5 subs is stupid. 3 subs were far better. Now, you can replace half the outfield players, which basically means you can change tactics completely. It means more of the result is down to the manager. It also means there’s less need to prioritise which games are important, you can start with your best 11 every game, and just substitute later if the result allows it. It also benefits clubs with bigger budgets more, as they can afford having a higher quality bench.
We actually don’t see many more games than we used to 10 years ago at the minute. What has changed is that the intensity of games has increased where players are expected to press until the last minute. Improvements in training and science have meant that players are playing to their physical maximum every game and aren’t getting rotated as much as you would think with 5 subs allowed. Generally managers stick close to their first choice 11 as much as they can and as a result players are getting pushed physically farther than ever before. In the 90s and early 2000s plenty of players could half arse it in training and perform on match day. Too much is expected of players physically every game for that to work any more.
5 subs is great but they are used less often than you would expect and probably less than what the players need. If you push yourself to your physical limit every game, any opportunity of a break is welcome (unless you are Bruno Fernandes.)
I agree that adding more games is only gonna make it worse but the amount of injuries that we’ve seen this year is incredible. And I can’t help but think that it is because of too many games as you say. In theory 5 subs allows you to rest players but in reality managers don’t use it that often, meaning that players are still being run into the ground.
All that talk from me just to say I agree with your assertion that there are too many games, but I disagree in that 5 subs are a necessity nowadays.
Yeah fair points. Of course there are freaks like Salah and Bruno that can play 90 mins 2 or 3 times a week at full intensity and be fine, but like you say the intensity is a lot higher.
I guess I do agree with you anyway that with how much is demanded of players now that we do need more subs, I suppose it’s just a symptom of the game now. I’d just prefer that we weren’t in a position where that had to be the case.