Udders

One of the worst teams to go up in recent years. Credit to the manager for getting them through an awful run of form and playing three awful play-off games.

Thankfully the Brum v Hudds game didn't send us down as they might have had to swap places with Leicester, S Utd or Spurs...and a fair few others that it's too early to think of

If Huddersfield's tactics in resting their first team become increasingly commonplace, now that the League are turning blind eye. Should the last one or two relegation place's be decided be decided by a play off?

Because Brum were dropping like a stone before Wagner made it easy for Harry?

Birmingham were dropping like a bolder before they got rid of Zola and bought Harry in. He initially lost against Villa then there was this game plus the last one of the season they won.

Teams are in these places because of the overall season and the reason for fairly big sized squads is to allow rotation where it's deemed necessary. If we had won against QPR, Blackburn or anywhere else where we had lost points, it would have been in a none issue.

There are a number of other scenarios:
* Team rest players against lower opposition for fatigue assuming they are good enough
* Team rests players in a game they assume they can't win
* Team gets to later stages of a cup and priorities that
etc

There has been several instances where it's been suggested that this has had an impact on the relative fortunes of other clubs; but they look after their own interests. I don't agree punishments being handed out where it doesn't look dicey in terms of nature (i.e. local rivals may go down), never have.

Plus if you go down this path legally, doesn't it open up to scenarios where people question individual results for other reasons. Take for example the 2-0 home victory against Newcastle where two reds were later (controversially) overturned. Couldn't say Blackburn take objection to that as being decisive on them getting relegated?

That's a fair point. It's how they do the play offs in Scotland. Was also the original format back on the eighties when they were firet introduced in England. Don't have any bad feelings towards the Terriers. They're going to need a lot of luck. Harry definitely called a few favours in for that Huddersfield game, though!

I actually fear for the sheeps 11 point haul being beaten. Udders were even promoted with a negative goal difference, another first, their 'star' striker is championship average at best, they didn't win a play off game in normal time, and were fortunate to win on pens, however, good luck to them, take what you can and move on. Short of a massive influx of players they are going to struggle massively. I don't think Brighton will fair much better.

They both have decent managers, if they invest wisely on playing staff they should both get at least 12 points

BRIAN CLOUGH INTERVIEW AFTER HIS RETIREMENT - 26th APRIL 1997 - FOOTBALL FOCUS

comment by BraveheartTyke (U6173)
posted 23 hours, 23 minutes ago
BRIAN CLOUGH INTERVIEW AFTER HIS RETIREMENT - 26th APRIL 1997 - FOOTBALL FOCUS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Tyke, will check it out.

Udders will have to have the mother of all transfer windows but remember Bournemouth getting promoted with a load of unknown players and look at them now.