Jewell and Warnock have a go at Rafa

[magneto]

WIGAN boss Paul Jewell has slammed his old club Liverpool for putting out their 'reserves' against Fulham - and handing the Cot tagers a survival lifeline.

 

Jewell was seething after Rafa Benitez rotated his squad after reaching the Champions League final and questioned whether it was within Premier League rules.

 

Fulham took advantage - despite being outplayed for most of the game - and Wigan cannot catch them after defeat against Middlesbrough left them needing to beat Sheffield United on the final day.

 

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But Jewell fumed: "I don't know if the rule still stands where you have got to play your strongest team. Does that still apply?

 

"I wouldn't dare tell Rafael Benitez or anyone else how to do their job but credit to Middlesbrough, they put out the strongest side they had available and fought for their lives.

 

"I don't have a lot of faith in what the Premier League does to be honest. Didn't Rick Parry used to work for them?

 

"For the good of the game, the integrity of the game, resting nine players cannot be right."

 

and

 

NEIL Warnock delivered a thinly-veiled criticism of Liverpool's selection policy after learning that Rafael Benitez's under-strength side had been beaten by fellow strugglers Fulham and plunged his Sheffield United side into the thick of the relegation battle.

 

 

Saturday's defeat at Aston Villa left United just two places and three points above the bottom three ahead of Sunday's final game of the season against Wigan Athletic.

 

The United boss launched a verbal assault on Benitez whose decision to make nine changes to the side which qualified for the Champions League Final allowed Fulham to claim victory at Craven Cottage and climb above the Blades them in the Premiership table.

 

Wigan slipped into the relegation zone when they were beaten 1-0 by Middlesbrough and, with West Ham - who drew level on points with United courtesy of a 3-0 triumph over Bolton Wanderers - set to finish their campaign with a visit to Old Trafford, Warnock said: "I don't really think I should comment on things that have happened elsewhere.

 

"What I will say is that I'm sure Sir Alex (Ferguson) will name a strong side because that's the way he is. He's got too much respect for the rest of us at the bottom of the table not to and, even though he's already won the title, he'll want to go out on a high."

 

In the past, managers have been threatened with sanctions for making wholesale changes in cup competitions, but a Premier League which has allowed West Ham to escape without a points deduction despite being a serious breach of transfer regulations is unlikely to take any action against Liverpool.

 

Nick Montgomery is a major doubt for this weekend's clash with Wigan after damaging his shoulder and wrist against Villa.

 

Despite admitting United had been well below par at Villa Park, Warnock is predicting an emphatic Blades response in front of their own fans at Bramall Lane.

 

"It's still in our own hands and we'll have 32,000 supporters roaring us on," he said. "We've done well at home so far this season and we know what we have to do. It's still in our own hands and that's all you can ask for."

 

from http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html and http://www.mysporttoday.co.uk/ViewArticle....ticleID=2858057

 

Firstly, I have the utmost sympathy with them.

 

Secondly, they can both f*** off. Read my "Premiership Relegation Battle" thread in the General Discussion Forum. Both these teams have to do the goods on the pitch and understand why Rafa chooses to rest his big names.

 

Warnock is just a clunt.

[Maldini]

Sheffield United played a weakened Man United team last week that would have been stronger if Ferguson had rotated a bit more. They're just trying to find a scapegoat for their s**** seasons.

[Rimbeux]

Warnock is the c*** who played a weakened Sheff Utd side against ManU, saving them for Watford, claiming that 'Jose wouldn't have been rellying on me to beat them anyway'. Grade A c***, not even an ounce of sympathy for him. Oh and see how many Ferguson rest for the FA cup final you prick

[KD07]

Rafa works for Liverpool. Rafa will do what's best for Liverpool. Not f***ing Wigan. Not f***ing Sheffield.

[intense enigma]

What's thier problem? It's their s*** fecking performances that put them in this position in the first place so why have a dig at Rafa when they should be slapping themselves or each other in the faces. Do they honestly think Rafa gives two flying f***s about what happens to Sheffield United or Wigan?

[Maldini]

You just f***ing know we're going to get done for this now that they're making a fuss, watch them sure anyone they can over this too.

[Tim]

You just f***ing know we're going to get done for this now that they're making a fuss, watch them sure anyone they can over this too.

 

 

It's their own fault they are in that position so tough f***ing s*** on them. What they forget is most of those players who were rested saturday played 120 minutes of football on tuesday night.

 

And as for it being against the rules, f*** off, in life you look after number 1, not some s***ty clubs who have ideas above their station.

 

You just f***ing know we're going to get done for this now that they're making a fuss, watch them sure anyone they can over this too.

 

And everton will be the ones screaming loudest if they finish 5th and we finish 4th

[smithdown]

They're daft anyway. If we were forced to play our strongest eleven they'd spend the game avoiding all physical contact. At least playing a second string they will go out and have a go.

