Ian Holloway was well within his rights to go spare at the notion of being punished by the Premier League for fielding a non-first eleven in almost beating Aston Villa away.
A manager shouldn’t have to explain his selections. He’s 25 players to choose from and any permutation thereof, unless it’s a flagrant piss-take (e.g. containing no goalkeeper or defenders) should be permissible.
There’s no difference between a managerial minnow saving his best players for a more ‘winnable’ fixture than say one of the ‘big four’ bosses heavily rotating his squad for an inconsequential Champions League assignment.
Holloway is more than “a character”, with his outspoken views informed by a lot more perspective than the average Joe Boss. Having three deaf children out of four would tend to test your patience with people with nothing valid to say.
