There are two aspects of the modern game I really dislike.

The first is the tendancy of players to surround the refereee to vociferously dispute a decision, often touching him in the process (isn't that illegal?). The second is the ridiculous practice of making unnecessary substitutions late in the game, especially as 5 subs are now allowed. Both these things waste playing time and disrupt the flow of play.

The time wasting aspect was particularly noticeable at Goodison Park when Chilwell won a penalty after a foul by Doucoure. I've read that it was 3 minutes and 10 seconds before the penalty was taken after the protestations of the players and Pickford's shameful tactics. In all the ball was in play for only 51mins and 47secs during that match. Even in our game on Friday there was only 59mins and 33secs of actual playing time.

As far as substitutions are concerned, 40 (54%) of the 74 made in all Prem games were made in the last quarter of the game. Man City and Newcastle used all 5 during this time. They are not tactical and, apart from disrupting the game, have no real value. I'd prefer substitutions during the last quarter of a game only be made as the result of injuries to try to avoid the time wasting and disruption.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

Time to stop the clock for certain things with the ref being able to stop it if he sees fit.o
Penalties and injuries would be a good start.
The clock should be on the big screen as well.
I hate Everton

During the Arsenal game the commentator mentioned that even if a player only played for a minute it made him eligible for the win bonus and possibly other bonuses tied to appearances as well.

it's still annoying though

Well, the greatest football team in the history of the sport has been praised for its "world-class time wasting", so it must be OK.

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Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

Typical Daily Mail, xenophobic tosh YT. I started this thread mainly because of my intense dislike of last minute, nonsensical substitutions killing off the game, especially now the number allowed has been increased to 5.

Last weekend 2 managers played all 5 subs in the final 15 mins. An unacceptable, tactical ploy in my view. As I wrote in my OP, I'd like to see subs made during the final phase of a game restricted to replace injuries only.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

Oh, was it? Missed that, my apologies.
and
Yes, that had occured to me too.

Call me a stubborn geezer, but I won't change my mind though.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

Sorry; my comment about a previous thread wasn't meant as a dig at you. It was me not wanting to take credit for a comment someone else may already have made. No need for an apology, my friend.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

I imagine such a rule would not be enforced equally (i.e. it would be over-enforced for the likes of us and under-enforced for the likes of the bin-dippers), but it's an interesting idea. What would be the sanction for failing to beat the clock? A corner/throw-in to the other side, I guess.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

Quite Hrolf. They have an official clock in rugby and the ref stops it if an injury needs attention or while they refer to the TMO. Simple.

Edited by Palace Old Geezer (09 Aug 2022 2.59pm)

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

I tend to agree with you on clock-stopping, however I suspect that such a rule would need to be accompanied by a reduction from 90 minutes, as I can't imagine today's prima donnas being able to survive an hour and a half's actual playing time.

A couple of points, well-intentioned but no doubt some will accuse me of pedantry:

1. The ref's watch DOESN'T determine the length of a game. The ref is only responsible for bringing to an end the 2 or 3 (or 10 in the case of a top club that's losing) minutes at the end of a half that's been decreed by someone else. The ref therefore has a tiny bit of leeway to add a little extra on for any jiggery-pokery. The real issue, as you cover in your second paragraph, is actual time vs. playing time.

2. Yes, 5 subs will inevitably be potentially more disruptive, although I think it was discussed in the earlier thread that only 3 tactical substitution opportunities may be taken. For example, to get all 5 subs on tactically (rather than because of injury) might be done as 2 then another 2 then the final 1 (etc). Obviously allowing a variation on this in the event of injury will be massively open to abuse.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)