[Magic8Ball]

Bottom line, dont rely on other team to help you

[Ed-Zeppelin]

What a load of b******s!

 

Simply because they've both been poor for much of the season they're both looking for scapegoats left, right and centre!

 

Rafa would probably argue it was his best side, as he had to rotate due to tiredness of his players, which given Rafas record is probably legit.

 

Regardless, we don't have a squad so we can play 11 players all season. We have a squad so we can used it how and when we like!

 

I've got a lot of time for Jewell as a man and a manager, and can understand the bottom teams annoyance over the West Ham/PL bottling situation, but all this smacks of desperation!

 

And Warnock can f*** right off!

[abc]

It was a strong team out there. We played alright too. They should look at the lousy refereeing and curse at Brown not seeing red after 30 mins. That would have given us a massive upper hand.

[Guest Portly]

I think Warnock's and Jewell's complaints are justified. Fielding weakened sides destroys the match as entertainment and is grossly unfair to other teams in the league.

 

Clubs who fielded weakened teams in league fixtures used to be heavily fined, but this practice seems to have been abandoned.

[Stevie H]

then every single instance of squad rotation is going to have to be investigated as ultimately they all have a bearing on the season's outcome. can of worms. the pair of them woiuld be better off pursuing the league over the west ham farce.

[Rich Gobey]

I think Warnock's and Jewell's complaints are justified. Fielding weakened sides destroys the match as entertainment and is grossly unfair to other teams in the league.

 

Clubs who fielded weakened teams in league fixtures used to be heavily fined, but this practice seems to have been abandoned.

 

but the emergence of squad rotation has muddied the waters somewhat portly. any way, that 'weakened' team we put out was:

 

Pepe Reina

Emiliano Insua

Sami Hyypia

Gabriel Paletta

Alvaro Arbeloa

Mark Gonzalez

Xabi Alonso

Momo Sissoko

Jermaine Pennant

Craig Bellamy

Robbie Fowler

 

still a better team than any of those clubs in the bottom half of the table could muster. maybe the bottom 10 teams should be fined for putting out 'weak' teams every f.ucking week!

Edited May 7, 2007 by Gobez

[Ombudsam]

Warnock and Jewell are being silly due to their desperation. They haven't thought through what they are saying

[Rimbeux]

I think Warnock's and Jewell's complaints are justified. Fielding weakened sides destroys the match as entertainment and is grossly unfair to other teams in the league.

 

Clubs who fielded weakened teams in league fixtures used to be heavily fined, but this practice seems to have been abandoned.

 

 

How can Warnock complain at all after what he did against Man U?

[hideNseek]

With Rafa's whole season rotation policy the premiership can't prove what team Rafa could've played in any given gme.

[Guest Prongsy]

f*** off you classless w*****s, we have a f***ing European Cup final to attend to. We don't owe you any f***in' favours.

 

Pricks.

[Guest Portly]

Pepe Reina

Emiliano Insua

Sami Hyypia

Gabriel Paletta

Alvaro Arbeloa

Mark Gonzalez

Xabi Alonso

Momo Sissoko

Jermaine Pennant

Craig Bellamy

Robbie Fowler

 

It's a football cliché that there aren't any easy games in the Premiership, and the fact that we lost both against Portsmouth and Fulham speaks for itself. I agree that all those in the line up, with the possible exception of Paletta, are good players. However if you compare that side with our "strongest" side, there are six players who you would not expect to start. There is a difference between that and "rotation."

 

OK I am not that bothered about it, and I accept it if Rafa thinks it is the right thing to do. However, I can understand why it angers the relegation strugglers and I wouldn't criticise them for their comments.

[Owen1978]

Well if they had managed their team better, bit more tatically astute maybe they would'nt be in this position anyway - e.g. Jewell - Heskey wtf, ur asking to be relegated!

[CarraLegend]

They can both f*** off, Jewell should look at some of the simply horrendous signings he's made, Fitz f***ing Hall? Denny Landzaat? Emile Heskey?

 

He's got a nerve after coming to Anfield not to win or get a draw but to "keep the goal difference down"

 

And Warnock is just a c***.

[Earl Hafler]

You just f***ing know we're going to get done for this now that they're making a fuss, watch them sure anyone they can over this too.

 

Why should we ? Other clubs have rested players recently and we're representing the Premiership in the Champions League final. Feck all will happen i.m.o

[magneto]

f*** off you classless w*****s, we have a f***ing European Cup final to attend to. We don't owe you any f***in' favours.

 

Pricks.

 

What he said.

[Florist Cinema Pond Goal]

If either go down it will be because there are 17 better teams in the Premiership not because Liverpool rotated their squad.

[Gilps]

These clubs will also moan that they can't compete wit the big boys because of the size of our squads. Not that they want it both ways or anything.