Wolves fined for fielding weakened team against Utd!

[hornetrider]

Just on the BBC ticker now. Bizarre if you ask me - the top teams 'utilise the squad system' on a regular basis - are 'lower' teams not allowed to do the same?

Terrible decision imo.

ETA Linky

Edited by hornetrider on Thursday 18th February 13:06

[Blue Meanie]

What a joke... Teams have been fielding 'weakened' teams for cup competitions for years, namely Arsenal, and man Utd. Is this going to become a 'one rule for the top 4, and another rule for everyone else'? What a joke.

[twinturboz]

Unbelievable decision the top 4 have been doing it for ages, Man Utd did this against Hull last season just before the champions league.
It should always be up to the manager to put out whatever team he wants.

[Blue Meanie]

The player, all of them, are employees of the club. Is the FA to determine team selections from now on?

[Heliosphan]

Absolutely spot on decision, in fact I'd deduct them 3 points too.

Why?

Because McCarthy fielded a team that in all fairness had no chance of winning. 10 changes!

When ManU field a weaker side, they invariably still win. They're usually competing in 4 different competitions and may rest players. The thing is, they still field what is bascially a very strong team. Wolves had no ambition to win, no professional integrity, no respect for a "league" competition and no respect for Prem rules.

What if all the bottom 6 teams do it? We may as well give ManU a 6 point start every season!

What an utter joke - vital this was nipped in the bud in my view.

[Blue Meanie]

One rule for the top 4, and one rule for the rest then? Who are the FA to decide who plays for a team, and who doesn't? They are all registered players, and it is up to the TEAM to decide who plays. It;s an atrocious decision.

It is NOT for the FA to decide which of the playing staff a football club uses.

[cotney]

People are saying that United and Arsenal play weaker teams in the cup competitions... but the Premier League actually has a rule stating that clubs must field as stronger team as possible.

So by making 10 changes and fielding basically their reserve team, Wolves were actually breaking that rule and the punishment is fair in my opinion.

Arsenal and Utd dont break any rules by fielding weaker teams in the cup. And plus as mentioned above, Arsenal/Utd's "weaker" teams still have a decent chance of winning!

[Blue Meanie]

Hold on... If the rules state you must field a strong a team as possible, how does Aresnal/Utd not fall under that by fielding 'weaker' teams?

[cotney]

Blue Meanie said:

One rule for the top 4, and one rule for the rest then? Who are the FA to decide who plays for a team, and who doesn't? They are all registered players, and it is up to the TEAM to decide who plays. It;s an atrocious decision.

It is NOT for the FA to decide which of the playing staff a football club uses.

Its not the FA that have issued the fine, its the Premier League.

And they make the rules, so they have the right to enforce them.

[cotney]

Blue Meanie said:

Hold on... If the rules state you must field a strong a team as possible, how does Aresnal/Utd not fall under that by fielding 'weaker' teams?

As above, its the Premier League rules, governed by the Premier League board.

The FA cup is governed by the FA, with different rules. Im assuming the FA cup doesnt have a rule stating strongest possible team must be played.

[Blue Meanie]

FA/Premier league, whatever... So you do not see the double standard at work? One team fields a weaker team, they are fine, another does the same, and gets a 25K fine?

You don;t see that as slightly hypocritical? Yes, it is their right to punish, but at least do it fairly.

[cotney]

Blue Meanie said:

FA/Premier league, whatever... So you do not see the double standard at work? One team fields a weaker team, they are fine, another does the same, and gets a 25K fine?

You don;t see that as slightly hypocritical? Yes, it is their right to punish, but at least do it fairly.

Sorry i thought you were on about them fielding weaker teams in the cup.

I dont think the big 4 teams do field weaker teams in the premier league though to be fair, they might rest a couple of players against the bottom teams, but they dont make 10 changes to the side. They cant afford to take the risk.

[Blue Meanie]

Like Utd did against Hull?

[Heliosphan]

Blue Meanie said:

One rule for the top 4, and one rule for the rest then? Who are the FA to decide who plays for a team, and who doesn't? They are all registered players, and it is up to the TEAM to decide who plays. It;s an atrocious decision.

It is NOT for the FA to decide which of the playing staff a football club uses.

Wolves forfeited the game, no question. That's slightly different to ManU making 3 or 4 changes before a Champions League game.

[cotney]

Blue Meanie said:

Like Utd did against Hull?

You mean the 4-0 win they got?

Starting with:

01 Van der Sar
03 Evra (Fabio Da Silva 87)
05 Ferdinand
21 Rafael Da Silva
23 Evans
13 Park
17 Nani
18 Scholes (Gibson 72)
24 Fletcher
07 Owen (Berbatov 72)
10 Rooney

Hardly a weakened team?

[Blue Meanie]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/...


10 changes... Thankyou very much very much a weakened side, and in the league. Where was the fine?

Edited by Blue Meanie on Thursday 18th February 20:56

[Heliosphan]

If the FA allowed Wolves to get away with this nonsense we may as well have a Prem1 and a Prem2 right now.

I don't even know why McCarthy did what he did.

Points are up for grabs and his side don't turn up - it's laughable!

Wolves played ManU on Tuesday, the next game V Burnley wasn't until Sunday, add the fact that Burnley played on the Wednesday and the decision looks even more bizarre!

[cotney]

Blue Meanie said:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/...


10 changes... Thankyou very much very much a weakened side, and in the league. Where was the fine?

Edited by Blue Meanie on Thursday 18th February 20:56

Fair one then mate, that looks a much weakened team to me.

Suppose the only thing to say now is, the precedent (sp?) has been set with Wolves fine, so will be interesting to see what happens in the future with this kind of thing.

[Blue Meanie]

That game was somewhat infamous because it was before the CL final, and the game against Hull was vital in the relegation battle, so not even a meaningless game.

As I said, where is the parity?

[cotney]

Blue Meanie said:

As I said, where is the parity?

Lacking.