It has been an incredible 18 months for #Huddersfield Town's manager #David Wagner. Since taking over in November 2015, he helped the Terriers reach 19th at the end of the 2015/16 season. The relatively unknown #Borussia Dortmund, David Wagner has got his team to pull up trees this year, confirming their place in this year's Championship play-offs
News that the English Football League is investigating his lineup that started against Birmingham City last Saturday might take a little gloss off a great week in the clubs history.
The EFL Investigates Apparent Weakened Side
The EFL confirmed in a statement "We have today written to Huddersfield Town to request their observations in relation to team selection during their recent Championship match with Birmingham City…”
According to EFL rules and regulations "…All clubs are subject to the requirement to play their strongest side in all Sky Bet League matches unless some satisfactory reason is given.”
EFL's Definition Of A Weakened Side
The truth is, we have no clear and direct definition of what the EFL deems as a weakened side. In 2011, the Premier League went some way to tackle this kind of situation by introducing a 25 man squad cap on all teams. The English Football League have not provided this kind of framework.
Therefore, isn’t it down to the discretion and authority of the manager David Wagner to choose who is in his matchday lineup?
This is a joke. Our boss has earned the right in 44 games to do what he wants. Not our problem other teams haven't. https://t.co/sJHSLQsVUJ
— Dean Whitehead (@442Dean) May 2, 2017
Huddersfield Town had already secured their Championship play-off place prior to their defeat at the hands of a Birmingham/Harry Redknapp’s side that had to play with 10 men for nearly 70 minutes.
The 3 points that #Birmingham City gained from this victory kept them out of the relegation zone. Both #Blackburn Rovers and #Nottingham Forest were defeated and find themselves 2 points behind Birmingham City with one game to go.
The current manager of #Blackburn Rovers, Tony Mowbray questioned David Wagner's decision to make 10 changes to the side that secured their play-offs place with a victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, for anyone that has followed the rise of Huddersfield Town this season will be well aware of Wagner's rotation policy. He had made 5 changes ahead of the famous victory against Wolves.
Investigation Will Not Deny Huddersfield Town
The EFL stated: "It should be noted, however, that the result of Saturday's game will stand in all circumstances and any potential action would be taken against Huddersfield Town directly."
Even though Huddersfield Town’s place in the Championship play-offs is not under question, this regular argument regarding weakened sides needs clarification. For the lawmakers of the football league, they have a prime opportunity to prevent this from happening again.
