After making 10 changes for the game against Aston Villa, ‘Ollie’ has said that he will quit if he is fined by the Premier League for fielding a ‘weakened’ side.
So, like Wolves last year, will Ian Holloway be fined and is it right that the League should take action against how a manager does his job?
In my book, the Premier League has no right in involving themselves in these affairs. At the end of the day, a manager’s only consideration should be how to get the best end result for his team come May.
At the end of the day, Blackpool probably deserved a point last night and with 4 games in 12 days he needs to keep everybody fresh.
I understand why, late on in the season, fans of the sides chasing the spots up the top at the end of the season will be upset if one of their rivals gets to play against a ‘weakened’ side in the run it. But that is the lottery of the fixture list, it is no different to when sides who get to play against teams with ‘nothing’ to play for.
Besides, how would Arsenal/Chelsea/United fans feel if they were told they could not rest Fabregas/Drogba/Vidic against Blackpool or Wolves when they had a Champions League Semi-Final 2nd leg three days later against Barcelona?
Even looking at that Wolves side last year, 6 of the 14 involved; Hahnemann, Foley, Mancienne, Halford, Jones and Jarvis are now first team regulars. Four others are full internationals. None of them were youth teamers. Besides, were the Wolves ‘first team’ going to get a point at Old Trafford anyway?
As things stand, I don’t think Blackpool will be fined. The Premier League (& football league) brought in the 25-man squad rule in last year. Therefore, Blackpool should have a right to pick any member of those 25 in any game. If not, what is the purpose of that rule?
What are you guys’ views?
