Substitutes (2 Viewers)

[FergieTheFinisher]

Firstly, really looking forward to the new season with our new squad. The increase in depth and quality is really encouraging.

I am wondering whether this increase in depth will allow for more strategic use of subs rather than the "sub him as he's having a mare or because he's injured" mentality. I would like to see us use our subs more tactically, ie. some players who start know that they're only going to be playing say 45-60 mins so they play at a higher intensity for this period. Over the last couple of years there seems to be more of a move to utilise subs in a planned manner rather than keeping them as an insurance policy or giving them a few consolatory mins at the end of a game. Obviously quality and depth are needed for this, but we now seem to be at a point where this could be a reality.

Thoughts?

 

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[Perennial Lurker]

A lot of the preseason training videos showed a high intensity too it with a lot of focus on fast transitional play . Think the front 3 will be asked to do a lot more this season

 

[SkyBlueGuy]

I think this is exactly the way we will go. Regular subs at around the 60min mark to allow us to keep the intensity up, but also to help reduce the number of injuries we have been getting. I think the training style will have changed this year too. It's an exciting prospect that we will have players like EMC/ Sakamoto/ BTA/ Torp/ Palmer etc to come on and play with energy and intensity (knowing they aren't going to be playing back to back 90mins saturday/ Tuesday)

 

[biggymania]

Yes. We are too used to having (just about) a first 11 and using the bench as a last resort in the Robins era. It was particularly like this with Godden and other attacking options last season. We'd bring people on because we were forced to, but weren't really able to influence the game.

It will be very different this year with lots of options to change system and personnel and exploit specific set ups or situations adhoc as the game unfolds but also in a pre-planned way too.

 

[Chris1987]

I doubt that there will be a stronger bench in the Championship

 

[Deleted member 9744]

Yes. We are too used to having (just about) a first 11 and using the bench as a last resort in the Robins era. It was particularly like this with Godden and other attacking options last season. We'd bring people on because we were forced to, but weren't really able to influence the game.

It will be very different this year with lots of options to change system and personnel and exploit specific set ups or situations adhoc as the game unfolds but also in a pre-planned way too.

Without a doubt having a stronger bench is an advantage. However, I don't think Robins will dramatically change his approach to substitutions. Maybe if we are losing he will make more changes if he feels we have some game changers on the bench, but often if you are winning or drawing, the value of keeping the same team together is greater than making changes.

The real value of the larger squad of players he can trust will be that he will be able to rest players when necessary.

 

[biggymania]

Without a doubt having a stronger bench is an advantage. However, I don't think Robins will dramatically change his approach to substitutions. Maybe if we are losing he will make more changes if he feels we have some game changers on the bench, but often if you are winning or drawing, the value of keeping the same team together is greater than making changes.

The real value of the larger squad of players he can trust will be that he will be able to rest players when necessary.

Depends on the game situation for sure. If we're comfortable then of course - but if we're drawing or losing then he has a lot more to play with.

It's fairly clear looking back that a lot of Robins' reluctance to change things may be down to squad quality. This + the new coaching team, I think we may see a lot more happening and probably earlier in games than we're used to.