With FIFA announcing new rule changes on a temporary basis as there will be five substitutes on match days. There is also an announced expansion in match day squads as there will be now 23 players named. According to FIFA in regards to the new substitute rule "There will still only be three substitution windows for those five changes to be made. Subs can also be made at halftime." While this benefits all the clubs in Major League Soccer, it especially benefits FC Cincinnati even if the substitutes are dictated by whatever the current situation of a match is. This article will take a look at how this new rule change will benefit the team.
More Attacking Options
One thing FC Cincinnati lacked last season was offense and nothing lethal came off the bench in certain matches. However, after this offseason, the team has plenty of attacking options like Yuya Kubo, Jurgen Locadia, Adrien Regattin, Allan Cruz, and Brandon Vazquez meaning the club has more to work with. While there might be more attacking options, it means that head coach Jaap Stam will have to utilize them well. Late into matches and down, Stam could throw out two strikers or even a winger and a striker to get some offense going. Heck, even sending out two wingers or a winger and an attacking midfielder when the match is tied or being in the lead. There is a lot of players who could relish the opportunity coming on as a sub and making an impact, but with five substitutes, throwing out more attacking options against defenses will help so much. The team could also bring on players like Darren Mattocks, Kekuta Manneh, Haris Medunjanin, Frankie Amaya, or even Siem de Jong, there is a lot of depth there. There's speed, power, versatility, and playmakers on the roster, so the goods are there for Stam. It will depend on whom he starts and whom he has coming in off the bench though. Even if the pandemic had not happened causing the shutdown, the offense would have scored a lot more goals than in 2019, but with this new rule, it could allow them to score even more.
More Defensive Options
One thing the club focused on before the 2019 season was their backline. Defense was their main approach and it was a good philosophy. However, it wasn't executed well as the team set a new MLS record of allowing 75 goals. That's not exactly good defense. The team brought in some new blood like Tom Pettersson, Saad Abdul-Salaam, and Zico Bailey, but this is essentially the same corp from last season. That doesn't mean they will allow a lot of goals this season, but with the five substitutes allowed, the team could be in good shape. Obviously it will be dictated by how the match goes, it would seem more likely to see Stam throwing backs out on the field when playing with a lead, a common tactic used in the sport. It would all depend on whom his starting backline is, but as the match goes on, he could take out some of his attacking players or midfielders and send out another back or a defensive midfielder like Fatai Alashe or Caleb Stanko. This club still has Mathieu Deplagne, Andrew Gutman, Greg Garza, Nick Hagglund, Kendall Waston, and Maikel van der Werff, so there's plenty of options to go along with the new recruits. The defense actually looked somewhat decent before the lockdown, but with this it should allow them to play better. With the club having more attacking options to score more goals, with this new rule allowing more substitutes on the field, the perimeter around the net will certainly get tighter for opposing offenses to get anything done.
Better Opportunities To Match Up
This one might not benefit FC Cincinnati more than any other club, but it will certainly help them become more competitive. Match ups are always key and this should allow the club to be on a more even playing field with the opposition. FC Cincinnati doesn't quite have the depth as many of the top teams, but it at least makes them competitive. Stam could theoretically send in an extra back or defensive midfield depending on what is happening on the field or he could even substitute in two attacking options at that point. In some ways it will be like a chess match with the substitutes as Stam will have to send in a certain player from whatever position to matchup against the opposition. Stam will likely make those decisions once he sees what the opposition does.
Many Players Get A Chance
FC Cincinnati has talent, but while there was a possibility of making the playoffs this season, they are a long ways from being a top club. However, the new rule will get more of their key players more minutes and some of their younger players like Zico Bailey, Frankie Amaya, Tommy McCabe, Brandon Vazquez, and Rashawn Dally more time to develop. It gives players certain roles to fill too and that might be something they relish, especially in key situations. Besides, more options to use, the more fresh their bodies are in future games.
While MLS is trying to get a season figured out after the MLS is Back tournament is over, this still certainly should help FC Cincinnati for what lies in front of them. Yes, the team still could have a bad campaign anyways, but it's hard to imagine that happening with players being more fresh and more options at Stam's hands. However, with all these reasons laid out, the remote possibility of making the playoffs suddenly seems more likely.
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