>>From Football 365: Coventry boss Gordon Strachan has admitted he might have to be listed as a substitute for this weekend's game against Newcastle. A major injury crisis at Highfield Road has left Strachan down to the bare bones of his squad, and he is unwilling to risk any of his promising youngsters against what promises to be a hungry Newcastle side with players performing for cup final places. So Strachan has strongly suggested the possibility of a dual role for him on the bench this weekend.

Err, did I miss something at Wembley??

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Answers

If only Chelsea had done what Barcelona did ;)

Johan Cruyff has accused Barcelona's coach, fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal, and president Josep Luis Nunez of treating their players like puppets at Easter Monday's aborted Copa del Rey semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona, who trailed 3-0 after the first leg, had asked the Spanish Football Federation to reschedule the game for next month after complaining about a player shortage due to international call-ups.

The Catalan outfit, given the option of playing at an earlier time on Monday so their internationals could play, refused.

The governing body turned down their request to play the game in May.

Barcelona did not sell tickets before the game and showed up at the stadium with nine outfield players and two goalkeepers, who walked into the Nou Camp to inform the referee they would not play.

Cruyff, a legend at the Nou Camp as a player before serving as a coach, said: "It's totally pathetic.

They should have played the game.

"They used their players, getting them dressed and then sending them back to the dressing room after a couple of minutes."

The Spanish Football Federation will decide Barcelona's fate today, and may exclude them from the competition.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I quite like the way they say that the Spanish FA "May" exclude them from the competition.....is there any other outcome?

I reckon they should get league points deducted as well.....that'll teach them to think they're bigger than the rules...

oh and boot them out of the Champions League as well!!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Next year's cup maybe. ;-) I hope this isn't mind games on the part of Strachan. Maybe Al will meet his season/league/career targets on Saturday after all. And because Foxworld are showing Everton v Arsenal(yawn) I'm sure ours will be one of the weekend's goalfests. That's usually how it works. :-)

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

In all fairness is this not a reference to Coentry's youth team?

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000