Substitutions - Please Settle An Argument

[kippaxvilla2]

Can someone please help.

I was discussing at work how many players Villa used during the 1980-81 campaign.  The conversation then moved onto the number of subs teams were allowed to use (have available) in that season.  I thought it was only one.  Then it eventually went to two.  Can somebody please confirm if a) there was ever a case where only one sub was allowed and b) how many were allowed during that season.

[London Villan]

It was one sub up until about 1987/88 i believe... then two, then three, then five and now today most of the squad!

[PeterWithesShin]

In 80/81 you could name 1 sub. I'm pretty sure that we only brought on the sub half a dozen times or so that season.

IIRC a few years later you could name 2 subs but still only use 1, then it was 3 subs could be named but you could only use 2 if one was a GK for GK swap. And then it just kept increasing until we now have the 3 from 7 scenario.

[olaftab]

We used total number of 14 players during the season. Only 1 sub was allowed. The rule in European games was 3 subs and that is why Spinky was able to come on in the final after Rimmer was injured.

[Damo70]

I'm sure that apart from European games it was just one sub named until 1987-88 they allowed two to be named and used. Then a couple of years later it was two and a keeper then any 3 from five and now any 3 from 7. The sole sub named in the title winning season was always one from Gibson, Williams, Deacy or Geddis.

[dave.woodhall]

I'm sure that apart from European games it was just one sub named until 1987-88 they allowed two to be named and used. Then a couple of years later it was two and a keeper then any 3 from five and now any 3 from 7. The sole sub named in the title winning season was always one from Gibson, Williams, Deacy or Geddis.

Plus one other, who was the only player that season to be a sub and not play.

[Duncan Shaw]

We used total number of 14 players during the season. Only 1 sub was allowed. The rule in European games was 3 subs and that is why Spinky was able to come on in the final after Rimmer was injured.

Being a pedant, it wouldn;t have made any difference given it was only 8 minutesd or so in, as we hadn't used a sub up to that point anyway (and didn't make another iirc)

Now Dave, you've got me thinking....Ivor Linton?

[WarszaVillan]

oooh good question Dave. I'm going for Gary Shelton as I remember he was due to play in the game that Morley scored the goal of the season at Goodison but Saunders changed his mind late on.

 BTW, this is one fact i often repeat, but of the 14 players used that season 3 were left-backs.

[paulcomben]

The question makes me feel very old, but at least I was old enough at the time to appreciate what seem likely to be Villa's last league & European winning years for an infinite amount of time.

[kippaxvilla2]

So we all agreed then it is definitely only one sub in 80-81?

[Villan For Life]

I'm sure that apart from European games it was just one sub named until 1987-88 they allowed two to be named and used. Then a couple of years later it was two and a keeper then any 3 from five and now any 3 from 7. The sole sub named in the title winning season was always one from Gibson, Williams, Deacy or Geddis.

Plus one other, who was the only player that season to be a sub and not play.

Brendan Ormsby?

And yes Kippax, definately one sub back then

[London Villan]

Ivor Linton?

[PeterWithesShin]

Terry Donovan?

[dave.woodhall]

I'm sure that apart from European games it was just one sub named until 1987-88 they allowed two to be named and used. Then a couple of years later it was two and a keeper then any 3 from five and now any 3 from 7. The sole sub named in the title winning season was always one from Gibson, Williams, Deacy or Geddis.

Plus one other, who was the only player that season to be a sub and not play.

Brendan Ormsby?

And yes Kippax, definately one sub back then

Winner.

[Legion]

I thought it was Pat Heard. You live and learn.