Manager able to pick from seven subs
When City kick off League Two action on Saturday afternoon at home to Morecambe (3pm) Paul Tisdale knows that, no matter what XI he sends out, he’ll have plenty of options from the bench, thanks to a change in the Football League rules.
In League Two matches this season Tisdale will be able to name seven substitutes on the bench after the League reverted back to the rule in place during 2010/11, having only allowed bosses to select five last season.
It means managers have more flexibility when it comes to introducing players from the bench but also means they are more likely to give youth a chance to be involved with the matchday squad as Tisdale did with first year pro Jake Gosling on Tuesday.
And when we asked the manager his thoughts on the rule the response was a definite thumbs up.
“I’m delighted I have seven subs now, he said. “Although you still have the same problem of picking the last player on the bench whether you can pick three, five or seven – that problem doesn’t actually get better or worse.
“But what you do get is more options, as a manager. I can pick two strikers, a winger, a midfield player, a defender and I can cover left and right-back – I can cover all sorts of alternatives really.
“Jake Gosling was on the bench on Tuesday and it was unlikely he was going to come on, but say we had gone 3-0 up then what better opportunity than to put him on.
“It just gives you those opportunities you don’t plan for and if you have the player there you can use them – like we did with Tom Nichols at Sheffield Wednesday a few years ago.”
The visit of Morecambe is a pay on the day game so why not come down and see the Grecians in League Two action? And pick up your new home shirt at the same time, on sale from the club shop.