The new 5 subs rule has made football a different game completely. Managing subs is a major part of the coaches role. Last night we started strong and the subs made us weaker possibly because two of them haven’t been with us long enough. Port Vale started weak and subs made then stronger. We needed 2 goals in the first half when we were all over them to win it. That’s why we need an effective goal poacher to make the best of the midfield work. I can’t remember a stronger midfield in this division. Jack Aitchison plays that attacking link role and is not a goal poacher, to criticise him for that is unfair, he does a great job. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and I’ll be at Cambridge. We promise to be great as the season progresses. Duff is doing a great job!
Totally agree. Use of subs is going to be huge. Totally night and day from the game against Wednesday, where subs came on and made a big difference. Last night, I personally thought every sub made us weaker, ultimately resulting in the equaliser, from a cross that Josh Martin had several chances to block. All a learning curve, but subs cost us 2 points for me last night.
In terms of their goal Martin could have nudged their player off the ball, but a number of errors led to the goal and for me it's unfair to single out Martin, who at least was tracking and running. The ball was passed between Martin and Phillips. It was then passed between McCarthy and Norwood. Phillips then skipped from side to side ineffectually, neither marking their player or attempting to get a foot in. Norwood then failed to block the cross, and the striker got in front of Cundy for a free header. It was a catalogue of errors and postionally a number of players were at fault. McCarthy also failed to block a cross earlier when their striker headed just wide. One for the training ground.
I think it`s obvious that Martin has talent but long before their equaliser it was plain that he didn`t pick up on the general intensity of the game and his role was to come on and provide the necessary hard work that Aitchison had been putting in. Hopefully he will soon understand the graft that is needed - I trust MD to let him know this.
Personally the 5 subs rule is wrong. It's a sport which combines skill on the ball, athleticism and stamina. For me no player can be regarded as good if he hasn't got all of these. The 5 sub rule (and even the 3 sub rule) effectively allow some players to get by without stamina. I would have no objection to having 5 subs available as replacements for injured players with maybe a couple available for use purely tactically but the game has lost another of it's strengths. The art of tackling was lost many years ago, what's going next?
