Frank Lampard didn’t get exactly what he wanted today with the Premier League’s new substitution rule announcement, but he will be pleased with one aspect.
From game week 14 this season, clubs are now allowed to name 9 subs on the bench, rather than 7 – giving them the option to add in 2 more players.
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Lampard has a big squad, and more often than not he has to leave key players off the bench to make sure he has the balance of positions there.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is often the one to lose out when Chelsea have a fully fit squad, and a player of his calibre at least must be in the match day squad.
These new rules will likely benefit him the most, being one of only two out and out natural wingers with at the club alongside Christian Pulisic (Hakim Ziyech sees himself as more of a 10 than a winger).
It is very difficult to keep a big squad happy, especially when results are not going your way and morale is down. But this will certainly at least keep more players happy being involved in the match day squad and a chance to come on as a sub.
Lampard would have preferred the use of 5 subs, and unfortunately that was ruled out for now. But this is certainly a positive addition to the rules for Chelsea.
They are looking at allowing clubs to make 2 extra concussion subs after January, but that is only if a player has suspected or confirmed concussion.
