Full Strength Policy
MOMS was at the EFL Fans Forum that took place in Birmingham on Monday night and it served as a reminder of the EFL’s new ‘Full Strength Policy’ that kicks in at the end of this month, once the teams return from the international break.
It’s hoped that the new rule will bring a fairer and more competitive close to the season, by preventing teams in fielding weaken sides in key games that may affect the promotion or relegation picture.
If Aston Villa mange to claw themselves back into the automatic promotion picture, it could impact on some of their remaining fixtures. If for example Cardiff or Fulham are playing teams with nothing to play for, or teams saving themselves for the play-offs, those teams will still have to field strong teams. Of course, it works the other way too.
The rule essentially states what a ‘full strength’ side is deemed to be:
‘For any League match played on or after the fourth Thursday in March (including Season 2017/18), any team sheet for a League game should include at least 10 outfield players who featured on the team sheet for the League match before.’
Team sheet meaning the full match day squad.
The move came after the widespread attention that team selection received in the closing weeks of the 2016/17 season.
As a result of the advantages and disadvantages fielding weaken teams causes, not just to the teams playing the match, but another teams contesting promotion spots and fighting against relegation, the EFL teams decided it was time to define a minimum requirement to avoid ‘further potential reputational damage to the EFL and its competitions’.
In terms of punishment, it’s seems it will be decided on a case-by-case basis. With the EFL stating:
‘In the event any club breaches the threshold, they may be charged with a breach of Regulation 24 and the matter will be referred to a Disciplinary Commission.’
UTV
I can imagine after our last two performances we could have been accused of playing an under strength side!
Personally I couldn’t care less what goes on at Wolves I just wish we were doing as well as them.
I find it interesting that we are now supposedly talking about an Albion player if we get promoted and for me promotion is no where near a given, we have almost certainly blown our chances of automatic places and I now fear that another season in the championship is looming, I hope I’m wrong but our last two performances have been abject and unacceptable.
mee too colin,,, we have blown it,,, but there is a chance kodja and green will be back soon and although they might not be super match fit they could be very very effective for the last few games and the play offs especially from the bench,
plus i feel we are now better against the better sides with only fulham beating us when are two most effective players were out,
we are not done for yet but it will be tough,,,,
and if we fail no one knows who will be at the club next year,,,,