Thing is, the argument it helps the bigger clubs means nothing. let’s be honest, no subs, 3, subs, 5 subs, the top 4/6 is still going to be safe clubs and those fighting relegation are still gonna be the same. It’s one league but in reality it’s 3, those at the top, those secure in mid table and those at the bottom. Sheff United are competing in a mini league of 6/7 clubs fighting relegation. Are they really going to be affected that massively because city can make 5 subs a game?
Its a nonsense that it favours bigger clubs, this season is going to be more about who can avoid injuries than quality football. If Sheffield untied lose 3 first 11 players to injury because theyve been over played, they are ****ed. If city lose 3, they have a squad that can cope. It benefits every club to be able to guard against fatigue, but it will come to everybody as the league progresses. You'll see plenty of patched together teams as the season goes on. I dont think this is going to be a particularly enjoyable season for anyone. Teams must play with themselves due to the schedule, you can't stick your best side out and go hell for leather every match.
I must admit end of last year I was against the 5 subs. Thinking it would be too many stoppages etc but think when top medical staff are saying it’s important for this season and seeing how many injuries are around then think it’s silly not to introduce it, especially with even more packed Xmas period coming up. I did think maybe it’ll favour bigger teams in allowing them to change things off the bench more but listening to klopp it’s more a case of being able to rest players. You can make subs at 60 minutes knowing you still have a couple more to cover any other injuries going into last 15. At the moment managers aren’t making those subs either 20 minutes to go for fear of someone else getting injured and then having to play with 10 for 10 minutes. This is what those that say ‘well Liverpool and city only used 2 subs per game anyway’ don’t quite understand. It’s not about always using 5, but it’s about being able to use 3 early to give someone a rest with the knowledge that you have 2 left to cover any injuries.
Regardless of European competition the season is still condensed. They have less games, but a smaller squad or maybe lesser would be a better term. Every team will have to manage their players this year, never mind how many competitions they are in.
I was against it as well, for the same reasons - and like you I'm being persuaded slowly. I still wouldn't like to see it as a permanent thing, but perhaps it would have been good to help with this condensed season. Though I still think scrapping internationals would have been a better solution.
Best result for us. Always a relief when you drop points, and then the teams around you do not take advantage.
Fairly happy with that. Whatever the result saw us moving down to 2nd. But this way we stay level with Spurs and keep the distance over Chelsea. Also our crap result hasn't cost us too much.
Yes. The draw was the best outcome for us. We are now second but only on GD. Either we’ve regressed to the chasing pack level or they’ve caught up with us. I think it is probably the former. We are 7 points short of last season at this stage while all the others in top 4 positions are on the same points. A difference from last season was that then we were winning matches we could easily have drawn. Many such examples. But this season we are drawing those matches we were expecting wins from.