Will Man United be right to field a second-string against Hull?
By: Rob | May 19th, 2009
So, Man United have won the league, and with the Champions League final just three days after a trip to Hull, its fair to say that United will not field a full strength team against Hull. There could be a bit of a storm brewing though, as Hull are entangled in a bit of a relegation scrap at the bottom.
Obviously if Hull beat a second-string United team, which is more likely than them beating a first-string United team, Newcastle, Boro or Sunderland might feel its only right to complain a bit. And we could have another Sheffield United/West Ham situation on our hands.
There actually is a rule, never implemented by the FA that all “participating clubs shall field a full-strength team”. But nobody knows what the punishment even is for that.
Liverpool might like it to be a points deduction, but that seems unlikely, and to be honest, unfair. It could be a fine, it could be anything. But would Man United really deserve any such punsihment?
After all it could be argued, that by winning the league they have earned the right to do what they like on the last day of the season. Possibly fair to say Newcastle and Boro don’t see it that way.
But it is just a fluke of the fixture list. There’s no other way of doing the fixture list than to have the computer do them at random, and that’s always going to upset someone. I’m sure at some point earlier in the season, the fixture list helped the three North East clubs as opposed to Hull.
I’d probably be devestated if I was a fan of the three clubs in trouble (I’m quite fatalistic as a football fan at the best of times) though. But they should use it to fire themselves up at the weekend. From a psychology point of view, a good manager might be able to elicit a “everything’s against us, lets prove them wrong” kind of response.
You could also argue, perhaps, that Kiko Macheda will be more fired up for a game to prove himself against Hull, than Wayne Rooney who’d be terrified of being injured in the match.
Besides maybe its good Karma for letting us use their badge and logo. Bet Newcastle and Sunderland and Boro didn’t think of that.
Some Related Premier League Posts:
Category: 
Comments
-
I think that a manager has the right to field whatever side he likes, it’s his team, he bough the players and he can leave out whoever he wants. It’s the Premier League’s poor planning anyway to have the final day of the season just four days before the Champions League Final.
I plan on writing a post on this so I’ll give my full argument there.
-
Hey, I’m a Newcastle fan, and I don’t see the problem here. If Newcastle didn’t want to be in a cat fight to avoid relegation, then they should not played piss poor throughout the season.
-
As an Arsenal fan, I want to see Hull go down (b/c of the whole Phil Brown fabricating accusations about Fabregas thing), and I want to see Barcelona win the Champions League.
That said, United has to do what’s best for them, and what’s best for them is resting their top players, or at least subbing them early. What would happen if Ronaldo, Rooney, Vidic or Ferdinand got injured against Hull and couldn’t play against Barca? Or even were too tired to play at their best? Let me put it this way–if Arsenal were in this position (stop snickering), I’d definitely want Wenger to rest our best players.
But at the end of the day, I think this is a moot point–United’s second team will destroy Hull.
-
That’s very level headed of you Kevin! I hope most fans have that kind of common sense.
-
Martin – that’s also a pretty good point, a United second team should still be too much for Hull anyway.
-
Whatever they do, they just need to make sure Neil Warnock isn’t around.
-
if a team always fielded their best XI as this rule says, then when would the reserves ever get match experience? the manager dictates who plays at all times and no one else
-
Each team’s manager has one responsibility and that is HIS team.
He should do what he feels is best for HIS squad.
If Newcastle wants to complain about it, too bad. They could’ve prevented it by actually playing well down the stretch.
-
Won’t be the reserve players more motivated to perform anyway? If Manu field their best XI, I would expect that none of them would want to risk picking up a silly injury in a meaningless game and then miss out on one of the biggest games of their career. They probably won’t take any chances with tackles or sprints etc. and make life a lot easier for Hull. The reserve players meanwhile have a chance to prove themselves and could try to win some playing time in the final by putting in a great performance in the league…
-
I’m another Newcastle fan and I think that it is within United’s rights to rest their star players ahead of the Hull game.
Honestly Newcastle shouldn’t be here and should be safe by now but it’s a probability we’ll go down..
I’m hoping Macheda and Welbeck can put Hull to bed and that Newcastle nick a draw/win v Villa.
-
plus the way football usually works out is that the starting XI are usually the ones that are the hungriest for a good performance. against good teams on a big stage, the stars want to show that they are worth it. against weaker teams, the kids usually want to show that they deserve to get more playing time. in friendlies, there are often players trying to win a place in the squad. even the nonreserves that will be playing on sunday will be playing for a starting spot for the final. it always works out.
-
Oh dear, what’s a United fan who wants Hull to stay up to do? They’re one of the few teams that dared go all out attacking and got 3 vs us.
Will a draw suffice for Hull?
-
They have to do as well as Newcastle, basically.
-
Man U’s second team is better than half of the P’ship sides. Not an issue. I think the reserves will be hungry and can see Hull City losing.
-
I don’t think Rooney’s ever been scared of obtaining an injury. That Ronaldo character is an entirely different story.
-
The other question is the legalese of the definition of “full-strength.” Does that mean best eleven, or does is mean eleven from the main squad that has contested the Premiership all season? With a large, deep squad to call upon, Ferguson shouldn’t have any problem fielding a side that will meet requirements.
And I would hate for what promises to be a great CL final to be sullied by some last-match injury in a meaningless match, for us or your lads. Heavens knows Guardiola will be rolling out “attack of the Bs” against Osasuna, for that very reason.
Home 
