Wenger: McCarthy undermined credibility of league

[the_rudeboy 12]

If players are in the squad then the manager should have the right to play them whenever he sees fit.

[daftlad 11]

Yet when any Blades mention about Liverpool making NINE changes against Fulham due to the Champions League game coming up, and then lose 2-0 which takes Fulham out of the relegation battle - we're whinging losers who should just accept that that's football. Not even to mention Man Utd fielding a weakened side, with numerous youngsters and unknowns, in the final game of the season - against West Ham, who's illegal player scored the winner... etc.

 

If no one questions the big boys for fielding understrength teams, then McCarthy getting pulled up shows that they only care about the big teams.

 

Also regarding the liverpool issue. Our game was 10 days away from that match, the following weekend liverpool played a full strength side, with just a few days to go to the european match. Top clubs do get away with things

[Dimitri 11 10]

Full story.

 

Pot. Kettle. Black. Does Wenger not undermine the credibility of the Carling Cup every time he fields his youngsters? What about when he rests players for a big European game?

 

What you mean like 2 weeks ago when Arsenal fielded an understrength side against Olympiakos! The 2nd spot in that group was still up for grabs and Standard Liege's hopes of qualification rested on their own result against AZ Alkmaar and Arsenal beating Olympiakos. Liege didn't manage the win they needed but Olympiakos won anyway so it wouldn't have mattered. Overall I like Wenger but it's close to defying belief that he should criticise McCarthy in this way, so soon after doing exactly the same thing in arguably a more important match. He can be annoyingly hypocritical at times, especially for someone so obviously intelligent.

 

I think the only criticism that can be levelled at McCarthy can be from the Wolves fans who paid to go to the game. Even then what was the manager supposed to do, announce 3 weeks before the game that he was going to play a reserve side? McCarthy did what he thought was best for Wolves and I think that is the important thing - he wasn't trying to help Man Utd win the league or stitching Wolves up because he was facing the axe etc.

 

Playing against a team that decides to play a weakened side because they have their eye on an upcoming game they deem more important (or more winnable), is just good luck for you and bad luck for your rivals. There shouldn't be regulations to try to stop it happening, it's part of football.

[plekhanov 10]

Well it would seem McCarthy's decision to rest his 1st team has turned out very well, 6 points from 3 games in 8 days is damn good going for a side like Wolves.

[Ousetunes 10]

No Premier League team has abided by the "field your strongest side" rule in at least ten years. Wolves have no case to answer.

 

Spot on.

 

McCarthy is answerable to no-one but himself, his players and the board at Wolverhampton Wanderers. It is none of Arsene Whinger's business what sides other teams field.

 

Wolves do not have the riches of Arsenal in either youngsters coming through the ranks or by way of capital. It will be a successful season if they maintain their Premier League status. If a weakened side loses against Manchester United away, but collect points where a team of their standing might expect to - Burnley at home for example - then 9 points out of 12 is a good return.

 

It's fine for Whinger and co, the millionaires of the Premier League to tut and wrinkle their noses at their poor cousins' actions.

 

But deep down, he knows it's none of his business and maybe he's merely trying to deflect attention from his own failings?

Edited December 21, 2009 by Ousetunes

[Joe Momma 10]

Yet when any Blades mention about Liverpool making NINE changes against Fulham due to the Champions League game coming up, and then lose 2-0 which takes Fulham out of the relegation battle - we're whinging losers who should just accept that that's football. Not even to mention Man Utd fielding a weakened side, with numerous youngsters and unknowns, in the final game of the season - against West Ham, who's illegal player scored the winner... etc.

 

 

 

Still moaning?

AGAIN he WASN'T ''illegal'' - 3rd Party Clauses weren't covered by the PL so we got fined.

They ARE legal in other countries.

 

Obviously you'll have been watching your game v Wigan. The Man U side was very strong (unlike L'pool's v Fulham), we cleared off the line, they hit the woodwork & everything ... we nicked a winner (only needing a draw). Just one of those games.

