Kuszczak; Rafael, Neville, Evans, Fabio; Possebon, Fletcher, Gibson, Nani; Macheda, Welbeck. That’d be my side for Sunday’s trip to Hull.I’m not in the habit of telling Sir Alex what side he should pick for matches, nor am I doing so here, but no United fan would complain if such a line-up were fielded at the KC Stadium on Sunday. There’s a certain appointment in Rome next Wednesday that must, simply has to, take precedence.
As is their way, the media have sniffed a possible scandal in the offing – field a weakened line-up and United could face legal action from the North East clubs. Or at least that’s what is being reported by certain papers this morning. And wouldn’t the media just love that – a last day controversy to replace the title finale that the Reds so cruelly robbed them of by winning it early. We’re such spoilsports.
Grounds for suing the club, apparently, would be the contravening of paragraph E20 of Premier League rules, which states that “in every league match, each participating club should field a full-strength team.”
But therein lies the problem – who determines what is and isn’t full strength? Isn’t that at the discretion of the manager? Shouldn’t Sir Alex be the one to decide if Rooney and Ronaldo, for example, are in need of a rest and therefore not fully fit? What about those players who have picked up knocks in recent weeks and for whom Sunday could be a game too far and lead to injury ahead of possibly the biggest game of their life? And what exactly is the point of a squad if you’re only allowed to field your strongest XI every week?
Sir Alex has never put out a side to do anything other than win a match and that won’t change now. In fact, there’s every chance that the side I’ve suggested is wide of the mark and some perceived bigger names will feature. But whatever starting XI he selects, it will be a side he believes is good enough to beat Hull City.
Indeed, if the line-up was similar to the one I’ve suggested, then it’s hardly a weak one: five of the possible starters I’ve listed held a full-strength Everton – currently English football’s fifth-best side – to 0-0 over 120 minutes in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, just a month ago. Four others are internationals.
That same team lifted the Carling Cup a month earlier, so it’s hardly one lacking in first-team experience and far from the ‘rookie side’ being touted by some papers, who are predicting a line-up not unlike mine at the top of this blog.
The suggestion that Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland will have grounds for legal action should Sir Alex go with what is deemed a weakened side is just plain daft. A non story. Besides, I don’t remember Newcastle complaining when they grabbed a point against a patched-up United side on the first day of the season. Or maybe I just missed the resulting lawsuits from Sunderland and Boro...?
Ujungpandang Time
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