Stay strong?

The message being put across by 'the media' is that Avram Grant is suggesting that he will field 'weakened sides' for the remainder of the premier league season as he feels Pompey have no 'obligation' to aid the premier league, it is the premier league's obligation to aid premier league sides - something that I 'guess' he feels they have not with us, hence his little swipe?

Word is that Grant will give senior members, and those most likely to go to the world cup, a more 'free role' to almost 'pick and choose' if they play or not with the emphasis being squarely put on the FA cup now.

It is a tough call, I can see where Grant is coming from and the FA cup is basically the be all and end all of our campaign, but at the end of the day we do have 'integrity' to think of, right?

Not to mention the fact that we, the fans, are still paying our hard earned money to watch the football, so in many ways, as much as I would LOVE to see some of the youngsters given a go - if they have been registered as senior players (as they would have to be as no 'new' registrations can be added) - he does still have to think about this too really...

Also you have the issue of being able to 'turn it on and off' like that - it is not always easy to get back into the swing of things is it? Say a player sits out a couple of games it is not always as easy to just 'return and do a job' as it might seem it is...

There is plenty to ponder, and like I say whilst I get where he is coming from - and DO think we have to be looking to protect players - I do think we have to go about things the right way really.

Besides fielding 'weakened sides' would see fines dished out as well, and we do not really want, or need, this at this time do we? Helping to fund staff wages might not all he would be helping to fund...

Yep, I see your point Avram but lets just look to be a bit protective of certain players but lets do things the right way - if we can get a glimpse of a few players that will have a part to play next season lets do it, but not mass wholesale changes.

Then again I very much doubt this is how Grant intended it anyway, well quite that way, and it is just the media spin on it portraying it as being that way...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

Something vital to say about football on the Box?

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.

Writer: pompeyrug

Date:Friday March 19 2010

Time: 3:46PM

Your Comments

The Pl rule is you field the strongest team available, i dont see us breaking that rule. Wolves did and got a suspended fine, i dont think pompey would receive the same lenient treatment. Admin also cant afford the money to leave the account £25K a game is a lot of money to lose.

russellm

You could argue we've been playing with a weakened team for some time, and the PL have compounded that by applying transfer embargoes etc. Hypocracy comes to mind once again, surely not! PUP.

NorfolknBlue

By all means don't risk injured players, but we need to get some momentum into the Cup. If we don't make the final, then we must start to plan for next season.

wellyit

The danger of wrappng up too many of our 'better' players for the semi, is that we could be very disjointed by then. At least for the home games with Hull, Blackburn & Wolves, I would hope we would give them a good going over.

storagematt

I want us to stick two fingers up by winning games. I know it's a nigh on impossible task but if we can string some wins together and make the PL sweat on us staying up so much the better. Also it'll give the team confidence they need to win the cup.

Lemmi

I think you right Lemmi, although it is almost a certainty, we could still survive yet! No I dont really think this is a reality, but shouldnt we try to! How Fu*cked off would the PL be if we won the FA cup and stayed up, not to mention many other people, we should go out fighting, lets get up in peoples faces and let them know who we are, and when they sing your going down, we just keep to our story, blue army, PUP etc, F*ck em all, lets go out swinging!!! and singing!!!

NZ_Portsmuff

Completely agree with the points made in the article and all the comments, especially about the pride and how unfair this would be on the fans. In fact I was horrified when I first read Avram's comments. Then I started to wonder if its some kind of reverse psychology to gee up the players and any fans who are wavering. "Shall we not bother lads?" No gaffer, of course we'll bother, lets go for it". Or the other possibility is the comment was picked up by the press and spun out of all proportion (but the press dont do that ;-) )

tracyc

Fans who turn up week after week need to be entertained. If Pompey put up weakened teams they are taking the ***** out of their own fans. I know I live in Australia but if I was there week in week out, like I used to be, I would be angry that I pay 30 quid or so for the fancy dress party to turn up. The Cup is very important but let's keep the momentum going....

pompeygray

agree. It's he's worried about deduction being unfair to the fans so is watching a pile of 5h!te week in week out.

hammersmithblue