Mick McCarthy has been centre of attention all week have choosing to change ten players to face Manchester United, after their 1-0 victory of Tottenham Hotspur days earlier.
Arsene Wenger claimed McCarthy had the intentional credibility of the league at stake whilst Gary Megson has looked to the rules of the Premier League.
“I have got more integrity and honesty in that little finger than most of those who are accusing me. Whoever it is, I am not bothered,” McCarthy blasted in response. “I go through the season and I complain not one jot about anybody. I try my best not to complain, I try my best not to get involved in anyone else’s politics or football club or anything like that and I am not going to get involved. It is laughable. I have had lots of messages of support, not because anyone thinks I need it because of the decisions that I made, but because of some of the ridiculous, scathing, outrageous comments that have been made about me and what I did. I had a lovely letter from Tiger Woods thanking me for taking the pressure off him. I believe he is now driving round Florida in an open top car singing ‘super Mick McCarthy’. My latest email is from Thierry Henry who seems to think I have taken the heat off him as well. The one person who has the right to bleat at me is Owen Coyle. He has seen it was the right thing to do and said it. No-one else has any bearing at all. He is a proper bloke. He has come up through the school of hard knocks. I don’t give a monkey’s about anyone else.”
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger
It’s sad but what can I do? It’s not up to me. We will compete with Manchester United over 37 games instead of 38 this season. This is a problem for the international credibility of the Premier League.
So what did Wenger do for the “credibility” of the Champions League when selecting a load of teenagers to play in their final group stage match? Surely Wenger wouldn’t be so hypocritical to talk about credibility when he had pulled exactly the same trick as McCarthy? Course he would! Arsenal fielded a team with the average age of just 21-years-old and unsurprisingly lost to Greek champions, Olympiacos. Had Arsenal beaten Olympicacos, as they had done easily when playing Fabregas, Gallas, Vermaelen, Arshavin, Eboue etc., Standard Liège would have been the team to qualify if they won their final match of the group stage. Did Wenger think about making things fair for Standard Liège when selecting a team that would best suit his challenge for the Premier League at the weekend? Course not. So why on earth he thinks he’s in a position to criticise managers for team selection is beyond me, given he did exactly the same thing six days prior to United’s match against Wolves.
Owen Coyle, Burnley manager
I think people should look at the big picture and realise what a big part he has played in restoring Wolves to the Premier League. Those players he named (against United) were bona fide first team players. A lot was made of it but Wolves are working like ourselves to try and maintain their Premier League status.
Jez Moxey, Wolves chief executive
The fans do not have the benefit of training with the team day-in, day-out and Mick McCarthy’s job is to pick the team that he feels is best to win games and keep us in the Premier League. He did that with the best interests of the club at heart.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager
We looked at their performance against Tottenham and the amount of running they had to do. I said five or six of those players could not play. In addition to the actual match, they had been down to London, then they had to travel to Manchester and they also play Burnley at the weekend. We didn’t think they would play their full side. We worked through the ones who did all the running and worked out who we thought it would be. We didn’t expect 10 but we weren’t far wrong. The Wolves side that played on Tuesday did exactly what a lot of sides have been doing to us recently. They never gave us a minute on the ball. They worked their socks off. To my mind, there was no discernible difference in the Wolves team that could have played to the one that did.
Gary Megson, Bolton manager
In terms of the Premier League, there are rules there which state you must play your strongest team. That is down to the Premier League to deal with that as they see fit. It is a rule, not a guidance. From a football point of view I know if I’d been a player I’d want to play at Old Trafford. I understand why Mick’s done it but it will also galvanise Burnley as well because they are looked at as the team that is beatable so they (Wolves) can put that team out.
It makes you wonder if Rafael Benitez was asked to explain his team selection in the lead up to their Champions League final in 2007, which they went on to lose against AC Milan. Immediately after the winning semi-final against Chelsea, he dropped nine players for their next league game against Fulham. Now, you would imagine the team put out in the European Cup semi-final would be Benitez’s strongest team, so for only two players to feature in their next game suggests he didn’t select his strongest team in the Premier League?
Liverpool 1 – 0 Chelsea
Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Zenden, Kuyt, Crouch.
Fulham 1 – 0 Liverpool
Reina, Arbeloa, Paletta, Hyypia, Insua, Pennant, Alonso, Sissoko, Gonzalez, Fowler, Bellamy.
