Wolves handed a suspended fine for fielding a weakened team

[bloodline76]

I think they played a few days before the Utd game. So technically they could say that they fielded their "strongest" team available because the first team could have been weakened by the previous game.

If they had three games in such a short time I would have done the same thing.

Maybe we should get rid of managers and let the FA decide who is the strongest players for the game.

 

[FeFiDoh]

The fine is for not fielding their strongest team - so what happens when a big club rests a player like Rooney, Drogba, Gerrard or Fabrigas? They are playing with a weakened team - even with a large squad those players cannot be replaced without weakening the team. Utterly ridiculous ruling

There is a difference between resting 1 or 2 key players in a team and resting an entire team

 

[mmj_uk]

There is a difference between resting 1 or 2 key players in a team and resting an entire team

But they were punished for not fielding a "full-strength" team, resting individual players such as Rooney would still fall under that definition since Man UTD are not at full strength without him.

If you enforce the rule for those at the bottom of the league then you have to enforce it for those at the top as well, which would mean no more resting of players unless they were injured.

I actually think what Mick McCarthy did was very cunning, the fear for the Premier League of course is that it may catch on with other basement teams because it makes a lot of sense.

 

[Shamikebab]

So will Fergie get fined for starting Park today?

 

[FeFiDoh]

I think the point is, he had a pretty much fully fit team maybe they had some close games b2b? But all the top teams have this its all part of the game.

He had no reason to field such a weakened team other than..... He conceeded he would lose and even admitted this so had made absolutely no effort at all.

For those saying what about Arsenal etc.. in the cup well lets be fair the Arsenal youngsters are better than most of the players they come up against and are more than capable of winning those games but lack the experience. Wenger believes they can win and says this he doesnt openly come out and say "Well sod it who cares".

Its bascially forefitting a match which can have quite a significant impact on the league as a whole.

Im not totally agreeing with the decision as I think its no where near clear cut and if this is the case they need to be consistent (which is very rare lets be honest), but I can see why it has happened. It SHOULD stop teams doing this in the future, what if all the bottom half of the table did this? It would make them goals almost meaningless.

 

[Peg]

There is a difference between resting 1 or 2 key players in a team and resting an entire team

Man Utd rested 10 players at Hull last season in a game that decided who got relegated. This is clearly a case of there being one rule for the "Bigger" teams and one rule for the rest. It has got nothing to do with 1 weaker team being better than another weaker team. A weaker team is a weaker team, full stop.

In 07/08 Portsmouth rested a full team in the last match before the FA cup final. Fulham had a gift that day that relegated Reading on goal difference. No action was taken by the Premier league. Wolves have been shafted.

 

[Shamikebab]

Man Utd rested 10 players at Hull last season in a game that decided who got relegated. This is clearly a case of there being one rule for the "Bigger" teams and one rule for the rest. It has got nothing to do with 1 weaker team being better than another weaker team. A weaker team is a weaker team, full stop.

In 07/08 Portsmouth rested a full team in the last match before the FA cup final. Fulham had a gift that day that relegated Reading on goal difference. No action was taken by the Premier league. Wolves have been shafted.

So are you calling Portsmouth a bigger team now?

 

[atpbx]

Man Utd rested 10 players at Hull last season in a game that decided who got relegated. This is clearly a case of there being one rule for the "Bigger" teams and one rule for the rest. It has got nothing to do with 1 weaker team being better than another weaker team. A weaker team is a weaker team, full stop.

In 07/08 Portsmouth rested a full team in the last match before the FA cup final. Fulham had a gift that day that relegated Reading on goal difference. No action was taken by the Premier league. Wolves have been shafted.

I'm pretty sure had Hull put up a fight and beat that side, rather than being turned over, something would have been said.
As it was, Newcastle failed to get the result required to stay up against Villa.

The rules should apply to everyone, If I pay a load of cash to go watch a match I dont want to see dross like Park, Gibson, Welbeck, Foster and Evans playing.

 

[eatcustard]

Man Utd can play a "weaker team" as it is often better than most 1st teams.
If the player is in a squad he is good enough to play in the 1st team when needed.
So the FA cant have it both ways.