a season, I seem to recall top flight managers still played their first team in all League and FA Cup matches where possible.

Now there's 4 fewer games in the league, the league cup has ditched replays and 2nd legs and even the FA Cup has ditched replays, yet managers seem to be convinced their poor ickle players need to be rested from time to time ?

I can understand it from clubs involved in europe, but everyone in the Prem seems to fall for this shyte? Its a bigger myth than any of the Brendan's 'the system is getting better' bollox and the whole football community; clubs, media, pundits and fans alike are falling for it?