Discussion:
How did they decide who the substitute was when they only had 1?
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Mark
2024-09-28 20:21:28 UTC
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And for my 2nd random question of the day...

Back when each team only had 1 substitute, how did they decide what
position to make the substitute? If the substitute was a defender and a
forward got injured, that wouldn't be much good.
MH
2024-09-29 03:45:22 UTC
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Post by Mark
And for my 2nd random question of the day...
Back when each team only had 1 substitute, how did they decide what
position to make the substitute? If the substitute was a defender and a
forward got injured, that wouldn't be much good.
Players were comparatively much better all rounders in those days. A
lot more were two-footed, or so it seems.

My impression was there were two approaches

1) get a very good allrounder that was regularly used as a sub and could
fit in most places. Gary Mabutt was such a player for example.

2) have a super sub who was an attacking player (a la Fairclough) and
just be confident that some of your midfielders were comfortable enough
moving back into defence

I remember all sorts of instances of players playing well out of
position (eg. Frank Stapleton playing central defence for Man Utd in a
cup final vs. Everton (probably 1985) after Kevin Moran was sent off.

And multiple instances of outfield players having to pull on the
goalkeeper's shirt.
Futbolmetrix
2024-09-29 22:14:54 UTC
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Post by MH
Post by Mark
And for my 2nd random question of the day...
Back when each team only had 1 substitute, how did they decide what
position to make the substitute? If the substitute was a defender and a
forward got injured, that wouldn't be much good.
Players were comparatively much better all rounders in those days. A
lot more were two-footed, or so it seems.
My impression was there were two approaches
1) get a very good allrounder that was regularly used as a sub and could
fit in most places. Gary Mabutt was such a player for example.
2) have a super sub who was an attacking player (a la Fairclough) and
just be confident that some of your midfielders were comfortable enough
moving back into defence
But the one-player bench was an English thing, right? I think Serie A in
the late 1970s allowed a three-player bench (typically one goalkeeper
and two outfield players, numbered 12, 13 and 14), with one substitution
allowed. 13 and 14 would then be an all-rounder-ish defensive player,
and an all-rounderish attacking player.
Post by MH
And multiple instances of outfield players having to pull on the
goalkeeper's shirt.
Oh yeah, lots of those.
Futbolmetrix
2024-09-29 22:23:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by Futbolmetrix
But the one-player bench was an English thing, right? I think Serie A in
the late 1970s allowed a three-player bench (typically one goalkeeper
and two outfield players, numbered 12, 13 and 14), with one substitution
allowed. 13 and 14 would then be an all-rounder-ish defensive player,
and an all-rounderish attacking player.
A lot earlier than the 1970s, according to wikipedia. In the 1969
European Cup Final, Ajax made two subs at half-time. That seems to be
the first time: in the 1968 final, Manchester United and Benfica had
just a goalkeeper sub on the bench
MH
2024-09-30 00:08:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by Futbolmetrix
Post by Mark
And for my 2nd random question of the day...
Back when each team only had 1 substitute, how did they decide what
position to make the substitute? If the substitute was a defender and a
forward got injured, that wouldn't be much good.
Players were comparatively much better all rounders in those days.  A
lot more were two-footed, or so it seems.
My impression was there were two approaches
1) get a very good allrounder that was regularly used as a sub and could
fit in most places.  Gary Mabutt was such a player for example.
2) have a super sub who was an attacking player (a la Fairclough) and
just be confident that some of your midfielders were comfortable enough
moving back into defence
But the one-player bench was an English thing, right?
It lasted a lot longer in England (and I think Scotland as well, though
I vaguely remember Scotland went to two subs before England) - it was
not until the 1987-88 season that England went to 2 subs.

I think Serie A in
Post by Futbolmetrix
the late 1970s allowed a three-player bench (typically one goalkeeper
and two outfield players, numbered 12, 13 and 14), with one substitution
allowed. 13 and 14 would then be an all-rounder-ish defensive player,
and an all-rounderish attacking player.
By the early 80s the Bundesliga allowed two subs, for sure. With, I
think 5 players actually on the bench. Maybe 4.
Same was true of European matches by then


Apparently substitutions were first introduced into the Laws of the Game
in 1958 (though they had been used before that in various ways and
places). But no subs were allowed at the World Cup until 1970.
Post by Futbolmetrix
And multiple instances of outfield players having to pull on the
goalkeeper's shirt.
Oh yeah, lots of those.
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