New Ruling Impact On Irons

Shareholders and stakeholders have agreed to change the rules, meaning Premier League clubs will be able to make five substitutions each game from next season onwards. Substitutions can be made on three occasions during a match, and at half time, up to nine substitutes can be named on the team sheet.

The original five substitute ruling was introduced across the game in May 2020 after the shutdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Clubs then voted against continuing the rule for the congested 2020-21 season, which had a catastrophic effect across the board.

The Premier League was the only major competition to abandon the rule, because some clubs felt it gave those with bigger squads an unfair advantage. This may have been the case, but even those with smaller squads now recognise the benefits of having five Subs and have embraced the opportunity to re-instate it now.
Hammers Boss David Moyes, was a firm supporter of the change back and had championed the benefit for smaller clubs, believing that the extra player availability gave managers of 'smaller' clubs greater flexibility for game planning, ironically especially those against the 'bigger' clubs.

It is common knowledge to every man, woman and their dog, that Hammers have the smallest squad in the Premier League, with the possible exception of Leeds United and would not necessarily benefit as much as other teams. However, bearing in mind Hammers have a whole 'raft' of players out of contract at the end of the season and have one of the League's oldest average age squads, it is also common knowledge that David Moyes has a MASSIVE rebuilding job to do in order for the club to continue its aspirational top six advancement.

Their has been much criticism over the apparent lack of activity of Rob Numan who is head of recruitment, but as we understand it has been David Moyes who has insisted that the club start with virtually a blank canvas for next season. Apparently the emphasis will be on acquiring several top class players who are about to become available on 'Bosmans' and then supplement that 'experience' with some of the very promising youth players coming through the ranks. This modus operandi. will be a 'stop gap' to cover the next couple of years before the club can really 'push the boat out' in the transfer market, with a clear intention of at least %)% of NEWB players coming from within the club.

That is the dream, it worked out for Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when he introduced the 'kids', Beckham, Giggs and Scholes, much to the derision of the public and the media, we all know that move worked out a dream, hopefully a similar strategy won't turn out to be a nightmare for Moyes and all Hammer fans. - Ed