The concept of the five substitutions rule has already been rejected twice this season, but unhappy Premier League managers could push for its return.
Having been allowed five substitutions following last season’s restart, an increasing number of managers are dissatisfied with being limited to only three substitutions this season.
Since the introduction of five substitutions for last season’s restart, the Premier League is the only major European league that has returned to the usual three.
Some of the division’s biggest managers share a common belief that the current lid on substitution is contributing to injury problems.
After their Premier League clash on Sunday, both Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) and Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) were vocal about their displeasure, saying that the limitation is partly responsible for an outbreak of muscular injuries across the top flight.
According to reports, the matter has been put to all 20 Premier League clubs twice, but it could not get the minimum requirement of backing by 14 clubs. Only 11 clubs voted in support on the last occasion.
West Ham Manager David Moyes said on Friday, that he had a change of mind after initially supporting the return of three substitutes.
Moyes’ Aston Villa counterpart Dean Smith is also of the belief that the Premier League should stick to football’s traditional use of three substitutions.
“I only made one change in the 88th minute. The intensity was there from our players,” said Smith after leading Villa to victory at Arsenal on Saturday.
“We haven’t got the biggest squad in the world and we have to manage our players.
“I can sympathise with the teams that are in Europe but there are some big squads out there.
“I made my feelings known from the off that I thought they were right to stay with the three subs rule and now we have we started with it, we should certainly continue with it.”
Clubs hold an obligation to put forward motions for voting, but in this case, it seems unlikely that any club would pursue that unless they were certain that it could cause a change to the current situation.
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp in particular is understood to feel that the Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Masters, should have taken it upon himself to drive a return to five substitutions, rather than allowing the clubs, who have been criticised for trying to push for a regulation that favours them.
Fixture scheduling was another source of concern among some managers over the weekend.
Having only returned from a Champions League game in Istanbul on Thursday morning, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjær did not hide his dissatisfaction that United was scheduled to play in the Saturday lunchtime slot at Everton.
Tottenham similarly had a 13:00 GMT+1 kick-off on Sunday at West Brom after playing an away tie at Bulgarian Champions Ludogorets on Thursday night.
These issues stem a league ruling that clubs should have two days free after a match before the next one, but as soon as they have been afforded, Broadcasters have the power to control the timing of matches. For instance, BT Sport had the Saturday lunchtime slot and they selected the Everton vs Manchester United game at Goodison Park.
The Professional Footballers’ Association, has written to the Premier League back in August voicing concerns for player welfare surrounding the shortened break between seasons. It also said it would support a revote on the five substitution rule.
I guess it kinda make sense to allow up to 5 subs given the hectic schedule. Some coaches might think it waters the tournaments though.