And before you start, that was one of THREE consecutive wins over Man U - hardly a fluke.

[Dimitri 11 10]

Well it would seem McCarthy's decision to rest his 1st team has turned out very well, 6 points from 3 games in 8 days is damn good going for a side like Wolves.

 

Most teams in the PL would have been happy with 6 points out of 9 if they were playing Tottenham and Man U away and Burnley at home (Burnley aren't great but they are as good as Wolves). I am glad Wolves and Mick McCarthy got their win yesterday as he is largely vindicated now.

[leviathan13 348]

Still moaning?

AGAIN he WASN'T ''illegal'' - 3rd Party Clauses weren't covered by the PL so we got fined.

They ARE legal in other countries.

 

 

Was it legal for Tevez to play under those circumstances?

[musbird 10]

Mccarthy has no-one to answer to. He is the manager of the club and if you start to take squad decisions from a manager then you take part of the club.

 

I dont see what all the fuss was about, all the players that played against Man utd were 1st team players and had a right to play. That was the strongest side Mick could have put out and s thats what he did. I personally think he is right and I have a lot of respect for the man. Wolves have been unlucky with all the injuries that have happened in the past few weeks and he has to react to that.

 

9 points out of 12 is damn good for Wolves, and Mick shouldnt have to explain himself to anyone.

All the players understand, the Chairman & CEO understand and the majority of premier league managers have come out in support too. Just the media playing games again, trying to cause trouble. Well, Wolves are 12th at the mo and I wish them the best of luck for boxing day against Liverpool. C'mon Wolves

 

Super, super mick, super, super mick, super, super mick, super mick mccarthy.

[BasilRathbon 10]

Mccarthy has no-one to answer to. He is the manager of the club and if you start to take squad decisions from a manager then you take part of the club.

 

I dont see what all the fuss was about, all the players that played against Man utd were 1st team players and had a right to play. That was the strongest side Mick could have put out and s thats what he did. I personally think he is right and I have a lot of respect for the man. Wolves have been unlucky with all the injuries that have happened in the past few weeks and he has to react to that.

.

 

Well Wolves' physio deserves a medal as no less than 10 players had career-threatening injuries the other tuesday but miraculously recovered to be fit enough to play by the following Sunday.

 

For the sake of fairness Wolves should have had the three points they got for beating Burnley deducted. It won't happen of course, but "throwing" a game of football, as Wolves did at Old Trafford is quite simply cheating.

[Rushup 10]

For the sake of fairness Wolves should have had the three points they got for beating Burnley deducted. It won't happen of course, but "throwing" a game of football, as Wolves did at Old Trafford is quite simply cheating.

 

 

Ridiculous.

 

Whether players are rested for a match against Man Utd or Accrington Stanley is missing the point. Resting players when you have 3 in 8 days is perfectly logical, particularly when the final game is against a relegation rival and falls into the 'must-win' category. Every club in the league does this with regularity, particularly when involved in domestic and european cup competitions.

 

Besides, how did Wolves 'throw' the game? They put up more of a fight than Wigan could muster against Spurs...

[BasilRathbon 10]

Ridiculous.

 

Whether players are rested for a match against Man Utd or Accrington Stanley is missing the point. Resting players when you have 3 in 8 days is perfectly logical, particularly when the final game is against a relegation rival and falls into the 'must-win' category. Every club in the league does this with regularity, particularly when involved in domestic and european cup competitions.

 

Besides, how did Wolves 'throw' the game? They put up more of a fight than Wigan could muster against Spurs...

 

In the cups fair enough, but in the league there is no excuse for putting out a weakened team. Wolves would have got exactly the same number of points for beating Man Utd as for beating Burnley. And they would have stood a fair chance as well; not only do Man Utd currently have no fit centre halves but they've also dropped points to struggling sides like Sunderland and Fulham.

 

As I said earlier in the thread, if a professional football player gets tired after playing two 90 minute games of football in a week, he's in the wrong job. In the same week as this happened, Villa played exactly the same team in three successive games and won all three!