Subs Bench

Subs Bench

Anyone know why the A-League subs bench is only 4 players? It seems such a small number when you compare it to the big leagues; the EPL for example has recently changed to 7 subs. Only having four players on the bench makes it very tricky for youngsters to get an oppurtunity; as a player like Rojas who plays in a quite specialist position will generally be sacrificed for someone more versatile, like Lia.

$$$$$$$$

It should really be 5.

+1

News is right I think - it's about $ on travelling players. Last time this came up, I mentioned that Germany have 7, which England has now moved to. It's been 7 in one of cups in England for a little while (can't remember if it's the League Cup or the League Trophy or both).

Yea, was thinking the same thing last week. Having such a small subs bench reduces the time that young fringe players can get on the park and get an oppourtunity to prove themselves. That can only be to the detriment of Australian and New Zealand Football.

I think 5 is the best fit, until more clubs are making more money, and not relying on FFA hand-outs.

But FFA has other things to worry about, with their expansion ideas...

What about having it as mandatory for a keeper to be on the bench? I'd like to see that left to the managers' choice. With only 4 subs, I reckon we'd see a higher incidence than usual of managers taking the risk of no back-up keeper on the bench - there'd be more to gain of keeping that tactical flexibility I think relative to the number of times the reserve keeper ever gets subbed on.

That's a great point Oska, that really makes the money argument redundant. Have the Phoenix ever taken less than 17/18 players to away games? I can't really be sure about other clubs, but most of them probably do the same thing.

I say we should forget about the subbing idea and use the interchange idea from rugby league because that would introduce more flexibility at a reduced traveling cost. Include monitored any necessary bloodbin changes (so there is no fake injuries) beyond the exceed interchange number.

And for those of us who have no idea about rugby stuff (could just be me in this country, I admit) what is the interchange idea?

In rugby league they have 4(?) guys on the bench and the coach can exchange players from the bench to the field a set number of times (might be 12?).  They use a lot of the exchanges to rest big forwards.
If football did something like that it would take away (to some extent) the present contest between the sides for aerobic fitness, some of the super-fit players wouldn't have quite the same value in the game.
When Union started using subs (in a different format) a certain type of player started to disappear because their aerobic fitness advantage was no longer as significant. 
stevenivan2009-09-07 12:35:04

You mean rolling subs? That would require FIFA approval wouldn't it?

It works in Capital 16, why shouldn't it in the A-league...

and wanganui local league.

Yeah, so having a set number of interchange (about 8, 12 is too much) per game for the team but not the continuous (unlimited) rolling subs which usually serves to slow the game to a stop is fine as long as you have a sideline official (not linemen with ref) to monitor it.

I really don't see why the referee has to always be notified that a player that is subbed on and a player is subbed off just to have correct number on the field when an extra official can monitor the activity while it does not matter which player has be on, off and on again (as long they are not red carded). Just change the rules and let it flow. The speed of the game does not have to stop. If a team concedes when the other team is changing at the wrong time, then that is the coaches fault. But the benefits outweight the losses and it is more tactical and gives players gametime hope and enforces some players to perform at a high playing quality without worrying whether or not they have another quality crack with a bit of rest in the game.

Most payers would, of course, prefer not to be pulled off at all, but if they are thinking what is best for the team without being a liability to the match while they trying to get to their best form. It will also tell which players are key to the game and where they stand in the coaches eyes so they can improve themselves. There would still be some players with aerobic fitness advantage but the overall competitiveness will be higher and the contestable will be tighter. You find that in Rugby League, the best players are on for the whole game anyway and that sometimes the greater older players gets a rest and so it prolongs their career and better sustainability for the season. Also a player on the bench can be fired up psychologically to get back into the game after a rest plus having tactical reminders by the coach about how well they can improve their current game.

I think there is more to be offer this way.AllWhitebelievr2009-09-07 20:26:23

I think FFA could easily change the rules. For example they could say that "a team is allowed up to 5..6..7 subs" or whatever number they deem fair. Then it's up to the teams to bring as many as they want. That way if teams choose to take more players on an away game they can always have them on the bench.

I reckon the FFA should make it minimum 4 including GK and max of 7, so then it is upto each team to have/take as many as the like!!!

I don't think the FFA should dictate that a GK has to be on the bench. Let the manager decide.

Rolling subs are a woeful idea.  Ask any player.  Coming off and going back on is a nightmare.  For the team it destroys combinations and rhythm.

I agree with Smiff on this one!  Interchange would be a bad idea.  If, for example, each side was allowed 10 changes a match that would equal up to 20 changes for the game. Then take into account that 30secs is supposed to be added onto each half for substitutions then you immediately extend the match by at least 6 mins without even trying!

Hey, I'm still smarting that we conceded a goal 3 minutes and 35 seconds into indicated stoppage time of 3 minutes. The NQF keeper was launching a goal-kick as the clock went to 93 minutes, so the ref should have blown then!

In answering another subs thread, I noticed for the first time that the LotG state the subs bench for any official competitions "organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations" must have a subs bench numbering from 3 to 7 players. SiNZ2009-09-21 17:20:23

So has the FFA considered options to change this? I think the Costa and Rojas arguement is the best...7 givens you 1st team cover, as well as the chance for a couple of youf players to bring on if your cruising...

I'd say they'd do sweet FFA

Has rolling subs ever been used professionally??

And if it were to happen, suddenly we would have professional free kick takers, and defensive teams etc etc (Like NFL, a team for everything)

[QUOTE=Michael]Has rolling subs ever been used professionally??
[QUOTE] SiNZ2009-09-22 17:26:32