West Ham complain over Fulham team selection for Hull

[sam86]

BBC Sport - Football - West Ham complain over Fulham team selection for Hull

The Premier League have confirmed they have received a complaint from West Ham over Fulham's decision to rest players for last Saturday's match against Hull.

Fulham left out Bobby Zamora, Danny Murphy, Aaron Hughes, Dickson Etuhu and Damien Duff for a game they lost 2-0.

Manager Roy Hodgson made the decision with one eye on Thursday's Europa League match with Wolfsburg and said Fulham "have no case to answer".

Hull are in the final relegation spot, level on points with West Ham.

"Firstly I do not think West Ham should be picking our team and I think that is a fairly obvious statement," said Hodgson.

"My conscience is perfectly clear on the subject and we do not have a case to answer.

"We chose a team comprising a player just sold for £10m [Chris Smalling] and a South African international [Kagisho Dikgacoi], and replaced Bobby Zamora with Clint Dempsey, a United States international.

"I can't understand why, if you have a large squad, it's not allowed for you to change things around. I can't imagine anyone questioning Liverpool, Manchester United or Chelsea for using all the players in their squad."

And Hodgson has found support from Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, who described West Ham's action as "foolish".

"As a manager you always make decisions that can help your team," said Martinez.

"Roy Hodgson and Fulham have had such a successful season, they know exactly what they have got behind the scenes and know what they need.

"For anyone to criticise another football club when they are in such outstanding form is very foolish.

"Roy Hodgson has got to make the decisions to help his team achieve their aims for the season."

A Premier League spokesman added: "We can confirm that we have received an official complaint from West Ham over this matter.

"We will now ask Fulham for their observations and then the Premier League board will then consider what actions, if any, are appropriate."

What a pathetic little club West Ham are.

 

[clarkey]

Smacks of desparation and fear of relegation.

 

[veade]

as they wouldn't do anything wrong would they Sheffield Utd

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Deary me. The Porno Twins just can't help themselves can they?

 

[cjd]

Is this the same bunch of cheating CNUTS, who avoided relegation with a player who should never have been there in the first place.........and continued to lie to the premier league..?

 

[withdeanwombat]

Is this the same bunch of cheating CNUTS, who avoided relegation with a player who should never have been there in the first place.........and continued to lie to the premier league..?

Yes. Yes it is.

 

[jevs]

Is this the same bunch of cheating CNUTS, who avoided relegation with a player who should never have been there in the first place.........and continued to lie to the premier league..?

 

[Paxton Dazo]

West Ham United Football Club. .

Such a nothing club.

I hope they stay up though, it's an easy 6 points next season. I wanna see their fans CRYING again 'cause we'd beaten them.

 

[Questions]

I went to the WHU game recently at The Emirates where they rested Noble, Cole and Parker.
I reckon Chelsea and Man U should say something then.

 

[beorhthelm]

shame West Ham felt the need for this. going by the recent precedent of the Wolves incident, the worse for Fulham is a fine and they have a strong case for resting 5 players considering the replacments. its not going to lead to a reverse of the points, it just makes WH look like cocks.

 

[jevs]

shame West Ham felt the need for this. going by the recent precedent of the Wolves incident, the worse for Fulham is a fine and they have a strong case for resting 5 players considering the replacments. its not going to lead to a reverse of the points, it just makes WH look like cocks.

I was always under the impression that a team should field it's strongest possible side.

Totally agree about making us look like cocks though....totally unnecessary and we have to play Fulham at the cottage last but one game....guess who's going to be more up for that one !!!! If it's any consolation, most WH fans are horrified by this too.

 

[dougdeep]

West Ham United Football Club. .

Such a nothing club..

What? But they won us the World Cup, single handed.

 

[Lord Bamber]

A pathetic, lame squeal from a club who cant face the fact they might get relegated cause they are shit.

Get over it.

 

[beorhthelm]

I was always under the impression that a team should field it's strongest possible side

so am i. but there has been squad rotation for sometime and players are rested for one match for a bigger match, minor injuries keep players out etc. who is to say player a is a stronger player than b anyway? one might change players for formation or taticial reasons, pace, height, or all manner of criteria. we havent been play Forster, does that mean we havnt been playing our strongest side? it would get silly.