Liverpool 2 – 2 Charlton
Padelli, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa, Gerrard, Mascherano, Zenden, Riise, Kuyt, Fowler.
Fulham stayed up with 39 points, Charlton went down on 34, Sheffield Wednesday went down with 38. Had Fulham drawn with or lost to Liverpool, they would have been relegated and Wednesday would have stayed up.
Last season, United faced Hull away on the final day of the season, after we had already been crowned champions and they were deep in the relegation battle. We were also playing in the European Cup final just three days later, leaving Ferguson with no incentive to play people likely to start in Rome. Darren Fletcher, Nani, Brown, Neville and Rafael were amongst the first team players to start, but were joined by the likes of Darron Gibson, Danny Welbeck and Lee Martin.
Unlike Liverpool, our team selection had no negative impact on the league, with us still going on to win 1-0 and Hull managing to stay up because of other results.
Regardless, do I think Benitez or Ferguson were wrong to start weakened teams? No. Sorry, but it is not Liverpool’s job to keep Sheffield Wednesday up, just as it wasn’t our job to keep Newcastle up. There are 38 games over the course of the season and if you don’t want to go down, make sure you do something about that before the 38th. I wouldn’t agree with us playing a weakened team just for the sake of it, but why on earth should United risk injuries three days before a European Cup final for the sake of the security of Newcastle? The same applies to Liverpool. The manager’s priority has to be the well-being of their own club, not the impacts their decisions make on other clubs.
In resting so many players against Manchester United, the Wolves manager believed he was doing what was best for his club, not anybody else’s. He anticipated a defeat at Old Trafford so rested some of his best players for what he regarded to be a more winnable match five days later at home to Burnley. Would Wenger disadvantage his own club for the sake of Wolves? Course he wouldn’t, he would be mad to! So why should Mick McCarthy care less about what impact his team selection has on the title race? He’s got his own problems to worry about, a relegation battle, and that has to be his priority.
That doesn’t mean there were no unfair casualties in McCarthy’s decision. The fans who travelled 75 miles to be in Manchester for an 8pm kick off on a Tuesday night have every right to feel aggrieved. As the chants of “we want our money back!” were belted out, clearly irked at the fact they had spend £42 to watch their weakened side get beaten by United, you had to sympathise with them. Remember, these were the same fans that travelled even further to London a few days before and saw their strongest side beat top four challengers, Spurs, away from home. If they could beat Spurs, then why not United? Of course, I’m not saying I think Wolves’ strongest side would have won, but you never know what can happen in football, and what number of points Wolves may have denied us of.
Then there are the players who were forced to sit out, denied the opportunity to play in front of 74,000 fans, in what we might mockingly dub their “cup final”. I imagine Sylvan Ebanks-Blake would have loved a run out against his former club, whilst Kevin Doyle would relish the opportunity to score against United as he did against Spurs.
However, those two issues are something for the club to sort out amongst themselves, and have very little to do with any other manager or team.
Man Utd News 24/7
Good analysis Scott. Nice digging to come up with those facts. Makes me wonder why you spend so much time dissing ex players when you have the ability to write good articles like this.
Keep it up. This stuff, not the player knocking.
Also, one thing nobody mentions is that every week United play teams that compete against us as if it were an FA Cup final, players often have the game of their lives against us but nobody complains that we have an unfair disadvantage because we play ultra motivated teams each week, the same teams that turn up but can’t be arsed against other so called “big teams”. The fact McCarthy went the other way seems to be galling a few people in the game/media.
i agree. is anybody thinking that even if they had played their ‘full strength’ side we still wud have beaten them. our second string in the league cup beat them. if arse had beaten burnley he wud not have sed a thing. hes just covering up his own mistakes. u pick 20 odd players at the beginning of the season coz u will nd all of them otherwise whats the point.
another point wat a third goal by the lads on tue no defence could have stopped that
This looks a lot like an article I read about a week ago on United Rant (I think).
Valid point nonetheless.
mate what are you talking about ? sheffield wednesday ? obviously you mean sheffield united
it was Sheffield United who went dowm, fucking Warncok is still going on about it!
Spot on Scott, as I posted in the forum the only reason this is being discussed is because it was against Manchester United. Any other team and I doubt this would have made the papers!
