Opinion

All change at Newcastle United.

Especially when it comes to…bench power.

It is an undeniable fact that these days, countless Premier League matches (and in other competitions) are decided by players coming off the bench.

Yet another factor that massively benefits the usual suspects.

The clubs with the most money can spend the most on transfer fees and wages on the players who end up on the bench, as well as those on the pitch.

Indeed, by far the biggest difference in quality and how much they cost, is usually shown far more on the two benches than in the starting elevens, when Premier League clubs meet.

No wonder the entitled half dozen Premier League clubs were the ones pressing desperately to make it as many as nine substitutes allowed on the bench and able to use any five of them.

The clubs with the strongest squads massively benefiting from this, able in any match to change half their ten outfield starters across all positions. Though most usually, the big benefit for these ‘elite’ clubs is that if things are going badly, they can put up to five fresh attacking and midfield players on the...