So i guess Blackpool will now get fined?!

[Hoop Blah]

The rules were changed since Wolves.


Managers were told to name a 25 man squad.

Holloway used his squad.


That should have been the end of it.

As discussed originally, I don't see why the naming of the squad changes things. All the players in Wolves squad were eligable to play and so were the Blackpool players.

The 25 man squad thing is a red-herring.

[soggy biscuit]

As a side issue I realy wish fines handed out around Europe were on par with each other.

Sevilla are being threatened with a €3000 fine (and stadium closure which reporters are saying will not go through) for the objects thrown at Casillas the other night.

When an Atletico fan threw a knife on the pitch at Casillas during a game a couple of years back they were fined €600.

[brendywendy]

big 4 = squad rotation

anyone else =weakened squad+big fine


oxf*rd off Premiere league

[bigmike]

big 4 = squad rotation

anyone else =weakened squad+big fine


oxf*rd off Premiere league

Greed ... thats the story of the Premiershit tho

[RobRoyal]

Angry.

Arsenal made 8 changes when they played Wigan on 29 Dec. They have to get fined too now, surely? Or is the Premier League's position that Bendtner is better than Harewood so Arsenal are allowed?

As I posted earlier in the thread, just where do you draw the line?

Thing is, where do you draw the line as far as 'too many changes' is concerned? If you say 10 changes is 'too many' (as the FA did with Wolves last year), what about 9?

If 9 is 'too many', what about 8?

Still too many? OK, how about 7? 6? 5?

Just where do you draw the line on this?

I emailed the Premier League. They responded with a long (probably standard) email,the relevant bit of which went:

"In reference to your comments about Arsenal we can only reinforce that following Blackpool making ten changes in their match against Aston Villa we monitored their team selections for the following seven Premier League games to see how often the players used agianst Aston Villa were fielded in their first XI."

...which explains nothing. Except that their underling of "ten" would seem to suggest that the cut-off is somewhere between ten and eight changes (or, given the end of that paragraph, that sides that "rotate" more regularly are actually except from this rule by dint of having a first 11 that is less obvious - though everyone knows Bendtner, Gibbs and Eboue wouldn't start a game against Chelsea).

Still angry.

[Barry the bird boggler]

So there argument is that you can make 10/11 changes but the players coming in must be also used reasonably regularly in other games.

Personally I think the whole thing is one big JOKE and if anything they should be done for bringing the game into disrepute - or are these "rules" spelled out to clubs in the terms and conditions of being a member of the worst league in the world.

[RobRoyal]

So there argument is that you can make 10/11 changes but the players coming in must be also used reasonably regularly in other games.

It's not explicit, but that does seem to be the implication. They obviously don't see how plainly this skews things in favour of sides that can buy strength in depth.

[brendywendy]

so theyd prefer it if you rotated all the time, than just occasionally?
this is mental

[Muskrat]

This will test Hollaway's resolve. If he's any kind of a man he will either resign or tell the FA to go and fukc themsleves.

[Pseud O'Nym]

This will test Hollaway's resolve. If he's any kind of a man he will either resign or tell the FA to go and fukc themsleves.

Thought he'd tendered his resignation. Probably safe in the knowledge that it won't be accepted though.

[Muskrat]

This will test Hollaway's resolve. If he's any kind of a man he will either resign or tell the FA to go and fukc themsleves.

Thought he'd tendered his resignation. Probably safe in the knowledge that it won't be accepted though.

IIRC Pardew "offered his resignation", which was rejected by Reading, but never returned to work, having already decided that he wanted to go to West Ham. Holloway could do the same if he felt that strongly about it, and just not return to work.

[Hoop Blah]

I can actually see the Premier Leagues point regarding the players being brought in not being those that a club use that often. They implies it is a significantly weakened side which I do think has an impact on the integrity of the competition.

[roadrunner]

This rule will be changed in the summer when all the clubs are believed to be getting together to thrash it out with the PL. It's an absolute nonsense having someone not connected to the club deciding what is a weakened team. A playing squad is just that. Keep your noses out and let the manager do what he feels is best for his club.

[Hoop Blah]

They voted the rule in last summer so I'm not sure if much has changed to make them change their minds next time round.

[cmonurz]

I can actually see the Premier Leagues point regarding the players being brought in not being those that a club use that often. They implies it is a significantly weakened side which I do think has an impact on the integrity of the competition.

Agree with this actually, to an extent. It's a reasonable point that the Premier League makes - if Holloway deems those ten players not worthy of a place in future games (whereas for example half of Wenger's 8 changes then made appearances in the following few games), then it can certainly be argued that Blackpool fielded a weakened side.

That all said - I would still consider it the right of a club to use it's squad, however relatively strong or weak members of that squad are deemed to be. Every game is 'winnable' and if Blackpool choose to rotate a whole team so as to save their best players for a game considered more important, then I don't see how that is different to, say, Chelsea deciding to spare Wolves the trouble of facing Drogba and Lampard.

But I can see the Premier League's point within the rules that currently exist - they could do with making that explanation public.

[AthleticoSpizz]

simply...........

Blackpool players

Blackpool manager

he can pick who he damned well wants when he wants

The "Prem" (and their greedy drivers, Sky tv) do not manage nor have any right to pick their preferred team ahead of any manager.



£££££ootballoll Tail wagging the dog yet again

Love football....hate Sky

[Scylla]

But they do have an obligation to enforce rules B.13 and E.20. Given that obligation I think - and it's all about opinions Ron - that this time they (who?) probably got it right.