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The “squad” issue, the BIG difference.

Published by Ian John on December 19, 2009

Following on from yesterday’s article on Mick McCarthy and his team selection midweek for the visit to Old Trafford, I want to make a few points that I think have got a little lost in the stream of invective or support for the Wolves manager since, because to be honest, some of what has been said has baffled me. Here goes;

“I said I would play my best team and that was the fittest, strongest team I could pick.” said Mick McCarthy after the game. Yes, of course it is. The key word in this sentence is “fittest” because that is entirely a matter of opinion. McCarthy is implying that because of the exertions of the Tottenham game, his 10 outfield players were not fit enough to play again against Manchester United. One wonders if the game had been the final game of the season, with Wolves needing a win to stay up, if they’d have been fit enough then, but you can’t argue the point because it is a judgement call and McCarthy knows nobody can say they know better than him. It is also utter cowardice of the highest order to hide behind such a limp excuse.

“If Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, teams in Europe, have had a big game coming up on a Saturday, they’ve made big changes, United might make five or six but they’ve got bigger squads and they’ve got more quality. Is it the principle we’re talking about or the quality?” opined Stoke boss Tony Pulis on the matter. Of course, I’m not arguing against a managers freedom to use his squad. That isn’t the issue, whether you are Portsmouth at the bottom or Chelsea at the top. The difference and it is a KEY difference, is that when Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool or whoever make changes for a league game they are still attempting to win the game. As Manchester United did at Hull last season. Wolves changes were NEVER an attempt to win the game, they were an act to preserve players for the weekend game. They basically gift wrapped the three points to United and that, is the BIG, BIG difference.

“He did a good job, keeping his team fresh for the Burnley game. It is more important to have a strong team when you can score points. Against United they didn’t have a chance. He did the right thing. If I was in his place, I would have made the same choice.” said Carlo Ancelotti of Chelsea. It’ll be interesting to see if he is so magnanimous should the three points gifted United at the end of the season hand them the title.

I’m afraid, on this matter, I am firmly with Arsene Wenger who stated “We will compete with Manchester United over 37 instead of 38 games this season. This is a problem for the international credibility of the Premier League.” He’s absolutely right. Managers like Pulis can bleat on about how managers can pick reserve teams that are still packed with Premier league talent, that is the case at most clubs, the problem is, they are still reserve teams. They will lose against the big teams, especially away from home. This sets a dangerous precedent. What if every team in the bottom half of the table did the same against Manchester United. How much of an advantage would that be?

And how much damage would that do to the integrity of the Premier League? Would you watch a team where the underdog just rolls over and dies? I wouldn’t. It smacks against everything that makes English football what it is today. It is greed. The fear of relegation and the cutting off of the Premier League gravy train.

Mick McCarthy says he will be judged if Wolves stay in the Premier League. Well I already judge him as a manager who has made a huge mistake. I also hope that we can judge him by seeing Wolves relegated at the end of the season. Not for their fans, who I think deserved so much better, but so that other managers understand that cheating other teams and your fans like this, will not prevail.

Image Courtesyy of ***vic smith *** at Flickr.com

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