Too Many Substitutions?
From a football fan’s point of view pre-season friendlies can be a little bit tedious to say the least. OK, for the football junkie it may be exciting to see how the new reserve goalie does when he plays 20 minutes at the end of a game, but most of us just want a look at the new record signing to see if he is as good as we’ve been told.
However, it was while watching one of these pre-season games that I had a thought that might improve not only friendly games, but also games at all levels. One of the annoying things about friendlies is the number of substitutions made. The game can be stopped countless times in the last 15 minutes just to give some fat rejects a game in the bleak hope of selling them. So why not put a limit on the number of times substitutions can be made?
Please note I am not saying reduce the number of players who can come on, just the number of times you can make substitutions. For example, in league games where three subs would still be allowed to come on, these substitutions would have to be made on only two occasions, so if you want to use your full quota of three players, you have to make one double substitution.
If managers could only use subs at two moments in the game, they would have to be that bit more cunning in how they used those occasions. There would be fewer uses of the obnoxious time-wasting substitution in the last minute of a game, and there would be fewer breaks in the 90 minutes which could only lead to more intensity.
So what do you think? While everyone is going on about goal-line technology, there could be a minor change to the substitution rule which would lead to a minor improvement to our beautiful game. It could be known as the 1+2 rule, or the 2+1 rule if that makes more sense to you. Or maybe you have a better name for it.
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Nic, the pic you put up wasn’t loading so I substituted it with this one
On to the article itself – I think it’s a fair idea, although if an injury happens to a player you don’t want to be forced to make a double substitution just because the rules say so … or do you?
August 8th, 2007 @ 15:22That is a good idea just too bad it will never happen
August 8th, 2007 @ 15:23you shouldnt have to use up 1 of your substitutions if your forced into it (injury)imo but then this could lead to people faking injuries and all that crap. Otherwise people like john oshea have to go in goal and make 1 on 1 saves from people like robbie keane!!!
August 8th, 2007 @ 16:11I think it’s a silly idea. Even if you had that rule, you’d still have a potential 4 substitution “rounds” (2 for each team). 3 isn’t that much. I’d much rather see a 3+1 rule where you could substitute an injured player even if you had used up your 3 substitutions. There could be limitations to it such as having to use one of the 3 players that had previously gone off (except for goalies) and to prevent abuse, the injured player would have to be absent from the next one or two games.
In the case of friendlies, yes, there are too many substitutions. But that’s for players to get runouts for the manager to assess them and get some match practice, even ease players back to full fitness. These aren’t the games that we’re worried abouts so I don’t really know why you are complaining about those subs, because as you rightly said football junkies are the ones that enjoy them and are probably the only ones that want to watch them.
August 8th, 2007 @ 16:20Bjarkovic – the injured player would have to be absent from the next one or two games? So what happens when someone gets something like, say, a twisted ankle, or a broken nose, both injuries that legitimately require players to come off for treatment, and yet at the same time should not keep players out for prolonged periods of time? It sounds like we’re punishing players for picking up niggling injuries!! Think about it – the player who commits the foul leading to these injuries may not even be booked, and yet the wronged party ends up with a suspension of sorts.
August 9th, 2007 @ 03:39outside of friendlies, i have a different stance on substitutions. i think that goalkeepers should be outside the three subs you can make in a game. That way, you have an extra player on the bench to chose from, and its impossible to use this rule for any unruly gain. who will benefit from putting their sub keeper in goal after making 3 changes unless?
August 9th, 2007 @ 04:47Ahmed, I was going to write to you regarding the picture that is used in this. The child being called a whore and having a banana stuffed in her mouth? You know the one, don’t you. Apparently, you put it there.
August 9th, 2007 @ 05:11Is it just me or is this sick. I have young daughters and I don’t know if you think it’s funny or erotic, either way, take it off. It is sick.
Hugo – I see your point, and I agree. But having an emergency sub would have to be something that would definately not be abused so it would be the managers choice whether to use the substitution or not. It’s just an idea, but I could definately envision certain Chelsea players feigning injury on Jose’s orders just to get a sub on.
August 9th, 2007 @ 17:06