I can't see him playing all 3 of the kids, Doughty, Furlong and Greco-Cox. He may play one or two but not all three as the other Relegation candidates might call foul if Newcastle beat us. I think he will play his strongest 11 available and not necessarily throw in kids for the experience.
I would imagine we could be saying goodbye to Green, Hill, Rio, Fer, Austin, SWP, Phillips and possibly Dunne, Barton and Hoilett.
We wouldn't want to end up like Ollie or Mick, but I guess playing Newcastle & Leicester in our last two games, we could have a say in who gets relegated:-
Premier League set to loosen 'weakened teams' rule that hit Holloway
• Premier League not enforcing rule over full-strength teams
• Blackpool manager Ian Holloway fined after Aston Villa game
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The Premier League fined Blackpool's Ian Holloway for fielding a weakened team against Aston Villa. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
Matt Scott
One of the most controversial rules in the
Premier League handbook is set to be loosened from next season after clubs agreed not to enforce the "weakened teams" ruling as it stands.
Premier League rule E.20 states: "In every league match each participating club shall field a full-strength team." This regulation has led to several ructions in recent seasons.
Ian Holloway and Mick McCarthy have faced disciplinary action for resting players with an eye on future fixtures.
McCarthy's
Wolverhampton Wanderers received a suspended £25,000 fine after a second-string side lost 3-0 at Manchester United two seasons ago. When the first-choice XI returned for the next match they beat Burnley 2-0 and eventually stayed up by finishing eight points ahead of the Turf Moor club.
Holloway received a £25,000 fine after effecting 10 changes to his Blackpool first team three days before a match against West Ham United last November. In the event, Aston Villa won the game narrowly through an 89th-minute James Collins header.
Blackpool and West Ham were both relegated.
Holloway had forthright views about the rule, saying at the time:
"Who the hell are they to tell me my players are not good enough?"
Holloway's anger at the fine has led to the Premier League clubs re-examining the rule. At each post-season AGM clubs have specifically been asked about how this controversial regulation should be enforced but this year a majority have decided to relax its terms.
A spokesman for the Premier League confirmed: "The clubs voted at the last Premier League Annual General Meeting to modify the rule regarding clubs fielding full strength teams (E.20). From 2011/12 onwards the rule will allow any combination of players included in a club's 25-man squad list to be selected for a Premier League fixture.
"The 25-man squad rules do allow clubs to pick Under-21 players beyond those named in their squad list and, with this in mind, it was agreed by the clubs that it was appropriate for the rule to remain in place in order to ensure the integrity of the competition."
It seems the change of heart has resulted from a sense that the sanctioning of Holloway was unjust. At the time
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said:
"His team was not weak because they nearly made a good result. I have sympathy. It is a rule which may be looked at, especially if you limit the squad. I feel this rule should go."
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jul/15/premier-league-weakened-teams-holloway
