives them their goal of CL football next year. Surely trying to get there via WINNING a EUROPEAN COMPETITION is more valiant a 'sporting' effort, than finishing 'third losers' in the domestic league?

 

[theboybilly]

It doesn't matter what side Mourinho puts out Allardyce will still have 10 men behind the ball

 

[hans kraay fan club]

It doesn't matter what side Mourinho puts out Allardyce will still have 10 men behind the ball

If Hull and Swansea win this weekend, he won't be.

 

[Alba Badger]

I F%$king hope not I have spent almost £600 on tickets for the hospitality for one of my customers for this game. If Moo rests players it makes the game a farce.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Sort of related to this – each finalist getting less than one-fifth of the seats for the final is a bit pathetic. Especially when 'Last year's final at Basel's St Jakob-Park, which has a capacity of 35,000, saw Liverpool and Sevilla allocated 10,236 tickets each.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39894023

 

[Mackenzie]

Whilst I'm uneasy about the resting thing, I think 'money driven, not sport' is a little unfair in this instance.

Either fourth place OR the Europa League gives them their goal of CL football next year. Surely trying to get there via WINNING a EUROPEAN COMPETITION is more valiant a 'sporting' effort, than finishing 'third losers' in the domestic league?

Yes, a cup is a cup, but when your grip on fourth place is tenuous the pragmatic manager puts his eggs in the Europa Cup basket.

I truly believe it is THAT cynical.