Weakened teams

Would you really feel that strongly? If you did what would you do about it? Would you discuss it with the manager and accept that your sacrifice was for the greater good knowing that your time would come and that he would think more of you for taking it maturely or would you throw your dummy out of the pram?

I have managed semi-pro rugby with big squads made up of players of all abilities - they were told that the end results were more important about individual's egos at the onset - they were also told that everyone would be given an equal opportunity but at the end of the day the team chosen would be one to win the game - not to keep some people happy.

Tohbi, as would I if I we're a player but at the same time they should be happy they're given this opportunity. The fact is they wouldn't compete at a higher level at this moment in time

You are completely right DC5 and so are you Benny. Thank you gentlemen,I wanted thoughts and you gave them. After all that's been said I agree with you.

They probably would feel a little hard done by, but they are well aware that football is a team game.

They know that the reason that they would have got their opportunity in the first place is because they are part of a squad.

They have to learn to apply the same logic if they are left out of a game- namely that they are part of a larger squad.
The whole is bigger than the sum of its parts.

A vital role for the older players and academy is to teach them how to deal with this fact of life, and to push on even harder to impress the boss in time for the next team selection.

The munchkins will be fine.

I think that if they reached the final stages they'd work damned hard to impress Blanchflowers. I think it's possible that we will reach the final stages with a weakened team and Harry will have some tough decisions to make as to whom to play. Some of the older players as Sir Robert Paisley says think they are something special and in my view a bit too selfish to pass their experience on to the youngsters.

It will all depend upon what other competitions we are in - if we're in with a shout for top 4, the FA and Carling cups he'll have his hands full and will have to be selective - if we're only in with a shout for 2 of them he'll go hell bent to win them.

But he has to go hell bent to win all he's in because he doesn't know which he will or won't win. He can't say"We'll play a weakened team in this competition and go for another competition instead." He can't sacrifice one in the hope to win another. He has to go for all of them. I suppose all managers do.

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I reckon if we get to the quater finals then the 1st team will start playing. Even if our hands are tied with the domestic cups, because I can see Harry prioritising the EL (as I would do if I was manager)

Like someone mentioned before I think the youngsters are more motivated than the experienced players (who had experience of CL). I think is a good experience for the young players to play together. Soon FA cup and Carling will start, the more games they get the better! Though I think maybe some more experienced players to play the home games in Europa League will be better.