The Football News Thread 2016/17 - everything not Wolves

[Deutsch Wolf]

England international Aaron Lennon was detained under the Mental Health Act after concerns for his welfare.

The 30-year-old, who has not played for Everton since February 11, was negotiated with by police officers for 20 minutes on Sunday afternoon.


Officers were called to a location in Salford, Greater Manchester, following concerns over his state of mind. Tracksuited Lennon was at the side of a busy thoroughfare close to the M602 motorway and officers believed he was in a precarious situation.


The player, capped 21 times by England, was a £4million signing for Everton from Tottenham in 2015.


Officers stopped the Leeds-born winger on Stott Lane, close to Salford Royal Hospital.


A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Police were called at around 4.35pm on Sunday, April 30, 2017 to reports of a concern for the welfare of a man. Officers attended and a 30-year-old man was detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and was taken to hospital for assessment.’


On Tuesday Everton issued a statement which said: ‘Aaron Lennon is currently receiving care and treatment for a stress-related illness. The club is supporting him through this and his family has appealed for privacy at this time.’

Poor guy.

 

[PuntsWolf]

It's a 46 game season on a level playing field. Playing a reserve team isn't a level playing field.

If Wolves got shafted by it you'd be livid.

Huddersfield don't lose that game with a semi reasonable team against a shit blues team with 10 men.

 

[Alan]

I wouldn't, no. Because Huddersfield earned the right to field whatever team they pleased. If that came back on Wolves, tough shit on us, we shouldn't have been shit enough to have our fate taken out of our own hands.

Why not just have the EFL name the lineups, eh?

 

[slink]

I wouldn't, no. Because Huddersfield earned the right to field whatever team they pleased. If that came back on Wolves, tough shit on us, we shouldn't have been shit enough to have our fate taken out of our own hands.

Why not just have the EFL name the lineups, eh?

That's not the problem though is it. If Huddersfield had to win that game there is no way on earth that they would have fielded that team and that's where it creates an issue. You expect every team to play the best team available in every game and try to win every game, now i know that's not going to happen but it creates a grey area. Obviously you can't have the EFL pick your team but like i said had Huddersfield needed to win they wouldn't have played that side.

 

[PuntsWolf]

But blues haven't done enough. They have been gifted an advantage that the felllow shit teams haven't. Squad rotation fine, complete disregard for the result of the game is effectively match fixing.

 

[Alan]

That's not the problem though is it. If Huddersfield had to win that game there is no way on earth that they would have fielded that team and that's where it creates an issue. You expect every team to play the best team available in every game and try to win every game, now i know that's not going to happen but it creates a grey area. Obviously you can't have the EFL pick your team but like i said had Huddersfield needed to win they wouldn't have played that side.

But they didn't need to win, which is my point. They had played well enough up to that point that they were in a privileged position to not need to win. Resting their best players is their reward for having clinched a playoff berth.

This happens all the time in American sports which I suppose is why I'm entrenched in my stance, but I feel that punishing Huddersfield in this instance would also symbolically devalue the matches they played previously in the season.

 

[Alan]

But blues haven't done enough. They have been gifted an advantage that the felllow $#@! teams haven't. Squad rotation fine, complete disregard for the result of the game is effectively match fixing.

They still had to go out and win the match, and down a man to boot. As Dan has already pointed out, Huddersfield hardly fielded an under-18 side.

 

[slink]

How is that fair on Blackburn and Forest though who have had to play against full strength Hudds teams this season? I get that that they have a had a good season but i don't think that gives you the right to make 10 changes and effectively play a reserve side. If they had made 5 changes then i think you can say fair enough because they still have half a first team out but 10 takes the piss for me. Also there is no way that those 10 not playing will help them in the play offs, they're not suddenly going to be fitter.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Taking 3 best players out of a team Completely changes how good that team is. Change the whole 11 and that's just stupid. It's not just the individuals ability, it's the fact they don't play together, their role is different, they aren't just that cog in a wheel.

 

[Alan]

How is that fair on Blackburn and Forest though who have had to play against full strength Hudds teams this season? I get that that they have a had a good season but i don't think that gives you the right to make 10 changes and effectively play a reserve side. If they had made 5 changes then i think you can say fair enough because they still have half a first team out but 10 takes the piss for me. Also there is no way that those 10 not playing will help them in the play offs, they're not suddenly going to be fitter.

I fundamentally disagree with the bolded bit. Players that are better rested are inherently more fit, especially at this stage when most of them are likely carrying minor injuries.

As for Blackburn and Forest, I still say tough shit. They got themselves in a relegation fight and I can't say I have any sympathy for them.

I cannot wrap my mind around the idea that Huddersfield should not have total agency over the side they field in any given match.

