1- It has been announced that only five subs can be named for league matches this season. Seven subs will still be allowed for FA Cup, Carling Cup and JPT matches. 2- The multi-ball system has been banned for league matches. 3- At least six of the matchday squad must have been registered domestically for at least three years before their 21st birthday. However, the players can be of any nationality.
Can understand the logic... not all teams can field 18 players. Don't know why they've left it this late, though. Apparently JPT is also now down to 5... plays right into our hands... we've practically won it now... what a season changer.
Yeah, but if a team can only field 16 it's not really a level playing field. I don't think it'll make a lot of difference in the grand scheme o' things.
Apparently the JPT is on a seven sub rule. The multi-ball system is a bit of a double edged sword. It can be farcical at times and can cause a bit of pressure when reorganising the shape of the team - but then again - will stopping it greatly reduce action time for the fans? Maybe the use of just five subs will increase competition for places - which is no bad thing.
Would be interested in the stats of how many clubs couldn't get a match day squad of 18. Dint remember anyone other than Stockport and Portsmouth- both clubs having disastrous financial situations. My opinion is that it hampers the progress of kids gaining match day experience. The decision to make it this close to the start if the season is also farcical.
That is a bloody good point, SuperC. The youngsters who get to sit on the bench and soak up the experience will surely be axed. So what is the point in it all?
so not necessarily kids then - guess people like Doc meet this requirement don't they Is the aim to simply avoid a team of foreign players who were not here at 18 years of age? ..... or am I missing the point here
DVDDD - I think it is about promoting 'home-grown' talent. Which doesn't really help the England team, as such, because the club teams could all be foreign born but have played here since they were 18 - like Doc, as you say. Or am I missing something? It seems like fiddling for the sake of fiddling.
I've been thinking this all day since reading this page, and I'm glad its not only me who feels this way. My thoughts echo exactly SuperChrissy's comments. How will the likes of Harriot (etc) get a chance to break into the first team with only 5 subs allowed on the bench. Think of it in this situation. We have a home-game against a club (i.e Walsall), the manager (being given 7 subs) names perhaps 5 senior players on the bench and 2 youth players, that way if we end up 3-0 up with 15 minutes to go, the manager can stick on a couple of youth players (safe in the knowledge that we probably wont let that lead slip), yet if we're only say, 1-0 up or drawing with 15 minutes to go, the manager also knows he has 5 senior players left on the bench to bring on. This makes it a win-win scenario having 7 subs. Yet, with only 5 subs, very few managers would risk naming a youth player on the bench, as he would be worried that he needs a decent senior player for each position on the bench in case of injuries. Here's a (educated guess) at a possible line-up for next season. Elliot, Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins, Green, Hollands, Stephens, Jackson, BWP, Hayes. (Subs) - Sullivan, Doherty, Evina, Wagstaff, Benson. Mambo, Harriott The five subs named would surely not be sacrificed in place of a youth player, in case of any injuries to the starting 11, yet missing out the players in red could seriously hamper their development. Sorry for the long-winded post, haven't posted for a few days and wanted to emphasis my anger and disapointment at this decision (which has been perhaps the only piece of disappointing football related news this summer).
It's utter Rubbish- what about all of the clubs who have been building for a match day squad of 18, I.E us!!
WWOCB - A fine post and brilliantly constructed. This is the sort of thing which needs to be sent to the Nero's who are fiddling.
Cheers guys What really baffles me about this decision though is that it isn't the decision of some ignorant Fifa Suits, it was Football League managers who voted for the decision. The attempt at justifying the decision by saying 'some teams struggle to find 18 fit players' just doesn't stand up - just because you have 7 players on the bench it doesn't mean you have to play them. As somebody already said, just put a couple of youth players on the bench, you're under no obligation to play them. Heck you could even stick the mascot and tea-lady on the bench just to make up the numbers. I honestly see only pro's and no con's to having 7 subs.
