The use of substitutes

[Bruce Wayne]

It's been a minor irritation of mine for a little while. In rugby the subs bench is used as an extension of the team and used in a very tactical way to be effective at various stages of the game. It's not uncommon for players to be renowned for starting on the bench and proving effective later in the game when players are tired.

To a large extent such effective use of the bench doesn't really happen in football, so it's pleasing to see Moyes using the bench to such good effect in recent matches, with the likes of Anichebe, Vaughan and Graveson all coming on and changing games.

 

[chicoazul]

Its because we have something resembling a squad now. In the past out best players were on the pitch and kept on because we only had gash to replace them.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Here's one for you. When was the last time an English player came on for England and made a difference? I can't remember anything like that happening for McClaren and certainly not under Sven.

Club subs are a major factor in the final result of a game. You could argue that if it wasn't for Solskjaer's sub efforts we could be looking at a different history.

I think this season Moyes is making a difference with his subs. But it largely goes unnoticed. Yet it only takes one wrong incident like the Spurs game last season and then its pressure on the manager. Fickle really.

But one man takes the biscuit, even Aldridge takes the piss out of him.

58mins...nothing
59mins...nothing
60mins...sub - guaranteed.

 

[chicoazul]

You have a point there, Moyes hasnt really got credit for his match winning subs this season yet everyone was having a right go at him for not subbing in previous seasons.

Credit where its due for the steely eyebrowed boss boss.

 

[toffeestillidie]

towards the beginning of the season it seemed like faddy might log a couple performances to earn him "super-sub" status, particularly with his work against blackburn and reading, is that dream dead or is there hope for him yet?

 

[McBain]

Its a battle of the tactitcians from the halfway mark of the game.

Subs at half time, and around the 65th minute show exactly how good a manager is. I hate to say it but Scolari is the best. Its like showing your hand if you do it first, it can also mean youve seen exactly what you need to do to change the game, but it can also mean your inexperienced and are your opposition manager is waiting for you to show your hand.

In my opinion Moyes is still inexperienced in this fashion, but he is getting much better. He doesnt play mind games with the opposition manager, he changes how he sees it. He is still leaving things a little to late, more bullish in his attitude of Ill change it when I see fit, rather than knowing when to. Now he has some ammunition to work with. He'll get better as the season progresses.

 

[Robert Jarvis]

Must admit I was screaming at the TV on thursday at about the 60th minute, FFS do something.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The subs worked well again today with AJ coming off of the bench to score.

 

[micknick]

The subs worked well again today with AJ coming off of the bench to score.

Brucie is bumping all his threads all over the show.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Well if you can't go into a post frenzy after that, when can you?