More Substitutes on The Bench: Yes or No?

[beachesl]

More substitutes on the bench? I say no for club domestic league matches. Tournaments like the World Cup are different, as the same subs should be on the bench for the entire tournament.

fromm BBC site:

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 6 November 2007, 17:14 GMT

Spurs & Man Utd ask for more subs

Ramos and Ferguson want substitute change

Tottenham and Manchester United have urged the Premier League to allow teams to have more substitutes on the bench.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Spurs coach Juande Ramos say there should be seven substitutes to choose from rather than present limit of five.

"Every club has players of squads of more than 16 players," said Ferguson.

"I didn't choose Darren Fletcher for the Arsenal game and that was a kick in a teeth for him and it didn't sit easy with me," added Ferguson.

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson also favours a change in the Premier League's rules on substitutes, with managers allowed to bring on three players from a choice of five.

The Premier League said it was willing to look at the issue, but any change was unlikely to come into effect before the start of next season.

"If member clubs want to raise it then we'll look and discuss it as a league," a Premier League spokesman told BBC Sport.

"We've resisted the idea before because we feel it favours the bigger clubs who have bigger squads.

"If it was raised it would go to (our) summer conference, and if the clubs agreed it could be in place for the start of the 2008/2009 season."

Premier League voting rules require 14 out of the 20 clubs to back rule changes.

In Champions League matches as well as international fixtures coaches and managers are allowed to name seven subs and bring on three of them.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

Let the entire squad sit on the bench for all I care. How can that negatively impact a game?

I am also in favour of increasing the number of subs. Fresh legs can only pick up a match that is lagging, like in the heat or on a cold day, or when the teams have played a few days before and the starters tire.

But we could start with all extra time periods in knock-out rounds and finals. Automatically add a sub and allow a 4 in case you go into ET, as a way of getting something fresh out there. How can a bunch of tired players dragging themselves about be good for them, the fans, or the game?

[Cheeta]

Bahhh.

Three subs is lots but I'd be open to allowing for a greater number of bench players, maybe a couple more. Am of the opinion that there is a certain strategy and craft in limiting the number of bench players available and allowing the home manager the opportunity of seeing the visitors roster before selecting his final roster. Call me old fashioned.

Think no one would complain if a goalkeeper substitution (and inclusion on the bench) were allowed seperate from that of the outfield players, ie five players on the bench PLUS a 'keeper and three subs per match PLUS a 'keeper sub'ing if so desired.

P.S. Yeah, like the additional sub scheme pitched by JeffreyS for cup extra time periods. Almost seems a no brainer but you could see how certain managers would very quickly learn to factor this rule into their strategic thinking.

[JamesW]

quote:Originally posted by Cheeta

Think no one would complain if a goalkeeper substitution (and inclusion on the bench) were allowed seperate from that of the outfield players, ie five players on the bench PLUS a 'keeper and three subs per match PLUS a 'keeper sub'ing if so desired.

But then the manager doesn't run any risk when using his third sub up. Think Canada vs Congo in the Under-20 World Cup. I like to see things like that, Dale played all his cards and got burnt because of it. That whole risk of losing your keeper adds something to the game, at least for me it does. And I mean what's better then seeing an outfielder forced to play keeper?

I'm of the mind that it ain't broke, so why fix it. And doesn't adding more subs just give the big clubs an even larger advantage over smaller clubs? Would upsets become even rarer then they are now?

[jpg75]

The flip argument is that adding subs to the bench would allow managers to dress younger players and give them a run out during a blow out. It might actually help the development of young English players...as well as bring England in line with the rest of the world. I'm glad MLS came to their senses and did the same a few years back, it used to be 16 dressed for the visitors and 20 for the home side...