The Unwritten Policy of Team Selection

[caption id="attachment_277" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Outspoken: Holloway's views have been widely agreed with by the public."][/caption]

Last Wednesday's clash between Blackpool and Aston Villa saw Ian Holloway's team lose 3-2, however spotlight was raised on the team selection applied by Holloway for the match, which saw 10 changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Everton in their previous match.

"We'll have to see if anyone else does it but, come on, it's been put there as a deterrent. It has set a precedent and I've accepted it."

Mick McCarthy, 18/02/2010

Wolves were fined for an identical "breach" of policy which saw them make 10 changes in a game against Manchester United which they lost 3-0.  It took the FA two months to make a decision, but Mick McCarthy's side were eventually fined £25,000 for making the changes.

McCarthy accepted the fines with no argument, stating "We'll have to see if anyone else does it but, come on, it's been put there as a deterrent. It has set a precedent and I've accepted it." Holloway, however, does not seem to be rolling over to the authority of the FA.

The outspoken Bristolian has been quoted in saying that he'll "quit if fined" and that the FA can't dictate which players are first-team players and which are not and he has an unquestionable point.  Due to the new rules of squad registration, every team must submit a roster of 25 players, with U21 players not required to make up those numbers.  Where does it state that some of those players must be played week-in, week-out?

"Let them try and fine me, it's an absolute disgrace. I'll show the Premier League."

Ian Holloway, 11/11/2010

These 25 players have all been picked to be used in competition, and of course the system could be "exploited" if a squad of U21 players were fielded, which would essentially give the whole 25 man squad a rest and would more likely be a weakened squad. Let us not forget that often a top 4 team playing in the Carling Cup would no doubt field an almost full side of youngsters or a general "weakened" side, but this is the Premier League - not the Carling Cup. Was this the case with Blackpool's squad against Villa though? Let's have a look at the squad run-down;

Richard Kingson - Ghanian national squad goalkeeper, 83 caps, played in the 2010 World Cup.
Chris Basham - a young player signed from Bolton, but still at 22 - thus must've been registered.
Rob Edwards - played 20 games for Blackpool in their last campaign.
Dekel Keinan - Israeli defender signed from Maccabi Haifa this season, 11 caps for Israel.
Keith Southern - a Blackpool player since 2002, played 45 games for Blackpool last season.
Ludovic Syvlestre - another new player, signed from Czech side Mlada Bolesav, has made 2 appearances for Barcelona.
Matt Phillips - youngster signed from Wycombe, part of the England U19 team.
David Carney - signed from FC Twente, part of the squad that won the Eredivisie last year, 31 caps for Australia.
Marlon Harewood - established Premier League player, playing for West Ham and Aston Villa previously.
Brett Ormerod - 36 games played last season, scored the deciding goal for Blackpool in the play-off final.
Jason Euell - Premier League veteran, playing for Wimbledon, Charlton and Middlesbrough - also the club-captain.

So, that's one U21 player, a few full international players and players who have featured heavily for Blackpool in the past.  Granted there a few new signings which haven't made as many appearances, but does that make them part of a weakened side?

[caption id="attachment_280" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Fringe?: Sylvestre is one of many new signings for the Tangerines yet to make a name for himself."][/caption]

Have we reached the stage where a squad registration must also come with a Football Manager-esque squad status attached to it?  Will Charlie Adam be the "Key Player"? With names like Jason Euell making up the "Backup to the squad" numbers?  I wonder how the new players such as Keinan, Sylvestre and Carney feel about making part of a weakened squad too?  From my perspective, it looks like complete ignorance on be half of the FA.

But on one side you have this logical view at the Blackpool squad, and the other side you have the notion of if Wolves suffered the fine, then so should Blackpool?  And if Blackpool do escape a fine, then it would be double standards.

Whatever decision the FA make, I hope it is a fair one, but I'm sure many will agree with me when I say that I really hope we don't lose Ian Holloway as a result of it.