Pool 1 -0 down, and 1 man down. Argie fargie mascherano off. Lovely start to the week.
When Arsenal field an under-strength side in the Carling Cup they say its all about ‘giving youth a chance’, when Wolves do it they’re ‘throwing the game’.
What I think people are really upset about is the lateness of McCarthy’s decision, when away supporters had already paid for tickets, got to the game expecting a full-strength side etc, not the decision itself. Had they known maybe many supporters wouldn’t have bothered turning up?
People made a ruckus out of this issue just because it involved us, Man United. The ABUs wouldn’t even bat an eyelid if it were any other team.
Btw, glad that the dippers are doing well right now with 1 goal behind and that scum Masch getting sent off after injuring himself.
Can’t agree with your point.., there are huge differences between fielding a weakened side after qualifying for the next round, and what wolves did.
I think what wolves did was an affront to football, its deafeatism, rolling over and conceding before a ball is even kicked. Its a dangerous game for McCarthy to play, effectively admitting his side are not good enough. Such an act could and perhaps should fatally undermine the spirit within the squad and between manager and players.
But that is small fry compared to the true point in this whole matter, that Wolves fans were misled into spending upwards of £100 to see a bunch of stiffs get tanked.
As for your observations…, i’ll be kind and say they are short sighted.
n another note, Scoucers losing 1-0 and mascherano has been sent off for intent. Pompey are playing really well
J, Thats rubbish mate McCarthy is looking after the best interest of Wolves not footballs, if Wolves go down he will most likely be sacked and no one will care. If he keepes them up with resting players against teams he believes he will loose to and lays his best sides against teams around him then good luck to him.
Good post. You know what the fuss was about. Man United were involved. ABUs to the rescue…
On the Arsenal matter, i will just say that Wenger’s selecyion policy altered the group despite Liege’s final result. If he had also played a weakened side in Belgium, Olympiacos might not have gone through.
On and lets not forget.
IT’S THEIR YEAR!
@ Go United Go: I love it! Pompey fans are living it up. I just heard a round of “Feed the scousers. Don’t they know it’s Christmastime”! Maybe the FSW should take their advice.
In Rafa we trust.
I follow the game by the sky sports live score center. It says that many fans are starting to demand that Rafa leave. Pity they have him until 2014!
What’s it got to do with Wenger. There were a few months where Wenger seemed like an OK guy, it was never going to stay that way.
Walk on, Walk on………
You’ll Never Win The League
You’ll Never Win The League
Liverpool SHIT.
Ladyboy can’t even complete a succesful pass. “Best Striker in the World”, whoever says that has something wrong with them. He is wank.
Come on United, Come on you Irons. If results go our way I am getting out the Quality Streets, Glass of Baileys, Top of the League, Merry Christmas.
They can’t afford to sack him, also I bet they are pleased about givening him full control on team matters.
Our lineup – the defense is non-existent I see! Berba needs to start, but doesn’t!
* 29 Kuszczak
* 03 Evra
* 30 De Laet
* 08 Anderson
* 16 Carrick
* 18 Scholes
* 24 Fletcher
* 25 Valencia
* 28 Gibson
* 07 Owen
* 10 Rooney
Substitutes
* 12 Foster,
* 20 Fabio Da Silva,
* 13 Park,
* 14 Tosic,
* 09 Berbatov,
* 19 Welbeck,
* 26 Obertan
Kuszczak-Fletch,DeLaet,Carrick,Evra-Valencia,Gibson,Scholes,Anderson-Rooney,Owen.
Vida and Giggs didn’t make it. Rooney will probably play on the left in a 4-5-1 formation.
Mahesh, you beat me to it! This could very well be another 3-5-2 now that i think about it…
this is their year!
what a goal. Great volley.
Corea, every year is their year!
A little bit nervous now though. I was hoping Vidic would make it.
Also, Mark Hughes is reportedly on his way out. How I detest that man, not to mention the club! Now if we get three points today, and Chelsea drop a few tomorrow, I will be a seriously happy bunny!
This is Liverpool’s year remember!
That’ll keep them quiet until March/April when NEXT year will be Liverpool’s year haha!
It should have been 8 defeats for them. Our lads deserve a fine for not beating this Liverpool team at Anfield!