 

[Alan]

Taking 3 best players out of a team Completely changes how good that team is. Change the whole 11 and that's just stupid. It's not just the individuals ability, it's the fact they don't play together, their role is different, they aren't just that cog in a wheel.

So should Wolves have been fined when Mick changed the entire outfield in 2009/2010? Did we deserve to pay that 25k?

 

[slink]

I fundamentally disagree with the bolded bit. Players that are better rested are inherently more fit, especially at this stage when most of them are likely carrying minor injuries.

As for Blackburn and Forest, I still say tough shit. They got themselves in a relegation fight and I can't say I have any sympathy for them.

I cannot wrap my mind around the idea that Huddersfield should not have total agency over the side they field in any given match.

One game weeks away from the play offs will make fuck all difference, if they had rested them for the last game then maybe i could agree with that argument.

It's simple really Alan, every team should be obliged to do their best to win every game (especially when your game can affect others) and Huddersfield by making those 10 changes didn't. I'd be fuming if it was us never mind Hudds, it shows blatant disregard for the competition and the other teams imo.

 

[Alan]

One game weeks away from the play offs will make $#@! all difference, if they had rested them for the last game then maybe i could agree with that argument.

It's simple really Alan, every team should be obliged to do their best to win every game (especially when your game can affect others) and Huddersfield by making those 10 changes didn't. I'd be fuming if it was us never mind Hudds, it shows blatant disregard for the competition and the other teams imo.

We'll have to agree to disagree, then. The season is about an accumulation of points over time, not necessarily winning every single match. Huddersfield set themselves up in an advantageous position. Their interest was and should be in their own success. IMO they don't owe anything to any other club. Nor does any club owe anything to them.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Liverpool played multiple weakened teams at the back end of last season because their priority was the Europa League (being as they were too far back in the league anyway). Didn't hear many complaints then.

 

[slink]

We'll have to agree to disagree, then. The season is about an accumulation of points over time, not necessarily winning every single match. Huddersfield set themselves up in an advantageous position. Their interest was and should be in their own success. IMO they don't owe anything to any other club. Nor does any club owe anything to them.

Yeah we will have to because for me every team should try their best to win every game and making 10 changes doesn't allow you to do so.

Liverpool played multiple weakened teams at the back end of last season because their priority was the Europa League (being as they were too far back in the league anyway). Didn't hear many complaints then.

I can't remember how many changes Liverpool made but whatever team does it i don't think it's right. I have no massive issue with teams making 5/6 changes especially if they are replacing them with others who play quite regularly but any more than that takes the piss imo.

 

[Carrotdude]

Nothing wrong with it imo, they made changes and used their squad not exactly a bunch of kids. It's what it's there for. It's just a bit of luck for Blues how the fixtures fell that Huddersfield had the luxury of resting players against them because of the playoffs coming up.

 

[YoungWolf]

No one has any divine right to tell Huddersfield who they should play. Just like when Mick made the changes, who was completely justified in what he did, even if the scenario is slightly different. Recovery time is everything at the top level.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

It's a 46 game season on a level playing field. Playing a reserve team isn't a level playing field.

If Wolves got shafted by it you'd be livid.

Huddersfield don't lose that game with a semi reasonable team against a $#@! blues team with 10 men.

I would argue that was a semi reasonable team. They certainly didnt just throw in the kids. That team should have been good enough to get something from 10 men Birmingham. The fact it wasn't is a shame as I would have loved to see Blues suffer.

Football in all competitions, is now a squad game. You pick your horses for courses. We have made the second most number of changes to our team , after Forest. We are just weak whomever plays in certain positions!

 

[Tony Towner]

The issue people seem to have is that the game had something on it for Blues, but not Huddersfield. I don't see how you can create a rule that somehow compels you to play your best side if the opposition has something to play for, but not if they don't. For example Sheff Wednesday did exactly the same thing against us last game of last season and there wasn't a murmur as it was acknowledged as the predictable thing to do.

As I said earlier I think Saturday was probably more about mentality than personnel, nevertheless what Huddersfield did was unethical, unfair and damages the integrity of the league, however I don't see how you can introduce a pick and mix rule that is based upon the situation of your opposition. If the U23s didn't have a match on Monday and Lambert picked a side on Sunday that included, Ruddy, Wilson, Herc, Johnson, Ennis, MGW, Bright we'd all be excited by it, but I don't see how you can say that's acceptable because Preston have nothing to play for, but not if they do from a rules perspective. A manager with integrity, should be able to judge what is or isn't appropriate, Wagner either doesn't have integrity or doesn't care.

 

[Langers]

Just seen the news about Aaron Lennon - poor guy. Hope he gets the help he needs.