PAUL ROBINSON'S surprise omission from the Barnsley match line-up was followed by rumours the player was about to be sold. Middlesbrough were supposed to be in for the player, according to the grapevine.

Earlier this week, chief executive Tim Shaw stressed Watford had not received any offers for any of the players.

The manager confirmed this later in the week, explaining: "We are not looking to sell him. He is very much one of our biggest assets.

"Of course there are certain offers we could not turn down. We have not received an offer, but I suppose if a club offered between £7 million and £8 million we might think about it," he added with a smile.

"I rested Paul Robinson. He was playing well but he is tired. A manager should realise when a player needs some rest to protect him and the team. Probably, and I hold my hands up, I should not have played Filippo Galli as well on Saturday. Possibly, I needed to rest him a bit longer as they consume more energy than others.

"Sometimes, when I went on about rotation, they, the critics, took the mickey out of me when I was at Chelsea, but I think it is important to know when the right time is to rest them.

"Alex Ferguson is the master at that. When I was at Chelsea and we had so many games, I used to change and rest them.

"The media critics did not realise that is where football is going to: a squad system."

* Vialli has not given a thought to the Worthington Cup draw which sees the Hornets paired at home home to Premiership Charlton Athletic.

"We are pleased to have drawn a Premiership club, but it is a competition in which we want to go as far as we can," said the Watford boss.

"We respect them, but we believe we have a chance, especially playing at home. It is also financially rewarding having such a tie. It would be very good to maintain a winning mentality, as long as the competition does not become a distraction.

"Liverpool won three cups last season going on the pitch every week, just looking to win the next game."

November 9, 2001 09:30