Nice one colin you sour faced bitter oxf*rd

[Boston Royal]

Warnock is right. It's true that, if we go down, it will be mainly our fault for not having been good enough over 38 games. But the entire 38 game season can come down to just one game, and being relegated because Liverpool put out a reserve team (or Spurs did against Birmingham just after the Carling Cup) will be as unfair as being relegated due to a disallowed goal. These small things will decide whether our mediocre performance over 38 games was just enough, or fell short, and there's a vast chasm between these two outcomes.

I'm probably misremembering, but I seem to recall some rule that clubs had to play their best sides, within reason (although "within reason" is obviously hard to define). Else, teams could strategically throw games: e.g. losing to a small club to save them from relegation and send a bigger club down, thus increasing your chances of staying up next year.

[Royal Rother]

As is often the case Warnock talks a lot of sense.

[The 17 Bus]

It was indeed in the rules of the old First Division and FA that you had to play your strongest available side, the only time you could leave players out wholesale like happens now is if there was nothing resting on the game, eg Promotion, relegation, so 2 midtable teams could do it.

The players that Liverpool use will still try to win the match, as we do in the Cup games, but it does devalue the whole idea of the competition.

Personally I blame the Champions League set up, it should be for Champions only, runners up into the second rate competitions.

[mini _dariusz]

We should field a weakened team twice next season, against whichever team Liverpool are competing with for whichever spot is closest. I guess 5th or 6th spot. So I figure, Everton, twice.

What a dick head.

If anyone else was in Liverpool's position they'd be doing the same. FACT

OK, Liverpool put their striongest side out today, they have 2 days less to prepare for Tuesday than Chelsea, how is that fair then ??????????????????????

[Southbank Old Boy]

How do you decide who is in a clubs strongest side these days?

Would Coppell get in trouble for the weakened side he's put out against Arsenal today?

[mini _dariusz]

So then everyone, Liverpool's weakened team done the business. Why's everyone stuill not saying he should have put the strongest side out cos they might have had an off day ?

[PlasticRoyale]

I wish Liverpool had competition for their Champions league spot. Being unable to compete for the league gives them an advantage in European competition. If they put in good performances i wouldn't mind but they play dour football and rely on pens, ref decisions etc

As much as i dislike Chelsea i hope they reach the final over Liverpool

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

So then everyone, Liverpool's weakened team done the business. Why's everyone stuill not saying he should have put the strongest side out cos they might have had an off day ?

I've changed my mind and I'm in full support of his policy, just as long as the proper team also do the business v birmingham next week.

[Toon Toon Blue army]

Understandable really. But I wonder what Warnock would do in Rafa's position. I know I would certainly rest players.

Dropping a load of first team players could have the opposite effect too. Reserves/youngsters may wish to prove a point where as the starting 11 may see it as another pointless game which they could get injured in, resulting in them not giving 100%. Fulham could have also looked at the Liverpool team sheet and thought 'we can get 3 points from this' causing them to relax a little.

At the end of the day, what’s the point in having a large squad if you don’t use all your players? But at the same time if Fulham had won yesterday, and stayed up by one point, causing us to be relegated, I would be mighty pissed off.

[Gus the teenage cow]

after reading this thread i now see that 95% of the people on this board talk utter bollocks

[papereyes]

after reading this thread i now see that 95% of the people on this board talk utter bollocks

Welcome to the oxf*rd internet.

[Scylla]

So then everyone, Liverpool's weakened team done the business. Why's everyone stuill not saying he should have put the strongest side out cos they might have had an off day ?

I've changed my mind and I'm in full support of his policy, just as long as the proper team also do the business v birmingham next week.

Indeed. It might of been a lot better for Reading if Liverpool had lost at Fulham and needed a result at Birmingham.

Highlight of the the whole 'fielding an under-strength team' farce has to be Megson demanding that Rafa respects the 'integrity of the competition'

[PlasticRoyale]

after reading this thread i now see that 95% of the people on this board talk utter bollocks

LOL!!

[Vision]

I might be more inclined to respect Warnock's opinion if he wasn't the manager of a Sheff Utd team last season that having beaten West Ham 3-0 then went and made 5 changes to play Man Utd as he wanted to rest certain players ahead of a relegation "6 pointer" against Charlton. Dont recall him giving a shit about about the "integrity" of the Premiership then. Just a manager doing what he thought was best for his club, and rightly so.

After 38 games clubs finish where they deserve to finish. End of, as far as i'm concerned.

[The whole year inn]

Poor Finch. I'm sure his reaction to Warnock would be exactly the same if it were aimed at Arsenal or Chelsea.

[mini _dariusz]

I might be more inclined to respect Warnock's opinion if he wasn't the manager of a Sheff Utd team last season that having beaten West Ham 3-0 then went and made 5 changes to play Man Utd as he wanted to rest certain players ahead of a relegation "6 pointer" against Charlton. Dont recall him giving a shit about about the "integrity" of the Premiership then. Just a manager doing what he thought was best for his club, and rightly so.

After 38 games clubs finish where they deserve to finish. End of, as far as i'm concerned.

Good post

[Scylla]

So.. Liverpool draw with Birmingham and gift them an easy point.. this could be decisive for our survival.
What do you ignorant masochistic wakners think about that then!?

I can't speak for your friends but I think you've got mental health issues.

[mini _dariusz]

So.. Liverpool draw with Birmingham and gift them an easy point.. this could be decisive for our survival.
What do you ignorant masochistic wakners think about that then!?

Pot kettle and black my old cocker.

|think you should have beaten FuLOLham at home the other week so you wouldn't have got involved in this debate.