All I case say is this – with Liverpool and City collapsing like they are (and managers sure to be fired!) we MUST win the league now! Only winning the league will allow me to really relish their misery!
good team today that is. Clearly Berbatov hasn’t done enough. I think that playing all 3 would be the best way to use the strikers anyway, even if it is away to a top10 team. Try it Fergie. Thing is though you’d fancy Micky to get a goal, never that confident about Dimi though.
Hopefully if were 2-0 up and cruising Berbs will get on and score.
Costas – i am nervous too buddy. it will be VERY difficult game. and we can’t afford to drop points.
I dunno, I’m nervous but expect a good perfomance and 3 points. Maybe its just the liverpool getting thrashed which has put me in good cheer. But I’m optimistic about today – though rationally, I should be nervous after lacklustre performances the last couple of matches.
Apparently Roberto Mancini in the City crowd today – likely to replace Mark Hughes soon.
I am nervous because of our defence more than anything. That’s why i think we could see a 3-5-2 today. On the other hand, i keep thiking that we can’t lose on the same ground twice in a year. It doesn’t happen often to us. Apart from Liverpool and West Ham of course!
Mahesh, the sad part is that Hughes was talking recently about how he was glad he proved Fergie wrong and became a good manager. Ironic hey? There were also approaches towards Guus Hiddink, but the Russian FA said no. It reminds me of Ranieri at Chelsea after Abramovich took over. No matter what he would do, he was doomed.
It is a shame what Hughes has done, he has gambled the love of the United fans against his career and it has back fired on him, he well never get that back with the fans now but it was his decision.
So touchy and defensive, love it.
Oh my fucking god! This match is hopeless!
Worst match in 5 years easily.
Fucking disgraceful.
I have never ever EVER switched a United game off.
Till today.
If we don’t win the league this year, I don’t see how we can argue that we deserve to.
some of our fans fucking piss me off, moan to much……
alright we lost today but theres not mcuh we can do with the injurys we got and i doubt any other team would be able to cope, i still think were win the leauge, chelsea are slipping up abit and lose most of there best players in january and i think by the end of january were top, just hope we get some defenders back soon.
I feel bad for scholsey, such an amazing player but he should have been replaced at half time.We can take a punch, and we will hit even harder now, i hope.
horrible day in my life
I agree.There’s too much nonsense about Mick McCarthy not choosing his strongest team.Selecting which players play is his job,if the press and opposition managers don’t like it because it would affect their club’s standing, how is Mick responsible?Every manager has the interests of the team on top of their priorities don’t they?
Maybe and just maybe Fulham have shown today that taking a game against the strong teams might just get you a result. Mick Mccarthy’s defeatist attitude is wrong. Man U nearly lost to Sunderland and Man City earlier this year and were on ropes for most part against Arsenal. So they are not as strong as last year clearly. Roll over and dying should not be the mantra.
PG – Get fucked. United hammered Citeh and if not for a very shakey Foster would have been 4-0. Fulham is notoriously hard place to go and again get your facts right. A “stronger” as you put it United also got beat last season at Craven Cottage.
It ain’t the fact United are “weaker” but more to do with the fact we are playing our two central midfielders as centre halfs.
How on earth can you defend a manager intentionally feilding a weakened team? The manager is saying we cannot win this match so might aswell get some rest for Burnley. With that if you dont think your first team can beat United how on earth can your reserves? well, Look a here, Low and behold that was their best chance to beat United as Fulham proved.
The guy is a straight clown and you are defending him? no surprise from a team that got 3 points handed to them.
This article and most of the comments are biased and filled with Arsenal hate. The team we support should not matter in this instance but the integrity of the PL title.
Again, the wolves fans were the first to complain, who do they think they are, innit?
Can we get real!!!
PG you are right.
Good result for the Cottagers. A Manc mate of mine was distraught after the Chelsea loss earlier in the season. Then when Chelsea drew 3-3 last week he was telling me how United will walk the title this year and how they’ve “learnt to win without Ronaldo”. Now he’s back to square one again. Oh what a difference a week makes in football
P.S. Wenger said what he did to deflect the criticism that Arsenal were likely to get in the papers after once again failing to go up north on a cold Winter night and fail to bring back all 3 points. Something that SAF does week in week out. It’s all political baby.