Today’s Football 2020/21 Season

[tsubaki]

I buy the argument that managers are afraid to use 2nd and 3rd Sub for fear of injury; soft tissue injuries are up over 40% and we have seen first hand, with James at Southampton, the stress seeing an injured player after 3 subs made and managers are no longer prepared to take that kind of risk.

There are 72 leagues in Europe; 71 have gone to 5 subs. Says it all

I don’t think it does - the big six after all just tried to permanently screw over the rest, twice. They might even be deliberately trying to get their own players injured (given how Klopp and especially Pep aren’t making subs at all in some games).

I am kind of disappointed we weren’t in the no camp for this.

 

[number4.]

I don’t think it does - the big six after all just tried to permanently screw over the rest, twice. They might even be deliberately trying to get their own players injured (given how Klopp and especially Pep aren’t making subs at all in some games).

I am kind of disappointed we weren’t in the no camp for this.

I don't buy it's a big six v the rest arguement & I don't see how it screws anyone over.

71 of 72 probably arent wrong. It's a welfare issue & 10 clubs have said "don't you tell us what to do" and dug their heels in despite it being of benefit to their players. Please we had the maturity to put welfare ahead of petty politics

 

[tsubaki]

I don't buy it's a big six v the rest arguement & I don't see how it screws anyone over.

71 of 72 probably arent wrong. It's a welfare issue & 10 clubs have said "don't you tell us what to do" and dug their heels in despite it being of benefit to their players. Please we had the maturity to put welfare ahead of petty politics

It’s not a welfare issue - it’s teams wanting to have their cake and eat it. The remedy to players being overplayed is, shockingly, not to play them all the time.

 

[number4.]

It’s not a welfare issue - it’s teams wanting to have their cake and eat it. The remedy to players being overplayed is, shockingly, not to play them all the time.

How is it not a welfare issue. More players getting injured in games (40% more) = need more subs

 

[tsubaki]

How is it not a welfare issue. More players getting injured in games (40% more) = need more subs

No, you need to rest those players more. It’s not like gravity has increased.

 

[zukai12_]

River Plate smashed Nacional 6-2 for an aggregate 8-2 win

 

[number4.]

No, you need to rest those players more. It’s not like gravity has increased.

you're argueing for teams to field a different 10 players game on game then; I know there are red zones etc; but essentially teams dont seem to have an idea of who or when a player breaks down. We saw that with Sheff united last night. There is zero fun or fairness in that.

 

[tsubaki]

you're argueing for teams to field a different 10 players game on game then; I know there are red zones etc; but essentially teams dont seem to have an idea of who or when a player breaks down. We saw that with Sheff united last night. There is zero fun or fairness in that.

Not really - just for teams to actually take responsibility for their players health.

Clubs know who has been playing loads of games and what the impact of that is; they need to give them a break not 30 minutes rest every game after bombing around during a usual EPL game.

 

[number4.]

Not really - just for teams to actually take responsibility for their players health.

Clubs know who has been playing loads of games and what the impact of that is; they need to give them a break not 30 minutes rest every game after bombing around during a usual EPL game.

That is an absolute myth though. What the nature of injuries this year has shown, is a combination of fixtures, the return from Covid break & effectively extended season from when football returned last year is that soft tissue injuries are happening more and resting players for a game isn't preventing them.

Managers are putting 11 out, rested or not & have no idea who is going to finish games, players left our with muscle / hamstrings injuries is causing further damage. Ultimately, this will end up with a club, probably out of the 10, relegated because they cant field something close to a first team with 10+ injuries. It isnt about Man City or Liverpool "having their cake and eating it" its about players surviving the season. It's very very simple and only 10 clubs in Europe disagree - this is simple stuborness & a dont you tell us what to do attitude.

 

[tsubaki]

That is an absolute myth though. What the nature of injuries this year has shown, is a combination of fixtures, the return from Covid break & effectively extended season from when football returned last year is that soft tissue injuries are happening more and resting players for a game isn't preventing them.

Managers are putting 11 out, rested or not & have no idea who is going to finish games, players left our with muscle / hamstrings injuries is causing further damage. Ultimately, this will end up with a club, probably out of the 10, relegated because they cant field something close to a first team with 10+ injuries. It isnt about Man City or Liverpool "having their cake and eating it" its about players surviving the season. It's very very simple and only 10 clubs in Europe disagree

Not sure how you can claim it’s an absolute myth and then go in to cite the reasons why it’s not a myth at all.

 

[number4.]

Not sure how you can claim it’s an absolute myth and then go in to cite the reasons why it’s not a myth at all.

Sorry if I was unclear. It's a myth that resting a player for a week is making them less likely to get injured the next week. It may reduce it slightly; but all the data is showing the random nature of these soft tissue issues. Resting people simple not the solution.

Ultimately this will lead to the biggest squads having the biggest advantage over the remainder of the season - it's not for the top 2/ top 6 it's for the players.

 

[PaddyJames]

Personally I'm not fussed. If all of the other top leagues are doing it then the Prem should have followed suit. That said, It's not lack of extra substitutions thats injuring players. Its pointless international friendlies. 4 of the most important players in the squad flying to the other side of the world to play a couple of friendlies against hatchet men? Pathetic.

 

[number4.]

Personally I'm not fussed. If all of the other top leagues are doing it then the Prem should have followed suit. That said, It's not lack of extra substitutions thats injuring players. Its pointless international friendlies. 4 of the most important players in the squad flying to the other side of the world to play a couple of friendlies against hatchet men? Pathetic.

100% agree that that is a huge factor - it was bananas; but the only pressure valve is league football in reality. 71 & a half our of 72 leagues are unlikely to be wrong. For me it's a response from 10 teams to being told what to do & they have bitten their nose off to spite faces. It's similar to I want my straight bananas as the basis for voting Yes to brexit.

 

[PaddyJames]

100% agree that that is a huge factor - it was bananas; but the only pressure valve is league football in reality. 71 & a half our of 72 leagues are unlikely to be wrong. For me it's a response from 10 teams to being told what to do & they have bitten their nose off to spite faces. It's similar to I want my straight bananas as the basis for voting Yes to brexit.

Bananas.

 

[Old Blue 2]

That is an absolute myth though. What the nature of injuries this year has shown, is a combination of fixtures, the return from Covid break & effectively extended season from when football returned last year is that soft tissue injuries are happening more and resting players for a game isn't preventing them.

Managers are putting 11 out, rested or not & have no idea who is going to finish games, players left our with muscle / hamstrings injuries is causing further damage. Ultimately, this will end up with a club, probably out of the 10, relegated because they cant field something close to a first team with 10+ injuries. It isnt about Man City or Liverpool "having their cake and eating it" its about players surviving the season. It's very very simple and only 10 clubs in Europe disagree - this is simple stuborness & a dont you tell us what to do attitude.

Each club has a registered squad of 25 players.

At any given time, the Manager/Coach and his backroom team SHOULD have a handle on the fitness of each of those 25.

It is accepted that all of the 25 are not of an equal ability. Each Manager/Coach therefore has to operate within that constraint, taking into account also the differing abilities and playing positions of those in the squad.

This is a 100% 'red herring': '...a combination of fixtures, the return from Covid break & effectively extended season...' We are talking here about sportsmen at the highest position of their calling. They are the fittest of the fit, and had a 3 month break, longer than the normal summer break. They are asked to play (sometimes) twice a week.

The whingeing and crying of some Managers (you know who) just doesn't wash with me. Don't cry wolf when you run your players into the ground...